“My wolves will escort you back to your territory and take the pups to safety,” added Parker. “This meeting is over.” Each of the council members rose and left the room, and Makenna made her way to Dawn. The feline wrapped her in a hug, happy and relieved.

Remy very slowly rose to his feet, like a snake uncoiling. He glared at Dawn. “I warned you. You’ll regret this. All of you.” His eyes went to Ryan. “Especially you.”

Ryan didn’t have to ask what he meant. But if he really thought the York Pack would get anywhere near Zac, he was a dumb son of a bitch.

“You lied to me,” Deanne growled at Makenna. “My son never touched you.”

Makenna flashed her a taunting smile. “Didn’t he?”

A crease formed between Deanne’s brows. The woman was so paranoid where Remy was concerned that she had no confidence in her own convictions. “Remy, it’s not true, is it?” He didn’t answer, just headed for the exit. She trailed after him, repeating her question.

Dante waited until Remy and his wolves left before speaking. “I half expected him to attack.”

Ryan gave a quick shake of the head. “He still thinks he has the upper hand. If he knew that we’re fully aware the York Pack are his guests, he would have reacted very differently.”

Grayson moved to Dante. “You’ll kill Remy, right? The sick fuck needs to die.”

“He’ll die,” Dante vowed before calling Trey and telling him the result of the hearing. Hanging up, he said, “The extremists left.”

Makenna wanted to be relieved by that, but there was no saying the humans wouldn’t return. Still, she’d count today as a win. She linked her arm through Ryan’s. “I’m fucking ecstatic that the pups will be taken from Remy.”

“Me too,” said Jaime. “You know, I wasn’t all that superstitious until I met you. Did you see Emilio’s face when it started to rain? Priceless.” Nodding, Madisyn chuckled.

Makenna looked up at Ryan. “Are you a believer yet?” He grunted. “Fine, be irrational.”

Ryan just didn’t understand her. “How can you call me irrational when you picked your clothes this morning based on what your horoscope told you?” Who did that?

“Well, if you remember correctly, it told me to prepare for wet weather. Turns out it was necessary. Although . . . I suppose it’s worth considering that if Emilio hadn’t killed that spider, it might not have rained. In that sense, maybe it wasn’t fated to rain. Unless, of course, the spider’s destiny was to die at Emilio’s—”

“Stop, stop,” Ryan told her. He just couldn’t take anymore. “Let’s just go.”

“Always so grouchy.”

Whatever.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Normally, Makenna found a bath with Ryan to be the epitome of relaxation. Hot water, bubbles, large hands sliding over her skin—total heaven. She loved feeling those hands massaging shampoo into her hair and soaping her down. Loved returning the favor. Tonight, though, the tension wouldn’t leave her mind or body. Not that she’d expected differently, given what loomed ahead.

She had spent the entire afternoon in Trey’s office with most of the Phoenix wolves, discussing Remy’s plans to invade their territory in two days’ time. It wouldn’t be easy to defend the territory. Remy’s pack was large and would be accompanied by the York Pack. Also, it was probable that he would top up his numbers by calling on his alliances.

A preemptive strike wasn’t possible because Remy’s territory was so vast. All they could do was be prepared for the attack. They would have been seriously outnumbered, but, thankfully, several of Trey’s alliances—including the Mercury Pack, Dante’s brother’s pack, and Taryn’s old pack—had agreed to join them. In addition, Myles’s Alpha had contacted Trey, having heard of Remy’s plans via Rosa, and offered to support them. The numbers were now pretty even.

Still, no one was feeling reassured. The other couples had retreated to their rooms, wanting some private time together. Makenna refused to even consider that she could lose Ryan in the fight. It wasn’t a possibility. Nope. No way. Nu-uh.

He nuzzled her neck. “Stop thinking so hard.”

She would. Nothing good could come of dwelling on the battle ahead. Her worries would only intrude on their time together. “Sorry.” She forced her limbs to loosen as she leaned back against him. “Let’s talk about something to get my mind off the fight.”

That was the perfect opening for Ryan to reveal what was on his mind. “I know why the mating bond hasn’t snapped into place.”

“You do?” Makenna still wasn’t convinced there was one, but she didn’t want to argue.

“It’s an external issue.”

“What does that mean?”

Under the water, he splayed a hand on her stomach. “Deep inside, you worry this pack will betray you the way your childhood pack did.”

Makenna frowned. “No, your pack is good.”

“You’ve just proven my point.”

“Huh?”

“You called it my pack.” She still didn’t see it as hers. It aggravated his wolf.

Squirming, she said, “I’m still adjusting to being part of one, that’s all.”

“Adjusting, or holding back because you fear getting comfortable here in case they turn on you?”

“I don’t fear they’ll betray me. I just don’t really feel part of the pack yet. I can’t explain why.”