Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Kas's POV

I wake up to see it's nighttime. I'm pretty sure the bed I'm in is the softest bed in the world. The scent of

coffee and dark chocolate fills my senses and for the first time in forever, I feel completely relaxed.

Happy little sparks shoot around my body. I realize Iam cradled ina large man's arms, like a kid with a

teddy bear. He's so tall that I feel like a little kid next to him. My face is against his t-shirt, breathing in

his intoxicating scent.

I'm too short to look up to see his face from my position, but I already know it's Alpha Bronx Mason. I

start to feel panic try to rise in my chest, but Lex gently pushes it back down.

"Enjoy this moment, Kas," she whispers when she feels me starting to struggle, " He is your mate. He

isn't going to hurt you." ;

“We don't even know him, Lex. He could be dangerous.” °

“Oh, shush it. He's not dangerous while he's sleeping. He doesn't have a knife or anything. Just relax.

Please, give this a chance.”

I take a deep breath letting his scent calm me. He's softly snoring, so I knowh e isn't going to catch me

staring at him. He's so muscular that his t-shirt stretches tight against his broad chest.

Now that he's in a t-shirt, I see his arms are covered with tattoos just like his neck and the backs of his

hands. I try to adjust my position so I can get a better look at his face. I want to see if he is wearing his

eye patch. Okay, so I actually want to see what's under the eye patch. What can I say? I'm curious. A s

I move, he rolls over on his side toward me. I'm pretty sure his heavy arms are going to crush me. |

I tap on his forearm softly to wake him u p or at least get him to roll back off of m e. It works but not the

way I am hoping because his eye slowly opens, then he jolts up, and falls off the bed with a hard crash.

I look over the side of the bed, wincing, and realize he landed ona chair, smashing it to bits.

"I-I'm so sorry. I fell asleep. I don't remember getting in bed. I-I...didn't...I... " he stammers as he

speaks. He looks at me with eye as wide as a saucer.

"'A-are you okay, Alpha B-bronx?" I ask with wide eyes of my own. My voice is dry and scratchy, "I

didn't mean to startle you."

He looks up at me from the floor. He's breathing hard and his hand is gripping his chest. «

"Oh, thank the Goddess," Recognition that I am looking back at him finally hits him, "I'm so glad you

finally snapped out of it!"

I look at him confused as he pulls himself up and kneels on the floor beside the bed. He turns on the

nightstand lamp so we can see each other better.

''Kas, you scaring me out of a dead sleep, is the best thing that's happened t o me this week. How do

you feel?"

I pause, trying to decide how I feel, " Thirsty."

"Okay, stay right there. I'll get you water," he scrambles up and pushes the pieces of the broken chair

out of the way. He quickly goes around the corner and comes back with a glass of water and a straw.

He sits on the edge of the bed and watches me drink water like I'm a circus attraction.

I finally put the glass down on the nightstand and clear my throat. It feels much better now.

“Do you want more?”

“No, thank you," I smile as I try to avert his gaze. He is looking at me with anticipation. I'm not sure

what else to say. I might as well figure out what is going on.

"Alpha, if I may ask, where am I?"

He looks at me with a relieved smile, " You're in the Blood River packhouse. In the suite next to my

apartment." "H-how long have I been here?"

"About four days."

"Oh. W-when are you sending me back t o Silver Moon?" My voice is tiny, trying t o fight back tears. I

look down letting m y hair cover my face so he can't see. Now that I'm awake, he's either sending me

back or keeping me prisoner before he kills me. Right?

"Back to Silver Moon? No, Kas. You're staying here with- Wait. You want to go back to Silver Moon?"

He looks really confused and kind of sad.

"I-I, I'm - Imean - I don't want to stay here to be a prisoner and I don't want to die, Alpha Bronx. I would

rather be a slave," I almost can't hear my own voice. "Prisoner? DIE? Goddess no, Kas," he sounds

shocked. I look up to see he has a n alarmed look on his face.

"IT want you to stay here with me but I can't force you to," he reaches to take m y hand but stops

himself and pulls it back when he sees me flinch at the movement.

"y-you aren't going to kill me?" I'm trying to choke back tears but I can feel them stinging my eyes.

"What?! Why would you think that? You're my mate!" He says with disbelief. "Alpha Graham told me

you kill weak wolves. I'm a weak wolf," hot tears staining my face. That's it. I told him. If he didn't know

before, he knows now. I'm done for.

He looks at me, mouth hanging open. I can't tell what he is thinking but I feel ashamed and hang my

head to avoid eye contact.

I watch him raise his hand toward my face. I flinch back before he can slap me. "Oh Kas, Baby, I'm not

going to hurt you. No one is ever going to hurt you again," he says gently, ''May I please touch your

beautiful face? I can't stand t O see you cry. I just want to wipe these tears away." °

Wait. Did he just call me Baby? Did he ask permission to touch me? I'm so confused. '

I look up to see his green eye boring into my soul. He looks like he's in pain, it's almost like I can feel it.

I nod slightly. I can't stand seeing him like that. I have heard people talk about the mate pull and the

mate bond before. Is this it? Wanting a stranger to wipe my tears away? I mean, I guess I don't mind

him touching me, it makes me feel calm.

My muscles tense up as he gently places his giant hand on the side of my face and wipes the tears

away, then does the same to the other side. Tingles form where he touches me making the tense

muscles relax immediately. Lex purrs in my head.

I'm safe, I finally realize. No one has wanted to comfort me in my entire life. I can't help myself, I crawl

into his lap and put my arms around him. He breathes a sigh of relief and folds his arms around me in

return. He puts his chin on top of my head and strokes my hair. I feel his warmth enveloping me and I

swear I can see a light purple aura around the edges of our bodies. Alpha Bronx doesn’t seem to

notice. It must be my imagination. 2

I can hear Lex purring louder now.

"No one will ever hurt you again, Kas. N o one," he reassures me as he pulls me tighter against his

body.