Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Kas's POV

Bronx looks like a swamp monster as he walks towards me with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth. I stand up when I see him, putting my hands over my mouth with a little gasp.

We make eye contact. With all the mud, I can't read his expression, but I can feel his pain. Not physical pain, emotional pain.

"IT need you," he growls as he walks past Milo and Lenora. He leans over, wraps his muddy arms around my waist, and picks me up. He doesn't even break his stride. He just keeps walking. There's a squishing sound where his skin contacts my clothes. Welp, I guess this outfit is done for.

After listening to everything Milo and Lenora just told me, I had no idea what reaction to expect when Bronx got back, but it certainly wasn't being thrown over the shoulder of a swamp monster.

"Uh, bye guys. Thanks for the talk," I wave at Milo and Lenora. They wave back with confused looks on their faces.

"Want to tell me what's going on, Bronx?" I ask as he climbs the stairs.

He just grunts as he carries me, wrapping his arms around my legs in a tight bear hug up the stairs to the fifth floor. Instead of going to my suite, he opens the door to his apartment and kicks it closed behind him. He carries me all the way to his bedroom and sits me on the edge of the bed. Instead of sitting up and looking at me, he lays his muddy head next to my hip, his heavy, muddy chest is in my lap, and his arms still tightly around my waist.

I smooth his muddy hair as he silently holds on to me as if his life is depending on it. Ican feel his emotions, he feels tormented. Maybe his life does depend on it? I feel helpless seeing him like this.

Please. Whatever it is, I'll listen," I soothe

eyes grow wide. Uhh, what? He's

cry. He shakes his head back and forth as he sobs. His whole chest heaves as he whimpers and tries to catch his breath. We sit like this for some time until he starts to calm down. It's clear this reaction isn't just because of witches. This is built up stress that he's been holding on to for a long time. I feel a

so I can look at his face. Like a big baby, he won't look at me. He lifts his face to the ceiling, stopping me from seeing his tears but it's my turn to wipe tears away. Well, tears and mud, but you get the idea. I press on his chin gently, pushing his face down so he is

tone as I caress his cheek, "Please don't hide from me. I can take care of you just as much as

This is my burden and mine alone. I just-I don't know what to do with

just take my

trembles, "I don't know what to do Kas. I need to do what's best for you but I also need to do what's best for the pack, and right now those things are conflicting.

I let him stay like that until his breathing settles. We're both going to need showers after this. "T bet that smells like nothing but mud," I joke, trying to lighten the mood. I'm also trying to stall until I figure

you?" The sounds of crying fading from his voice. "Coffee and dark chocolate, it's almost like

in the eye, "Bronx, next time,

my responsibility to keep the pack safe. We can talk through these sorts of things if you just speak to me instead of walking away. Besides, I would never want you to make a decision that would be

to hurt you, Kas. I didn't want to say something in anger that would push you away or make you think you did something wrong," he looks me in the eyes, trying to read

been treating me with such care for the past few weeks. It's like I'm a bomb that's going to go off at any second. Yes, I still have a lot of healing to do, but I'm working on it. Who knows, maybe I'll never be fully over all the crap

deep breath. Trying to explain how serious I am doesn't seem to be getting into his head. I need to take action. Here goes nothing. I grip both sides of his face and look him straight in the eye as I slowly pull him toward me until our lips touch. Lex is