“No,” agreed Jaime, “but it will knock them off balance.”
Trick nodded. “If any of those assholes come here, they’ll do so expecting to be able to easily break into the building and take whomever they’ve come for. They won’t anticipate loners having the protection of a pack. When they realize that their actions will mean taking on our pack, they’ll be careful how they proceed.”
“Our pack might not be as huge as Remy’s,” said Dante, “but it’s one thing that his is not: respected. The fact that we’re also strongly allied with the Mercury wolves—a pack that’s equally respected—makes us people that most shifters hesitate to fuck with.”
Makenna rubbed the back of her neck. “You’re right in what you say, and having some enforcers around here can only be a good thing. But if your pack is seen to be helping us, someone could guess that you’re the ones hiding those that need sanctuary.”
“Not if we tell them how Remy’s just trying to sic people on the shelter to make it easier for him to claim this territory.” Trick shrugged. “It’s not the complete truth, but it’s not a lie. I doubt they like him much anyway, since he’s constantly taking over packs and increasing the size of his territory. Shifters won’t like that because it can make him a threat.”
Ryan wondered if Remy had considered that if he were seen as too powerful, there would be shifters who would unite to take him out. That would be a really good day.
Minutes later, Jaime, Dante, Zac, and the loners exited through the side door of the building and headed to the Chevy. While Dawn and Makenna briefed the remaining residents on Remy’s actions, Ryan, Dominic, and Trick did a thorough patrol of the shelter’s territory. Satisfied that no strangers were lingering around the border, they headed back to the building.
Dawn was waiting near the children’s playground, rubbing her hands together anxiously. “Did you find anything?” Ryan shook his head, and she let out a sigh of relief. “We told the residents what happened. They’re understandably worried, but none of them wish to leave. In fact, many of them expressed their intentions to defend the shelter if any trouble came. Ryan, you’ll find Makenna in the basement, taking note of the supplies.”
Giving Dawn a nod, he walked inside the building and tracked his mate to the basement, where he found her checking off boxes on a clipboard.
She flashed him a smile. “Hey. Any signs of intruders?”
“No.” He closed the distance between them. “We’re alone now.”
She glanced around. “That’s true.”
“It means you can stop pretending you’re okay.”
Makenna thought about brushing off the comment, but that would only insult him. He didn’t deserve that. “I’m just pissed at myself.”
“At yourself?”
She hugged the clipboard to her chest. “I thought these people were protected, Ryan. I thought the wards would keep out any danger. But Remy still found a way to invade the place. I should have considered that, but I didn’t. Dawn is so devastated, feeling like she let the residents down, when it’s my fault.”
Ryan curled a stray lock of hair around her ear. “Are you done being irrational?” That wild glint in her eyes sparked.
“Excuse me?”
He took the clipboard and slid it onto a nearby shelf, not liking that little barrier between them. “You are not responsible for another person’s actions. There’s such a thing as cause and effect. Remy’s the cause, and these are the effects. You do not enter that equation.”
His matter-of-fact tone probably should have rubbed her the wrong way, but Makenna found it soothing. When something was on her mind, she’d find herself obsessing over it until she drove herself crazy. Ryan’s practical, no-nonsense manner had a way of calming the chaos in her head.
He cupped her face with both hands. “The blame belongs solely to him. You put everything you are into this shelter. No one here would ever blame you for what’s happening.” He slid his hand around to her nape and pulled her to him. With a sigh, she rested her forehead on his chest. He rubbed her back until she relaxed against him. “I hate the stress he’s causing you. And I hate that I can’t do anything to help.” Makenna’s happiness was most important to him, and it tormented him every second of every day that he couldn’t eliminate this threat. It was his practical nature that held him back. As Makenna said, they needed to play this smart.
“How can you think you’ve done nothing to help? Seriously, Ryan, if it wasn’t for you and your pack, we’d be on Shit Street right now.”
He kissed her. “No, you wouldn’t. You’d have found a way to protect the people here.” And he fucking adored that about her. He kissed her again, savoring the taste of his mate. Needing it. Loving it. And wondering yet again why the fuck their bond was out of his reach.
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN