Forever in the Past and Forever in the Future

Once we settled on the flight, we all get to get to know Musu better. She is originally from Sierra Leone. Her mother is Beta Pierre's second chance mate. So Musu moved to Lune D'or when she was thirteen. Her accent is so elegant, it's almost hypnotizing. She tells us how much she has traveled internationally and how much she has enjoyed it.

"I have a question. How many languages do you speak exactly?" Delilah asks out of curiosity.

"I speak seven languages. Krio, English, French, Cantonese, Farsi, Dutch, and Greek. I love linguistics. I find that I'm able to catch on to new languages quickly," Musu proudly marks off the count with her fingers. I notice Marco admiring his mate but he has a concerned look on his face. If I had not spent so much time with him, I probably would not have noticed the subtlety.

Hearing about Musu's diverse background and love for languages sparks an idea in my mind. I tuck the thought away for later. She is a charming woman who is a wonderful storyteller. I can't wait for everyone else to get to know her.

When we land at the airport, I pull Marco aside under the ruse of needing to discuss training schedules while we wait for our luggage to be unloaded. "Marco, you looked worried about something on the plane. Is everything alright?" I question.

"I-I think so, Kas. I just...Musu is so smart. What if I'm not good enough for her. What if she gets bored of me. She's been all over the world. I'm justa glorified hit man," he mopes, slumping his shoulders.

We both turn to look at her while she speaks excitedly about something with Delilah. I hear him give a sigh of defeat beside me.

"Marco. First of all, the Moon Goddess knows what she is doing. Secondly, you have so much you can teach her. You have a whole language and culture she didn't mention knowing about. You have a whole lifetime to make new memories and to travel with her. She can learn just as much from you as you can from her," I reassure him.

"I didn't think of it that way. Thanks, Kas. I appreciate the pep talk, he smiles as we head back to our group.

kkk

When we get back to the packhouse, we notice everyone is flustered and on edge.

"What's going on?" Bronx asks an omega who is walking briskly past the entrance.

"Oh Alpha! I'm so happy you're back! Beta Lenora is in labor! The baby is coming! the girl says to him with a sense of panic.

"Is she in the hospital wing?" he asks urgently.

"Yes, Alpha, since this morning," the girl confirms.

"Thank you. Kas, it's too soon. She isn't due for three weeks. Come on!" We drop our bags and sprint to the hospital wing. Milo is pacing in the hallway but we can hear Lenora in the room screaming.

"Milo, why aren't you in there?" I ask in disbelief.

"I growled at the doctor and they kicked me out. Lenora didn't feel well yesterday and she made an appointment to see the doctor today but this morning she woke up and the sheets were covered in blood," Milo's eyes looked distant and distressed at the memory. His voice cracks when he speaks again, "I can't lose my girls. I just can't..."

Bronx put his arm over Milo's shoulder, "It's gonna be okay, man. You know we've got the best doctors in that room. Let's walk down the hall, burn some of that energy. We won't go far, just down there. The doctor will let us know when you can go back in.”

"Okay," Milo looks at the distance between the door and the end of the hall and reluctantly agrees.

As soon as they turn their backs, I open the door to the room just enough to slide in and step inside, closing it lightly behind me. Doctors and nurses are surrounding Lenora as she cries and screams in pain.

A nurse comes over and pulls down her mask to greet me, "Hello Luna, now may not be a good time."

"Nurse, if there is anything my healing abilities can do, I want to offer my services."

"Let me check with the doctor. I'm sure he could use the help here," she says with a furrowed brow. She pulls the mask back up and goes to whisper in the doctor's ear. He looks over and sees me and says something back to her. "Well, Luna, let's get you a gown," she says.

A minute later, I'm fully covered ina gown, a cap, and a mask. I walk over to Lenora's bedside.

“Lenora, sweetie. I'm here. I'm here to help," I say to her as wipe her damp hair out of her face. She is pale and sweaty and her green eyes are red and puffy from crying. It's a distressing contrast to the strong- willed, bossy Lenora that I know and love. °

"Kas, please! I can feel her getting weak. Please help me," Lenora cries before she contorts and screams from another wave of pain.

"Okay. Lenora, I'm going to use healing power on you, if that's alright? I'm going to put a hand on your forehead and one on your chest. I know it's hard, but I need you to try to stay as still as possible. Just think about wanting your baby to live, not about being afraid of what could happen. We need positive energy here, alright?"

She nods and sniffs, "Okay Kas, I trust you. Please save my baby."

"Doctor, you can keep doing whatever it is you need to. This won't interfere," I inform him.

"Lex, you ready?" I ask, "This is going to be a two for one. Lenora and the baby both need us."

"Anything for Lenora, Kas. Let's do this," she says with determination.

I place my hands and start focusing on Lenora and her baby. I sense there's a problem with the umbilical cord, it seems like there is a tear in it. That's where I focus first. I think of the fibers pulling back together, stronger than ever. Creating a solid bond with the baby's belly button. Then I focus on the baby herself. She is weak from the stress of early labor and not having enough to eat. I pull the chemicals related to both of their stress and replace it with calming healing energy, stabilizing Lenora's muscles around her so they will stop contracting, pulling nutrients from other areas of Lenora's body and filtering them to the baby. I focus on getting fresh oxygen into her blood cells until she doesn't feel like she is in distress anymore.

Asl send my positive energy to the baby, I feel the negative energy surrounding her fill me and start to dissipate. Lenora's cries get smaller until it is just a whimper. I continue to give her calm, positive energy until there is no more I can do for her and I open my eyes. The doctors and nurses are all standing back looking at me in awe as the light that surrounded us dims and extinguishes. I assume at some point, they would get used to it, but I haven't healed enough people yet for it to be acommonplace event. Lenora still looks pale, but she has lost a lot of blood, so it's to be expected. She takes my hand and starts crying again, but this time they are happy tears.

Milo bursts into the room with Bronx trailing behind, "Why'd the noise stop? Lenora? Are you okay, Sugar?"

"I'm okay. We're okay," she says as she puts her hand on her belly.

Milo looks at me and pulls me intoa bear hug, "Thank you, Little Sister. Oh my Goddess, thank you."

"Hey, hey, hey there Daddy Milo, get your mitts off my mate," Bronx says, only half joking.

I look at Bronx with sleepy eyes, "That one took a lot out of me."

Bronx comes to the side of the bed and scoops me up into his arms giving mea little kiss on my temple, "We're going to get this tired Luna to bed. Lenora, I will be back to visit in a little bit."

I put my face into Bronx's chest and breathe in his sweet scent before I drift off to sleep.

I wake up the next morning feeling much better and to the news that I saved both Lenora and the baby's lives. Everyone is calling me a hero, but really, how could I just stand by knowing there is something I can do to help. It's what a decent person would do. Right?

Three weeks later, little Codi Rose comes into the world right on schedule. She has her mother's green eyes and little wisps of light brown hair like her daddy. Lenora insists it will get darker as she gets older. Everyone is so enamored by her. When Milo or Bronx holds her, she looks like the size of a peanut. I stand back and wait for my turn. I know I will have a special connection with her since I had healed her at such a deep level. I'm just not sure what it will feel like in sucha small baby.

Milo carefully places her in my arms and she immediately stops making little fussy noises and gazes at me, "Hi Codi. Remember me? I'm your Auntie Kas."

I touch her cheek with my pinky finger and feel a faint warmth. Similar to Bronx and my connection, but much milder. She gives the cutest little sigh I have ever heard. I coo at her and rock her for a while until she starts to look sleepy.

"Still want to wait a few years?" Bronx whispers in my ear as he rubs my arm, " Based on that look, this little one is melting your heart."

"Yeah, I-I still want to wait," I say smiling at him. A pang of guilt touches my heart. I need to make it a point to speak to him about what Lady Camille told me, "Bronx, Codi and I havea connection. It feels kind of like ours. Just not as strong yet."

His eyebrows went up with a little surprise, "You can explain it to me later, okay? For now, it looks like she's asleep. Let's give her back to her Mama and we sneak out before she realizes you're gone."

I pass her to Lenora and we say our quiet goodbyes before we go back to the apartment.