Total pages in book: 109
Estimated words: 103681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 103681 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 518(@200wpm)___ 415(@250wpm)___ 346(@300wpm)
Ryan entered the shelter with Jaime and Dominic close behind, and his eyes immediately found Makenna near the reception desk, talking with Dawn and Colton. His wolf bared his teeth at the male, and Ryan struggled not to do the same. He crossed to Makenna, sliding into her personal space and dropping a kiss onto her mouth. Yes, he was marking his territory, but so fucking what. He didn’t spare Colton a glance. The guy was insignificant, and he needed to know it.
Makenna smiled, recognizing the possessive gesture for what it was. “My day is improving.” She gave Jaime and Dominic a quick greeting. “Zac told me he’s accepted his place in your pack. You must be thrilled.”
Ryan narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean, your day is improving? What happened?”
She sighed. “Remy, the bastard, is . . . well, being a bastard.”
Dawn briefly explained the situation before adding, “The residents who were fired are upset. If more sponsors pull out, we’ll have a real problem on our hands.”
Ryan seriously wanted to gut Remy. “He wants you to feel unsafe and vulnerable so that you’ll fall in line and seek his protection.” Colton nodded his agreement, but Ryan ignored him.
“Well, it’s working,” said Dawn. “And it has the residents fretting. Don’t forget that some are in hiding. They worry that if Remy discovers their identities, he could contact the people they’re hiding from.”
Makenna pursed her lips. “I don’t think we’d have to worry about that. For one thing, they don’t leave the shelter. For another, he’s clearly trying to be subtle. If he exposed those seeking sanctuary, several shifters would come knocking. A load of trouble hitting the shelter—a place that’s never had any real trouble before—all at one time wouldn’t be subtle. It would look suspicious.”
Taking a steadying breath, Dawn nodded. “That’s true. But I think some still want to leave.”
“If they decide to leave, where will they go?” Jaime asked.
“The foxes will probably agree to join the relatives they’ve been gradually getting to know,” said Makenna. “The bear cub might do the same with his godparents. As for the other three . . . I know an Alpha who might willingly take them in on a temporary basis.”
“If at any point they choose to leave, they can stay with us until the Remy situation has been resolved,” said Ryan.
Makenna’s brows flew up. “Seriously?”
“Do I ever joke?”
“Not on purpose.”
“You’d really be prepared to do that, Ryan?” asked Dawn. “Why? They’re not your problem.”
“It would be the right thing to do. And it would help Makenna. I don’t like it when she’s stressed.”
Makenna’s breath caught at his matter-of-fact words. He put so much time and energy into helping her . . . and she might not even be his mate. Could anyone blame her for not wanting to lose him, for not being in any rush to crash through barriers that might just lead to him disappearing from her life?
Dominic turned to him with a grin. “Aw, dude, I didn’t know you had a romantic streak.”
Romantic? Ryan scowled. “I’m being honest, not romantic.”
Jaime patted his upper arm. “But admitting something so sweet is romantic.”
Ryan grunted. Turning back to Dawn, he said bluntly, “Do you want the help or not?”
“Now that’s the Ryan we know and love.” Dominic chuckled.
“There are other ways we can help,” said Jaime. “We can find you more sponsors. Have you set up an online sponsor form?”
Dawn blinked. “No. Is that possible?”
“Sure,” said Jaime. “We can get Rhett to set it up for you. We will not let Remy win.”
Makenna tilted her head. “I wonder if he knows about his mother’s decision to visit me earlier.”
Ryan growled, “What?”
“She came to my apartment to warn me away from her boy. I’m telling you, after the way she spoke and the jealousy that was rancid in her words, the rumors about her are definitely true. My wolf wanted to kill her. And I wasn’t at all opposed to the idea.”
Ryan folded his arms across his chest. “Tell me exactly what happened.” By the time she was done, he was ready to throttle her. “You thought it necessary to antagonize the woman?” A female sick enough to abuse her child was a dangerous thing.
“Necessary? No. Entertaining? Yes. I could have told her the truth, but it wouldn’t have made any difference to that paranoid bitch. Her twisted mind was all made up. She would have just thought I was lying to placate her.”
“Remy won’t like that you toyed with her,” said Jaime. “That thought makes me smile.”
Makenna chuckled. “I can’t go and confront him over what he’s done because none of it can be traced back to him. So I’ll settle for causing some ill will between him and Norma Bates.”
Ryan opened his mouth, ready to lecture her on antagonizing dangerous shifters and not calling him when shit went down. But he resisted, supposing he should resign himself to the fact that his mate was always going to make him crazy, one way or the other.