Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Daughters of the Moon Goddess – Prologue Kas’s POV

“Are you sure about this?” my wolf Elexis asks when the timer on the oven goes off.

“Absolutely,” I say confidently, “I refuse to be a prisoner in our own home, Lex.”

I pull the cupcakes out of the oven. Carrot cake caramel – I’ve been experimenting to perfect the recipe for my bakery for weeks so we can add it to the fall menu. The little browned mounds of cake finally look perfect and smell like heaven. I set them on the cooling rack and make a few notes in my notebook before I go get a shower.

I choose my outfit carefully, a loose, casual dress I can quickly remove with slip-on shoes. Once I’m changed, I check myself in the mirror. I don’t look out of place. People won’t notice anything strange. Satisfied with what I see, I go back to the kitchen and put a thick layer of cinnamon cream cheese icing on the cupcakes. I add orange and gold sprinkles for effect.

Sunday is usually my lazy day. It’s the day my mate Bronx and I stay in the apartment. We do that so my guards can have the day off and so he and I get to spend time together, but since m y birthday a little over a month ago, Bronx has decided he has more important things to do than spend time with me. 2

What important things, you ask? Who knows? He won’t tell me. He just says he needs time

alone with the guys. Which guys, you ask? Who knows? He won’t tell me that either. For the past five weeks, he leaves on Sunday morning and doesn’t come back until after dinner as if it were no big deal. 1

Sorry, I’m being rude. I should introduce myself before I complain too much about my life. My name is Kas Mason. I have been the Luna Regent of the Blood River werewolf pack in Montana for a little over a year now.

Bronx hasn’t really been treating me like a Luna lately though, more like an afterthought and I am getting pretty sick of it. I tried to talk to him about it. I really did, but he brushed me off. H e just rolled his eyes at me and walked away, muttering something about always nagging at him.

Not only has he been leaving me alone on the one day of the week we get to spend together, he has also put a substitute guard on duty outside the apartment door. And on top of all that, the guard has orders: I’m not allowed to leave the apartment unsupervised. If I leave, the guard needs to tell Bronx where I am headed.

It’s such bullshit. It’s not like I’m a child. I don’t even need a guard anymore. I mean, I used t o, but I’m much stronger now than when the guards were first assigned to protect me.

What does Bronx really think is going to happen while I’m in our apartment inside the packhouse, anyway? It’s not that I don’t like Tyree. He is a great guard and a fearsome warrior,

but it’s just stupid that he needs to be out there when Bronx should be in here with me

I smooth my clothes and open the apartment door.

“Is everything alright, Luna?” Tyree asks with a concerned look on his face.

“Oh yeah, no problem, Tyree,” I smile innocently at him, “I was just wondering if maybe you wanted to try another cupcake? Be my taste tester since the Alpha isn’t here? I think I have perfected the recipe this time.”

“Of course, Luna,” his dark eyes brighten at the offer of food as he smiles back.

“Great! You always give the best critiques of my baking.” I hand him a plate with three cupcakes on it, “Dig in! I just want to grab my notebook so I can write down your feedback.”

“I’m happy I can help. Thank you so much, Luna,” he nods, raising the cupcake toward me like a beer mug

I open the apartment door just as he takes a big bite of the little cake. I let energy build in my hand, making a slight violet aura form around it, and curl my fingers into a fist. Everything around me becomes deathly still. I look back to see Tyree frozen in time, mid-bite.

Perfect. I have half an hour before the effect wears off.

for more than half a n hour. If it’s a large group of

the stairs, and out of the packhouse before anyone can see me. As I race to the wood line, I pull my clothes off so I don’t waste time. I pile them under

fur and

going to do if you find him?” Lex asks as she

That’s between me and

replies in a sing-song tone, “Oh! I

he is, hanging out with his buddies. He is laughing, smoking, and drinking beer like he doesn’t have

on with him lately, but sneaking out to drink and smoke, that’s

“Shift, Lex.”

have any clothes. Those

to

say anything you’ll regret,” she says with a worried tone in

out of the woods, naked as the day I was

finally catches my scent and turns to face me with a shocked expression on his

surface when he sees I have no clothes on. He

have a tendency to get protective when

as he grabs me by the upper arm and pulls me roughly toward the tree line. His claws are slightly extended, drawing little drops of

Saint! And don’t grab me like that! You’re hurting me!”I growl dangerously at him, yanking my arm away. I can feel the purple aura starting to glow all over my body now, “Let me talk

his arms and stares me

are you doing? Let

what I’m doing. Why isn’t Tyree watching you?” he snarls, avoiding my

glaring at him, and snarl back sarcastically, “He’s taste testing

flicker back to green as Bronx takes control back from his wolf. “Kas, you need t o leave right now. Don’t make

and treat me like that?

my mouth drop in shock, “Bronx, you shouldn’t have to escort me because you should b e AT HOME, not out here smoking and drinking! You know you shouldn’t be out here, otherwise you would be

KAS! GO HOME,” he roars in

to say it, but just comply, Kas. Let’s get out of here. Please. It’s not worth arguing with him when he’s clearly been drinking. We can deal

is NOT over, Bronx Mason,” I take his shirt off

to the edge of the woods by the packhouse and hastily throw on the dress. I pick up the shoes, putting them on as I run back up to my apartment. Tyree is still frozen in place, mid cupcake bite. I grab my notepad from the apartment and step back out, unfurling my fingerst o unfreeze

cinnamon in the frosting really makes it perfect.” Tyree nods

brightly. “Well, you can keep

you again, Luna,” he dutifully responds, “I’ll be

unhappy I’ve been with Bronx lately. They always tell me to come to them if I have a problem, but I don’t want to burden them with

hear them respond almost in

I figured out a new strategy. I need your help to refine it,” I smile

Bronx’s POV

on us,” Saint growls in my mind as we watch Lex run

stay in her lane and just calm down,” I half-heartedly agree with my wolf. I can feel his emotions influencing me, making me annoyed with our mate. He’s been doing that a lot lately, and I have been letting

talking to you in front of the pack members? Our friends?! She’s gonna pay for that!”