Page 40 of Banishing Regrets

“I love you, Jane Dillion. I think it’s about time we made this official.”

Kas turned to all those assembled.

“Prepare a party and make it perfect. I want to take Jane as my mate.”

Epilogue

For the fifth time,in as many minutes, Kas stopped as a baby let out a cry of frustration. All he wanted to do was mate with Jane, but the ever growing little people in the pack decided that wasn’t going to happen. No, they wanted to crawl around the floor, feed, and in the case of his soon to be step-grandson, perform spells and transport different people wherever he wanted them to be. Kas wondered if it was possible to bind the baby’s powers.

“I thought all the sex was bad enough, but the little people it produces are even worse,” he grumbled.

The pack laughed at him as Jane took his hand and brought it to her belly.

“Are you sure about that? Because we’ll be having a little person of our own soon.”

Kas opened his mouth to say something, but no words came out. Jane was carrying his child.

“Seriously?” he finally managed to ask.

Jane nodded with a happy smile on her face. “I was going to tell you later when we were alone, but as usual, you’re being grumpy, so I thought I’d make you happy.”

“I just want to have time with you as my wife. I’m allowed to be grumpy with all these interruptions.” Kas gave Jane his best puppy dog eyes.

“You are. What do you think? Are you all right with becoming a father? I know we haven’t been together for long.” Jane stroked his hand resting on her stomach.

“Jane, we’ve known each other almost a lifetime. We’ve been friends and now lovers. We’ve cried and laughed together. We’ve had heartbreak and celebration.”

Kas looked toward Brayden and Selene. He’d always had a soft spot for the snow leopard shifter and would always protect him. After the death of Heath, Kas had tried to be the father figure Brayden no longer had. He thought he must have been a good one because Brayden had grown up to be an exceptional man. He was proud to have him at his side as beta to the pack.

Kas continued, “To know that inside you grows my son or daughter is the best news I could receive. Our child will embody the perfection created from a mixture of hope and waiting for the right time, but most of all, it will be beautiful because it’s a part of you.” Tears filled Kas’ eyes. He was the alpha of this pack and here he was bursting into tears. They would all think he was a wuss.

He heard sobs of emotion from the other members of the pack surrounding him. Even Scott, who only ever cried when something was wrong with his hair, had a tear in his eye.

“I think we better get on with marrying and mating you two.” Ethern, who was acting as leader of the ceremony, commented, his own voice thick with emotion. “Jane, do you take Kas as your mate for life?”

“I do.” Jane smiled up at Kas, happy tears tumbling down her cheeks while he held both her hands in front of him.

“Kas,” Ethern continued. “Do you take Jane as your mate for life?”

“I do, for this and all subsequent lives,” he replied, every word a declaration that now they were together, no one would be tearing them apart.

“I now pronounce you mates. Joined for life. Kas, if you want to take your wife and complete the marking part of the ceremony, we’ll start the party.”

Jane lowered the scarf she was wearing around her neck. Kas knew exactly what she was going to show the pack.

“We might have done things a little back to front.” Jane pointed to where Kas had bitten her earlier in the day, during their love making. He couldn’t wait for the official part of the ceremony to happen first. The bite linked them together, and it showed that Jane was his now. He reached out and stroked the fresh wound. Next to it was the one Heath had given her, so many years ago. Her two loves. Kas felt blessed she’d chosen him to be one of them.

He stroked Heath’s healed bite. “I promise I’ll look after her, and maybe fate will allow us all to be together when we meet again. I’ll always miss you, my best friend. The sacrifices you made were greater than you’ll ever know. You’ve given me the greatest happiness.”

Jane took his hand away from the bite. “He knows. He’s watching.” Jane looked at her grandson. “In baby Heath, he’ll live on for all of us.”

“Okay, has all the mushy stuff stopped now?” Scott chimed into the conversation. “My stomach has been rumbling for hours. It’s time for food, right?”

Emma nudged her mate. “Scott, behave?”

“What? I can’t help it if I’m hungry.”

“You’re always hungry,” the entire pack groaned.

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