“You all are welcome, comrades,” she yelled at the top of her lungs.
A stampede of bears running toward her made her laugh too much to be afraid. She stepped into the middle of the group to stop their forward motion. She gave each bear a pat and let them nuzzle her in gratitude. It was like sitting in the middle of many playful puppies—not that she would speak of that comparison to these majestic creatures.
She looked back to find Reed studying her thoughtfully and Jon grinning from ear to ear.
Doors opened up and down the street to let werewolves in human form outside. The bears turned and went to greet the human wolves. They used their heads to gently make the human wolves pet them.
Finding herself finally alone, Katarina calmly strolled back to Reed and Jon. “Most of my life I think… wouldn’t it better to be tall and strong-looking?” She pointed at the bears going from human wolf to human wolf to say hello. “Now I think my size is good thing. Tiny me make wolves ashamed of being afraid.”
“Any bear in this village would die to protect you, Katarina Volkov. And I will always be in your debt for saving my daughter. Terra’s finally starting to come around. Stewart made some concoction his sister told him about and rubbed it on her Terra’s feet. A few hours later, she woke up for a few minutes. Each time she wakes now, her consciousness lasts a little longer.”
“Wolf boy is wonderful male,” Katarina said with a nod. She looked at Reed. “What is matter, Temptation?”
Reed lifted an eyebrow and looked down at her. “I had an epiphany while you were busy petting bears.”
“So…” Katarina waved a hand in the air. “This is not time to be silent. Share with us what furrows your brow.”
Reed shook his head. “Some other time. I need to think about it.”
Katarina sighed loudly and fisted both hands on her hips. “We do not have century for you to brood.”
Reed grabbed the front of her shirt with both his enormous hands and lifted her up to kiss her hotly. She squirmed in his grip when it lasted too long to be proper in public, but his talented lips eventually made her forget she was dangling in the air. When he let go, she dropped roughly to her feet and staggered back into Jon, who chuckled as he kept her from falling on her ass in the dirt.
“What was purpose of that… that… whatever that was?” she demanded.
“I’m not sure yet,” Reed said. “I need to…”
“…think about it. Da, we know you like to think. This is no surprise,” Katarina declared as she rolled her eyes. “I’m going to find Yana. She is probably afraid of bears too.”
Jon covered his mouth and snickered.
“What is funny?” Katarina demanded.
“Your sister was never afraid of us. She’s been helping our doctor take care of Terra and watch Stewart. Yana and Waylon have become quite good friends.”
Katarina walked away shaking her head. So many changes. So many surprises. She’d always thought she was good at dealing with what life sent her way, but now? She was no longer confident.
In fact, she was so distracted by her thoughts that it took her a good ten minutes to realize she was being trailed across town by six or seven lumbering guard bears.
She looked skyward. “You win humor competition, okay? No more jokes at my expense, Nicolai. No more.”
13
Katarina headed to the medical center in Reed’s village. It was a plain building that looked like a warehouse, but inside it was full of hallways and rooms. Caretakers roamed about talking to wolves they were helping. One of them saw her, somehow recognized her, and told her where to find her sister without her even asking. Maybe this was the upside of Yana looking like a younger version of her.
She found Yana in a waiting area reading a book. Her sister tossed the book down and ran to hug her. “I fear for you, Katarina Volkov. But I knew they couldn’t keep my fierce alpha sister for long. Never for one minute did I think you would not escape them.”
Katarina hugged her sibling tightly. She’d never returned home to anyone who’d missed her before. She didn’t know what to say.
“I am very lucky wolf. Worst fear came true. Bastard father was there working with bad guys, but I still escaped.”
One look at Yana’s shocked expression told her that had been the absolute worst thing she could have shared.
“I’m sorry—so sorry to speak bad news so soon,” Katarina whispered contritely. She pulled Yana back into her arms and squeezed hard. “I am not good at being missed. Thank you for missing me. No family missed me before you.”
She repeated everything again in Russian until color seeped back into her sister’s face.
“I am relieved. Now I feel weak,” Yana said after a while.
“I’m relieved as well, but I feel strong. After I escaped cage, Temptation rescued me. I had to express full measure of gratitude. You understand, of course.”
Yana stepped away from sister’s reach. She scrubbed her face with her hands. Then she laughed. “It was the least you could do for him. Was he good, sister?”
Katarina grunted. “Da. Too good,” she admitted.
She laughed when Yana laughed and laughed more when Yana picked her up and swung her around. The girl was stronger than she looked.
“I wish to see daughter of bear alive. Where is Terra?” Katarina asked when her feet touched the floor once more.
“In next room. Devil wolf keeps watch over her. Come, I will show you.”
“Thought doctor was bear,” Katarina said.
Yana chuckled. “Waylon is bear.”
Katarina frowned. “I am confused. Is daughter of bear safe with devil wolf?”
Yana shrugged. “Devil wolf is what all bears call Stewart. They bow to him like prince.”
Katarina’s eyes widened. “This I must see.”
“Devil wolf boy is very handsome, sister. He does not look like his mother or father. With golden hair and blue eyes, he looks like an avenging angel.”
“Stewart is adopted child. Do not look with lust at that one. He is young child still, no matter what his body has become.”
They walked down a small hallway. In the room, a boy sat at a girl’s side. He was reading from a book while the girl smiled tiredly at him.
Yana giggled softly behind her as Katarina leaned against the doorjamb and crossed her arms. “I come to meet devil wolf and all I see is boy who wishes to be wolf. Where is this alarming creature everyone talks about?”
Stewart grinned and closed the book. “Dad told me they were bringing you back. I’m glad you got away from the bad guys.”
“Da. Me too.” Katarina unfolded her arms and walked to the bed. The girl scooted over so she could sit. She patted the girl’s leg, then lifted a hand and put it on Stewart’s shoulder. “You did good, Stewart Longfeather. Many grown wolves would have faltered. Be proud you did not.”
Stewart nodded. “I’m not a wolf. I’m something else.”
Katarina stood. “I am wolf who has hugged many bears today. I am not afraid. Show me this thing you are. We will face your beast together.”
Stewart sighed. “I can’t. I haven’t been able to shift again. I don’t know why.”