Remy slanted a look at the mediator that glinted with annoyance—that may have been because, according to Ryan, Remy had in fact tried to bribe Shaya. “Remy Deacon, Alpha of the Cedar Pack,” he said with supreme arrogance. “On my right is my Beta, Killian, and on my left is my Head Enforcer, Selene. Behind us are my five enforcers.”

Apparently it was supposed to be an intimidating sight. The fact that he felt the need to intimidate three females only served to confirm that he was in fact an asshole. Makenna was so tempted to question him about the rumors, but Dawn was right—he’d only cry “slander” to the council. It would work in Dawn’s favor if she were seen as a victim and he was perceived to be a bully trying to snatch the shelter from beneath her.

Shaya looked at Dawn. “As the respondent, can you now introduce yourself and your companions?”

“Dawn Samuels, owner of the shelter that Mr. Deacon seems to want, for a reason I can’t fathom,” said Dawn impatiently, as if Remy was a child asking for something he knew he couldn’t have. “Sitting on either side of me are two of my volunteers, Makenna and Madisyn.”

“Thank you,” said Shaya. “Next, you both need to outline the issue as you see it without interrupting each other. We’ll start with the applicant.”

Remy shrugged. “You know what I want, Dawn. We’ve discussed it before. The situation is very simple. I want to expand my territory by including the land your shelter sits on. I think we can agree that I’ve gone about this reasonably. I haven’t been confrontational, I haven’t made any threats, and I’m not proposing war. In fact, I’m offering you and your volunteers a place in my pack. That will give you protection, pack mates, and whatever help, support, and funding your shelter needs to keep running. It’s a beneficial situation for all concerned.”

Shaya spoke then. “Dawn, as the respondent, what’s your viewpoint on this?”

Dawn lifted her chin. “You say this is a beneficial situation, Mr. Deacon. And that confuses me. You see, I can understand an Alpha wanting to expand his territory, but there are other directions you can go in. My shelter is just a little spot on the map—it’s not what anyone would consider a prize. I don’t have alliances that could be useful to you, and the territory isn’t a beautiful stretch of land. Given all that, I really don’t see how you would benefit from this at all.”

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?”