Page 20 of Banishing Regrets

“Again, what?!” Zain exclaimed for the third time. This time, he walked away from her and strode purposefully over to the lake. He reached into a patch of long grass and retrieved a honey pot from among the fronds. He shifted his hand to a bear’s paw and dipped it straight in.

“I’m sorry,” Isobel apologized.

“Don’t be.” Zain walked back toward her with the pot of honey in his hand. “I’m sorry. This whole thing has me a bit stressed. Kas wouldn’t have let you go anywhere if he didn’t think you’d be safe.”

He offered her some honey. She was the only one who was allowed to have any of the precious nectar Zain collected. She shook her head.

“I’m so scared.” Isobel felt the tears falling down her face again. She wiped them away. “The president wouldn’t even listen to us. He said it concerns all the governments of the world now. It’s gone too far. Maybe in the future there will be an accord, but for now, all shifters have to be rounded up and registered. Zain they’re going to come for you.” A loud gasp of anguish came from Isobel’s mouth. “I’ve been apart from you for far too long. We’ve barely had any time together. I can’t live without you again. What are we going to do?”

Zain placed the honey pot down on the ground and wrapped his arms around her.

“I don’t know the future. I wish I did, but I’ll fight tooth and nail to be with you forever, Isobel. You’re mine—my mate.” Zain shifted his paw back to a human hand and gently pulled the collar of her dress away from her neck, revealing the bite mark he’d made there. The symbol of him claiming her. “No one can take away what I’ve claimed. Kas will do everything in his power to save us all, and we’ll do everything in our power to help him. We’ll win this fight because there is no other option.” Zain pressed a kiss to her lips. She savored his taste. Her father’s repulsion for shifters had meant Zain had to disappear from her life until recently. She’d not lived during those years without him, she’d just existed, and she couldn’t go through that again. “We’ve got a man with an amazing brain leading us, some of the best fighters in the world, a kick ass witch whose powers I’ll never understand, and to top it all off, we’ve got a dragon in the pack. How can we not win?”

Isobel let out a sob, which turned into a laugh as Zain tried to calm her down.

“You’ve forgotten one very important person.” She held him tightly. “A bear who’ll do whatever it takes to protect the honeys in his life, be it the pots of it he’s collected from bees or me. You’re right, Zain, we will win. We have to.”

Zain wiped away the last of her tears.

“Why don’t you grab the fish while I get dressed. We’ll head home, and I’ll remind you why I’m not going to leave you, and no one will be able to take you away from me. We fit perfectly together.” Zain winked at her and heat pooled between her thighs.

They would win this, easily. She didn’t know why she was even doubting her future. Zain loved her, and she loved him. That would be the advantage for the Glacial Blood pack in the end. They were so much stronger together than apart. No one could ever break that bond.

Twelve

The television seemedto be the only way the pack was able to find out information at the moment. It was too risky for Jessica to keep teleporting into premises, and as Selene was nursing her baby, she was too bit busy to be a fly on the wall when needed. Jane sat with the rest of the pack as the television announcer stated that, shortly, there would be a statement from the world’s governments concerning the shifter crisis. The entire pack had assembled, nervous about what was to come next.

Kas usually sat on his own chair, but he chose to sit next to Jane on a couch today. She was wrapped tightly in his arms, like she was a teddy giving him comfort from an impending doom. The only person missing from the room was Ethern. It still sat a little uneasy with Jane that he was now a reaper. She didn’t fully understand what it meant, but the fact he was working for Death scared the hell out of her.

The man who she’d been in a room with, a few hours ago, stepped up onto a platform. He was flanked on either side by prime ministers and presidents from a variety of countries that formed the world powers, including Great Britain, Canada, France, Germany, Australia, and China, to name but a few. So many powerful people in one place, all dead set against shifters.

The room fell silent. Couples were holding tightly to each other, while the babies of the pack slept soundly in their parents’ arms. Jane leaned farther into Kas, and he tightened his grip around her.

“It has come to our attention that a great threat lives among the human race. There are people who can turn at will into animals and maim us. These animals are feral and wild, even if they claim to be harmless. We, as leaders of our countries, need to do our best for all the people we serve, whether they are shifters or humans. That is why, effective immediately, we are declaring an amnesty for all shifters. If you report to your local government office and register, you will not be harmed but will be transported to shifter zones—these are designated areas currently being set up across Africa in places where the existing wildlife can accommodate your needs. This is the best option for you all, and the safest. If you refuse to comply, we will be forced to hunt you down, and I can’t say the same freedoms and rights will be afforded to you. In addition, if any humans are attacked, there will be a shoot to kill order in place.” The president paused and looked down. Jane got the feeling he was about to go off script from the way he turned over the papers he was holding. “I’ve been assured by people I trust that shifters are not a threat to the human race, but until we can form an accord and find a way forward, this is the best option for everyone on this great planet. I want us to be able to share our lives together in the future, but it will take time to build that trust. Currently, this is the only practical and safe way forward for all parties concerned.”

Jane saw the president sigh heavily. Isobel, Kingsley, and she had obviously affected him in some way, but it was beyond his control now.

“Any questions?” The president opened the floor up to the journalists in the room.

“This is going to be a train wreck.” Scott was the only person to speak.

Kas shook his head at the lion shifter, telling him to remain quiet for now. This was going to be the topic of conversation between them all for the rest of the day anyway.

The president pointed at one of the journalists.

“You are saying that you will only hunt down these shifters if they fail to comply, but what if we’re attacked in the meantime? I want to know I’ll be able to protect my family by whatever force is necessary.”

“You need to contact the proper authorities if you come in contact with a shifter. However, in line with current laws, reasonable force can be used for protection when necessary,” the president replied.

“What if these shifters are currently in our schools, teaching our children? Can you guarantee our children will be safe?” Another reporter questioned. “These are wild animals. We’ve already seen what has happened in the world. It’s the unknown that’s scaring us all.”

“I can understand your fear. I share it as well. I don’t know who the shifters are within my own White House and Senate. That is why we’re offering the amnesty and providing suitable accommodation for the shifters in African colonies, removed from the human population. I’ve been told the shifters do not want any trouble with us, and they are not the wild animals we fear. They have their own governing body and are preparing to deal with the small faction that is causing problems. I have been assured they are civilized people just like us. They want to coexist in peace with humans as they have done in secret for many years. We’re doing the best we can for all parties, but I have to ask,no, plead,for calm. It is the minority that are attacking humans, and they will be stopped, no matter what.”

“Well, that didn’t really answer my question. Mr. President, if you found out your son was being taught by a lion shifter who could turn into a wild beast at any moment and maul your child, how would you feel?” The journalist who had asked the previous question continued to press his point.

Jane felt sick. She knew that many shifters were teachers, especially lionesses because they had an amazing ability to protect and teach. You couldn’t want for better people looking after your children all day.

“Next question.” The president ignored the persistent journalist.

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