Reed (Nano Wolves #4) - Donna McDonald Page 0,9
learned to operate all kinds of vehicles because I hated being trapped anywhere waiting for a ride.”
Gareth grunted from the co-pilot’s seat. “What other secrets are you hiding from me?”
Brandi laughed. “I wasn’t hiding this one. The subject never came up. Most of our conversations are about cattle breeding or how to keep the kids out of trouble. The rest of time we’re having sex and not talking about anything trivial.”
“I wouldn’t call flying a plane trivial. Never having mowed a lawn? Now that’s trivial. And it’s still hard to believe.”
Brandi snorted and made her headset crackle. “What is your real problem with this, Longfeather? Lots of agents have their pilot’s license. Do my multiple achievements as a female agent make you feel less masculine in some way?”
Gareth swore under his breath. “Don’t be stupid. I just don’t like being the last to know things, especially when they involve my mate.”
Brandi grinned about his continued complaining. It was fun knowing she’d surprised Gareth. “Maybe we need to play twenty questions now and again, but if we do, you’re not allowed to get mad if you don’t like my answers. I was a normal human in the US military when I learned most of what I know. Unlike you, I wasn’t always a kick-ass werewolf.”
Gareth didn’t bother responding to his mate’s snarky praise. Instead, he shook his head at the mystery woman he’d mated. “I’m changing the subject. Why did you bring Stewart on this trip? Kent and Aggie are not your biggest fans right now.”
Brandi nodded. “Yeah, I know. I have a lot of reasons. One is that Stewart is evolving faster than they are. He’s doubled in size and they haven’t done that yet. Kent’s idea of handling their physical discrepancy is to exert even more power over Stewart, even though I’ve explained that will not happen on my watch. I think Stewart needs to see in person what he keeps seeing in his head. I want him to get in touch with and feel his own power. I’ll deal with Kent’s anger over this when we get home. Aggie already understands, but she’s worried about the boys fighting. Everyone will have to deal because I’m right about this.”
Gareth snorted at her confidence in reasoning with Kent, who was shaping up to be quite the little alpha-in-training. “You could have told them you were intending to spend some ‘quality alone time’ with each of them. Then Kent would only be mad that he didn’t get to go first.”
Brandi sighed, even as she laughed. “Yeah—maybe. I don’t have any fancy words for my logic, but what you said is exactly what I’m planning. They all need to learn that they’re individuals and not just a unit of three. Each of them needs to be free enough to live his or her own life. Ariel and Matt are good about not interfering too much. One way or the other, I will make sure Kent learns to be the same.”
Gareth grinned. “All I can say is that you better bring back some damn terrific souvenirs from this trip.”
Brandi barked out a laugh. “Gareth, I’m bringing back bear shifters for them to meet. What more could any kid want? Kent and Aggie will be ecstatic. Trust me.”
Knowing she was right, Gareth smiled and nodded.
“Aggie speaks Russian. I’m sorry I don’t speak Russian. I would totally speak it with you if I could.”
“Speaking Russian is unnecessary. I speak English too. Who is Aggie?”
Stewart wiggled in his seat. He could feel his legs growing again. It hurt, but he didn’t want anyone to know. This trip was the coolest thing he’d ever done in his life.
“Aggie is my sister. Well, not my actual sister. We were all orphans together—Kent, Aggie, and me. Now we’re wolf pack mates, though none of us have shifted yet. We’re experiments like Mom and her pack mates.”
Katarina’s eyes shot to the cockpit, where Brandi and Gareth smiled and talked through their headsets. This was news Brandi had never shared. She finally turned her gaze back to the boy sitting beside her. He’d been talking non-stop to her, and she was barely keeping up. His mind was so… expansive.
“Kent is our alpha, but Mom made him stand down when he said I couldn’t go on this trip with her. Mom says she’s a beta, but I’m thinking she’s becoming an alpha. Kent gave in to her awfully easily. Do you know what I mean?”
Katarina chuckled. “Yes. And I completely agree. Brandi