Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future
Chapter 218

Chapter 86

Bronx's POV

When I get back to pack house, there is a distinct negative energy in the air that feels like Kas. If I didn't know better, it's almost like she lost her temper or something and it seems to influence everyone. Even Ashley seems grumpy. "Ashley, is Kas back? Have you seen her?" I ask when I see her walk by.

"She's in her office. Why?" Ashley snaps at me.

Okay. That's weird. Ashley has never once in the twenty-five years I've known her, come close to raising her voice at me. Even when my mental health was at its worst and I almost killed Reggie. She was nothing but forgiving and worried about me. Maybe it's pregnancy hormones?

"Ashley, watch yourself," I step in front of her, blocking her path, 'What's gotten into you?"

She looks at me like she is just realizing I'm there. Her face turns bright red with embarrassment, "Oh Alpha, I'm so sorry. What was I thinking? I didn't mean-,"

"It's all right, Ashley. Where's Kas?" I ask again.

"In her office with the rest of her team and the Manae leaders," she says more calmly.

'Thank you. Is this too stressful for you? Covering for Carly? I can replace someone else."

"Oh, no, Sir. I'm fine. Seriously. It's just for today. I'm happy to help," she says, nodding and backing away.

"Alright. But you tell me if you need a break, okay?" I look at her more carefully.

"Yes, Alpha!" she calls out as she turns and hurries away. 1

"Marco, James, where you guys at?" I mind link Kas's guards.

"In the Luna's office, sir. You should probably get up here. Things are getting a little tense," Marco links back, "and uh, kinda weird."

'That sounds like a bad combo," Saint puts in his two cents, "What are you waiting for, dummy?" 2

I run up the steps two at a time until I get to the fourth floor landing. The guards assigned to monitor me stay on my heels as the best they can.

When I get to the stairs to the fifth floor, two guards stand at attention, blocking the way.

"Alpha, are they expecting you?" the guard asks defensively.

"Excuse me?" I glare at him. Has everyone lost their minds today? Did he just ask me if I have permission to go to my private floor of the packhouse? 2

"I-I'm sorry, Sir," he says again, shrinking back a little.

"Step aside," I snarl. I don't have time for this shit. I glare as the guard moves to let me through.

'Who does this guard think he is?" Saint also snarls impatiently.

I stop for a second. When was the last time I spoke to a pack member like that? Something is definitely off. The negative energy filling the pack house is already affecting me. I can't imagine what it is doing to everyone else. Kas must have really been on a tear for it to last this long. I close my eye and take a deep breath, clearing my mind before I go up the steps.

There's another guard at the top of the steps who lets me through with a cautious look. I jog down the hallway until I see Tyree and another guard are in front of Kas's office door.

'Tyree, what the Hell is going on? What's with the extra security?"

"Alpha, things didn't go so hot in the botanical gardens today. Marco and I thought Lex was going to kill that Tessa girl," he admits, rubbing the back of his neck.

"Lex? Kas shifted in the botanical garden?" I feel the blood drain from my face. Why didn't anyone call me?

"No Alpha, Lex came to the surface. So did Tessa's wolf. Her name is Valor. I don't mean any disrespect to any of the Goddesses but that wolf...

she's one crazy bitch," he clarifies and shakes his head, "It was a hot mess."

I pause again. I have never heard Tyree say anything derogatory about anyone. He is always jovial and friendly, making everyone feel welcome.

"And all of them are in there now?" I point to the office door.

"Yes Alpha, and Marco, James, Musu, and Delilah," he has a scowl on his face as he looks toward the door.

'Bronx, why does it feel like everyone is trying to slow US down from getting to our mate?" Saint asks.

it does feel like that, doesn't it?" I agree with Saint for once. No one in the pack has ever questioned me trying to get to Kas before.

"Alright, I've got it from here, Tyree," I give him a nod and step up to the office.

I knock on the door and open it without waiting for a response.

The first thing I see is Tessa sobbing and rocking herself in her chair. Next to her is Katherine, with body posture as tight as a guitar string. Amari and Persephone are avoiding eye contact with everyone. Across the table, Marco and James are assessing the situation as calmly as possible. Then I see Musu and Delilah also trying not to make eye contact with anyone. The air is so thick with tension and anger that you could choke on it. 1

Everyone stops what they're doing when they see me except for Tessa, who can't stop crying. They all look at me as if they are silently pleading for help.

Seriously though, what is going on in here?

When I open the door fully, I see Kas at the head of the table, sipping a glass of wine. I swear when I blink my eye, the transparent outline of a man leans over and whispers in her ear. I make eye contact with the form, even though there are no eyes to speak of. I get a sense that it is smiling before it disappears instantly. The outline seemed familiar but I don't know why.

"Saint, did you see that?"

"A shadow of some guy mackin' on my mate?"

"It was a shadow of a guy, right? Did it look familiar to you?"

"Familiar? I don't know. It was a shadow, dummy. It looked like it was talking to her. Maybe he gave her the wine?"

I look again. I saw it when I first walked in, but my brain didn't process it. Kas is drinking wine. Kas doesn't drink. Time to get to the bottom of whatever's happening in my pack house.

I walk to the head of the table and squat down next to Kas. She is still looking at the people sitting around the table like she doesn't realize I'm right next to her. Anger is rolling off of her in crushing waves. She looks calm except for a slight glow of her aura. I look closer to see her eyes are also glowing violet. I turn my eyes up to Marco and James. They shake their heads and shrug.

I turn my eyes to Delilah and Musu. Delilah's eyes are the darkest blue I have ever seen. Almost black. She has her hand clutched against her chest. She slowly lifts it to her face, trying not to draw attention to herself, and makes a sma motion as if she were drinking from an invisible glass, then clutches her chest again. Her eyes open much wider, lifts her thumb close to her neck, and slides it across slowly. I nod at her in understanding.

I need to get the can of soda away from Kas. 3

"Hi Baby, you okay?" I speak softly as I look back at her.

"Hi Sweetheart, you're home!" Kas smiles sweetly, finally acknowledging me, "Yeah, we're totally fine."

'That's good, Baby. So what have you been talking about? How did it go at the botanical gardens?" I ask, careful not to touch her.

She takes another sip from the tumbler, "Oh, great! Tessa was just telling us how she planned to torture me for the rest of my life, but it's cool. That won't happen now. She's going to stay with US for a few while and work with a therapist instead. I offered it to her, anyway." 2

I look at Katherine, who is staring at me wide eyed. She mouths 'help' at me.

Kas points at Tessa and gives a cruel little chuckle, "And look at her, I don't see how she could possibly say no. Oh, and she is going to help the trainers with some new programs for the warriors and guards. Isn't that great?" "What's wrong with her?" Saint whimpers. He almost sounds like he is in a panic, "Bronx, help her. Something's wrong."

I feel my heart beat a little harder when Kas looks at me and takes one of her hands off the champagne flute and brushes the back of her fingers against my cheek. The sparks of our mate bond have never been stronger. I lean against her fingers and close my eyes, letting the sensation calm me down. 3

'Yeah, Baby. That's great. I'm glad you were able to work things out," I smile back at her, then look at the goblet in her hand. I could have sworn it was a regular wine glass when I walked in...or was it a champagne flute..." Hey, could I get a sip of that? It looks delicious."

"Of course, Bronx. I hope you like it. They made it special for me," she hands me the highball glass with a huge smile.

As soon as the cup touches my fingers, I can feel it vibrating with dark magic. The wine turns to sludgy black tar and smells like pure acetone mixed with wolfsbane mixed with liquid silver. I slowly stand up and throw the brandy glass across the room as hard as I can. It smashes with an explosion, leaving a deep gash in the wall behind her desk. The liquid sizzles as it dries and dissipates from existence. 1

There is a noticeable shift in energy in the air. If I had to describe it, I would say all the anger that was leaking out of Kas instantly got pulled back in. Regardless, I feel like I can breathe again.

Everyone in the room takes a collective breath of relief and starts whispering to each other, except for Tessa, who is still crying. Kas looks like she just woke up from a dream. I observe her carefully. She doesn't look like someone who was just casually drinking poison in a room full of werewolves, goddesses, and a witch.

"Bronx? When did you get here?" She asks, standing up smiling at me again. She looks back at her desk, "What happened to the wall?"

"Maybe we should let your sisters leave. Finish your meeting tomorrow. What do you say?" I reach my hand out for her. She obliges and puts her hand in mine, then looks at her sisters.

"No, not yet. I have more questions," she says with a little frown.

"Come on, Baby. I haven't seen you all day," I gently pull her closer to me and sit down in her chair. She happily sits on my lap and puts an arm around my neck.

"Okay, but I have more questions to ask. I just need a few more minutes," she points to her index cards on the table. She sounds like she is completely back to her old self.

"Luna, if I can make a suggestion. Let's give Tessa a chance to rest before dinner. There is nothing that can't wait until tomorrow morning," Musu puts down the lid to her laptop, "Besides, I could use a little nap myself."

"Oh yes, me too, Kas. Just a quick nap before our big dinner would be wonderful," Delilah quickly agrees with Musu.

Kas looks around the room and frowns a little, "Alright, I will see you all at dinner. We can pick up after breakfast tomorrow."

She gives me a quick kiss and hops off my lap so she can open the door and lets everyone out.

"Are you coming, Sweetheart?" she asks when she realizes I haven't stood up yet.

"I'll be there in just a minute, Baby. I want to get a quick report from Marco and James."

She shrugs her shoulders, "Okay. You know where to replace me."

I wait for a full thirty seconds after she closes the door before I turn to her guards.

'What the Hell just happened? Did you see that shadow? Please tell me I'm not the only one who saw it."

"Shadow, no but that cup that appeared out of nowhere?" Marco leans forward and puts his hands on his forehead in disbelief, "It had some sorta effect on her that everyone else could feel."

"I don't know about a shadow either, Alpha, but don't worry. We have the whole meeting recorded," James says, pointing up to the security camera above the door.