Savage Urges (6 page)

“We’ll come to your territory Saturday morning to talk with them,” said Trey, his tone nonnegotiable.

Myles tucked his hands in his pockets and shuffled from foot to foot. “What if they don’t want to talk to you?”

Trey cocked a brow. “If they believe the rumors are true, I would think they’d want to tell us what they know.”

“You’ll kill him, won’t you?”

“If he’s guilty, he doesn’t deserve to live.”

“No, he damn well doesn’t,” agreed Myles with a sneer.

By the time Makenna arrived at the shelter the next morning, the residents were just finishing breakfast. They then headed to either work, job interviews, school, or the common room. And that was when Makenna did what she’d been doing each day since Dawn had agreed for her to remain in the shelter many years ago: she began her designated chores.

Aided by some of the staff, she cleaned the kitchen, wiped down the cafeteria tables, and mopped the floor. Following that, she checked on each of the new residents, making sure they were settling in and asking for names of any family they would trust to take them in.

After a light lunch, she headed to Dawn’s office to use her computer. There, she ran searches on each of the names that the new residents gave her, hoping to electronically track their whereabouts. She was halfway through the list when Colton called the office phone. “Hello.”

“We have visitors. They’re asking for you.”

Curious, Makenna left the office and made her way to the reception area. Colton and Madisyn were there, watching curiously as three unfamiliar females studied the décor while chatting among themselves. Several boxes were at their feet. Makenna cleared her throat to get their attention.

They each pivoted, smiling. They didn’t look at all alike; one was tall and slim, the second was a very curvy brunette, and the third a peroxide blonde who was rather tan-tastic. Submissive wolves, she sensed.

The tall one smiled brightly. “You must be Makenna. It’s great to meet you.”

The brunette nodded. “We’ve heard a lot about you.”

Confused, Makenna said, “Um . . . I’m sorry. Who are you?”

Putting a hand to her chest, the tall one replied, “Oh, I’m Lydia”—she put a hand on the brunette’s shoulder—“this is Grace, and that’s Hope. We’re from the Phoenix Pack. We’re here to help.”

“Help how?” The door opened as Dante and two other males filed inside carrying boxes, garbage bags, and . . . “Paintings?”

Lydia’s smile turned even brighter. “I thought it would be nice to spruce up the place. Give it some color. Jaime was right, the place has a lot of warmth.”

The burly male with claw marks on one side of his face inclined his head at Makenna. “I’m Trick.”

The hot blond beside him with a hint of mischief in his eyes flashed her a flirtatious grin. “Hey, I’m Dominic.”

Makenna nodded. “Ah, the enforcer who sends Zac dirty jokes.”

“Actually, I’m a freelance gynecologist. When was your last checkup?”

“Dominic,”
chastised Grace.

Makenna’s chuckle cut off as the door again opened and Taryn, Jaime, and Ryan entered. The very second Ryan’s eyes found hers, a tingle of pleasure shot down her spine. The raw need building inside her was live and electric. In spite of herself, she wondered how it would feel to have him in her, over her, taking her. She would bet all his natural intensity translated into hard, rough, demanding sex—the best kind, in her opinion.

“I brought some clothes to donate,” said Hope. “They’re from everyone in the pack. Some of them don’t quite realize yet that they’ve donated, but I’m sure they’ll notice soon.”

Trick’s brow furrowed. “What exactly have I donated?”

“We had some extra food,” Grace told Makenna.

She called those three boxes
extra
? Like the stuff had just been lying around? “Extra food,” repeated Makenna. “Right.”

Nostrils flaring, Dominic sidled up to Madisyn with a frown. “What are you?”

The feline got that a lot. Most shifters didn’t sense what breed she was. And Madisyn kind of liked it that way. She very rarely revealed the truth, since she found joy in dicking with people. “A woman,” Madisyn replied.

Dominic rolled his eyes. “Yeah, but what type of shifter are you?”

“A cat.”

“What kind of cat shifter?” he pressed, impatient.

“A rare one.”

Lydia did a little clap, overriding Dominic’s growl. “Well, let’s get to work.”

It quickly became clear to Makenna that Lydia was quite artistic and had a flair for interior design. She recruited some of the shelter’s volunteers and residents, even the children, to help with improvements. Paintings were hung up, potted plants were brought in, colorful blackout blinds replaced outdated curtains, and stylish light fixtures were added.

The common room was completely transformed. The old carpet was replaced by laminate flooring and then covered with a beautiful, coffee-colored rug the same shade as the blinds. The upholstery was changed with matching sofas and cushions, and white faux-leather covers were added to the plastic chairs.

The children painted pictures on the walls of the outdoor playground, which was further improved by a playhouse, sandpit, basketball net, and trampoline that the Phoenix wolves had brought with them. Apparently, they were the things the Alpha pair’s son was no longer amused by, but Makenna wasn’t so sure she believed it was old stuff.

Madisyn, too, had her suspicions. Dawn . . . well, Makenna hadn’t seen her that happy in a long time. The woman was thrilled with all the other things the wolves had donated: bedding, clothing, footwear, sleeping bags, hygiene supplies, books, toys, towels, a microwave, a toaster, and a kettle.

The wolves claimed the stuff had been just “lying around.” But as Makenna gazed at something hanging on the common room wall, she said to Ryan, who had rarely left her side, “I refuse to believe you had a wide-screen TV just lying around.”

“You’d be surprised. We have a lot of guest rooms, but they’re rarely used.”

“Guest rooms?” She would have thought he’d say “guest cabins.” “Does that mean you guys all live in one big pack house?” Picking up some of the garbage bags at her feet, she headed toward the side exit; Ryan did the same.

“In a sense,” he replied as they stepped outside into the side alley. Like Makenna, he slung the garbage bags into the trash. “Who is Colton to you?” Ryan blurted out, unintentionally abrupt. He inwardly winced. By nature, he was curt and straight to the point. Which meant he often came across as rude and intolerant.

“He’s a volunteer and a friend.” She was panting with exertion after all the hours of hard work, but Ryan hadn’t even broken a sweat. She’d resent him for it if it hadn’t been so pleasurable watching all those muscles bunch and flex.

“Friend? He walks into your personal space like it’s his right.”

“So do you.”

Yeah, well, they weren’t talking about him. “Are you two dating?”

“Why? Are you interested in him? Because I don’t think he swings that way.” She grimaced as a crow landed nearby. “Well, that’s not good.”

Blinking at the sudden change of subject, Ryan glanced at the bird. “What?”

“Seeing one crow on its own is bad luck.” She didn’t add
obviously
, but it was in her tone.

Ryan looked from her to the bird, feeling compelled to point out, “It’s just a crow.”

“Come on, you’ve heard the rhyme. ‘One for sorrow, two for mirth, etc. . . . ’”

Yes, but still . . . “It’s just a crow.” And that was just a rhyme.

“You’re not at all superstitious?”

“You mean do I have completely illogical beliefs? No.” He’d expected her to be offended. She actually smiled, looking curious.

“So you don’t believe in luck?”

“No.”

“But you believe in fate.”

“No.”

She gaped. “How can you not believe in fate? You’re a shifter. We have predestined mates.”

“That doesn’t mean our lives are written out like a script.”
He
dictated his fate, no one else.

“But it would suggest that some things are set in stone. There’s a female out there who was pretty much made for you.”

“That doesn’t mean my fate is to spend my life with her.” It was simply a possible path his life would take . . . if he
chose
that path.

“Okay, that’s true,” Makenna conceded. He could fail to find his mate, or one of them could imprint on someone else. Shifters who weren’t true mates could still come together and form a mating bond through the process of imprinting. It was just as strong and true as a bond between predestined mates. “Are you rejecting the notion of fate because you don’t
want
to find your mate?”

“No.” Ryan had never feared mating, never feared the commitment. He’d played around, knowing that once he found his mate he’d attach himself to her and that would be that. Simple. He really wasn’t sure why other people found the matter so complicated. “I just don’t believe our lives are dictated by luck or fate or that mating bonds are cosmic, magical things.”

He was so stoic and serious, she mused. Always in enforcer mode. She posted a memo on her mental corkboard to remind her to make Ryan smile at least once before they parted for good. “All right, then what do you think bonds are?”

“Evolutionary measures to ensure procreation.”

That sure surprised her. “You think it’s a genetic thing?”

“Shifters can’t procreate with anyone other than their mates. In that sense, mating bonds ensure the continuation of the shifter races.”

“So you think the bond is some kind of trap?”

“No. I just don’t think it’s anything other than an evolutionary measure, that’s all. Why does that make you smile?”

She shrugged. “Your mind is so practical. It’s fascinating.”

He was certain no one had ever referred to him as “fascinating.” Cold, yes. Merciless, yes. Emotionally sterile, yes. Fascinating? No.

“Well,
I
believe there are such things as fate and luck. Madisyn is one of the luckiest people I’ve ever met; she’s always winning and finding stuff. And take Zac. I found him unconscious on my doorstep, pumped up on alcohol and drugs. In that state, he could have ended up in a number of places; he was hurt and vulnerable. But it was
my
doorstep he found his way to—a person who could lead him someplace safe. That right there is an example of a higher power at work.”

His mother’s voice was suddenly ringing in Ryan’s head . . .
“I should have waited for my true mate! This is my punishment from fate for betraying him by imprinting on your father!”

No, his mother was miserable because of
her own
choices—something she’d never taken responsibility for. She’d blamed fate, the universe, his father, everything and everyone but her. “There’s no such thing as a higher power,” Ryan insisted. People were in charge of their own destinies. If they fucked up their lives, it was their own fault and they needed to own it. “Zac could have still ended up here at some point. How did
you
end up here?”

“That doesn’t matter.”

Pissed by those words in a way he couldn’t explain, Ryan closed the small distance between them. “You’ve been living as a lone wolf since you were a kid . . . and it doesn’t matter?”

“My life is good. I have friends, an apartment, a job, a car, and my own money.”

“But not a pack, not pack mates, and not a real territory. Don’t tell me that doesn’t hurt you or your wolf.” He narrowed his eyes. “What’s your name?”

She blinked. “You already know my name. Did you hit your head?”

“But it’s not your real name.”

It was possible that he was right, but Makenna didn’t know. As she had no intention of explaining that, she simply said, “It’s the only name you’re getting.”

“Are you in hiding? Is someone looking for you?”

“Ryan, let it go.”

The door swung open as Dante and Dominic came outside with more trash. Dante’s brow creased. “Everything okay here?”

Ryan grunted, urging her inside with a hand on her lower back.

“He thinks you should mind your own business,” Makenna told the Beta, translating the grunt.

Dominic cocked his head. “You understand his grunts?”

“You don’t?”

“You got ‘Mind your own business’ . . . from that one sound?”

She lifted her chin. “I thought it was crystal clear.”

Dominic turned to Ryan. “Marry her.”

Ryan grunted again before heading for the door.

“What did he say?” Dominic asked her.

“Fuck off,” she translated.

“Hey!” Dominic moaned at Ryan, following him back inside.

By the time the Phoenix wolves were done giving the shelter a makeover, dinner was being served. Due to the residents’ discomfort around packs, it was decided that the Phoenix wolves would eat outside with Dawn, Madisyn, and Makenna. They all settled on the benches near the children’s playground.

Once they had finished their meal, Dawn spoke. “I can’t thank you enough for everything you’ve done.”

“You really didn’t have to do this,” said Makenna.

“You’re uncomfortable with all the help,” Taryn observed.

Makenna shrugged. “It’s not that I don’t appreciate it. The shelter needs whatever help it can get. But a lot of the stuff you brought here is new.”

Dante nodded. “But like you said, this place needs whatever help it can get. On another note, you might want to know what we discovered about Remy.” He told them everything Rhett had uncovered and the rumors surrounding Remy.

By the time Dante was done, Dawn had paled considerably. “So it could be that what he really wants is access to the children?”

“As sick as it is, that makes more sense than anything else,” the Beta replied.

Stomach twisted with disgust, Makenna placed her half-empty plate at her feet. She’d picked up that something wasn’t quite right about Remy, but she hadn’t considered this. And now she felt true fear. If he got what he wanted, the children in the shelter would suffer. She wouldn’t be able to protect them because the first thing he’d do would be to get rid of Dawn, Madisyn, and Makenna. He wouldn’t want any obstacles.