Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,61
in my heart. It is not a memory I want to carry through my life. I want his people—my original people—to be free to laugh and enjoy life. This is what a good alpha wants and works for. I will never think differently.”
Reed nodded. “Those are all good goals. They can happen. Brandi, Gareth, and the whole team have stopped the scientists. When we leave this place, it will be burned to the ground. Let’s kill him so we can go home. I’ll kill him for you. Mercy is the sign of the strong, not the weak and fearful.”
“Fine. Kill him for me. I accept your gift.”
Reed walked to where Dmitri Volkov lay dying. “The devil wolf was created to punish those committing crimes against a pack. By the power of my ancestors, I send you back to yours.”
He formed one of human hands into a devil wolf’s claw. He rolled Katarina’s father over, chanted a prayer, and then made a swipe to tear out his throat. It was brutal and bloody, but it got the job done. The evil man and his inner beast were no more.
Reed changed his hand back and wiped it on the dead man’s shirt. Then he stood and walked back to Katarina. “It’s over.”
“Thank you. We will leave his body here. If anyone finds it, they might learn valuable lesson.”
“Katarina?”
“That is my name, Temptation.”
“Will you live with me and be my mate?”
Katarina looked around. The place was appalling. “Could this request not have waited until we were somewhere more pleasant?”
“I’m being spontaneous. And trying to tell you that I love you,” Reed added when she lowered her gaze.
Katarina quietly huffed. “Such a declaration usually means something the night before, but means nothing once the sun rises. Don’t you want to think about this? I know how you love to think.”
Reed grinned. “I’m going with my gut on this one and following my feelings. Plus, you’re not very logical, so thinking would be a waste of time.”
“I can’t believe I’m admitting this, but now I need time to think.”
Reed nodded. “That’s fine. Can we share a bed while you’re thinking?”
“Sure,” Katarina said. “Let’s walk through this place and make sure all is well. I think the flight home will be crowded.”
“You can sit on my lap,” Reed offered with a smile.
Katarina answered by giggling, which was the closest to happiness she’d ever gotten.
Epilogue
“The Russians are here,” Reed announced.
“Who cares if they come now? They were invited months ago. Now I look like whale. You’ll have to fight for me.”
“They’re not here to challenge you. I already put a stop to that nonsense. Brandi sent a picture of me as devil wolf to them.”
“Then why do they show up after all this time?” Katarina asked.
Reed retrieved a scarf from a hook by the door. He walked it to her and wrapped it around her throat. “They’re here to exercise the freedom you won for them. They’re here to join us.”
“Join us?” Katarina repeated as she slipped on the coat Reed had loaned her. Her real coat would no longer fasten.
Reed answered the knock at his door. Two cubs rushed in without waiting to be invited. They shifted to human and stayed fully dressed.
“Ta da!” Kent said, laughing when his sister laughed.
“Wonderful,” Katarina said and clapped her hands.
Stewart stood in the door way smiling. Terra kept tugging on his hand. “We’re having a party to celebrate the Russians joining the pack. The bears are dancing.”
“Like in circus? With juggle balls and hoops?” Katarina asked.
“No, like country music line dance. It’s hilarious.”
Katarina sighed. “The bears are staying too, aren’t they?”
Stewart nodded. “Unless you send them away.”
Lifting a hand, Katarina spat words in Russian. Usually it made her feel better. “Now my father’s people come to stay.” She looked at Reed. “I have opened your borders. Do you wish me to close them? One word and I will send them home.”
“Some of them are your family,” Reed said.
“Da… but none I have known. I would not miss them.”
Reed grinned. “The Black Wolf pack didn’t turn Nicolai Vashchenko away. We won’t turn away his people. Your destiny was to free them. Theirs is to start a new life here.”
Katarina nodded. “Okay. You speak true—they are Nicolai’s people.” She sighed. “Fine. We drink Yana’s vodka and welcome them. They are good builders and excellent pot makers. We will make business of them.”
“More prosperity?”
“Da… more of everything. Maybe I get cub sitter from among them. Russian females are tough with cubs.”
Stewart whistled.