“I don’t have to physically be at the shelter to help. My main job is to find loners a new home by tracking their family members. That mostly involves using a computer. I can do that from my own territory.”
“Perhaps, but—”
“They won’t stick around long, though. They’ll be too scared that The Movement will come for them.”
“That you’re so determined to continue working at the shelter makes me think that Remy is right. I put it to you, Makenna, that you have been pressuring Dawn to reject his offers of help. I put it to you that you have no true devotion to the shelter; you are too selfish to—” Cutting himself off, he stilled—hell, everyone stilled—as they heard it . . .
Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap. Tap.
It was the sound of rain hitting the window. Ryan almost smiled. Makenna blinked innocently as Emilio stared at her, jaw clenched.
Makenna leaned forward, as if about to share a secret. “Hey, do you want to know the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?”
“I know the truth. I don’t need to hear your distorted version of it.” He waved a hand, dismissing her. But he froze as an audio recording began to play.
“You’re a big fan of blackmail, aren’t you, Remy? That’s how you got some of Dawn’s sponsors to withdraw their funding.”
“Blackmail is a quick and efficient way of getting things done.”
“Especially since your little plan to sic the cougars on the shelter didn’t work so well, huh.”
“I know you’re hiding the viper.”
“Viper?”
“Play dumb if you wish, but I’ve seen your records.”
“When you hacked into Dawn’s computer, you mean? Yeah, we know all about that.”
Makenna clicked “Stop” on her cell phone, enjoying the shock on Remy’s face. “That’s right,” she told the council members. “The cougars would never have appeared if Remy hadn’t hacked Dawn’s computer, read her files, and then tipped the pride off about a four-year-old child they wanted to kill.” She licked her front teeth. “See, the real reason that Dawn won’t give into Remy’s demands is that she refuses to allow a pedophile constant access to children.” Parker sucked in a breath. Makenna snorted. “Come on, we’ve all heard the rumors.”
“Rumors,” echoed Emilio. “Rumors created to blacken Remy’s name and undermine his power—nothing more. And your recording means nothing. Remy does not state that he contacted the cougars. Nor does he state that he did in fact blackmail anyone, just that he finds it an efficient method.”
Makenna nodded once. “True, so I think you’ll be better hearing this from someone else.” Knowing Emilio would be of no help at all, she looked at Parker. “There should be two people waiting outside that door. You really want to hear what they have to say.”
After a moment, Parker nodded and instructed a wolf manning the door to open it. He frowned as two males entered the room. “Who are you?”
The taller of the two, looking slick and smart in a designer suit, said, “Ravi Lamar. I’m a lone shifter and I’ve been sponsoring the shelter for many years. Not so long ago, I was approached by a wolf who wanted to pass on a message from his Alpha.”
Harrison asked, “What was that message?”
“That if I didn’t withdraw my funding from the shelter, he would expose me to my clients as a shifter. I ignored the threat. My loyalty is very much to the shelter. I was once a resident there. If it wasn’t for Dawn, I wouldn’t have the education, skills, or money to be the successful businessman that I am today.”
Emilio’s gaze narrowed. “Did this wolf name his Alpha?”
“No.”
Emilio grinned. “Then why would you think his Alpha is Remy?”
“Because the wolf who approached me is sitting at his side.”
That made Emilio’s grin vanish in a rush.
Parker eyed the male behind Ravi. “What about you? Are you another witness?”
The blond reluctantly stepped forward. “My name is Grayson. I was a member of Remy’s pack until three days ago.”
Parker leaned forward, bracing his elbows on the panel. “What happened three days ago?”
Grayson balls his hands into fists. “I ran away.”
“Why?”
“As I was passing his cabin, I looked into the window and caught him . . .” His eyes briefly flicked to Remy, and he swallowed hard.
Harrison pressed, “You caught him, what?”
Grayson took a deep breath. “I saw him touching a child . . . inappropriately.”
“Define inappropriately,” said Parker. “I need to understand the gravity of what you saw.”
Grayson thrust a hand through his hair and recited an account that made Makenna’s stomach churn and her fists clench in fury. He then added, “Before I could do anything, Deanne burst into the room.”
Harrison’s brows pinched together. “Deanne?”
At the same time that Grayson explained, “Remy’s mother,” the woman jumped to her feet and shouted, “That’s a lie!”
Landyn gave her a hard look. “You will sit down.” It wasn’t until Remy hissed something at her that she actually did.