Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future
Chapter 33

"T think the one thing I still don't understand is when you talk about our lives that haven't happened yet. You're a goddess, so you are going to keep being reincarnated. I just have a regular old human spirit," I try to justify when she is done talking.

"Actually...you're not just a regular human spirit. Just like my spirit is tied to Lex, yours is tied to Saint. I've just been attached to her longer. Your spirit had to come into existence before it could be linked to Saint's. Can you believe we've been together before? In our previous lives. Which means, so have Saint and Lex," she talks excitedly as she piles the food in layers in a ceramic dish.

She looks up to see me looking at her in disbelief. I am trying to connect the dots of what she's saying. I swear I'm not usually this dense.

"Pick your jaw up off the floor, Sweetheart. I'm not the only one who's been reincarnated here, Bronx. You have been too. Lots of times. It's easier for Saint and Lex to remember for some reason. Ask Saint, he'll tell you." • "Saint, is that true? Do you remember being connected to me for eight hundred years?" "Yeah, of course," his tone is so matter of fact that you would think he has told me all this before.

"Do you remember being with Lex before?" "Why do you think I miss her when we don't get to see her? I was made for her and I have loved every minute of it. She's amazing," he swoons over his mate, "You have Kas, I have Lex. We were mates for the first time eight hundred years ago. We have never had another mate. You and Kas's names change, but it's always your essences, your spirits. You've been mates with Kas at least fifteen times, I think. I don't know for sure. I've lost track."

My eyes widened at the realization, "So we were actually made for Kas and Lex?"

"That's a good way to put it. The Goddess made us extra strong since Kas is a goddess. It's the only way we can be with her and not get hurt. That's why you're an Alpha. Anything less and she could accidentally destroy us and if she did, poof, our spirits' journey would be over."

"Why are you just now telling me this, Saint?" "T tell you all the time that she is our mate. It's not my fault you're a dummy and don't understand. Imagine if I was going on and on about past lives. You would never have believed me." =

Kas watches me patiently while I have my internal conversation with Saint. When I'm finished, I pull her closer to me possessively," So we've been together basically forever? Since the beginning of my human spirit?" "Yeah, Sweetheart. Forever in the past and forever in the future," Kas cocks her head to the side slightly and smiles softly as she searches my eye for any doubt.

It's difficult to wrap my mind around, but I love the idea of it. As her words linger in my mind, I hold her close. I was made for her. In that moment, that bit of knowledge made me feel even more protective of her Someone would have to get through me first and no one gets through me. No one.

As I'm holding her, the thought that she and Lex have been connected over three thousand years longer than I have existed sinks in. I bristle at the thought of who she was connected to before that time.

"Now you're really being a dummy, Bronx," Saint chides, "You. Didn't. Exist. Let it go, Romeo."

He's right. I let the thought extinguish at his words and let myself breathe in Kas's scent deeply to calm myself.

"Ohhh, that must be what she meant," I break the comfortable silence. Letting everything Kas has just told me marinate has given mea minute to come to a realization.

"What who meant?" Kas asks quizzically.

"So you know that purple glowy aura thing that happens when we're together?" I look lovingly into her sparkling violet eyes. "Mmm, yeah, I know. That's our connection strengthening," Kas says with a little smirk. "The last time I was here, Lady Camille told me I should embrace it when that happens. I think her exact words were 'lean into it'." "Haha, that sounds like a very Lady Camille thing to say, but she is right That is the time our spirits are the most open to each other. The aura helps our spirits connect more closely," she smiles as she pulls away from me to clean up the dishes from prepping the meal. She washes while I dry and put things away. Before I know it, a steaming serving of shepherd's pie is sitting in front of me. Just like anything Kas cooks, it's the best I've ever had. °

I pull her close to me and whisper in her ear, " So, the purple glowy thing."

"Uh-huh," she bites her bottom lip, looking up at me mischievously.

'What do you say we go see how bright we can make it?" I say with a little growl.

A huge grin comes over her face and, without a word, Kas grabs my hand and pulls me to the bedroom.

Monday morning comes too soon. We wake up early so we can give Saint and Lex a few hours to spend together in the woods, then head back to the coven house.

Kas goes to replace Lady Camille while I get James and Delilah, so we can tell them about our decision. I knock on James's door and hear some shuffling and whispering from inside. James cracks the door open with a little growl for whoever is interrupting what he was doing.

"Alpha!" he says, surprised to see me. He opens the door wider and stands at attention, with a towel covering his lower half.

"At ease, James. You and your mate get freshened up, meet me, Luna lokaste, and Lady Camille in the front sitting room. We need to speak with the two of you," I use my best poker face so I don't alert him about what is about to happen.

"Yes, Alpha," he gulps hard with a worried look. I nod and turn away to go replace Kas.

I make my way to the sitting room to see Kas and Lady Camille already sitting, having lemonade. Since James is one of my warriors, I choose to remain standing to address him. James and Delilah finally come to the room holding hands, looking very nervous. Delilah looks like she could cry at any moment, or maybe she already had.

"Alpha Bronx, why don't you lead this conversation?" Lady Camille requests.

"Thank you, Lady Camille. James, Sister Delilah, we all know how important the mate bond is for werewolves and occasionally, their non-werewolf mates," I motion to Delilah, "When Lady Camille told me that one of my top warriors found his mate in her coven, I was surprised, to say the least. But when I saw the way you two looked at each other, I knew it was not my place to go against the Moon Goddess's wishes. I also recognize the Goddess Hecate also must have agreed with this destiny. I went back to Blood River and did a lot of research. As did my Beta and Gamma until we came up with a solution to allow the two of you to be together."

I hand each of them a copy of the charter," This is a charter outlining laws and provisions for situations like yours. I need both of you to read and agree to the terms of this charter. If you do, then Sister Delilah, Lady Camille has already given her consent for you to come live with us and become a member of the Blood River pack, that is, if you want to."

James's eyes grow big as a wave of relief comes over him. Delilah squeals as she covers her mouth with both hands and starts to cry tears of joy. James pulls her into a tight hug, kissing her forehead and stroking her blond hair.

He quickly composes himself, "Alpha, permission to take the papers back to my room so we can review."

"Granted," I nod at him.

Delilah strides across the room and kneels before Lady Camille, taking Camille's hands in hers, "Mother, thank you. Thank you so much!

"My beautiful daughter, how could I ever deny you an opportunity to love someone unconditionally?" Lady Camille asks, tears dot the corners of her eyes.

Daughter?! Now I realize the gravity of the situation. If Delilah stays at the coven, one day she would be Lady Camille's successor. She is giving that up to be with her mate. Lady Camille is allowing the future Mother of the coven to give up her lineage for love.

Lady Camille kisses Delilah's hands and stands up, "I have one more announcement before we break."

We all give her our attention. Now that they are standing next to each other, I see the resemblance between the two.

"Based on what Luna lokaste has told me, I believe we can shorten the duration of her stay, and therefore shorten James, Marco, and Sister Delilah's stay as well.

"Alpha Bronx, when you come back in two weeks, I would like to request you stay the weekend so we can perform some ceremonies, but then you will be able to take your entourage back to Blood River with you."

My heart leaps for joy. It almost doesn't register that Kas squeals and is hugging me around the waist.

Moon Goddess, thank you!

I reach down and pick Kas up by her waist. She wraps her arms and legs around me letting me kiss her deeply.

I pull away just long enough to say, "I'm so proud of you, Baby. So proud."