Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Chapter 73

Marco's POV

I groan and lean my head on the table. I hate this. My family lineage is not who I am, and I hate people knowing about it.

"No. I ain't a Beta. My uncle is a Beta. My dad is the younger brother, so he didn't get no ranked title. I'm just a pack warrior, like you, James," I sit up and shake my head.

"So you're a regular old pack warrior with Beta blood?" James says with a whole lotta sarcasm in his voice.

"Actually," Alpha Bronx interrupts. I look up at him to see a sly look on his face.

"FINALLY, some damn recognition for who we are," my wolf Clash huffs.

Oh man, please don't do it. Please don't do it. I beg in my mind.

"He's a regular old pack warrior with Alpha blood," the Alpha finishes his thought.

Shit. Why'd he have to call me out like that?

"Because you do, ese!" Clash growls at me, "Stop denying it and GET OVER YOURSELF!"

"Alpha, please stop. I'm no Beta and I certainly ain't no Alpha," I can feel my face getting flush with embarrassment.

Clash groans at my statement.

"Hold up, Marco. I'm gonna need you to explain this to me better. Is it too early for a beer? It seems like this is a conversation to have over beer," James says. He sounds confused and looks a little pale.

"I will get you two a beer but I have more meetings this afternoon, so I'm going to stick to water for now," Alpha Bronx gets up from the table with a sly smile on his face and goes to the kitchen.

James and I just sit there in awkward silence until he gets back with a bottle for each of US. He sits down in his chair and leans back with his arms crossed.

"Alright, Marco, please proceed. I've never heard this from your perspective before. Just your dad's," Alpha Bronx makes a motion with his hand like he is giving me permission to tell the story and crosses his arms.

"So, like Alpha Bronx said, my old man came here when he met my mom. The Granite Mountain pack is tiny. My abuelo [grandfather] was a Beta.

When his Alpha retired and Alpha's son became new Alpha, he made my uncle Roberto the Beta. They don't got no Gammas. So there was no ranked position for my dad," I take a deep drink from my bottle and look at James to check his reaction.

'That doesn't explain how you could have Alpha blood, Marco," James looks at me like he's trying to find the truth in my eyes.

I sigh and take another drink before I talk again, "My abuelo's older brother was his Alpha. So technically, yeah, I could have Alpha blood, but I never got no blood tests to confirm it. I don't need to. I'm the youngest of five brothers. There ain' no situation where I would have to take a Beta's place let alone an Alpha's. I'm too far down the chain. There ain't no way any of that is part of my DNA. My oldest brother Luis, probably, but definitely not me."

"Marco, you're joking, right? Look how big you are compared to your brothers. Shit, you're almost as tall as Bronx and practically as strong as him. There's no way you don't have Beta blood. I would put money on you having Alpha blood, James says. His eyes are wide, like he can't believe that I don't have any special blood in me.

Alpha Bronx laces up his fingers and puts his hands on top of his head, still leaning back in his seat, "We could get the blood tests done if you wanted to, Marco. If it would make you feel better."

"I don't want no stupid blood tests, Alpha. It don't make a difference in who I am and what my life is. Nothing changes with whatever would show up on that piece of paper," I explain, "I don't want no one to treat me any different than they d now. I especially don't want them to think of me any different."

"Marco. Your lineage is something to be proud of. All those years your dad trained US growing up and no one ever said anything? Not your dad, your

brothers or you? Why?" James still don't understand why I try not to talk about it.

Marco sighs, "Dad's a proud guy. He didn't want people to know he came here because he couldn't be a ranked member somewhere else and he always taught US it didn't matter. The only thing that matters is hard work and to earn you keep." 1

"As your dad would say, 'you don't have to be the best at everything but put your best into everything you do.' You sound so much like him, Marco," Alpha Bronx smiles at me. 1

"Well, Marco, your secret is safe with me. But I will say, it makes more sense now that the Moon Goddess fated you to a Beta female," James nods approvingly.

'Thank you, James," I still feel like a thousand eyes are on me even though there is only three of US in the room.

"And congratulations on your promotion to lead guard for the Luna," he smiles and holds his bottle up. I finally let myself breathe a sigh of relief and clink my bottle against his.

"Well, congrats on your promotion to intelligence officer for the Luna," I laugh quietly in return before we both drink.

As we set our bottles down, someone giggles in the bedroom. It sounds like little jingle bells.

"Ah, that would be my mate," James smiles and pushes his chair back.

Musu's loud laugh that I love so much comes from the room next, then the Luna's little high-pitched giggle.

"Sounds like naptime is over, gentlemen. Let's collect our mates and get some food other than milkshakes into them," Alpha Bronx stands up from the table and motions for US to walk with him.

James and I follow him toward the sound of the giggling voices. I can feel my heart beat a little harder the closer I get to the room. Ever since Musu told me she was pregnant, I could smell something more complex than just her delicious cilantro and sweet fried platanos maduros scent. It is almost like sofrito; I guess. I don't know for sure, but it's like a drug. It makes me want to be close to her every minute of every day. Even more than before she was pregnant. She says must be the pups and not to get used to it because when they are born, it will go away. I hope not. 2

"Well, well, well, what do we have here? Three beautiful ladies trading secrets?" Alpha Bronx says as he reaches the doorway. He takes a couple of steps into the room, so that me and James can get around him.

I see Kas's face light up the way it does only when the Alpha speaks to her. Her violet eyes get even more twinkly than usual. She sits up a little higher and talks to him like we ain't in the room, "Wouldn't you like to know."

Delilah squeals a little when she sees James and climbs off the side of the bed to greet him. She leans against him and gives him little pecks on the cheeks and his mouth while smiling at her, kissing her in return. When I tell you, James neve used to smile, I mean it. He was as serious a guy as they come. Now whenever he sees his mate or even talks about her, he could light up a room with that smile. His entire world changed when he met Delilah. You can see it in his eyes. He's gonna be a great dad.

"James, you two are welcome to go eat at the conference table in my office," Alpha Bronx says, tipping his head in that direction down the hall.

'Thank you, Bronx," James replies, taking Delilah by her thin hands and leading her out of the room.

"Kas, I'll be back soon! We have cooking competitions to catch up on!" Delilah yells from the hall.

"Corazon," I smile as I stand next to the bed and hold my hand out to my mate. She takes it and carefully slides off the bed while I help her balance her weight. Her shirt can't hide her beautiful belly anymore and I can't get enough. She is s damn beautiful. I'm pretty sure I'm the luckiest son of a bitch in the world because she lets me pull her into my arms and kiss her right there in front of Kas and Alpha Bronx. It's only been a few hours since I saw her, but it feels like a full week She takes one of my hands and moves it to her belly.

'They knew you were here, Mon Loup. They could sense you. That's what woke me up," she beams. It takes everything I have to not bend down and kiss her belly in front of everyone.

"I got lunch ready for you next door. You hungry?" I ask, looking at her

closely, "A-are you okay, Musu? Something seems different."

"I am better than okay, Marco. Kas took away our fatigue and helped US calm down so we could sleep for a while. I feel like a million dollars," Musu smiles with her arms wrapped around me.

"Oh she did, did she?" Alpha Bronx chimes in as he sits at the end of his bed. He's squinting his eye, looking straight at Kas, who is squinting her eyes right back at him.

Kas caves after about five seconds and giggles as she climbs down to the end of the bed and into his lap. She looks even tinier when she is on his lap than she normally does. When he wraps his arms around her you can't hardly tell she's there. All you can see is her legs sticking out from under his big hug.

Musu covers her mouth to stop herself from laughing when she hears Kas giggling and the bits of whispers from Alpha Bronx that are making her giggle. I put my finger to my lips and lead her out of the apartment to give the Alpha some time with his mate. And to be honest, I could use some time with my mate too. I have a promotion to tell her about.