Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 13

The cool morning air combined with the dew dampening my cheek rouses me from my sleep.I pull Kas closer to my chest so she won't catch a chill.She grumbles a little at being moved, but doesn’t wake up.

My little sleepyhead.She hates waking up early.I smile as I take a deep breath with my nose buried in her hair.Her fresh rain and lilac scent is mixed with something else.

Mud and a little blood.

Hold up.

Mud and blood? My eye snaps open and I see the sun is rising over the treeline.

We are still out in the woods.I look around to find we are in the grass next to the Blood River.

We are both naked and look like we have been rolling in mud puddles.

There is a pile of rabbit remains nearby.I notice my face feels sticky.I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.

When I pull my hand away, I see it's covered with goopy, almost dried blood that smells just like the rabbit carcasses.

Gross.

At some point during the night, Kas and I both shifted, but I can’t remember a thing after Saint cut our link.

I need to get some clothes for us from the nearby lockbox.I adjust my position slightly so I’m on my back, assessing how far away the container is from where we are.

As I turn, I feel sores all over my body.I groan a little and try to find a spot that hurts, that isn’t covered in mud.I find a couple spots on my arm that clearly have the remnants of bite marks, but Saint has already started healing them.

They are just red and sore now.

"saint?"

"Let me sleep.It was a late night," he grumbles.

"Not so fast, buddy.What exactly happened last night? How come Kas and I shifted and why are we in the woods? I told you to get her back to the packhouse by dawn."

"Listen, Bronx.I’m not gonna to taint your virgin ears by getting into the nitty-gritty details.Just know that Lex and I mated...a lot.It was a night to remember.I don’t even know the last time Lex was such an animal.It was probably when she was affected by Cora,"

I can practically hear him purring, "We were too worn out to make it to the packhouse, so we shifted for you and letting you snuggle up by the river.Like camping.Isn’t that what you guys call romantic?"

I'm not sure what to say to him.I can’t really be mad.He has every right to spend time with Lex as I do with Kas.

Who am I to judge if he wants to have a wild night out in the woods with his mate? I just wish he would have taken her back to the packhouse like he said he would instead of romping around until he was too tired to make it back.

"Okay, well I’m going to get us some clothes and go home.Wait.Who’s Cora?"

"Leader of The Feral," he yawns, "Don’t worry about it, you'll never meet her."

"Fine.Go back to sleep."

"Thank you and you’re welcome," he adds, emphasizing ‘welcome ’, like he did me same sort of favor before he curls up to fall hack asleep.I carefully slide my arm out from under Kas and gently lay her head on the ground.She sighs deeply, but looks content.She also has rabbit remnants around her mouth.

The wolf side of me thinks it looks kinda sexy.

has time to look in a mirror.I make my way to the lockbox and pull out a pair of shorts for myself and an

I’m doing that, I mind link our ranked pack

the packhouse with Kas.I want both James and Marco on duty.One of you inside the apartment, the other outside.Better yet, bring Tyree in as well.I want him on the stairs.No one on the fifth

cut the link to

the PR team know I don’t need a

"No problem, Alpha."

can about a group

You don’t have any

on a conversation I had with Saint just now, I think this Cora woman

"Alright, we're on it."

shadowing me today as representatives of MasoncCo.After we release the tape to the media, we are going to HQ.There are

will change

in front of my sleepy little mate, prepping

to the packhouse," I stroke the side of her face

up and

mud puddles and sleep by the river.Come on, sit up.I have a shirt for

up and lets me pull the shirt over her head.I wrap her up like a burrito in

trying not to fall back asleep in

"Yeah, Baby?"

look down at her and smile.Her eyes are closed, but she

to let you know I love you and I’m so glad to be home,"

at her words, "I love you too, Kas.More

you left me alone

guess

be alone on Sundays again.We can talk

hum before her snoring begins

turn on the shower.I coax her out of the blanket and join her in the

practically purrs when I wash her

a question," I say while I’m massaging shampoo through her

Sweetheart?" she asks with her eyes

Cora? Or people who are

opens her eyes and looks up at me with concern, "No? I don’t think so?

something Saint said to me this

"Nothing to

are both completely freshened up, I wrap a towel around Kas’s body, another around her wet hair, and lead her back

I don’t want you to worry about the bakery or anything today.Delilah has it under control.Please, just get some rest and get your energy back, okay? I’m going to have Mrs.Miller bring food

"Raw rabbits? Gross, Bronx."

"Yeah, I know,"

the bedroom door, and Marco is going to be in the hall.I even have Tyree by the stairs to be on the safe side.If you need anything,

you hand me my blanket, please?" her voice

old

the only thing left from when she

River wrapped

why but, she finds it

me happy.I lay next to her on the bed whispering

her forehead and get myself prepared to go to the conference room

Katherine's POV

on the television! Bronx