Savage Urges (21 page)

“There is another possibility,” said Riley.

“What?” Tao asked her.

“It could be that the bond truly hasn’t formed yet. But that it’s functioning on some level because it’s so very close to snapping into place.”

Taryn’s brows flew up. “That is possible.” She looked at Ryan. “Usually when mates psychically connect, the bond isn’t fully formed; it takes certain emotional steps to make that happen because the couple still has some hurdles to jump. But what if you and Makenna don’t have any hurdles? What if the bond is ready and waiting, it just needs a little something to get out of the damn way?”

“Like what?” Trey asked, and she shrugged.

“Ooh,” interrupted Jaime, “maybe it’s an external issue. Something that isn’t coming between you and Makenna—hence why the bond is ready to fully form—but something that’s coming between the bond and you as a couple.”

Tao waved a hand. “For example . . .”

Jaime sat upright. “If I remember correctly, Makenna went to the shelter when she was a child. Right?”

Ryan nodded.

“Was she banished? Betrayed in some way?”

Taryn gaped at her. “I can’t believe I never thought of that.”

“You would have eventually,” assured Jaime.

Taryn smiled. “It makes total sense now.”

“I know, right?”

Trey sighed. “Could you please share with the class?”

Taryn turned to Ryan. “If Makenna was betrayed by her pack, it stands to reason that part of her is hesitant about joining another. Mating with you means becoming one of us. She’s done that. But maybe somewhere deep inside, she doesn’t trust that we won’t betray her too.”

It made sense. Makenna spoke of the pack as if she were an outsider. She had yet to call herself a Phoenix wolf. Years of volunteering at a place where other people were banished and betrayed by their packs wouldn’t have exactly filled her with faith about packs. “She’s holding back from the pack, not me.”

“Exactly,” said Taryn. “She needs to see—to believe wholeheartedly—that we won’t betray her.”

“We’ve done what we can to make her feel like one of us,” said Jaime. “She
is
one of us.”

Taryn shrugged. “That’s a realization she has to come to on her own. At least you can take comfort in the knowledge that she’s not at all unsure about you, Ryan.”

Smiling at him, Jaime nodded. “She loves you. We can all see that. She doesn’t even try to hide it.”

Riley caught Savannah as the little girl sprang onto her lap. “You’re lucky to have Makenna as your mate. She’s awesome.”

Tao leaned closer to the viper. “What’s that you got in your hand?”

Savannah smiled impishly. “It’s for you.” She opened her fist and offered her possession to Tao.

To the guy’s credit, he did nothing other than say, “It’s a worm.”

“You can share it with your mean old lady.”

Apparently Savannah had decided that since he was Greta’s ally, Tao was her enemy.

Tao shot a silently laughing Riley a narrowed-eyed look that she completely ignored.

“I absolutely
love
this kid,” said Taryn, grinning.

Dante pulled out his beeping cell phone and swiped his thumb across the screen. “It seems we have a visitor.”

“Who?” Trey asked, stiffening.

“Myles is here. And he’s brought a friend.”

By the time Myles had parked in the lot, Ryan was waiting there with the Alpha pair and Beta pair.

Trey spoke. “Why are you here, Myles?”

The male stopped with a sigh. “Two reasons. One, Rosa’s friend called and said that a huge pack has just entered Remy’s territory—the York Pack.”

Zac’s old pack.
Bastard
.

“They’re planning to invade this place with Remy in three days,” Myles went on. Trey and Dante growled.

“What’s the other reason for your visit?” asked Taryn.

Myles slid his friend a glance. “Well that would have to do with Grayson here. He has something to tell you. Trust me, you’ll want to hear this.”

CHAPTER NINETEEN

W
aking to the sound of a fist thumping on Ryan’s bedroom door, Makenna groaned. The male curled around her merely grunted against her nape. The fist didn’t give up, however. “This is the shittiest wake-up call ever,” she grumbled.

Ryan lifted his head and called out, “What?”

“We have a major situation on our hands.” It was Dante.

Ryan sat upright. “Explain.”

“Come take a look at the security monitors in Trey’s office.”

A short time later, Ryan and Makenna entered the crowded office. “What’s going on?” asked Makenna. Moving aside, Dante gestured at the monitors. One look had Makenna blurting, “Fuck.”

“Yes, fuck,” agreed Tao. “Remy has to be behind this.”

Trick nodded. “He wants the council to think we’re not the right people to be guarding the shelter.”

“Given that there are dozens of extremists outside the security gates, yelling and protesting, I’d say he’d make a good point,” said Makenna. They were all wearing hoods to conceal their faces—most likely hoping to protect their identities from The Movement. Makenna looked at Trey. “I thought you said the extremists wouldn’t come here.”

“Something’s got them so worked up that they don’t care about the danger it’s putting them in.” The Alpha leaned closer to the screens. “What are they shouting?”

Jaime shook her head, worrying her lower lip. “I can’t tell.”

Dante took out his cell phone and keyed in a number. “There’s only one way to find out.” He put the phone to his ear. “Gabe, what is it they’re saying?” Gabe was guarding the gate.

The room was quiet enough for everyone to hear Gabe’s response: “They want ‘the rabid cat.’”

Makenna met Ryan’s gaze as she said, “Dexter.”

“They’re yelling that it belongs in hell and they want to send it there,” added Gabe.

“Hey look, cops have showed up,” said Tao. “Tell me they aren’t part of the protest.”

“They’re trying to move the extremists along,” Gabe told them. “The bastards are blocking the road. Can you see the news crew?”

Makenna cursed. “The council won’t need Remy to tell them about this. They’ll see it for themselves.”

“He hasn’t just done this to persuade the council we can’t protect the shelter,” said Ryan. “He’s trying to block our exit so we can’t get to the meeting.”

Makenna’s spine locked. “I’m not missing it.”

“No, you’re not,” Trey assured her. “There are other ways out of here—hidden exits we have for emergencies. It will slow you down a little, maybe make you a little late for the meeting. But you
will
get there.”

Taryn turned to Makenna. “I really wanted to be there today but—”

“You need people here in case they somehow manage to get through the gates,” finished Makenna. “I get it.”

“Jaime, Trick, and I will come with you and Ryan,” said Dante. “That means you’ll have enough backup without the pack being defenseless.”

“Is Riley likely to flee with Savannah and Dexter, thinking it will protect them?” Taryn asked Makenna.

Tao frowned. “She won’t flee.” It was more of a “she’d better not flee” statement.

“Riley’s smart,” said Makenna. “She’ll know that running off alone to protect the kids would be much worse than staying in a vast territory where there are lots of places to hide should the unthinkable happen and those fuckers get inside.”

Taryn released a sigh of relief. “Good. Those kids have wormed their way into my heart.”

Ryan checked the clock on the wall. “Kenna, we have to leave now.”

With a nod, Makenna quickly followed him out of the room, out of the caves, and through the dense forest until they came to a camouflaged building that turned out to be a garage. Claiming one of the four SUVs, Ryan then drove them out of a cleverly concealed exit that was only accessible from the inside of the territory’s perimeter fence.

After a ten-minute drive on a dirt path, they came to the highway. It took twenty more minutes to reach the territory on which the meeting was being held. Bordered by three mountains, the expansive land belonged to one of the council members, Parker Brant, who was known for being fair and impartial. Makenna sure hoped he’d be that today.

The council itself wasn’t exactly “good.” It would do what it had to do to preserve peace—even if that meant ending lives and wiping out packs. That was what made her so nervous. If they thought Remy having possession of the shelter would preserve the peace, they might just grant him what he wanted.

After they parked, four guards escorted them from the SUV to a building that looked like a smaller version of a courthouse. In the reception area, Dawn, Madisyn, and Colton sagged in relief at their arrival.

Madisyn hugged Makenna tight. “For a minute there, I thought you weren’t going to make it.”

“So did I,” said Makenna.

Dawn came forward. “What happened?”

“Extremists turned up at our territory, looking for Dexter,” said Jaime. Dawn paled.

“Bastards,” spat Colton.

Jaime glanced around. “Where’s Remy?”

“Opposing parties use separate entrances,” Dawn explained.

A door at the opposite end of the room opened and a male called out, “The council is ready to hear you now.”

Dawn straightened her blouse. “Let’s stay calm. Dignified.” She shot a meaningful look at the fidgety feline at her side.

Madisyn rolled back her shoulders. “I got it.”

Urged in by the dark wolf manning the door, they walked into a partially wood-paneled courtroom. It was empty other than for the four council members, who sat behind a raised bench, facing the attendees.

At the dark wolf’s direction, they all slid into a pew-style bench located on the front left-hand side of the room. A door on their right opened, and Remy and five of his wolves—including Selene—filed out . . . with Deanne, who cast Makenna an evil snarl that made her inner wolf flex her claws, wanting to take a swipe at the bitch.

Ryan shuffled protectively closer to his mate, all the while glaring at the female who he guessed was Remy’s mother—making it clear that he wouldn’t stand for her shit. She got the message, and she didn’t appear to like it. Remy lounged on the bench parallel to theirs, his posture and smirk arrogant. But arrogance could be a downfall, couldn’t it?

The eldest council member cleared his throat. “I am Parker Brant. On my left is Emilio Mendes. The two wolves on my right are Harrison Whittle and Landyn Green.” Harrison and Landyn inclined their heads to no one in particular. Emilio tipped his chin at Remy but merely stared at Dawn—clearly he was one of those people who were prejudiced against loners. The male had always been a bit of an asshole. It seemed they wouldn’t be getting much support from that corner.

Parker looked at Remy. “As I understand it, you wish to claim the shelter and its land as your own.”

Remy straightened. “Yes. Unfortunately, Dawn is opposed to the idea.”

“Before we proceed, I must ask both parties if either wishes to change its stance.” When he received no response, Parker continued, “Remy Deacon, as you are the applicant, let us hear your case first.”

“May I please ask that the Phoenix wolves be removed from the room? This business is not theirs.”

Makenna blinked. Ho, ho, ho—what a sneaky little shit. She placed a hand over Ryan’s clenched fist, feeling his aggravation flow through her.

Dawn spoke quickly. “Makenna is one of my most trusted staff members and, as such, this is very much her business.”

“She is a Phoenix wolf?” asked Parker.

“Yes. Naturally, her mate and some of her wolves are here to support her, just as Remy’s wolves are here to support him.”

Parker inclined his head slightly. “Very well. Let us continue. Remy, please come forward.”

As Remy moved to the chair that was slightly to the right of the panel, Emilio leaned forward. “Tell us, Remy, how long ago did you first approach Dawn about joining your pack?”

Remy spared her a brief glance. “Approximately seven months ago.”

“And what was it that you discussed?”

“I told her that I admired what she did for lone shifters, that I would imagine she found it difficult to run the shelter without protection. I offered for Dawn and her staff to join my pack. I won’t say I did it purely for selfless reasons. I made no secret that I was interested in possessing the land the shelter sits on. I wish to expand my territory.”

“What was Dawn’s response?”

“She turned down the offer, claimed she didn’t need any protection. I wasn’t happy about that, but I respected her decision. I would have stayed away from the shelter but . . .” Remy sighed. “I’m sure you all remember that local humans began a petition to have the shelter shut down.”

Harrison replied, “Yes, the human court dismissed it.”

Remy nodded. “But I was worried for the shelter and its future, so I went back to Dawn and repeated my offer. Again, she rejected it out of hand. I felt my only choice was to apply to the council. When I served Dawn the mediation letter, I tried one final time to convince her to accept my offer. It did not happen. In fact, the Phoenix wolves warned me away. I don’t feel that such intimidation was necessary or fair. I expected better of Dawn.”

Emilio tapped his chin. “I take it mediation was not productive.”

“Dawn sees no gain in this for anyone—not even me. I had hoped she would change her mind at some point. I’m surprised she didn’t, given the things that later happened.”

Landyn’s brows pinched together. “Could you elaborate?”

“As I said, I was worried for the shelter and its future. And as I hoped the land would soon be mine, I assigned some of my wolves to guard it. They reported that Dawn was having problems.”

“What sort of problems?” asked Parker.

“The shelter always had a constant flow of people coming and going, but lately it seems that not many loners are moving on. The place is becoming overfull. And, according to some of her staff who actually want to move to my pack, some of her sponsors have pulled out.”

The lying little fucker
. Makenna clenched her jaw to stop the words from escaping her.

“I see,” said Emilio.

“I have already told Dawn that I have the means to financially support and expand the building. Yet, she did not seek my help. At first, I thought the female was merely stubborn. But I’ve come to believe that it’s not actually Dawn who’s so opposed to joining my pack, it is the two females you see with her.”

Landyn consulted a sheet of paper in front of him. “Madisyn Drake and Makenna Wray?”

“Yes,” confirmed Remy. “They are, in a sense, her enforcers. I suppose they fear losing their position. My point was proven when Makenna insisted on continuing to work at the shelter after being attacked by extremists, even though it could lead them there. It clearly demonstrates she’s selfish and not devoted to the shelter for the right reasons. I believe that Dawn is. Still, if Dawn did not insist that Makenna stay clear of the shelter until things cool down, she doesn’t care for the place as much as I thought.”

Oh, the asshole was seriously good at twisting things. And that was a real problem. Makenna barely resisted the urge to call him the lying, scheming, sick piece of shit that he was.

“To Dawn’s credit,” Remy added, “she did appoint two Phoenix wolves to help guard the shelter—something which was very helpful when a pride of cougars tried to invade the building.”

Landyn stilled. “Cougars?”

Remy nodded. “They believe Dawn is giving sanctuary to someone they are seeking.”

“What happened?” asked Emilio.

“My wolves chased them off. They haven’t returned.” Remy shifted in his seat. “As I said, the Phoenix wolves have been helpful in guarding the shelter. But the reality is that their presence cannot be a permanent thing. Their pack is reasonably small. They cannot afford to spare enforcers on a daily basis. I doubt they will spare Makenna so often either, meaning Dawn will have less help from now on.”

Remy leaned forward. “The truth of the matter is the shelter needs help. It needs protection from humans, it needs more funding so that it can be expanded, and it needs more staff so that Dawn has extra support. I can ensure all of that. Dawn has worked hard for many years; she has put the needs of the shelter before her own in all that time. She deserves to finally be part of something bigger than the shelter; she deserves to have some of the load taken from her. I understand that the idea of change can be unnerving, but she would soon lose that fear and realize this is for the best.”

After a brief moment of silence, Parker spoke. “Remy, you may return to your seat. Who were the wolves who chased away the cougars? I’d like to speak to these witnesses.”

“They’re here with me.”

Selene and another of Remy’s enforcers were briefly questioned. Emilio praised them for protecting the shelter.

Parker then turned his attention to Dawn. He swept a hand toward the empty chair by the panel. “Dawn Samuels, could you please come forward?” She rose and, head held high, walked to the chair.

Once she sat, Emilio said, “Remy approached you a few times with his offer of protection, yet you quickly declined without giving any real thought to his proposal.”