Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 55 “Musu, I am sorry, but you are about to see a side of me I rarely show to pack members. I’m just going to step over there,” I point to the other side of the room, trying to sound as calm as possible, “Please don’t be scared. I will be right back.”

Musu nods slowly, like she is questioning my sanity. Can’t blame her. I’m

questioning it too. I walk to the far side of the room and grip the back of the leather loveseat, with my back to her. My entire body tenses up and I feel my claws extend, tearing into the brown leather. A deep rumbling growl rips through me, making the entire room shake until my voice is a full on roar. When I have let out as much o fmy frustration as I can, I stand up straight and take a deep breath. When I turn around, I see Musu standing against the door to exit the library.

“I feel much better now, Musu. Again, I apologize for the outburst, but every dam has a breaking point,” I explain. When she doesn’t look like she is going to run for her life, I ask her to sit at a table with me. She sits at the edge of the chair,

me. She sits at the e of the chair, looking at me suspiciously, just in case she needs to run.

I explain to her what Saint just informed me of and ask if any of it sounds familiar o r makes sense.

She looks around for a moment, then stands up and goes to a bookshelf. She pulls out a giant book and puts it on one of the reading stands. I stand up and watch a s she flips the pages.

“Alpha, this answers so many questions I had about this passage,” she says with a look of relief, pointing to a handwritten diary page.

I look at my watch, “Well, you have five minutes to explain it to me.”

When she finishes, I tell her to wait in the library for half an hour, then she is to go directly back to the suite next to my apartment. She nods in understanding and wishes me good luck before I push the button to exit the room.

I fix my suit jacket and sit down in front o f Tessa. I smile, but she looks scared by it. Imagine that. It’s not one of my genuine smiles Kas always talks about.

“Tessa, would you like us to take off the silver handcuffs?”

“Since when do you have a sense of humor?” She snarls, “Of course I want them taken off.”

“Good. Here are the conditions to your new found jewelry being taken off,” I lean my elbows on my knees and get close to her face so I can make sure she understands as I explain my terms.

When I get down to the conference room, we greet the Santoro Enterprises team and apologize for our tardiness. As we sit down and prepare for the first presentation, Reggie gives me a concerned look.

“All good, Alpha?” He asks.

“Uh yeah, but I need to take a break at lunch so Delilah can check something out i n my apartment,” I try to sound casual.

a witch to look at

sure it’s nothing. I thought I saw a purple light in the bathroom. And

the hroom. And I realize how crazy that sounds, but two full years of craziness with Kas around and this is bottom tier

you need us for anything,” Reggie concedes, seeing that I don’t want

eye, I see Katherine pretending not to

night found it suitable? Our guards

perfect. Thank you so much again. Your hospitality has been so wonderful. W e appreciate all

will Persephone be coming down to discuss the parcel of land?” Milo asks. He smiles before he continues, “We just want to help her out a s far as the landscape in this area goes. I have some topographical and satellite maps to show her.

an hour or so? We can

here in just a few minutes. She

of some mandatory pack training, but Milo, Reggie, and I should be able

“That’s fine,” Katherine smiles.

through a full presentation and question -and-answer session about physical security. There is a knock on the door and a woman wearing large dark sunglasses with her hair tightly wrapped in a silk scarf walks in. Her movements are

toward her. Letting her place her hand on top of mine is

encounter. I feel a surge of powerful ambient energy come from her, raw and pure. The urge to shift flows through me but dissipates when I

That’s the good shit!” Saint

is the woman you said I would never meet?” I

There’s a first time for everything,” he laughs nervously, then crawls

parcel. The rest of us break off into smaller groups to discuss more specific concerns

but you’re needed

me. So sorry for the disruption,” Reggie says quickly. He bows as he leaves

Persephone. I can see her back stiffen slightly. Persephone looks up and sees Tessa. For a moment, I think she is

for everyone when the door opens again. Carly

I’m so sorry. We need both o f you. Today seems like

shrugs at

I back up, “We will be back as soon as we can. Tessa, would you mind staying and making sure our guests are taken care

until we get back?”

Alpha, of course,” she