Katarina smiled at the girl. “We were taking a walk. We did not get tour earlier. Now everyone too busy.”
“No problem. This place is not that big. I can show you around,” Terra said, rising from her seat.
Katarina lifted an eyebrow when the others grumbled at the girl’s leaving. So much for this off-the-grid experiment, she thought.
Perhaps it proved something about resource sustainability, but that was all.
Humans were social animals every bit as much as werewolves—or normal wolves, in her opinion. Humans also formed their little packs, and always one turned out to be the leader. She imagined Terra’s newly formed breasts, shiny blonde braid, and muscular legs had much to do with her current occupancy of the leader role.
The three of them set off walking with Terra choosing to walk beside Stewart who was nearly her height.
“Are both of you wolf shifters?” Terra asked.
She was once again looking at Stewart, who still seemed unable to speak. Their childish drama had Katarina rolling her eyes.
“Yes, but I am natural wolf. Stewart is created wolf like Brandi. She and Gareth are Stewart’s parents.”
“Awesome,” Terra said happily with a genuine smile lighting her face. “Brandi and Gareth saved my Dad and now he’s a bear—like a GIANT bear. He’s huge when he shifts.”
“They’re not my actual parents. I’m adopted,” Stewart blurted out.
Terra chuckled. “They’re like the coolest people I’ve ever met. Lucky you to get adopted by them.”
Katarina elbowed the boy until he yelped. “See? It is like I said.”
Stewart rubbed his side. “Okay—I wasn’t disagreeing.” He finally looked at the girl. “Did you hear me disagreeing?”
“Nope,” Terra confirmed, grinning at him. “Are you some kind of geek? Because you sound way too smart to be someone normal. And you’re barely talking. I don’t mind quiet people, but everyone sort of had a bet going on about you when you climbed out of the plane. I went with geek.”
Stewart sighed and shook his head.
“He is very smart,” Katarina declared, putting all the passion she could muster into her voice.
Stewart glared at Katarina before looking at Terra. “I’m not really smart. Well, I am smart, but not that smart. I’m just…”
“Always curious?” Terra suggested.
“Always,” Stewart admitted.
“Me too,” Terra said. “We’re going to be best friends. I can tell.”
“How old are you, Terra?” Katarina asked.
“Sixteen. Do they have lots of cars in Alaska? I really, really want to learn to drive. Dad is so reluctant. He wants me to wait until I’m eighteen. That’s like a whole two years away.”
Katarina laughed. “I remember when I thought same. Now I see two years is merely whisper of time.”
Terra giggled. “A whisper of time—that’s pretty.”
“Just like you,” Stewart said, then stopped walking. “Uh… did I just say that out loud?”
Terra giggled harder. “Say what, Stewart?”
Stewart blew out a breath and dropped his gaze to the ground.
Terra’s head swiveled on her shoulders when she heard people talking and laughing nearby. “Hang on a moment. I need to deliver a message for my Dad. I’ll be right back and I promise to go into tour guide mode then.”
They watched the pretty Terra jog off.
Katarina elbowed the boy again and chuckled.
Stewart made a face as he moved out of reach. “Oww… what did I do now?”
“All the right things to intrigue a pretty girl. Where did you learn slip of the tongue trick? Question after was flash of brilliance.”
Katarina laughed loudly when Stewart’s face crinkled in confusion again. Brandi had no idea how fast her little hybrid wolf was growing up. Should she warn the nano wolf? Or just quietly inform Gareth that perhaps he should have ‘the wolf talk’ about females with his hybrid son soon.
“Are all girls naturally punchy?” he finally asked as he rubbed his arm. “Geez… I figured it was only Aggie when she got in one of her moods.”
“You have a lot of destiny to accept in very short time,” Katarina said. She patted Stewart’s shoulder. “Don’t worry. I will remind you without punching next time.”
Stewart rolled his eyes but grinned when Terra jogged back to them with a smile.
5
The next morning Stewart sat with Terra and the rest of the children during breakfast, which was spread out on communal picnic tables.
Katarina grinned when Brandi filled her plate and brought her food to the adult table and purposely sat where she could monitor her son. “You are good mother.”
Brandi sighed. “I know I’m being obvious about watching him, but it’s necessary. Don’t get me wrong. I’m happy to see Stewart interacting with others, but he was mentally and physically eight a short while ago. Jumping from that young age to being a teenager is a big span for so short a time.”
Katarina nodded. “I moved out of my pack at Terra’s age. It was hard transition, but I was mature enough. Many werewolves grow fast. Stewart is optimist about changes. I do not see real problem for anyone but his mother.”
“Thank you,” Brandi said quietly. “I think I really needed to hear that from someone other than Gareth.”
“Gareth is good father. Time for Gareth to have talk with Stewart though,” Katarina added as she dug into her food. There was no meat, but the eggs and vegetables were good.
“What kind of talk?” Brandi asked.
Katarina laughed at the innocent demand in Brandi’s question, but chose not to illuminate her. Brandi was sharp. She’d figure it out as soon as she heard Terra and Stewart flirting with each other.
“Are bears coming to village?” Katarina asked.
Brandi nodded, wrenching her gaze away from her smiling son. It was strange to see Stewart smile so much.
She brought her attention back to Katarina. “The quick answer is yes. There are some logistical issues to work out. The two or three full human adults living with the bears are not keen on relocating to Alaska, even temporarily. I think we may be under forty-five total by the time it actually happens. The cargo plane I ordered can haul a hundred so they’ll have plenty of room to bring stuff they’ll need for the next few months. We’ve tentatively asked them for a six-month stay.”
Katarina nodded as she continued to eat. “Will you fly big plane full of bears home?”
Brandi laughed. “I could fly it, but I don’t think Gareth could handle it if I did. No, I’ll fly the little plane back. We arranged for our cats to deliver the bears to Alaska.”
“Cats?” Katarina gave a shiver. “Such messy creatures. You own cats?”
Brandi chuckled. “No. They’re panthers who don’t shift. Very good-looking and totally devoted to each other. You’ll like them. They’re Nordic but have worked all around the world. They say they love Russia.”
“Panthers…” Katarina shook her head. “Soon village have whole zoo. We charge tickets and make money.”