Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 52

I quickly set the table, take the food out of the boxes, and put it on real plates just as Lenora steps in the room with my guards.

"Oh, I thought it was just take out. This looks gourmet,” Lenora looks impressed.

"Well, the plates help. Come on, sit down and let's eat. I still need to get a shower before we get our day started," I wave them over to the table and take my spot. The distraction of being able to eat with my pack members is exactly what I need to get my mind off of Bronx for a while.

When we finish eating, I get myself together for the day and we get started. Lenora and Tyree get settled in the conference room to help families with the relocation registration while Marco, Elder Randall and I push through building after building, house after house, assessing the value and determining what we can sell at auction. The pack members who choose to come to Blood River will be allowed to take their belongings, but most of the furniture and things like that are the property of Silver Moon. Most of what we find is shabby and run down. There is very little we will be able to sell. I mark most of it to be donated to charity or to be incinerated.

Except for the lunch break Marco makes me take, we work straight through until dinner. When Marco makes me stop.

"Luna, please sit. You need to eat,” he calmly informs me.

"Marco, we're almost done. Only six more houses, then we're finished with this part," I feel myself whine. I don't need to eat. I need to keep busy to keep my mind off of Bronx.

"Kas, don't make me ask twice. I got orders," Marco hisses through gritted teeth. His professional voice erodes and his heavy Spanish comes forward, "Alpha says you need to eat, So you need to eat."

I roll my eyes and cross my arms over my body, “Alright, fine."

He pulls me out to the porch and sits me on the step while he goes to the car. He comes back with a cooler that has another to go box inside, "I should heat it up but there ain't no microwaves in these places.”

see spaghetti and meatballs with two pieces of garlic bread inside. I stab at a meatball with the plastic fork and take

the pool house,” he explains. He pulls out his phone and aims it at me to take a picture, "Smile for the

a fork full of pasta into my mouth. He snaps

send proof you been eating like he ordered. No better proof than a picture," Marco

picture you sent? I laugh

could I send him? It will make him laugh,"

do you?" Elder Randall asks as he steps out of the little house. The expression on his face makes me uncomfortable, but

Lenora and Tyree to order something from the kitchen for you. It will be ready by the time we

fine. I can have an omega bring my meal to my suite when

don’t have to confront Randall or share my garlic bread with him, but I want to talk to him about the way he has run the pack for the last two years. I look at Marco and

at his watch. I recognize

eating, we can get back to work. It has been taking fifteen minutes per house, so we should be done in about an hour

just call

darken slightly for a moment, then back

just fine,” he

I beckon Randall to sit down with me, "Elder Randall, please sit. A request from a

my back stiffen at him using my full name, but I don’t correct him.

Alpha Regent Bronx. Over the course of the last two years, you have run this pack further into the ground than a drunkard, abusive Alpha ever could. The treatment of the people here is appalling. As a member of the Elder Council, you should be ashamed of yourself,” I scold the man in as calm a voice as I can, but I notice in the evening light, a slight