Winter Wolf(70)

“Fair enough, but you can return them. Keys are in the truck.”

Bass nodded. He walked to the truck. Half in he turned to speak. “Tell Kat, I won’t be long.”

“I’ll have Karen check on her. Think she’d like to hit me again. That girl sure has a temper.”

The door closed. Bass started the engine, smiling to himself as he imagined Katalina punching Jackson.





Chapter 27



Katalina stood at the window watching Bass drive away. In a way, she'd come full circle. Once again, she was staring at the endless snow-dusted treetops. Only this time, she wasn't contemplating escape; rather, she was considering how to stay without anyone else dying.

There was a soft knock at her door. “You can come in, Karen,” Katalina said, not moving her eyes from the view outside.

“Starting to use your wolf senses,” Karen said.

“Where's he going?” she asked, ignoring Karen’s observation.

“He's taking the dead back home. He said he wouldn't be long.”

Kat crossed her arms, needing a shield from the world.

“Kat, are you okay?” Karen asked softly.

Katalina let out a long, sad breath before facing Karen. “No, I'm not.”

“The attack a bit too much for you?”

“Honestly, Karen, I'm not sure how I feel. I'm numb. Defending Toby was as easy as breathing. There was no thought, just instinct. I just…all this death, I watch all of you, so immune to it all; you just accept it as life.”

“I'm afraid it is, Kat.”

“Well, it's not where I come from. He’s going against his dad for me. He’s willing to do anything. How can I even look him in the eye? He’s willing to give up so much…to do so much. How do we have a calm conversation about that?”

“Oh, Kat, he loves you. You're his mate, and he won't…he can't stop until you are safe.”

“Surely there's another way?” she asked, feeling hopeless.

“In our world, the alpha is law. To challenge his word is to challenge his position. A pack only has a new alpha if the old one steps down or dies. Maybe he'll surprise Sebastian and accept you as Jackson has.”

“Maybe,” she answered, not sounding sure at all.

“Don't punish him for doing what is necessary.”

“I'm not. I know this isn't his fault, but I wouldn't be me if I just accepted everything that’s involved in a shifter’s life. I'm more than a shifter, Karen. I need to hold on to the part of me who was raised by humans. If I lose myself, then they will truly be gone.” She took a breath before carrying on, “Jackson and Winter gave me life, but my parents raised me. My beliefs were shaped by them.”

“I understand, Kat.” She was silent for a beat. “Toby’s coming around. I'm sure he'll be pleased to see you.”

“Okay, I'll be down in a minute.”

Karen said one last thing before leaving Katalina alone. Her voice was the softest of whispers, and filled with the pride of a grandmother. “You're doing well, Kat. Don't change. Our world needs to see its mistakes.”

Katalina let her go, only answering in her head. Why do I have to be the one to change this world?

*****

Propped up on a pillow, Toby drank from a straw in a cup his mother held for him. Cage hovered in the corner staring at nothing, but looking as if he had a lot on his mind. She smiled at him as his eyes fixed on her for a second, but he didn’t return it. He pushed off from the wall and started to leave.

“I’ll run a perimeter check,” he muttered as he left.

Katalina stared after him, wondering whether she should follow him when Toby gasped her name. She looked at him with a smile, pleased to see his infectious, carefree personality still intact.

“Hey, you.”

His mother stood up. “I’ll go make you something to eat, Toby.” She ruffled his hair before leaving.

“Mom! I’m not a baby,” Toby whined.

“You’re my baby!” she huffed.

Katalina laughed, sitting on the end of the sofa. “How’d you feel?”

“Hurt like hell, but I’ll be fine. Thanks to you.”

“I didn’t do much except give them somebody else to chomp on. Bass saved you.”

“No, Kat, I’m alive because of you.”

Katalina played with her hands in her lap, feeling a little uncomfortable; she wasn’t ready to think about what she’d done.

“You were pretty badass, Kat,” he laughed. “Ow! Best not do that.”

Katalina sank into the sofa and put Toby’s feet in her lap. She smiled, “Yep, that’s me. I’m a real badass now, Toby. I have wolf senses and everything!” she joked.

“Yeah, and a mate! Gone for a week and you come back hitched.”