Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

“Well, you're going to get to go to France. That's so exciting!" I say as cheerfully as I can once we're

alone.

Kas smiles at me but it doesn't reach her eyes, "Yeah, I'm sure I will be more excited as the date gets

closer. Right now, it makes me nervous and sad, I guess.”

“Kas, I know it is kind of weird timing but what do you think about moving into my apartment instead of

staying in the suite? I mean, if you want to stay in the suite that's fine too. I just thought, you know,

maybe you would be more comfortable...here?”

I rub the back of my neck as she looks at me, contemplating my request.

“Sooo we would sleep in the same bed? You wouldn't sleep on the sofa anymore like you do in my

suite?" she asks tentatively.

"She's gonna say no! You fucked up, dummy! " Saint howls.

“Shut up, Saint!”

“Whatever makes you comfortable, Baby. If you want me to sleep in the bed, I promise I won't try

anything. I want everything to be at your pace. If you want me to sleep on the sofa, I can do that too.”

"Won't try anything?! What's the point?!" Saint continues to shout. 2

Kas looks around my apartment for a bit, then back at me.

“T trust you to sleep in the bed with me and not try anything," she says calmly, "I just want you to

promise one thing.”

“Anything, Baby," I reassured her.

“Never make me wake up alone. If you have to leave, wake me up and tell me. No more notes or

searching for you. It scares me and makes me feel so empty when I wake up alone.”

I pick her up into a bear hug and kiss her cheek. She giggles as my chin scruff tickles her face.

“T promise. You will never wake up alone. I will have someone bring your belongings

from the suite tomorrow, okay?”

“Yeah, that sounds good but I need to at least go get pajamas.”

“About that, I have been holding back on you a little bit. I have something to show you but don't be mad

at me. It was Lenora and Ashley, "Thold my hands in the air. 2

“Umm, okay?" she says with a confused look. I lead her into the bedroom and stand at the door to the

closet. Why am I so nervous to show her this?

“Cause she's gonna be pissed off when she realizes how much money you spent on her," Saint says

sarcastically. «

“Shut it, Saint," I growl back at him.

“So after the incident at the mall, Lenora and Ashley brought what you needed to your suite, but they

brought everything else here. After that, I think they felt guilty about what happened, so they went out

and got you some more, so..." I open the door to the closet room and she walks in with her mouth

agape.

It hadn't started as a closet, it was a large storage room. I don't need that much storage space so I had

it converted to a closet after my parents moved out. The entire back wall is filled with clothes, shoes,

purses, hats, and accessories for Kas. The new upholstered bench sits in the middle of the room. I sit

down as she walks around touching all the clothes in disbelief.

“Everything on this wall is mine?" she asks quietly.

“Well, the long dresses are over there, but yes, " T point to another wall that has a longer space for

dresses and gowns.

"Oh, pajamas and underwear and stuff are in those drawers," I pointed at a built-in dresser. "And that

door leads to the bathroom," I point to a door on the opposite wall.

“Bronx, this is too much. I don't need all of this. I don't even know what to say," her voice is shaky as

she holds her hands against her cheeks.

“Please don't say no," I plead as I reach for her hand. She obliges and stands in front of me, "Please let

me give all this to you with no strings attached. I want to do this for you, Kas. Money is not important to

me. You are. I want to give you everything within my power.”

She looks at me for a moment considering my words.

She sighs deeply, "Okay, well, as long as you don't let Ashley and Lenora buy anything else, I'll give in

this one time. I already got a shower this afternoon so, I'm just going to change into my pajamas and I

will be right out." "Okay. Thank you so much, Baby. This means so much to me," I kiss the top of her

head and leave her in the closet to change.

“Shouldn't I be the one to be saying thank you?" she giggles as I'm walking away.

“No thanks needed from you, Kas. Trust me. No thanks needed," I smile back at her. I step out of the

room to give her privacy. Typically, I just sleep in boxers, but that seems a bit inappropriate at this point

in our relationship. I wait until she comes out of the room then go and put on sweatpants. When I come

back from changing, she is standing next to the bed looking like she's in deep thought. I feel my

eyebrows knit as I look closely at her. I realize she's standing a little too still. There is a distinct glow on

her skin. It is light purple as if she is standing under a colored light. It's just like Ashley described from

when Kas had a vision at the mall.

"Kas, Baby?" I say tentatively. I don't want to scare her. I gently take her hand when she doesn't

respond. Her skin is ice cold and I don't feel the comforting sparks of our mate bond. I don't feel any

emotion from her at all. "Kas?! Answer me, please!" I say, trying not to panic. I gently pat her face, but

she doesn't acknowledge my presence.

“Oh Goddess, what now?! Saint whines seeing there is something wrong.

Her eyes are open but she isn't blinking; they are glazed over like her mind is a million miles away. A

tear rolls down her cheek. Suddenly, she sucks in a deep breath and coughs like she is choking. She

looks around the room ina panic as if she just got there. Her face goes pale and she throws her arms

around me when she realizes I am kneeling in front of her. The sparks between us were back. °

"It's okay, Kas. I'm here. You're safe. What happened, Baby? Did you see something?" I ask, patting

her back trying to help her clear her coughing fit. When she is able to catch her breath, she starts to try

to explain.

"A fire. It was so hot. I could feel it burning my skin. You were g- gone. I couldn't sa-," she speaks

quickly with panic in her voice, her words are not making sense.

"Where was this fire, Kas? Can you remember any details?" I ask as I smooth back her hair, trying to

calm her down.

"Here. In the packhouse," she shuts her eyes tightly, trying to remember, "There are winter solstice

decorations up. It's dark outside. That's all I can remember, I'm sorry."

"It's alright. Tell you what, I'm going to have electricians check the whole packhouse, make sure

everything is safe. Okay? But it sounds like we have enough time that we can prevent a fire from

happening."

Kas's POV

Ryan is glaring at me through this whole meal. I'm certain he is going to jump up and tell everyone my

secret. My heart is pounding in my chest. They're going to execute me for sure. I need to get out of the

dining room before anyone realizes how nervous I am.

The smell of smoke and fire hits my nose. Wasn't I just serving food? Don't be stupid, Kas, you're a

member of Blood River now. I look around and see the orange glow of fire in the living room. I run to

the door to find the room is consumed with flames. The fake tree we have set up for the winter solstice

looks like it was melting, some branches starting to catch fire. I can hear people in the hallway

screaming.

I run back to the bedroom to wake Bronx up, " Bronx! Wake up! We have to get out!"

I shake him but he doesn't budge. His skin is cold even though the room is getting hotter by the

second. I focus past the smell of fire. He smells like whiskey and wolfsbane. 7

Oh shit, oh shit. What should I do?

"Don't panic, Kas. You're a healer, you can save him. We learned about this. Come on!" I hear Lex but I

can't feel her.

I fight back tears of panic as I place one hand on Bronx's chest and one on his forehead. The familiar

warmth followed by a sting of pain filled me. He's gone. I can't save him. The smoke is taking over my

lungs and the flames of the fire is starting to lick at my skin. 2

I suck in a deep breath of fresh air and cough the smoke out. I look up and see my mate kneeling in

front of me. There is no fire. Bronx is wide awake, looking worriedly at me. ”

"It's okay, Kas. I'm here. You're safe. What happened, Baby? Did you see something?" He asks, patting

my back. I catch my breath and stop coughing. My dream is already fading from my mind. I have to tell

him quickly before it is gone.

"A fire. It was so hot. I could feel it burning my skin. You were g-gone. I couldn't sa-," I say quickly.

"Where was this fire, Kas? Can you remember any details?" Bronx asks as he smoothes back my hair,

trying to calm me down.

"Here. In the packhouse," I shut my eyes, trying to remember the fading images, "There are winter

solstice decorations up. It's dark outside. That's all I can remember, I'm sorry." He reassures me he is

going to hire an electrician to do a safety check of all the wiring. As he's speaking details of the vision

turn to blurry images in my mind. I remember trying to wake him up. He was sleeping. Then the

memory fades and it is gone.

I look up and realize he isn't wearing a shirt. Other than when he was covered in mud, I had never seen

him shirtless. He has tattoos covering his whole body. His muscular chest and chiseled abs are on full

display. He has a huge jagged scar right below his ribs on the left hand side. He stands up making his

sweatpants hang low on his hips. '

I feel myself blush. Of all the werewolves in the world, how did I luck out on this Adonis? I shouldn't say

that. I don't know enough about mythology, Adonis could be my cousin or something.

"Oh my Goddess," Lex swoons, "does this mean we get to mate now?"

"No Lex, but he is pretty sexy, right?" "Mmmhmm" she purrs.

After I reassure Bronx I'm alright, he gives me a little kiss and we climb into bed. It’s kind of awkward at

first. Usually he doesn't get in my bed unless it's to wake me up from a nightmare. Eventually, I snuggle

up in the crook of his arm, using his shoulder as a pillow. I let his coffee and dark chocolate scent calm

me and fall asleep peacefully in my mate's arms.