Okay, the female had a point. Makenna gave a brief version of what happened. “What better way for her to get rid of me and away from her son than to sic the extremists on me?”

Trey tapped his fingers on the table. “There is a chance it was her. But there’s also a chance he did this because he was majorly pissed at you for what you said to his mother.”

Makenna pursed her lips. “He doesn’t strike me as the impulsive type. He’s too smart for that.”

“Maybe. But, in any case, he’s still a suspect when you consider what’s going to happen now that you have the extremists’ attention.”

“What do you mean?”

It was Ryan who explained. “The extremists from today will probably skulk away in fear of The Movement. But it’s likely they’ll pass on your name and address to other extremists. You’re on their radar now. Remy will expect you to lie low and hide out somewhere. Think of what that would mean for the shelter.”

“It would leave Dawn short a staff member,” Makenna realized.

“Not just any staff member,” interrupted Trey, “but the staff member who rehomes the loners. He wouldn’t want the children going anywhere, would he?”

Makenna cursed silently. She hadn’t thought of that. It had seemed most likely to her that the culprit was Deanne. Now, she wasn’t so sure. “No one will keep me away from the shelter.” She’d find a way to get there without leading any watchers there. “I won’t be forced into hiding either.”

As much as part of Ryan wished she’d step back from the shelter, he knew it wouldn’t be right to ask that of her. It wasn’t in Makenna’s nature to sit back and watch the people she cared for struggle. She wouldn’t leave them when they needed her most. To ask her to do differently would be asking her to be someone she wasn’t. If she wanted to keep volunteering at the shelter, he’d go along with her and keep her safe.

“You’re not going to go back to your apartment, are you?” Zac said to Makenna. “I mean, more extremists could be waiting.”

“My stuff is there.”

“It’s probably been trashed,” Roni warned her. Sadly, she was most likely right.

Zac looked at Taryn. “Can Makenna stay with us for a while?”

“She’s staying,” Ryan firmly stated.

That definitive answer pissed her off a little, but Makenna decided not to snap at him. He was still freaked out and it wasn’t the time to push him. Still, she had to point out one thing. “If the extremists somehow find out I’m staying here, it could turn their attention to you,” Makenna warned. Some of the wolves snorted. “What don’t I know?”

“Both our pack and the Mercury Pack had a run-in with them once before,” Trey explained. “The people who invaded our territory mysteriously disappeared. The extremists have stayed away from us since then. They won’t come here.”

Greta spoke. “You’re wrong. The extremists aren’t smart enough to stay away. I’m telling you, we’ll have trouble on our hands again.” She threw Makenna a dirty look. “Surely there’s somewhere else you could—”

“She’s staying here,” Ryan told the old woman.

Cheeks reddening, Greta said, “How can you want that hussy, Ryan? I told you why she was banished from her old pack, and you’re still with her! You’re worth more and you deserve better!” She smacked the table with her hand. “She’s a danger to us, and you swore to protect your pack!”

Hiding her amusement, Makenna shrugged. “Sure, but it’s not like he signed anything.” Wow, Greta looked like she wanted to lunge down Makenna’s throat.

“You might want to know,” began Jaime, stifling a smile, “that Rhett uploaded my photos onto his blog. There have been a lot of comments from shifters and humans. They’re outraged by the extremists’ behavior. I mean, a net and a wasp knife . . . that’s beyond cruel.”

“I agree,” said Dante, glancing at his cell phone. He looked up. “Taryn, Gabe just sent me a message; he said your uncle’s here to see you.”

Ryan’s jaw tightened at the amused smile on his mate’s face. “Don’t say it.”

She raised her hands. “I wasn’t gonna.”

He grunted, not the slightest bit convinced.

Later that day, Makenna was sprawled out on the warm grass, enjoying the sun on her skin . . . and cursing inside her head. All in one day, she’d been attacked, lost her job, and been evicted. Her landlord had called ten minutes ago with that delightful bit of news. She’d argued that it wasn’t legal to throw someone out of their home when they hadn’t done anything wrong. He’d said that he needed to know his tenants were safe, that he couldn’t guarantee that if she were there.

He was right. And so she didn’t fight his decision. But it meant she had no home. Still, things could always be worse. Remy or Deanne had wanted to cut her off from Madisyn and Dawn—the only family she had. That would have hurt like nothing else could.

Hearing a slight rustle in the grass, she looked up to see a magnificently beautiful wolf. His fur was pure black, with the exception of the fur on his face, neck, and the inside of his ears, which was a creamy blond. Ryan, her senses told her.

He’d left her an hour earlier, told her he needed to do a perimeter check. But she’d suspected he wanted some time alone in his wolf form. Wanted the calm and solace that came from it.