Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

When I come out of the bathroom, Bronx is sitting at the breakfast bar waiting for me. He's back to his

stoic composed self, looking handsome in a tailored blue suit with an eye patch to match and a crisp,

white shirt unbuttoned at the top. I sit next to him and place my hand on his arm.

“Bronx, if being trained by witches is the only way to help me, then that is what I need to do. We have

to accept that. Elder Henri is right. I don't want to hurt anyone because I don't know what I'm doing or

can't control my abilities. I understand your concerns about witches being here, so I think it would be

best for me to go to them, if they agree to it. That way they don't have to come here and you don't have

to worry about the pack. We just need to come to an agreement with them on what the terms are for

me being there.”

He rubs his hands on his face and sighs thinking about it, "Alright, Kas, but it would mean we would

have to be apart for a while. Henri's pack is too far away for you to come home. I only agree to this if

you are permanently home by winter solstice. Until then, I would come visit as often as I can but I do

have a pack and business to run. I can't be there as often as either of us would like.”

I feel a pang in my heart thinking about being away from Bronx, "Would James and Marco be with me

at least?”

“Without a doubt. There is no way you are going without them there. They are my two best personal

security guards. They're loyal and I trust them with your life. They would never let me down.”

“Okay then. Let's go talk to the Elders."

He nods and takes my hand. He gives me one more sweet, lingering kiss before we head downstairs.

Bronx's POV

I was caught off guard when Kas kissed me. Honestly, I had been worried it would be too stressful if I

tried to kiss her first. She is right. I have been underestimatin her and treating her like a bomb that

would go off at any second. I need to trust her and have more faith in her. I also need to figure out how

to let her in without either of us getting hurt and that's fully on me. °

I can't deny her an opportunity to learn more about her past and receive training to control her abilities.

That would be cruel in different ways than she has been treated before.

We get to the conference room as the Elders are filing in and taking their seats.

I stand to address the Council, "Gentlemen, thank you for allowing the intermission. We cannot thank

you enough for your guidance. My Luna and I have discussed the matter and yes, Henri, we believe it

would be beneficial for her to receive training from the coven you were speaking about, if they are

willing to take her in. We can discuss more details in private. No need to hold everyone else up.”

The Elders go through the formality of voting on the issue to make sure they are all in agreement and

following all the laws. Henri stays behind after everyone else has left. "Let's discuss over dinner, old

friend," I clap him on the shoulder.

“Oh! Can I make dinner? We can eat in your apartment, Bronx," Kas asks, her face lights up at the

thought of getting to cook.

“Kas, you don't need to do th-”

“Please? I really do miss cooking for people. I'll even make dessert. It's just the three of us right? It

won't be a problem at all," she begs with an excited twinkle in her violet eyes. I can't deny her when

she looks so cute and she i Ss so excited.

“Alright, Henri, I will send an omega to escort you at seven p.m.”

“Alright, see you then," he smiles, looking from me to Kas and back again.

I take Kas to the kitchen and pick up all the supplies she needs to make dinner. Mrs. Miller, our head

chef, looks at me suspiciously as Kas goes through the pantry pulling out what she needs. I convince

Kas to let two omegas bring everything up to my apartment, along with a full set of pots, pans, and

cooking utensils.

I put on some pop music as Kas prepares dinner. She danced around the kitchen with that twinkle in

her eye. I'm more of a heavy metal kind of guy but if listening to BTS and Olivia Rodrigo makes her

happy, then I will listen to pop music.

Kas is in her wheelhouse and there's no stopping her. The apartment smells like a five star restaurant

by the time Henri is escorted upstairs.

“Oh my! It smells like magic and healing are not your mate's only abilities, Bronx," he and I both laugh

heartily as Kas smiles at us from the kitchen.

“Food will be ready in fifteen minutes, gentlemen. Please, have a seat. I had the omegas bring up a

bottle of wine but I don't know much about wine, so I hope you like it.”

"I'm sure it's perfect, Baby," I uncork the bottle of cabernet sauvignon and take it to the seating area.

I'm not much of a drinker since I only have part of a liver. The doctor estimates I get drunk at the same

rate as a human,

which is a little offputting to me. This is kind 0f a special occasion, so a glass won't be the end of the

world. 7

Henri and I had served in the military together before his son Martin took over his pack and Henri was

elected to the Council. Aside from Milo and Reggie, he is one of my best friends even if we don't get to

see each other often. We catch up with each other's lives while we sip the wine. Kas brings over some

shrimp cocktail for us to munch on while we wait. Henri and I are so engrossed in conversation I don't

even realize she sets the table and

brings all the food out until she comes over to let us know it's time to eat.

When we get to the table, there are two plates with a rack of lamb, asparagus, and what

looks like mashed potatoes with a cream sauce. The third plate has grilled chicken and asparagus.

Even though Kas has been doing much better with eating a wider variety of foods, her stomach was not

at the point yet where she could tolerate red meats.

Henri's eyes widen with the first bite, "Bronx, are you sure this lady is not a Michelin rated chef?

Iokaste, this is the best lamb I have ever eaten.”

“Please call me Kas, Henri, and thank you. I'm glad you like it," she beams.

Henri is right. I don't know what she put in it, but I've never had such a delicious lamb dish. After we

clean our plates, Kas brings out a chocolate souffle for dessert.

“Henri, please excuse me, but I feel like we are close enough friends that I can be more informal with

you," I motion vaguely.

"Of course, Bronx. We have seen each other at our worst. No formalities necessary."

Kas sets the souffle dish on the table and puts the dessert on our plates. Before she can sit down, I pull

her into my lap, nuzzling her neck. She blushes a little as Henri laughs.

“Ah, mademoiselle, you bring out a side of my friend that I've never seen before! The beauty soothes

the savage beast. Haha! Who is this mystery man?" Henri smiles as he picks up his glass of wine and

tips it toward me, "Love looks good on you, mon frére. I'm French, so I know what I'm talking about," he

winks and takes a bite of the souffle. His eyes cross as he moans. He points at it with his fork, nodding.

2 "I'm so glad you like it, Henri," Kas smiles. After we finish with dinner, we move to the back living

room to discuss the details of Kas going to the coven.

It's a coven in the south of France who has had a close relationship with the Lune D'or pack for

centuries. Henri assures me they can be trusted and in fact, they had trained dozens of werewolf

healers over the years. Since they are in the old world, they have studied gods and goddesses for

many generations. They are the right people to help Kas.

We discuss my limitations of having her gone until the winter solstice, having two guards accompany

her, and I want to be able to visit every two weeks. I can't imagine being away from her for a day let

alone two weeks but we are all making sacrifices here. Henri gets up to make a phone call to the coven

while Kas and I sit on the sofa, waiting for him to come back.

"You're so brave, Kas. Going off to be on your own for almost three months? A lot of wolves wouldn't

be able to leave their pack for that long," I say to her. I am more trying to justify for myself than her.

“T have to go, Bronx. I'm going to miss you like crazy and all the pack members, but I have to do this.

For myself, for Lex, and for everyone around me."

I lean over and kiss her cheek. She sighs with a ragged breath, but looks like she isn't going to let

herself cry.

Henri comes back into the room, 'Kas, the coven will take you in two weeks. Bronx, make

arrangements to meet me at my pack. I will drive to the coven's realm from there.” “Thank you, Henri,"

Kas says gratefully.

"It's nothing. Who knew it would take a goddess to tamed the mighty Bronx Mason? lam more than

happy to help her with anything I can. Thank you so much for dinner, Kas. It was a one of a kind

experience. Until next time my friends, au revoir," Henri regards us. We shake hands and an omega

sees Henri out.