Page 22 of Banishing Regrets

Idiots!

“Dumb thing. I think this one must be a shifter. He didn’t chase the stick. Let’s get him.”

The three men advanced on Tyler, all picking up logs or stones from the ground as they approached. He backed away until he felt himself forced up against a tree.

He bared his fangs, but it didn’t have any effect. These men were fueled with alcohol and his threats meant nothing to them. He couldn’t attack them. It wasn’t in his nature, so as they started to pelt him with sticks and stones, he accepted his fate. He felt the pain cascade through his body as they continued to assault him.

Suddenly, a large roar sounded out, and the men froze. It was followed by another and another.

“What the fuck?” The men stared at each other. The scent of piss and shit filled the air as the men lost control of themselves with fear. When Tyler finally caught a glimpse of what they were looking at, he wasn’t surprised. Scott, Katia, and Brayden stood before them in their shifted forms, and they were prowling closer.

“Run,” the men screamed at each other and booked it out of there, disappearing through the woodland.

All of the shifters transformed back into their human forms.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Tyler said as he rested back against the tree. His body ached, and he saw blood where he’d received several wounds.

“We didn’t have a choice in the matter.” Brayden took Tyler by the arm and helped him upright. “It seems my son isn’t just looking after his mother but also our friends.”

“What?” Tyler questioned.

“He’s right.” Katia supported his other side. “The three of us were chatting and all of a sudden we were shifting and here.”

“Wow!” Tyler exclaimed. “Your kid is great, Brayden. I’ll thank him later. Teagan and I definitely owe you a babysitting duty.”

“Do you think your son can return us home as well?” Scott spoke around a mouthful of the hare Tyler had just caught. “I don’t fancy the walk back, buck naked.”

“Heath?” Brayden called into the air and before any of them had time to think, they were all in the lounge of the Glacial Blood mansion, hares included.

Teagan was sitting on the couch, reading a book about Africa.

“Oh my God.” Tyler’s mate jumped to her feet and tripped over them as she tried to get to him. She was noted for her clumsiness, but he found it endearing. “What happened?”

“It’s okay, Teagan. I’m all right,” Tyler reassured her.

The other members of the pack nodded at him and left the room, Scott taking the hares with him.

“All right? You’re covered in blood.” Teagan checked over his body.

“Honestly, I’m fine. I was catching hares and some drunken humans attacked me. They didn’t have a clue whether I was a proper wolf or a shifter. Brayden, Scott, and Katia saved me after baby Heath transported them to me. I’m not worried about the men at all. They were too drunk to even remember what they were doing.”

“But that’s the point, Tyler.” Teagan took his hand and led him to their bedroom where she got a wet towel and started to clean his wounds. “We shouldn’t be attacked. A few months ago, even if drunk, those men would have been worried about encountering a wolf. They attacked you because we’ve assured them that shifters won’t harm them. It’s given them confidence. I’m scared. My wild dog doesn’t want to come out anymore, but at the same time, she’s pacing ferociously.”

“It will be all right.” Tyler pulled Teagan into his arms.

“You don’t understand, Tyler. I think I’m pregnant.”

Tyler’s breath caught in his throat. His heart pounded. Normally, he would rejoice at this news, but his ability to protect his family was limited with the rules the governments had put in place.

“It will be okay. We’ve got Selene’s powers to protect us now. Whatever prophecies have been set out are coming true.”

“What if the prophecies don’t tell the full story? What if, in the end, we lose? I think we should sign the register and go to Africa.”

Tyler pulled away from Teagan. “Are you serious?”

Teagan nodded. “I don’t want this baby to grow up without its father. The loss would be too much, Tyler. I don’t think I could be as strong as Jane. I’d fall apart without you.”

“I don’t plan on going anywhere. I promise I’ll be more careful, and I’ll stop shifting for now. We have to give it a little bit more time, though. Please, Teagan, a few more days.” Tyler placed his hand on his wife’s stomach. “If things get worse, I promise we’ll go to Africa, to be safe.”

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