Page 7 of Bear Protector
The scientists did their tests, and three days later, Minassus again called on every man with the 236-k gene. He told them they would be made stronger, more powerful, and capable of bringing down all destroyers that approach or breach the region’s outer walls. There was no mention of being transformed to shifters, and no advance notice that they would never live with their families again. Those realities came later, and with them, the segregation, oppression and mistreatment of Xander’s kind began.
Xander was in the first group that was transformed. The unfortunate first cases. Quarantined and tested for the gene. Once their suitability to become shifter soldiers was confirmed, Minassus and his familiar, a Siberian tiger, cast the spell to turn them. The men with the 236-k gene were all turned, but the spell was too strong for the witch vessels. The tiger familiar died immediately. Minassus was almost killed too. He fell into a coma for nearly a month. During that time, the head of his personal guard carried on his work, training Xander and the other turned shifters, and then unleashed them to fight days after their transformation.
The first destroyer they killed was a massive victory. Sadly, it had come at a cost. Six of the two hundred turned shifters had died, and just as many had been severely wounded. Still, it was a victory, and they had learned enough about the destroyers during that first battle to improve their defensive tactics in time for the next attack.
Once Minassus came out of his coma, his first decree was to actively recruit the strongest witches of the region. He matched them with older, more powerful familiars so that they stood a better chance of surviving future transformation spells. His second decree: he established the Regional Protection Unit and made it mandatory for all men eighteen years and older possessing the 236-k gene to join. He also augmented the number of his personal guards, sending them to all villages within our boundaries to test each male, no matter the age, and drafted those who were of age.
No stone was unturned, and no man with the gene was exempt from the draft. Anyone who refused was imprisoned until they agreed to serve. Some died under mysterious circumstances. It didn’t matter that these men had lives of their own, wives, children or families, or futures. They belonged on the Regional Protection Unit. Like possessions, like puppets, like playthings belonging to the Chancellor.
But today, right now, there was a girl in front of him who carried the promise of freedom for his kind. The ninth Chosen, the ninth witch selected by Minassus to do out his bidding. All that Xander wanted was to regain the free will every person was born with, so each man with the 236-k gene could choose whether or not to serve. It would take a revolt to make that happen, and the Chosen would need to refuse to turn more men. This young woman was the first Chosen who seemed to think for herself. To Xander, that meant he had a chance to unveil Minassus’ lies, and convince Kiera not to carry out the spell. He wasn’t certain exactly how to do all of that just yet, but he had a plan on where to start.
He would start with seduction.
The rest would hopefully come within the next nine days. The plan would come together, and of that he was certain, the same way he knew so many other things, thanks to his heightened instincts.
The best part was Kiera wanted him. It was obvious to him from her quick breathing, the way her pupils dilated, and the flush in her cheeks whenever his eyes fell on her. And she was beautiful, with soft green eyes, vibrant red hair, and a lush, shapely body under all those garments. He smiled. What he had to do was sure to have its share of enjoyment.
“There are things that I am sure you want to know about me,” he murmured. “You’re dying of curiosity, aren’t you? Innocent women like you aren’t allowed to know men like me.”
Her skin flushed again. “I’ve never known anyone like you. That’s true.”
“Go ahead. Ask your questions.”
A look of confusion crossed her face. Xander had caught her off guard.
She sat up straighter, squaring her thin shoulders. “All right. The Chancellor has provided initial numbers, but just to confirm, how many of you are there?”
“There’s only one man like me.”
She let out a little sigh. “You know what I mean.”
“At last count, there are four hundred and fifty-nine turned shifters living in our camp. There are also one hundred and fourteen men who have not yet been turned. They are considered trainees, and have lived with us since the spring.”
“Out of curiosity, how long have you been a shifter?”
“Nine years. I was eighteen. But you already know that. I am confident the Chancellor briefed you on all of these details before this meeting.”
“True, but building a rapport requires—”
“Breaking the ice? There’s no need to waste this time on what you already know. I can think of so many other ways to…to build a bridge between us. Starting with this.” He stood up, left his side of the table, and sat in the empty chair beside her that was meant for her familiar. “There. Progress. Does our proximity feel better?”
He smiled as Kiera stiffened up in her chair, her cheeks flushing to an even deeper shade of red.
“I suppose,” she stammered out in a breathy whisper.
Holding the sides of his chair, he turned it to face her. “Proceed with your questions.”
She ran a nervous hand up the side of her face, tucking some stray strands of hair behind her ears. “All right. Were you declared the alpha immediately after that?”
He chuckled. “No. I became the alpha six years ago. Just so you are aware, an alpha isn’t declared. Our leadership is…asserted, claimed.”
“Does this give you special powers over your species?”
The question made him bristle at first, but then he allowed a smile to return to his face. She was brainwashed by the Chancellor, which was why she accepted much of what she had learned without question. To him, that knowledge made him more confident. Changing her mind would actually be easier.
“First of all, do you view witches as a species?” he asked.
“Well, no. We’re humans, born with certain abilities to connect ourselves to supernatural forces and practice witchcraft.”
