Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,11

have young body and old soul, Stewart Longfeather. You will make fine wolf one day. I need to sleep now,” Katarina told him, then leaned her head back so she could pretend to shut out the world.

The last thing she needed in life was to confess her envy of a young boy who knew with absolute certainty his parents loved him.

4

“Jon. Susan. It’s so good to see you both,” Brandi said, hugging each of them tightly before stepping back to get a better look at Jon. “Susan, you look great, but did you grow again, Jon?”

“Not that I’m aware of. The clothes Gareth bought me still fit,” Jon said. He peered around Brandi. “Who’s your little friend?”

Brandi turned to look behind her. “Oh. That’s Katarina Volkov. She’s a visiting Russian alpha who’s helping us.”

“Not the woman,” Jon said with a laugh as he pointed. “Him. The kid.”

“Oh, him…” Brandi laughed as she glanced at Stewart and waved him forward. “This is my son—I mean, mine and Gareth’s. Stewart, come meet the bears you dreamed about.”

As the boy creeped forward to obey Brandi’s command, Katarina looked up at Reed. “You are tall like bear. Do you think I am short of stature as well?”

Reed thought she was perfect, but he knew what she was asking. Too bad he couldn’t bring himself to reassure her. “Do you mean compared to Stewart? Or in general?”

Katarina made a grunting sound in her throat. “What does size matter? Size means nothing. Bear is bigger than you, but you do not tremble in his presence, right?”

Reed’s mouth twitched. “My problem is not that Jon’s bigger than me. He’s a giant bear predator, Katarina. I bet he’s at least ten feet tall when shifted.”

“More like twelve feet when I raise up on two legs,” Jon said, stepping around Brandi and her son. “You must be Brandi’s… uh… what exactly should I call you?”

“How about just Reed?” Reed suggested dryly, putting out his hand to shake. The bear took it gently but shook it firmly. The man may have not been a bear for long, Reed decided, but he’d obviously learned how to master his bear’s strength when human.

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Reed Black Wolf. Brandi saved my life… and my wife’s. Your nano wolf is very dear to us.”

Brandi snorted as she scratched her head. “If we have to label my relationship with Reed, let’s call him my alpha prime. He’s like a father to me—the strange wolf father that I never knew I wanted until I met him.”

“A father figure? Yes, that I can believe.” Jon sized up the large First Nation man gazing calmly at him. He liked what he saw. “I can understand why someone would want to make more of Brandi, but I also understand why she will never allow it to happen if she can prevent it. She suggested our group come to Alaska for an extended vacation. Are you the person issuing the invitation?”

Reed studied the man. “How much control do your people have over their beasts?”

“Most of those converted are parents of children who are still completely human. We learned control quick. We had no choice. I admit a few animals in the woods probably suffered during our learning curve. Some in our group remain omnivores.”

Nodding, Reed held the man’s gaze. “The Black Wolf pack will welcome you and your people. I can’t promise you that they won’t be afraid every moment you’re there.”

“That’s fine,” Jon said, grinning at the reluctant man. “I can’t promise we won’t be scary.”

Stewart listened to the discussion and then walked forward to stand by the bear shifter his mother had hugged. “You’re not scary to me. Before Mom went to rescue you, I saw you in my dreams. I knew you would turn out to be a nice bear. I told her not to worry.”

Jon laughed and knelt down to be more on the boy’s level. “Is that right? So, what do you see about my group and Reed’s pack becoming allies?”

Stewart studied the man to see if he was serious, then looked at his mother. “Can I tell him what I see?”

Brandi shrugged. “Follow your gut.”

Stewart turned back to the bear shifter. “If you go to Alaska, all the bears will want to stay there. That works out best for everyone because Reed’s pack will protect your pack, and you’ll protect them back. Everyone will feel safer—eventually.”

“Except bears don’t normally live in packs,” Jon pointed out with a grin.

“Well… right,” Stewart