Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,8

didn’t reply.

Brandi sighed. “I appreciate that you’re at least willing to listen to the idea. Don’t worry. We’ll come up with something you can live with, Reed. Whatever you decide is good for the Black Wolf pack, Gareth and I want you to know that you don’t have to fight the bad guys alone. Your grandsons may have created this mess, but we will help you end it.”

“Okay. I’ll try to think of the positives,” Reed promised, and hugged Brandi before slipping out the door to take a walk.

The room was silent while they watched Reed leave.

Katarina eventually turned to Brandi after she was sure the Black Wolf alpha was well out of hearing range. “Reed’s guilt is like large dark cloud over his alpha good judgment. Those of his blood brought harm to the rest of his people, and he cannot see beyond that fact. This shame I understand. My sister was taken by Travis only because I escaped him. What is good for one is often not good for the many.”

Brandy nodded as she stared at the door where Reed had exited. “Maybe that’s true about how Reed’s feeling at the moment, but a wolf with his blood also saved his people from the tyranny of his evil alpha grandsons. Did Ariel tell you this story?”

“Da. But I never tire of hearing that good wins out over evil. It helps me keep faith,” Katarina admitted.

“Because they looked identical, each took a turn being alpha and inflicting torment on the pack. Ariel killed Hanuk—the alpha at the time—in an open challenge for the alpha role. Reed’s hope that Travis could be saved prevented his death, but later Heidi killed Travis when he left her no choice. Both Hanuk and Travis were driving the Black Wolf pack into the ground with their violent dictates. Reed was trying not to destroy them because they were family. Unfortunately, no one’s gene pool comes with a guarantee of goodness.”

Katarina grunted in agreement. “Violent alphas must have been terrible burden for a village full of such peaceful wolves.”

Brandi frowned as she nodded in agreement. “By pack law, Ariel killing Hanuk earned her the right to be the next Black Wolf alpha of this pack. Reed only took pack leadership back so Ariel could go live with Matt in the Gray Wolf pack. He doesn’t want to lead anymore, but there’s no choice. Werewolf politics aren’t any easier here in Alaska than they are where you come from.”

Katarina nodded. Life was strange. What long ago seemed her biggest torment was now her greatest blessing. She had the instincts of an alpha, but no knowledge of living under the rule of one. At this moment, all those years of living alone looked like a much easier path in following her destiny.

She walked to Brandi and put a hand on the brave nano wolf’s shoulder. “A lone wolf needs no guidance, but I think most werewolves need strong leader. I think bringing giant bears here is good idea, but Russian wolves not afraid of bears. Fear, I know, often creates desperation. Despite all this, I think Reed will say yes to plan. He just needs time to accept fate.”

Brandi grinned at the petite Russian alpha. Katarina might be tiny in some ways, but she well remembered what the woman was like in full wolf form. When she looked at her, she saw the courage of Katarina’s wolf side. “Fear rules most people’s decisions, even the small daily ones. Reed makes excellent decisions and moves on quickly from any drama surrounding them. He also seems to have less daily issues than anyone I’ve ever met.”

“Or perhaps he has lost ability to give two shits. Guess time will tell,” Katarina said with a shrug.

Brandi grinned. “I don’t think that’s the case, but we’ll see. Everybody has a weak point. What are you afraid of, Katarina Volkov?”

Katarina looked up and studied the ceiling as she gave serious contemplation to the question. “When I figure out answer, comrade, I will let you know.”

“Yes, comrade. You do that,” Brandi said, chuckling at the Russian alpha’s innate arrogance.

3

“I assumed they were sending a pilot. You never told me you could fly a plane.”

Brandi snickered into her headset as she turned to Gareth. She pointed at his lap until he put his own headset on.

“It’s only a small plane. It’s not like I can fly a jet or a rocket,” she said after Gareth put it on. “And I remember telling you that I