Stewart bit his lip because he hated the question. He never knew what to say to people who asked his age. “Like in real years or wolf years?”
Katarina laughed. “Which answer will shock me more? I want to hear that one.”
Stewart laughed. “When Mom got us, we were about four. Then suddenly a few months ago we were somewhere around eight. Now I’m like twelve or thirteen—I think. Kent and Aggie are still eight though. What’s happening to me is strange, but Mom says it’s just my werewolf pattern of growth. Apparently, we can all have different ones.”
Katarina nodded. “I agree with your mother. I do not find it strange. That’s what destiny is like—always bringing big surprises. All you can do is pray for help to accept what life brings to you.”
Stewart snickered. “Well, actually, I have been praying a lot lately because I really, really, really want to shift into an actual wolf.”
“That is a very specific request. I am curious, Stewart. What god do you pray to?” Katarina asked because the boy’s openness and positivity charmed her.
Stewart lifted a shoulder. “I suppose it’s fair to say that I trade up gods frequently. Aggie finds me a new one whenever I get tired of waiting for my shifting prayers to be answered.”
Unrestrained laughter bubbled up and out of Katarina. When she heard a masculine snicker, she glanced over and saw that a sleeping Reed hadn’t really been sleeping. His eyes were all but closed, but a grin tugged at his mouth, proving he listened to the boy. Reed looked very appealing with that grin, so she turned her focus back to the male beside her.
“When I was kidnapped and running for my life, I prayed to ghost of famous Russian werewolf who left my father’s pack and came to live with Reed’s pack in Alaska. The spirit of Nicolai Vashchenko answered my desperate prayers and sent your mother and her pack to save me. Turns out he was also Reed’s great-uncle through friendship. I think sometimes the best family is the one you create for yourself as you go through life. Nicolai was lucky like that—he was lucky like you.”
“I suppose I have been lucky. You need to get lucky too,” Stewart insisted. “No wolf should be alone—not even a lone wolf.”
Katarina nodded as she grinned. “Well, I recently found a sister I didn’t know I had. Her name is Yana. So I guess I have begun process.”
Stewart nodded. “That’s awesome. Is your sister Russian too?”
“Da. And she looks like me. Except much, much younger. I was my father’s firstborn. She was one of his last.”
“It must be cool to know who your actual father is,” Stewart whispered.
Katarina shook her head. “No. It is not good thing. My father is evil wolf. Hundreds of times I wish he had never been part of my life.” She lifted her finger and pointed at him. “You are luckier to have parents who chose you and love you for yourself. That is special blessing. Never take it for granted.”
“Oh, I won’t,” Stewart promised as he looked to the front of the plane where his parents were fussing with each other. They were passionate about life, which made them passionate about the three of them. He really did feel lucky. “Dad said Mom made a deal that made our Grandpa give us up to her. My grandpa’s not evil, but he sometimes does some things my parents don’t approve of. I get why Mom refused to leave us there with him.”
“You have young body and old soul, Stewart Longfeather. You will make fine wolf one day. I need to sleep now,” Katarina told him, then leaned her head back so she could pretend to shut out the world.
The last thing she needed in life was to confess her envy of a young boy who knew with absolute certainty his parents loved him.
4
“Jon. Susan. It’s so good to see you both,” Brandi said, hugging each of them tightly before stepping back to get a better look at Jon. “Susan, you look great, but did you grow again, Jon?”
“Not that I’m aware of. The clothes Gareth bought me still fit,” Jon said. He peered around Brandi. “Who’s your little friend?”
Brandi turned to look behind her. “Oh. That’s Katarina Volkov. She’s a visiting Russian alpha who’s helping us.”
“Not the woman,” Jon said with a laugh as he pointed. “Him. The kid.”
“Oh, him…” Brandi laughed as she glanced at Stewart and waved him forward. “This is my son—I mean, mine and Gareth’s. Stewart, come meet the bears you dreamed about.”
As the boy creeped forward to obey Brandi’s command, Katarina looked up at Reed. “You are tall like bear. Do you think I am short of stature as well?”
Reed thought she was perfect, but he knew what she was asking. Too bad he couldn’t bring himself to reassure her. “Do you mean compared to Stewart? Or in general?”
Katarina made a grunting sound in her throat. “What does size matter? Size means nothing. Bear is bigger than you, but you do not tremble in his presence, right?”
Reed’s mouth twitched. “My problem is not that Jon’s bigger than me. He’s a giant bear predator, Katarina. I bet he’s at least ten feet tall when shifted.”
“More like twelve feet when I raise up on two legs,” Jon said, stepping around Brandi and her son. “You must be Brandi’s… uh… what exactly should I call you?”
“How about just Reed?” Reed suggested dryly, putting out his hand to shake. The bear took it gently but shook it firmly. The man may have not been a bear for long, Reed decided, but he’d obviously learned how to master his bear’s strength when human.
“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Reed Black Wolf. Brandi saved my life… and my wife’s. Your nano wolf is very dear to us.”
Brandi snorted as she scratched her head. “If we have to label my relationship with Reed, let’s call him my alpha prime. He’s like a father to me—the strange wolf father that I never knew I wanted until I met him.”
“A father figure? Yes, that I can believe.” Jon sized up the large First Nation man gazing calmly at him. He liked what he saw. “I can understand why someone would want to make more of Brandi, but I also understand why she will never allow it to happen if she can prevent it. She suggested our group come to Alaska for an extended vacation. Are you the person issuing the invitation?”
Reed studied the man. “How much control do your people have over their beasts?”
“Most of those converted are parents of children who are still completely human. We learned control quick. We had no choice. I admit a few animals in the woods probably suffered during our learning curve. Some in our group remain omnivores.”
Nodding, Reed held the man’s gaze. “The Black Wolf pack will welcome you and your people. I can’t promise you that they won’t be afraid every moment you’re there.”
“That’s fine,” Jon said, grinning at the reluctant man. “I can’t promise we won’t be scary.”
Stewart listened to the discussion and then walked forward to stand by the bear shifter his mother had hugged. “You’re not scary to me. Before Mom went to rescue you, I saw you in my dreams. I knew you would turn out to be a nice bear. I told her not to worry.”