Several futile minutes later, a defeated-looking Dante burst out, “Fine, we’ll all go. But if this Makenna person makes a wrong move, we end her.”

Ryan’s wolf’s claws sliced out as the animal released a threatening snarl. The same snarl built in Ryan’s throat, and he forced himself to swallow it back. The idea of causing her harm . . . it went against something inside him. The reality that she was a lone shifter and had likely committed an appalling crime against her pack didn’t change that.

Ryan always listened to his instincts. And at that moment, they told him that Makenna Wray was going to be a world of trouble.

CHAPTER THREE

He’s not coming.”

Makenna looked at Zac. His eyes were darting everywhere as he slouched on the park bench, shoulders hunched, arms folded; he was subconsciously making himself seem smaller, just like prey. “He’ll be here.”

Zac looked at her, dubious. “What makes you so sure?”

“Because he almost ripped me a new asshole for keeping you from him. I’ll warn you, the guy’s pretty intense; he seems to have a natural scowl, and you might find him a little intimidating. But I don’t believe he’s a danger to you.”

“Why?”

“He’s protective of you.” It had been clear in not only his eagerness to meet Zac but his concession to go at Zac’s pace. She sensed that protectiveness was a part of Ryan’s makeup; that he’d ensure that anyone he classified as under his protection would have whatever they needed to be safe. “Some people have that trait stamped into their very bones—it’s in their nature to defend and protect.”

“Like you.” He shrugged at Makenna’s frown. “Even Dawn says you’re a natural-born protector.” Dawn owned and managed the shelter. It would be more accurate to say she was the heart of the shelter. Unmated, she’d dedicated her life to the cause of helping loners. Makenna was one of the many shifters that Dawn had helped over the years.

Uncomfortable with the admiration in his eyes, Makenna shifted in her seat. “We’re talking about Ryan, not me. He’s a dominant male, which means his instinct is to take control of every situation. They’re not really into that whole compromising thing, and they like to have their own way. Letting you call the shots shows that he cares about you.”

“He doesn’t know me.”

“You’re family; clearly that’s all that matters to him.”

Zac shook his head. “Even if he does come, he won’t want me. I’ve heard about the Phoenix wolves. They’re strong and powerful. I’m weak and—”

“Hey, hey, hey, look at me.” Makenna pinned him with her gaze. Voice hard and insistent, she said, “You are not weak. I don’t know what happened to you, but I do know you were strong enough to get yourself out of that situation. What a lot of people don’t realize is that it takes guts to run and take the chance of being caught. But you did it. You braved the lone wolf lifestyle. You survived the streets. You were brave enough to come to the shelter with me when I found you. And you were brave enough to agree to meet with Ryan today. You are not weak. You got me?”

Zac swallowed. “Yeah.”

She smiled brightly. “Good.”

“You’re scary.”

“Scarier than Madisyn?” she asked hopefully. She was not only Makenna’s best friend but another volunteer at the shelter.

He smiled. “She’s crazy. I like her. I like you. I like everyone at the shelter, and I like it there. Why can’t I stay? I won’t get in anybody’s way. I’ll help out. I’ll be good—”

“Kid, you’re breaking my heart here.”

“I don’t want to be in a pack, Makenna. I want to be like you.”

“Me?”

“You’re strong, and you look out for everyone, and nothing scares you.”

“Zac, I’m a single, mostly uneducated, deliberately annoying loner who works evening shifts at a gas station when she’s not doing volunteer work at a local shelter. Do not aspire to be like me.”

Sadness clouded his eyes. “You want to get rid of me, don’t you?”

“Hey, you listen to me. I’ll be very sad to see you go, Zac. But I can’t claim to care about you and then not do what’s best for you, can I? The shelter is a special place, but it can’t give you the things that come with being part of a pack.”

He scowled. “If being in a pack is so sick, why didn’t you join one?”

She knew “sick” loosely meant “great,” since she’d learned to interpret his slang over the past few months. “I was twelve when I first went to the shelter. Back then, Dawn didn’t aim to rehome loners. Instead, she taught us how to integrate ourselves in the human community.”

“You’re the one who changed it and started rehoming them?”

“Yes.”

“But you could join a pack now, right? Why haven’t you?”

“Because it’s highly unlikely that any Alpha will condone one of their pack associating with loners, let alone volunteering at the shelter. And I like my life exactly as it is. But it still isn’t easy to be without a pack. My wolf accepts the situation, but she’ll never be satisfied and content. She’ll always feel like something’s missing, because being a loner goes against our nature.” That was why she worked so hard at rehoming lone shifters.