Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

We run through a maze of hallways and stairwells until we reach a random door. She pulls a key out of

her pocket, unlocks it, and pulls me inside. We're in a small, modern studio suite.

She locks the door behind her and pulls me over to the loveseat.

“Please, sit. Umm, they told me your name is Marco?" Her voice warms me from the inside out but she

doesn't have a French accent. She is from somewhere else.

Sitting down, I reach my hand out and take hers, I gently tug on it to get her to sit down too. She sits

facing me. Her dark, wide set eyes are hypnotizing. I could drown in those pools of chocolate and be

perfectly happy doing so. She is so damn beautiful, “Uh, yeah, Marco Sanchez. I heard them call you

Musu?”

“Yes, I'm Musu Goba,” her full lips smile shyly. I notice she is wearing lip gloss, making them that much

more enticing. I want to feel her lips on mine so badly, but I control myself. My heart is pounding in my

chest and Clash is racing around in my head like a maniac.

“You don’t sound French. Where are you from?” I’m trying to play it cool, but ain't no way she doesn't

notice me sweating.

“Sierra Leone. My mother is the second chance mate of Alpha Henri’s Beta. We moved here when my

brother and I were thirteen. My brother Everl became Martin’s Beta and I am acting as female Beta

until Everl finds a mate.”

“Oh I see. Look, I-I’m not gonna lie here, Musu. I just need to get it out of the way. You're beautiful and

I’m trying my best to control myself here cause it's important to me that we get to know each other, but

you should know, I really wanna kiss you. Like, I really wanna. But my Mama taught me to be respectful

to women and | don't want to rush you and | don’t want you to do anything you don-” before I can finish,

she throws her arms around my neck and starts kissing me, full tongue. A kiss has never felt so damn

good. The sparks of our bond make little electric shocks between us as I wrap my arms around her and

return the kiss. Who am I to deny my mate? : Kas’s POV

“We're not going to separate them, are we?” I ask as I look around the room in distress.

“Of course not,” Beta Everl says, “I can handle being Beta on my own until I find my mate. Although,

your Marco is going to have to face my mother and stepfather. Hopefully, he can handle that.”

Everl shakes his head as he looks off in the distance and chuckles. The Lune D’or pack members

around the room laugh at the thought as well.

“I mean, Marco has taken down two werebears in his day. Hell, he’s practically the size of one. I can

even remember a time when he held his own against a dragon in an underground fight club. But I don’t

know that he's ever faced a she-wolf's protective parents. I guess we will see how he handles it,” Bronx

says with a chuckle of his own. ° "Don't worry Luna Kas, when I tell my parents how quickly he moved

to protect Musu and that he is one of your personal guards, they will be impressed. His talent shows

that rank is not important. Speaking of which, he almost got you, Alpha Bronx. You didn't flinch, but he

almost got you,” Beta Everl shakes his finger at Bronx with a teasing smirk.

"Only the best for my Luna and now your sister. But don't worry, Marco and | will be having a more

formal conversation about his actions when we get back to Blood River," Bronx says with his arms

crossed.

“So how long are we going to let them sweat thinking that they could be separated?” I ask.

“Well, you heard how excited Musu was about finding her mate, I’m sure they don't mind a little sweat

between them,” Beta Ever says waggling his eyebrows. Another round of laughs makes its way around

the room. I clear my throat, “Alright, Alpha Martin, on Friday morning can you please send someone to

fetch Marco for me? Until then, it sounds like it isn’t necessary to interrupt them. We can let him speak

with Beta Everl and Musu’s parents before we leave for the Coven and as long as they agree, then

please have her prepare to leave when we get back on Monday morning. We can have the bulk of her

things shipped if needed. We are more than happy to accommodate.” I

“That sounds like a good plan, Luna Kas,” Alpha Martin nods.

“In the meantime, we need to speak with your father, Alpha Martin. Please excuse us,”

Bronx says.

Henri leads us to his private study and pours bourbon for himself and Bronx. | politely decline when he

offers me a glass. He pours me a glass of water instead and sits in the armchair across from us. °

"Bourbon! How American of you, Henri!" Bronx teases his friend.

"It keeps this old heart pumping, my friend!"

Henri says, holding up the glass as if giving aspeech.

"Henri, I'm going to cut to the chase. Kas and I have a favor to ask," Bronx says as he takes my hand,

"We're asking not just as friends but as friends of a man who sits on the Elder Council."

"Of course, Bronx. What do you two need?”

Henri lowers his glass and looks at Bronx with concern. Bronx looks at me, Henri’s eyes follow and look

at me as well.

"We were hoping you would be the officiant at our wedding,” I say with a big grin.

"Oh! Mon coeur, mademoiselle!" He exclaims as he jumps up from his seat, clutching his heart, "Would

I? I would be honored!"

He picks me up and kisses both of my cheeks and then gives Bronx a huge hug. He insists on having

champagne and sparkling cider for me. He mind links his wife, Alpha Martin and the Luna to come

celebrate with us. We enjoy each other's company late into the evening before we call it a night.

The next day, Bronx and I do some sightseeing around the human village near Lune D'or's territory,

then turn in early so we can spend some time alone before I have to leave for the Coven. °

“Bronx, you know what's crazy?” I ask as we are lounging on the veranda of our room.

“What's that, Baby?” Bronx smoothes my hair and kisses my temple.

“France. It has brought such significant things into our lives. You know what I mean?”

“You mean near-death experiences?” He hugs me a little tighter.

“Come on, there’s been good too. The Coven, mates for James and now Marco, getting to spend time

with Henri, this place is just beautiful.”

“Yeah, I guess you're right.”

“What do you say about a honeymoon in Paris?”

“Whatever your heart desires, my little goddess, as long as I get to take you to the top of the Eiffel

Tower. The view is amazing. You'll love it.”

“Oh, and can we do a food tour?”

He laughs, “Yes, we can do a food tour.”

We talk more about the honeymoon until I fall asleep in his arms on the chaise. In the morning, I wake

up snuggled in bed, wrapped in his octopus arms. When I'm finally able to break free, I decided to do

my meditation on the beautiful veranda. It is so peaceful, my mind is able to explore much further than

usual. A vision floats through my mind. Not necessarily a premonition, more like a daydream type of

wish.

In the vision, I'm hugging a woman. I can't see her physical features but we are crying tears of joy. She

feels like my sister. I smile as I open my eyes. Bronx is sitting beside me, also meditating. I wait until he

opens his eye and | take his hand.

“I had a vision but not like a bad premonition, more like, a feeling about my family, I guess?”

“What do you mean, Baby?”

“Remember that time we researched in your library and found out I’m a Menae?”

“Yeah, how could I forget. There’s a picture of you in that ancient book.”

“Okay, we don’t know if that’s me, but yes, that day,” I confirm, “Well, remember how that book said

there are fifty Menae?”

“Yeah, the four-year lunar cycle, right?”

“Yeah. Well, doesn’t that mean I have forty- nine sisters out there?”

“I never really thought about it, but i mean, it isn’t just a legend. You exist, so other the Menae must be

out there somewhere also.”

“I think I need to find them, Bronx. Not today or anything, but like, make it part of what I do with my life.

You know, be your mate, be the Luna of Blood River, own a bakery, be a goddess, search for my

goddess sisters.” “Come on, Baby, you make yourself sound so lazy,” he teases as he tickles me, “but

in all seriousness, I think it is something to discuss with Lady Camille.

“If these sisters of yours are spread across the world, they may not all have been accepted the way you

were. They could be in hiding, ostracized by their packs, you know? Before you, the Council claimed it

was a myth also. Think about it over seven billion people on earth and fifty Manae. Maybe there are

other Menae who don’t even know what they are or maybe they have different abilities?” 5

"Mmm, you're right. I'll talk to Lady Camille," I say, taking his thoughts into consideration. A knock at the

door pulls us away from our conversation. Bronx answers it while | go to get dressed.

When I come out of the bathroom, Marco is standing at attention but his eyes are on the floor. I know

Marco well enough to know that is his way of dealing with stress. Avoiding eye contact. Bronx is

standing in front of him with his arms crossed.

"Luna," Bronx says in a serious voice and gestures to Marco, “You requested to speak with your

guard?”