Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Saint wrapping himself around me feels like a soft, heat-generating cloud. His scent is familiar and comforting. The only thing that would be better would be Bronx and my limbs entangled.

The morning light intrudes in the room and crawls across my face. I stretch sleepily and find that I have a stiff neck and a chill around me. Saint must have adjusted positions at some point in the night because his fur cocoon is not forming a barrier of warmth around me. I tug on my blanket to cover myself better but it doesn't budge.

"Saint, you have a fur coat, stop hogging the blanket," I groan.'

A pair of strong arms creates a cage around me, as if by instinct, and pulls me close to a hard chest. The familiar light snoring of Bronx against my ear sets my heart alight. "Bronx?" I whisper disbelief. I roll over in his arms so I'm facing him. His breath hitches a little but he continues the slow rhythmic breathing of sleep. I don't know when he shifted, but he is naked under the blanket. Could he have shifted in his sleep and not realize it or did he shift and crawl back onto the cot with me?

Something about him seems different. I gently caress the scruff on his chin and give his jaw a gentle kiss. I look closer at his features. Even in a relaxed state of sleep, he seems like a weight has been lifted off of him. The furrow of his brow is slightly lessened, making him look a bit younger. "See something you like?" he smirks with his eye still closed.

"Bronx, oh my Goddess," I burst into tears. I can't help it. The stress of the events from yesterday and last night are released all at once now that I'm in his arms.

"Baby, no, please don't cry," he opens his eye and sits up, pulling me into his lap to comfort me.

"You left, I needed you," I sob as he wipes my tears and rocks me in his arms.

"Shhh. I'm sorry, Kas. I was an asshole in so many ways yesterday. I'm so, so sorry. I should have been there. I shouldn't have walked away. I was wrong. I hope you can forgive me," he says as he pushes my hair out of my face. He puts his hand on one side of my face and kisses my temple on the other side.

"Let me go get the doctor, so we can check you over," I can't stop staring at him. What if I look away and he is gone again? I can't let that happen, "Then we can go upstairs and talk where it's a little more comfortable." "Alright, but I don't want to let you go right now. Give me a minute," he says as he pulls me tightly against his body and deeply breathes into my hair. I have to fight the arms of the octopus to get out of his grip so I can get the doctor and get him clothes, but I manage.

By the time I'm back, the doctor is checking Bronx's vitals and says he can be discharged. I hand him his clothes and step out into the hall with the doctor.

"Luna, please make sure he doesn't over exert himself for the next few days. I still don't know what triggered his condition yesterday," he says with concern in his voice. "I understand, doctor. Thank you," I say gratefully.

"Luna...d-did you use your healing abilities?" he asks. His face is full of curiosity and excitement.

"Yes, I did," I smile.

"That's amazing. If it is ever convenient, I would love to observe when you heal someone."

"I am sure the opportunity will arise at some point."

"Thank you, Luna," he smiles as he walks away.'

Bronx steps out of the room, fully clothed and adjusting his eye patch to sit comfortably on his face. Now that he is awake and moving around, the air of appearing to have an invisible weight lifted off him is more evident. We walk hand in hand up to our apartment.

"Why don't you go sit on the sofa, Baby. I just want to get some water." 2

I sit on the sofa, remembering what Delilah said. I sigh at the thought of having to hold any information back from my mate, but I understand why she wants to speak to Lady Camille first.

"Alright, Baby. Is it alright if I go first?" he asks, sitting facing me. He subconsciously takes my hands in his and kisses them. Bronx proceeds to tell me about how scared he was when I wouldn't snap out of my vision and how hot my hands got. He told me how worried he was about the people standing in the hall and the guilt he felt for slapping me. Then he described his experience next to the river and the Moon Goddess sending him a message. He says having her reassurance gave him something he hadn't had in a long time. Hope.

I listen intently, not interrupting. I don't want him to stop. He rarely opens up to anyone like this and he sounds so excited. Not just On the surface but deeper. A look of concern comes over his face when he describes his sudden shift, and how he wasn't able to communicate with Saint. He doesn't remember shifting back when he was in the hospital wing, so it must have happened in his sleep.

"Saint is back, but I feel like he can't speak. It is different from the connection being blocked. It's like he doesn't remember how to communicate with me. Like our connection is three quarters complete," Bronx explains. When I'm sure he's done, I reply to him, "Well, I know someone who is getting pretty good at healing werewolves. If you're interested, I could get you an appointment or two," I give him a little smirk.

"Very funny, smart aleck," he reaches forward and kisses me, "I already discussed this with the doctor. I'm going to try to see if the wolf therapist can help him first. If he doesn't have any luck, then you can root around in my brain. Now it's your turn. Spill. What was your vision about other than the impossible thing you already said right after it happened?"

I notice he refuses to use my words but I remember them very well, 'Saint killed me.' I sigh deeply and avert my eyes, "I, um, Delilah asked me not to discuss it with you until she is able to speak with Lady Camille to try to find a way to stop it. And I think it is a good plan, Bronx. It's not that I don't want to tell you, its that it doesn't make sense to tell you until we have some sort of plan of action to try to prevent it from coming true."

Bronx lowers his eyes with disappointment," Kas, th-the way you flinched when I tried to wipe your tears..."

His voice breaks as he speaks, "I don't know what to do with myself if you are scared of me."

"Bronx, Delilah observed my premonition. Then she took the emotion related to it away, "I blurt out. It's as close as I'm going to be able to get to not break my word to Delilah. "What do you mean, she took your emotion away?" He looks wary.

"I think she sucked it out?" I say tentatively, " She had me drink this super gross drink, and she was standing behind me, so I'm not sure what she was doing back there for sure."

A complicated look comes over his face. "She did the right thing, Bronx," I look him in the eye with conviction, "you have to trust me on this."

"A-alright. I trust you Kas. I'm not happy about it, but I trust you. Just please be careful with all that magic stuff. I don't think Delilah has any intentions of hurting you, but you never know. Accidents happen," his face is full of anticipation and worry.

"I promise," I cross my heart with my hand, "on one condition."

"What's your condition?" he leans against the back of the couch, squinting his eye at me. "I change my meditation time to the evenings and you start meditating with me. Maybe that in addition to the therapy will help you connect with Saint."

"Three times a week?" He tries to negotiate. "Four times a week, we can do one on Saturday mornings after you finish training," I counter.

"You drive a hard bargain," he rubs the scruff on his chin, "but you got a deal."

I smile as he leans forward to kiss me, "Let's get a shower then we can go down and get lunch. I'm starving."