Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,47

saying the say thing to him.

“Now we talk. Why are you so angry?” Katarina asked as they exited the building.

“Who says I’m angry?” Kent challenged.

“No one has to say it. You hide nothing with your glaring eyes and frowning mouth. I suppose this is normal for child your age. You are lucky your brother and sister tolerate you.”

Kent grunted. “They have no choice. It’s part of our family rules. And I’m not my age, you know.”

“Da. I hear explanation from your brother. It still sound like science blah-blah and more blah. In the end, it is lame excuse. If you want to be real alpha, you must find reason for anger and fix it.”

“You want to know why I’m angry? Fine. I hate not being in control. I want to make all the decisions. I’m the smartest, the oldest, and I’m the alpha.”

Katarina laughed. “So now we hear truth. You want to be dictator.”

“Hey… that’s not fair,” Kent said, shocked at her logic.

Shrugging, Katarina nodded to the chuffing bears quietly stalking them as they walked. Laughter was universal as well. “This truth probably seems very unfair to boy who wishes to be dictator. To other wolves, though, having free will to live their own life is reasonable expectation. Your current attitude destines you to be the kind of alpha that a pack will kill off.”

“But what if my decisions were all perfect and reasonable? People would love me then.”

Katarina snorted. “How can you claim to be smart? You have many, many delusions. No one loves ruler who doesn’t allow freedom… and no one is perfect. Alphas are leaders. Their purpose is to make life good for their people. Learn these things before you grow up and get killed for your fascist tendencies. Trust me, I know much about such rulers.”

“I get the Russian historical reference. I’m not stupid. Were both your parents alphas?”

Katarina stopped walking. “My delicate mother was simple wolf who helped healer in pack. My evil dictator father killed my mother long ago and is alive today helping those who kidnapped me. As only good alpha in my family, I should have killed him long ago. Now I have to fix biggest mistake of my life. My father thinks he is perfect, but he is not. Everyone hates him.”

Kent nodded as they started to walk again. “I don’t want to be considered evil. I’ll have to think about what you said.”

Katarina nodded as she fought not to laugh. “Good. You think long time. It would be sad if your mother and father had to kill you for their great shame of letting you oppress your future pack. Your brother and sister would mourn you for a couple days before they went on to live happy, fulfilling lives without dictator brother making them feel embarrassed and unsure of all they do. It is good you reconsider this now. I am glad we had this talk.”

“Well, that’s one of us,” Kent said sarcastically, kicking at the ground as he walked.

14

After delivering Kent to his mother and reporting on Aggie and Stewart’s occupation with helping the bears, Katarina gave up trying to be useful. She walked to the edge of the village and to the pack’s guest lodge. Yana had chosen rooms for both of them the day they’d arrived. While she’d been captured, Yana also had unpacked her meager things into drawers.

Unpacking was a kind gesture, but it was not the one that had her rubbing her chest to ease the emotion building there.

A small jar stuffed full of wildflowers—or pretty weeds—sat proudly on top of the chest. How could such a thing not make a she-wolf smile? She would die before she let her father near her sister again.

Hearing sounds coming from one of the other rooms in the lodge, Katarina wandered out to search for the source and found Ariel sitting at a small desk working on her computer.

“Greetings,” Katarina said from the doorway.

Ariel turned. “Hi. Come in and save me from myself.”

Laughing, Katarina walked into the room and sat in the remaining chair. “This is like sitting on rock,” she complained, squirming in the hard seat.

“I believe the word for these furnishings is spartan.”

“Nyet. Word is cheap—too cheap to make pillow for ass comfort.”

Ariel chuckled at Katarina’s bluntness as she rubbed her nose. There was some strange scent wafting from Katarina. “With Reed back, I get a break from being the substitute alpha. His people are very needy.”

Katarina waved a hand at the desk and computer. “Is