Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,48

that relaxing?”

“Without Matt around to entertain me in other ways… yes. I talked Jon into giving me a blood sample. The constant chemical activity in him is amazing. I’ve been comparing that activity to Matt who’s a natural wolf and to me as a hybrid full of nanos. Jon and his people are far more like Matt than they are like me. The Crane siblings really were geniuses.”

Shaking her head at Ariel’s science talk, Katarina remembered what Brandi has said. She needed to change the subject before she started a fight with the alpha who helped save her from Travis. As she searched for a safer topic, she groaned a little at her level of tiredness. It hurt her brain to think. “I am not used to so many people. I can be fixer when needed, but I find such things boring. I would be lazy alpha.”

“Lazy? Are you kidding? You’d make a great alpha. You’d be your charming Russian self and cleverly shame people into doing the right things.”

“Shame? I think not,” Katarina denied with a chuckle.

“Lecture. Shame. Make them feel guilty in a mother kind of way. It’s all the same thing, isn’t it? In the end, you show them that they can do things even when they think they can’t. That’s a talent,” Ariel said with a laugh.

Katarina thought about it. “I will say nothing to counteract praise. Critique is probably fair.”

Grinning over the Russian alpha’s quick concession, Ariel shook her head. “It wasn’t a critique. It was me saying you have a good way of getting people to take responsibility for themselves. Reed’s pack is still living like they’ve lived for centuries. The years his grandsons ran this group regressed them further. They need someone to drag them into this century. I know that’s not something Reed wants to do. After the attack here, though, I think they’re all starting to see that change must happen.”

Katarina sighed. “Poor Temptation. His peaceful village is no longer peaceful. His body is young, but his soul is still old.”

Ariel lifted a shoulder. “Maybe someone will step up soon to relieve him. In the meantime, this pack needs to make more money so they can afford better security measures. No one on this globe is as isolated as they believe. Technology has seen to that.”

Katarina nodded. “Maybe visiting bears can teach them to live smarter. From what I saw in their village, bears are resourceful. Lowest house in Bear Central was much better than Russian alpha’s home. The bears make goods and sell them to local places. This is honest living, I think.”

Ariel nodded and smiled. “Bear Central?”

“Is Brandi’s name for bear village. Agent Nano Wolf name everything.”

“Agent Nano Wolf,” Ariel repeated, laughing at Katarina’s irked expression as much as her words. “Brandi and Gareth may seem a little gung-ho in their agent stuff, but they take every shifter’s best interests into consideration in all they do. I’m glad the bears came here. I’m sure Reed’s people will come out of their homes eventually.”

Katarina snorted. “Oh, I fix that already. I petted Jon in bear form and then all bears want turn. Then everyone pet bears. Now bears are no big deal.”

Ariel giggled. “Perfect. I thought Reed or I would have to order them to socialize.”

Katarina lifted a shoulder and let it fall. She could feel herself fading. “It is good instinct for wolves to fear bears. Fear good for whole village right now. Bears are not afraid of attackers returning, and this is lucky thing. Everyone needs to keep watch. I learned hard lesson about dropping guard.”

“Agreed,” Ariel said as she rose and went to her sole piece of luggage. She dug a bag out of it. “Catch,” she called as she tossed it at Katarina. “It’s seal jerky. I don’t like the idea of eating them, but I have to say they are delicious. Seals are plentiful along the coastline and Alaska natives—the humans—harvest them conservatively for subsistence.”

“Spasibo,” Katarina said, opening the bag. She was ravenous. She’d been ravenous since she escaped her kidnappers. She drew one out and took a big bite. “Umm… very good.”

“I know,” Ariel said with a smile. “I don’t eat it often. Got to keep my human guilt under control. Moose jerky is almost this good. I bet Reed’s people make their own.”

“Umm… so good,” Katarina said again. Using all her willpower, she stopped eating and closed the bag. “I save rest for Yana. My sister missed me. I missed her too. Having