A muscle in his jaw ticked. “Do you have any idea what I’m offering you? My pack is large, well known, and powerful. In case you’ve forgotten, you’ve got nothing. But I’m welcoming you and your volunteers into my pack. I’m offering to give this place what it needs to keep going and to adequately protect whoever is within it. Surely you want to protect the future of the shelter and all its residents.”

The slamming of a car door made Remy’s attention snap to a sight over Makenna’s shoulder. She would have worried it was Zac if wariness hadn’t momentarily flashed in Remy’s eyes. Ryan’s scent reached her before his body soundlessly sidled up to her, his arm brushing hers, like he belonged in her personal space. His pack mates came to a halt just behind Makenna. Huh. For them to turn up, either Zac had told them about Remy or they didn’t appreciate being made to wait longer to see Zac.

“Well, if it isn’t the Phoenix Pack.” Remy didn’t look quite as unaffected by their presence as he sounded. The reasonably small pack of nineteen wolves had a reputation for being dangerous, particularly since Trey’s wolf had a tendency to turn feral during battle. “Interesting friends you have, Makenna.” The word “friends” had been coated in distaste.

She could sense that Taryn wanted to assert her dominance as an Alpha female and tell the shithead to fuck off. But she didn’t, obviously aware that it would make it seem like Makenna couldn’t fight her own battles. She appreciated that the Alpha did no more than stand with her Betas. “You should go, Mr. Deacon.”

He looked ready to argue, but then his eyes flicked to Ryan. Whatever he saw in the enforcer’s eyes made Remy think better of it. “I’ll see you soon,” he told Dawn.

Selene gave Makenna a condescending wave. “Bye now.”

Once Remy and his enforcers were gone, Makenna turned to Ryan. “I didn’t need you to step in.”

“I didn’t say a word.”

“Just because you didn’t speak doesn’t mean you didn’t interfere. You came to my side wearing that serial-killer stare”—Taryn snorted a laugh—“making a statement that you’d stand with me against him.”

“Making a statement that you’re under my protection. I’ll kill him if he touches you. It’s best if he knows that.”

Makenna blinked at the casual way he’d spoken those menacing words. “Not quite sane, are ya?”

Ryan was thinking the same about her. He was actually just as taken aback by his strong sense of protectiveness as she was, but he decided not to overthink it. Self-analysis held no interest for him.

Hearing fast, light footsteps, he looked to see Zac dashing toward them. At the same time, two females—one in her forties, the other in her twenties—stepped out of the basic redbrick building that looked like an old high school and strolled down the path.

“This is Dawn and Madisyn,” Makenna told the Phoenix wolves. “Dawn owns the shelter, and Madisyn’s a volunteer.”

Ryan studied the two females. The plump brunette, Dawn, was as short as Taryn, and strength seemed to radiate from her. This female was a born alpha. He also sensed that she was a cougar shifter. The dark, curvy female, Madisyn, had the sharpest eyes he’d ever seen—Ryan would bet nothing got past her. She was also a feline, but Ryan struggled to sense what kind.

After everyone exchanged greetings, Dawn put her arm around Zac’s shoulders as she turned to Makenna. “What’s the piece of paper you got there?”

“We’ll talk about it inside.” She ushered Dawn, Madisyn, and Zac up the path toward the door, intending to tell the Phoenix wolves she’d need to postpone their visit with Zac, but Ryan moved to follow them. Obstructing his path, she arched a questioning brow.

“You said we’d talk inside,” he rumbled.

She gestured at herself, Dawn, and Madisyn. “I meant that we would talk inside.”

“You should have been more specific.”

But he made no move to leave. She narrowed her eyes. “This ain’t your business.”

“It will be.”

Taryn stepped forward. “I’ll admit, we were all totally eavesdropping from the Chevy before we came over here. We heard a little of what’s going on. We’d like to help if we can.” It wasn’t a request; it was a statement of intention. To Makenna’s surprise, the Betas looked just as determined to help. Ryan had resolve and determination etched into every hard line of his face.

Madisyn crossed her arms over her chest. “Why would you do that? We’re loners.”

“We owe you,” replied Taryn. “You helped Zac when we didn’t. You’ve been keeping him safe. If Makenna hadn’t contacted Ryan, we wouldn’t have even known he needed help. Besides, if you’re going to keep Zac here, we need to be absolutely fucking positive in our minds that he’s safe. I’ll be honest, I’m tempted to pull him out for his own protection.”

Zac backed up. “No way! I’m staying here!”

“Calm down,” Ryan told him. “We won’t force you to leave.” Zac would just run from them if they did.

“Too fucking right,” muttered Zac.

Dawn lightly tapped his shoulder. “Language, Zac,” she reprimanded. She studied the Phoenix wolves closely as she asked, “How is it, exactly, that you wish to help?”

It was Dante who replied. “Any way you need it. But we can’t know what you need until we know the whole story of what’s been happening with Remy.”