Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,27

was tired of leading. “I should probably feel ashamed of not putting my people first, but it no longer feels natural. Instead, I feel like I’m filling the spot for someone who’s late showing up. Everything in my life has been off-kilter since I found out about Travis and Hanuk.”

“Well, get over it. Everyone deserves to put their personal life first once in a while. Becoming a werewolf taught me that. This situation is about you potentially losing someone who interests you. See? I’m not the only one using code names. But we both know what’s really going on here. I think it would be terrible if you two don’t get your chance and that’s not happening on my watch.”

Smiling, Reed pocketed the GPS and picked up the other backpack. “I never had daughters with my mates. I only had sons. Now I have the best daughters a wolf could ever have hoped for in his life. I have been strangely blessed by the spirits.”

Brandi stood on her toes and kissed Reed’s cheek. “Your nano wolf daughters feel the same way about you, Reed. So take care of yourself. Gareth and I will be back to help you as soon as we can. We will not leave Katarina in there long. Promise.”

Reed nodded and bent to kiss Brandi’s cheek. “Thank you. For the help… and the lecture.”

Brandi chuckled. “What are daughters for if not to lecture?”

Laughing softly, Reed moved through the ravine and into the woods. Behind him, he heard Brandi turning around in the vehicle to head back.

8

Katarina watched the dark descend outside one small window located high up in the room containing her cage. The guards came frequently to check on her. She decided to use the rest of her alone time for a good purpose.

She looked around for cameras and when she didn’t see any, she raked some food from the plate into the bucket they’d given her to relieve herself. She promptly fulfilled that function to help ensure the food would not be discovered.

With her escape plan in motion, Katarina settled down on the cot and stared at the ceiling. Maybe she should count her blessings. She wasn’t unconscious like she had been when Travis had abducted her. Plus, there was no silver collar around her neck this time either. See? Things could have been far worse.

She swallowed back the rage she felt toward her captors. It was useless to feel hate for them when they were absent. She would not waste her time.

“Great Spirit Nicolai, I don’t want to seem ungrateful for still being alive, but I could use some bigger help. Have you got another miracle for me, comrade?” she asked, conjuring up an image of Nicolai’s ghost. Unfortunately, the ghost was laughing at her, which made her laugh at herself. “Bah… Katarina Volkov. You are desperate female like kind you hate. Go to sleep. It will take energy to kill your captors.”

The moment her eyes closed, her mind conjured an image of Reed. His eyes were bright green in the dark and luminous as he shifted gracefully into his massive wolf form. Reed was truly the biggest wolf she’d ever seen.

In her dream, he walked across the field toward her. She could feel his gaze, and his interest in her made her want to howl.

What would it be like to be her wolf self alongside his wolf? They could run through the field and nearby woods together—maybe take down a deer to eat for dinner.

She’d never dated a werewolf. The idea of running with Reed as a wolf was very appealing.

“Idiot,” she grumbled to herself, shaking her head to clear away all the wishing. No matter how much she longed to do so, she could not conjure the Black Wolf alpha.

Nicolai probably couldn’t do it either—not that she would ever pray for something so silly.

The moment she finally got comfortable, Katarina drifted off lightly to sleep.

She woke hearing voices—plotting voices. Her eyes wanted to open, but she kept them closed and listened.

“We can’t do this. She only ate half of her food,” voice one said.

“Stop whining. I have enough in the hypodermic in my pocket to make sure she stays out until we get her delivered,” voice two assured him.

Voice one quivered a bit when he spoke again. “They will be angry to find her gone. Someone said the older wolf guy was her father. Some bastard he is to sell his daughter, eh? Do you think the other guy was related to