Page 16 of Banishing Regrets

She still couldn’t believe what had happened last night. After years of denying what was between them, they’d finally allowed themselves to feel. Not long after she’d met Heath, she’d known she’d marry him and bear his child. She loved him with all her heart and missed him dearly, but with Kas, after their first meeting, she’d felt the same. If it was possible to be in love with two men at the same time, then Jane had been for most of her life. Hearing Kas finally admit he felt the same way had given her all the incentive she needed to finally open her heart up again to love. There were no guarantees Kas wouldn’t leave her in the same circumstances as Heath had when he’d died, but she didn’t want to go on not knowing and never again experiencing love and affection. She was young still, not old. She finally felt like a woman again, and happiness warmed her heart.

Kas stirred in the bed. He blinked several times as sleep left him, and he realized where he was and remembered what had happened. Jane knew what he was thinking by the look on his face. She braced herself for a possible rejection.

“Good morning,” Kas greeted her formally as he sat up in the bed.

He rubbed his eyes. His longish hair was messy where she’d run her hands through it when he’d taken her for a second time last night. He’d gone down on her and feasted like the animal he was as she tangled her hands in the tendrils of his hair, holding him close to her core.

“Morning,” she replied tentatively.

“What time is it?” Kas questioned, looking around her room for a clock. She didn’t have one. She used her phone, which was on the table in front of her.

“It’s just after ten am,” she informed him, still nervous.

“What?!” Kas exclaimed in shock. “I don’t think I’ve ever slept that late.” He looked dumbfounded.

“We had quite a late night in the end.”

“We did.” Kas pulled back the cover and confidently walked, naked, over to her. The sight of his muscular body took her breath away. “And I don’t regret a moment of it. You’re mine now, Jane. Mine. Forever.”

He pressed his lips to hers, and she felt heat pool in between her thighs, ready for him to take her again.

They didn’t have a chance to deepen the kiss, though, as a commotion came from downstairs. There were loud voices and shouting. Kas pulled away from her and froze. A few seconds later, there was a knock on Jane’s bedroom door, but before she could call out, it opened, and Katia, the tigress shifter, poked her head into the room.

“Sorry to disturb you, Kas. You’re needed downstairs. Urgently.”

Jane jumped to her feet while Kas pulled his pants on and buttoned them at the waist. She followed him downstairs as quickly as possible. Katia led them into the lounge where most of the pack was already assembled. As they parted ways to allow Kas through, Jane noticed a heavily pregnant woman lying on the couch and next to her was a man almost as imposing as Kas. He growled anytime someone came near the woman. Sitting on the couch, at the woman’s feet, was another man she recognized instantly as Isobel’s brother, Kingsley. Recollection dawned on her that the other two people were, Lily and Hunter. Hunter, a wolf shifter, was the alpha of his own pack.

“What happened?” Kas instantly took command while she stayed by his side.

“Humans,” Hunter snarled. “They came for us in force. The only way to have stopped them would have been to shift, but we couldn’t. We didn’t want to attack them. Half my pack is now scattered, and the other half captured by the humans. We barely managed to escape. Jessica, can you check to see that Lily and the baby are all right. They tried to attack her, but as you can see, I defended her as much as possible.

Isobel came to Kingsley's side and embraced him. He winced with a sharp intake of breath.

“Kingsley fought to protect her as well,” Hunter informed them, and Isobel let out a little gasp.

The entire room fell silent as Jessica went to the woman on the couch. She was crying and cradling her pregnant stomach.

“Let me check,” Jessica encouraged, and Lily lowered her arm.

“I’ve not felt any movement in a while,” Lily told Jessica.

Jane reached out and took Kas’ hand, fearing the worst.

Jessica placed her hand on Lily’s stomach as everyone in the room stood silently waiting for news.

Lily suddenly gasped and placed her hand back on her stomach. “I felt the baby,” she sounded triumphant. “What did you do?”

“He was hiding, scared. Your worry was manifesting within him. I took his fear away by telling him his mommy and both daddies were safe.”

“He?” Lily queried.

Jessica brought her hand to her mouth in guilt. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. Didn’t you know?”

Lily shook her head.

“We weren’t going to find out before the birth, but it really isn’t important. Please don’t worry. Just knowing he’s safe is all that matters.” Tears formed in Lily’s eyes, and Kas brought Jane closer to him.

“Kingsley, why don’t you take Lily up to the room where you normally stay when you’re here,” Kas ordered. “Isobel, Katia, will you help get them settled? Zain, can you assist with cleaning and bandaging any wounds Kingsley has sustained?”

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