Giving Dawn a nod of thanks for her honesty, Ryan slid into the Chevy and drove to Phoenix Pack territory. Once Zac was settled, Ryan retreated to his room and dialed a familiar number. “Garrett, I have a question.”

“Well, hello to you too, son.”

Ryan inwardly sighed. Garrett was the Head Enforcer of his old pack and had taught him how to track. He’d also been more of a father to Ryan than his true father had. “You know I don’t like pleasantries.”

“Yes, I do.” Garrett chuckled. “What’s your question?”

“You ever heard of any wolves having a salamander branded into their skin?” Ryan didn’t intend to track Makenna’s roots until after the Remy situation was over. But it bugged him that he was sure he’d heard of the salamander brand before.

“I once heard of an Alpha who likes to brand his wolves. He apparently thinks of it as an honor. A symbol of his favor. But to brand a shifter the way they brand their mates is the ultimate exertion of dominance, nothing more.”

“What’s the Alpha’s name? What pack does he run?”

“It was a long time ago that I heard about it. I don’t remember any of the specifics.”

Disappointment welled up in him.

“Why the interest?”

Ryan’s lips tightened. “I can’t say. It’s not my secret to tell.”

“Fair enough. You should visit us sometime soon.”

Be in the general vicinity of his parents? Not an appealing idea. “I’ll think about it.”

Garrett snorted. “No, you won’t. But I understand why. Take care, son.” The line went dead.

Returning his cell to his pocket, Ryan wondered if he should feel guilty for going against Makenna’s wishes. She’d shared her secrets, only asking that he’d let them alone. But how could he? How could he ignore something that hurt her? The answer was . . . he couldn’t. When she hurt, he hurt—an amazing phenomenon, given that he wasn’t particularly empathetic. Apparently, she was rubbing off on him.

That night, Ryan lay on his bed with Makenna snuggled into his side, her head on his chest. Both were naked and thoroughly sated. As he played his fingers through her hair, he sensed she was on the verge of sleep. He should have let her rest, should have simply said good night. Instead, Ryan found himself blurting out what he’d wanted to say all day. “We should tell people we’re mates.”

Makenna exhaled heavily. “I told you, I don’t want to say anything until we know for sure.”

His hand clenched in her hair. “We’re mates, Kenna. I know it. You know it.”

She peered up at him. “And if you’re wrong?”

“I’m not wrong.”

She rolled her eyes. “Let’s pretend for just a moment that you’re a mere mortal and make mistakes like everyone else . . . What if you’re wrong?”

The anxiety that very briefly flickered in her eyes surprised him. “You’re mine, Kenna. Nothing will change that.”

Makenna wished she could believe that. She wanted to, wanted it more than she’d wanted anything in a very long time. But she couldn’t envision Ryan ever imprinting on someone.

He rolled onto his side and lapped at a bite on her neck. “Tell me about your childhood.”

“What do you want to know?”

“Everything.” Obviously.

“If you think my childhood was awful, you’re wrong. My mom was a very fun, positive person who was extremely superstitious.” He didn’t look surprised to hear that. “Fiona Wray always saw the bright side of everything. She could lift anyone’s spirit. She taught me never to give up, to never let the lone shifter lifestyle beat us, that life itself was a gift and that I was living proof of that for her. So it didn’t matter to me whether we were in a hostel, a B & B, an apartment or living in our wolf form. I was happy as long as I had her.”

Ryan traced her collarbone with his finger. “But then you didn’t have her anymore.”

“You know what’s sad? She was a really special person . . . but I was the only one there to mourn her. Others didn’t realize just how great she was. She didn’t make her mark on the world.”

Ryan stroked a hand over her hair. “Tell me more.”

“Why? I’m sure you found out plenty from Dawn.” She’d just been calling his bluff, but the way he stilled ever so slightly made Makenna smile. “Ha, I guessed right, didn’t I? You went to Dawn.”

“Why would you think that?’

She snorted. “Because you’re a tenacious bastard who has to always be in possession of the facts.” She grazed his chest with her nails. “Tell me about your childhood. I confess, I know a little about your parents from when I was checking out Zac’s family tree.”

“You ruled them out as suitable guardians.”

“I was told they had a strained relationship.”

That was somewhat of an understatement. It wasn’t a topic he ever discussed, but this was Makenna. “My parents imprinted on each other when they were seventeen. A year later, I was born. Gwen was an immature eighteen.” The woman was still immature.

“Imprinted at seventeen and then parents at eighteen? That was fast.”

Ryan nodded. “Too fast for them. Neither was ready. It was harder for Gwen because she was alone a lot. My father, Galen, was training to be an enforcer, so he spent a lot of time out of the house. She did the night shifts, the day shifts, the diapers, the bottles, everything. It had to be an overwhelming responsibility. She resented the effect it had on her social life. And she resented losing some of Galen’s attention and time.”