Instead, Emilio looked at Parker. “I think it might be helpful to speak with Makenna Wray and hear more about her problems with the extremists.”

Oh, fucking groovy. Makenna watched as Dawn’s back snapped straight and alpha vibes flowed from her. Not good in a courtroom.

“Makenna does not need to be questioned,” stated Dawn. “I can tell you whatever it is you need to know.”

Landyn gave Dawn a pointed look. “Reign in those vibes. We will not be intimidated.”

“I’m not trying to intimidate anyone, I’m—”

“Wasting time,” finished Emilio. “Makenna Wray, please take Dawn’s seat.”

Swallowing back a groan, Makenna patted Ryan’s rock-hard thigh. He didn’t want her going up there, she knew; he wanted her close, wanted her where he could easily protect her. “I’ll be fine,” she whispered in his ear as she rose.

Grinding his teeth so hard he was surprised something didn’t crack, Ryan rested a possessive hand on his mate’s ass as she slid past him. With each step she took away from him, his anger at Remy and Emilio built in his system. He hated the distance between them. Emilio probably meant to toy with her and twist her words, just as he’d done with Dawn.

What Emilio didn’t know was that she’d toy with him right back. Makenna would be pissed at the asshole for playing with Dawn and so she’d deliberately antagonize him. Ryan knew from personal experience how good she was at it.

“I saw the news clipping of your encounter with the extremists,” Emilio said as Makenna sat. “They appeared outside your apartment building, correct?”

“I don’t live there anymore.”

Emilio opened and closed his mouth. “In any case, did they begin a protest outside the building?”

Makenna tilted her head. “Why would you ask if you saw the news? Were you lying?”

Emilio’s eyes flashed. “No, I’m merely asking you to verify it.”

“Why?”

“Why are you asking why?”

“I think it’s important to question everything. Don’t you?”

Taking a deep breath, Emilio gave her a brittle smile. “You must have been very frightened to see them outside the building, knowing how zealous these human extremists can be.”

Makenna pursed her lips. “I was more annoyed than anything else. They were aggravating my headache.”

“Clearly you escaped. Were you seen?”

“By who?”

A muscle in his cheek ticked. “Extremists.”

“Well, none followed me.”

“The extremists know your name and address—”

“Old address.”

“—yet you didn’t stay clear of the shelter for its safety. You persisted in going there.” He paused as he caught sight of a spider crawling along the bench. He wacked it hard with a notepad, crushing the insect.

Makenna winced. “You shouldn’t have done that. It’ll rain now. Quick, cross your fingers.”

Ryan closed his eyes, sighing inwardly. His mate was insane, and now everyone knew it. Still, he couldn’t help but want to smile.

Emilio arched a brow. “Rain?”

“Yes, you killed a spider.”

Emilio turned to his fellow council members with a smirk, which they didn’t return. In fact, they seemed to agree with Makenna. Expression hard, Emilio turned back to her. “Why didn’t you stay away from the shelter?”

She blinked. “Why would I?”

“To stop the extremists from following you there, of course.”

“I already told you, no one was following me.”

“I’m sure they will from here on out, considering the news showed them hanging outside your new pack’s territory.” So they had seen this morning’s news.

“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?”