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 family is still strange for me.”
“Why? At least you’re sisters by blood with Yana. That’s a pretty natural connection. I’m here to help Reed because he’s like a father to me. I miss Brandi when she’s gone, and Heidi now that I’m here and she’s back home. It’s hard for me to remember that the four of us were strangers not so long ago. I still haven’t adapted my newly created family,” Ariel said.
Katarina lifted a hand and nodded. “I agree with you. Life is strange.”
“Amen to that,” Ariel said. She tilted her head. “You look tired, Katarina—like you need a nap in the worst way.”
“I am tired. Temptation keep me up all night. I was not prepared for him to be that energetic.”
Ariel’s eyes widened. “So you and Reed are an item?”
Katarina shrugged as she rose to leave. “No idea what we are. When I find out, I let you know.”
Startled awake, Katarina sat up in the dark. Someone climbed into her bed without speaking. She swore in Russian, grabbed her attacker, and threw him onto the floor beside the bed. Though she saw fairly well in the dark, a familiar masculine grunt inspired her to turn on the lamp sitting on the table next to her to confirm her suspicions. Reed laid on the floor and stared at the ceiling with a strange look on his face.
Katarina leaned over and looked down at him. “I thought you were attacker.”
Yana threw her door open and stared at the scene. The bear healer peered over her shoulder with a grin. “Did I hear fight?” Yana asked as she fought a smile.
“Nyet,” Katarina said, smiling back at her nosy sister. “The Black Wolf alpha was sneaking into my bed. I think he was testing my reflexes.” She pointed to the floor. “I passed test.”
“Good,” Yana said, her facing clearing as she laughed. “But are you sure, Katarina? Maybe it was romantic gesture. You should apologize to Reed for over-reacting.”
Katarina’s eyes widened. “Apologize? I was sleeping in place he put me. How am I wrong?”
“I did not say you were wrong,” Yana corrected, dropping her gaze to Reed, who hadn’t moved. She finger-waved to him. He closed his eyes and rolled his head back and forth against the floor. His resignation made her giggle. “Even you must admit that you are still recovering from being captured. Maybe everyone is now attacker to you, yes?”
Rolling her eyes, Katarina sighed heavily. “You become psychiatrist while I was gone?”
Yana laughed. “No, but I think I want to work as a healer helper. Maybe skills for making werewolf vodka translate to potion maker here. What do you think, alpha sister?”
“I think you should do what you want. I have no wish to be dictator like tiny alpha brother of devil wolf.” Resigned, Katarina leaned over the bed. “I am sorry, Temptation. Next time you knock on door first, yes? It is like firing shot over head as warning.”
Reed laughed. “I didn’t think I needed to knock. I thought you’d instantly recognize me.”
“How?” Katarina asked.
“After we…” Reed stopped. He could see Katarina truly hadn’t known it was him. “Never mind. Maybe in time you’ll figure it out.”
Katarina scooted over. “Glad we settle problem. Now you come to bed. You are welcome here.” She looked at Yana. “Thank you for checking on me, Yana Volkov. Time to leave now.”
A giggling Yana and a laughing bear closed the door quietly as they left.
Reed stood and sat carefully on the bed. “Next time I’ll make more noise.”
Laughing, Katarina watched him stand and undress. “I was catching up on sleep. It is my nature to defend first and find out details later. You look tired, Temptation.”
Reed dropped his clothes in a pile on the floor before climbing in beside her. Being with her was like coming home. “I should have told someone to move you to my house. I own a bigger bed. Maybe then you’d expect me to be the one climbing into your bed.”
“We discuss tomorrow. Turn off light now,” Katarina ordered, then let him settle on his back even though he nearly filled all the space. When he sighed and closed his eyes, her heart fluttered in concern for his weariness. “Sleep now, Temptation. I let no one disturb you.”
“Brandi wants us to leave before noon. We’re heading to Canada and she wants us to be there before the sun sets. We’re going to the place where my people are being held.”
“I thought they already stopped scientists in Canada.”
Reed rolled to face her. The bed was small and their noses nearly touched. “Apparently, there were three facilities. They shut down one when Heidi was rescued. They’ve been watching a second one. Joshua called, and he said they’re at another that Brandi said was news to them.”
Katarina growled. “I want to kill those who took your people. I want to end this.”
“Me too,” Reed said. “And it’s worse than we imagined.”
“How so?”
“I think they’ve been using your father for their testing. They tried to use Joshua, but his genes had no effect. They made a super wolf serum from your father’s blood. That’s what they used on my beta, Edward. Joshua told Brandi that Adam hadn’t been altered yet. They’ve been keeping him sedated because Adam injured several of his guards when he tried to kill Joshua.”
“Wow. Everything hot mess,” Katarina said as she hugged him close. “We fix tomorrow. Tonight we sleep.”
“Katarina?”
“Yes?”
“When this is all over, I’d like you to stay here. I think you’d be good for my pack. They need someone like you.”
Katarina “And what do you need, Temptation?”