Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

73

Bronx’s POV

It’s Sunday. I call it our “lazy” day. In other words, Kas and I don’t leave the apartment so James and Marco can have a day off. Most of the time, we are anything but lazy. Kas catches up on homework, tests recipes that I get to taste for quality control, and does chores she doesn’t want to have omegas take care of, like laundry and cleaning the kitchen. I always tell her that i s what they are there for but she says she is happy to do it so I let her be. 2

For me personally, it is a good time to catch up on pack matters and relax in front of the television. Kas likes to write any essays she has due on Sundays, so she gives them to me to read over when she is done. 1

It is late afternoon when she is finished with her homework and other busy work, so she comes over to hang out with me on the sofa. She drapes her legs over my lap and looks hesitantly at the reality show about fishing boats I am watching.

“Sweetheart, can we talk about a couple of things?” she asks, trying to sound casual but I see right through it. It’s rare for Kas to say she wants to talk about whatever’s on her mind, so when she does, I give her my full attention. I have been able to sense something has been bothering her for a couple days now. I knew she would come around at some point, but I need t o let her do it in her own time.

“Of course, Baby. What’s up?” I shut off the television, “Everything okay?”

“Yeah, I was just thinking. Now that Codi is born, maybe you should try to quit smoking. Do you want her to remember your scent as cigarette smoke?”

“Excuse me?” The tone of my voice betrays my body language. This is about my bad habit? I start to feel a bit defensive.

good for you and now that you have a niece who you will spend time with, I think maybe you could

came back in December. After I died in Blood River and was able

this is our mate. Don’t be an ass,”

her bluff,” he tries to bargain. He’s

will quit smoking if you tell me what this is really about. Because I don’t believe for a second it is simply about me, Codi, or about me quitting smoking,”

immediately changes to be more serious, “you know how earlier you asked if I wanted to have

hits a hard beat.

her throat and avoids making

oh. Something’s

was in France, Lady Camille said she had done some research about my lineage. At least for the lives she knows about. And uh, she says there is a possibility that I won’t be able t o have children. She isn’t quite sure because of how unique our situation is,” she says with a little frown. My sweet little mate sounds like she is going to cry and I’m not sure how to stop i t before it starts. She looks at her hands while she explains the circumstances and potential solutions she and Lady Camille discussed. When she finishes, she looks

hey, don’t cry. No. Hey, if it doesn’t happen, it doesn’t happen. We’re in this together forever, remember? We can try the things Lady Camille suggests if you want or we can always adopt or something. It doesn’t matter to me as long as I have you. Little shack in the back of the territory, remember? You don’t need to cry. Please don’t cry,” I reassure her while I hold her close to my chest. As I say it, I realize I am not just reassuring her, I’m reassuring myself

wipe my own eye once

so many more questions, but I can feel how bad this hurts for her to talk about,

have on your

heavy at all,” she says with a smile. She then tells me about Lady Camille’s viewpoints on

not heavy? Darkness? Not accepting their fate?” I ask, “That’s not heavy? Seems like lead weights