Savage Urges (The Phoenix Pack, #5)(33)

Remy ground his teeth. His smug smirk had disappeared. “It’s true that there are other pieces of territory. But I believe your shelter is a good thing, and I wish to protect it. I have a high regard for you. Not many people out there would provide such a service. You have to admit that it would run more efficiently if you had the support of a pack.”

“It runs efficiently now. Why fix what isn’t broken?”

“How many people do you have working for you? Not many, I would think. I have the means to improve and expand the building, add more staff, and make it so that you can provide better care for the residents. There is no downside to that.”

“Actually—”

“And you can’t deny that trouble sometimes comes your way. Only recently there were humans petitioning to have the shelter shut down. Now, if it was considered shifter territory, the humans wouldn’t have the right to do any such thing. I don’t understand why you—why all three of you—wouldn’t want protection.”

“Yes, you do,” interjected Makenna, “because I’ve already explained it to you. Loners come to the shelter because it’s run by a loner. They would be too fearful to go to a pack for help.”

Madisyn spoke then. “And you’re either forgetting or ignoring that only Makenna is a wolf. Dawn and I are both felines. We wouldn’t feel comfortable in a wolf pack.”

Dawn nodded. “So . . . taking everything into account . . . no one at all, not even you, Mr. Deacon, would benefit from us agreeing to what you’re asking for.”

A muscle in his cheek ticked. “I’m sorry you see it that way. But I have to wonder, do you really see it that way, Dawn? Or are you being pressured and influenced by your two ‘volunteers’ here? Not for one moment do I believe they merely do volunteer work. In a sense, they are your enforcers. Maybe they like the power that gives them. Maybe they don’t want to give it up, and so they are trying to convince you to turn down my offer.”

“Or maybe you’re just talking out of your ass,” said Makenna.

Dawn’s smile was brittle. “Let me assure you, Mr. Deacon, that I have a mind of my own. Now, I’ve made my feelings on all this clear. I think you understand my point of view.”

His eyes darkened. “You don’t want me as an enemy.”

Makenna gave a false shiver. “Ooh, that almost sounded like a threat. Didn’t it, Madisyn?”

“Yep. And here I thought he was smart—well, sort of.”

There was a snort of amusement that may have come from the female wolf in the security team.

Selene snarled. “Remy, I don’t understand why you would want them in our pack, especially Super Bitch over there.”

Makenna smiled. “Aw, I do so love your pet name for me.”

“One day, you and me are gonna have a one on one,” growled Selene.

“I am so looking forward to that day,” said Makenna.

“I’m assuming, then, that an agreement can’t be reached between the two parties,” said Shaya. Remy grunted his assent while Dawn nodded. “Remy, do you wish to withdraw your application?”

“No,” he bit out. “I want that territory.” He leaned forward slightly, eyes drilling into Dawn, Makenna, and Madisyn. “And I will have it. Think very clearly about whether you really want this to go further. I can promise all three of you that you’ll come to regret it if you don’t agree, here and now, to give me what I want.”

Makenna pretended to consider it. “Nah.” She looked at Dawn, who shook her head. “Madisyn?”

“No, I’m not feeling better about Remy,” the feline replied.

Shaya leaned back in her seat. “Okay, then. In eight weeks this matter will go before the council. Unless, of course, both parties come to an amicable agreement within that time frame.” She rose from her seat. “And that concludes the meeting. Remy, you and your pack mates will leave first. After ten minutes, the respondent and her companions will leave. This is protocol to prevent confrontations from occurring between parties.” Selene appeared disappointed.

Remy slowly got to his feet, eyes narrowed at Ryan. “I’m not sure why you’re here.”

Ryan just gave him what Zac referred to as “the look.”

“He’s part of my security team today, as you can see,” said Shaya.

Remy ignored her, adding, “Seems to me like whenever I want to talk to Makenna, you turn up. I don’t like that.”

“Then don’t talk to her,” said Ryan, glaring at the f*cker and enjoying the angry flush that stained his cheekbones. The male grated on every nerve Ryan had. His wolf was pacing, itching to surface and lunge at the prick. Ryan was sorely tempted. His muscles hurt with the strain of holding back. The only thing that kept him in place was the knowledge that attacking an Alpha, particularly one of a very large pack, would bring problems to his own. Remy would pay for what he’d done. Just not yet.

After a moment of strained silence, Remy glanced at Dawn, Makenna, and Madisyn. “I’ll see you all in eight weeks . . . if not before.” The latter words held a threat that made Ryan tense. He didn’t react, though, as he knew it was exactly what Remy wanted.

When the Cedar wolves were finally gone, Shaya puffed out a long breath and spat, “What a f*cking dick. He needs to f*cking choke on his own f*cking balls, assuming the shithead has any.”