Ryan was a contrary mixture of both pissed and proud. He did not like the idea of keeping his mate a secret. But she was right about Zac, and he was proud of how she was willing to put the kid first. It was typical Makenna, putting others before herself, and while that irritated him . . . “I agree that we should concentrate on Zac. For now.”

But his pack wasn’t stupid. They’d see that he was different with Makenna; they’d form their own conclusions. Hopefully, Makenna would soon form that same conclusion. He doubted she’d fully believe they were mates until she felt the tug of the bond. That meant he’d need to smash down whatever was jamming the frequency.

To do that, he’d need to gain her trust, get her to open up to him, and share all those secrets that acted as a wall between them. Only then would he be able to step fully into her life and become a part of it.

It wouldn’t be easy. Ryan was severely disadvantaged when it came to getting to know people, since he wasn’t really a talker. He wasn’t the type to confide in people, and he mostly kept his own counsel. But he couldn’t expect Makenna to open up to him if he didn’t do the same.

Another problem was that relationships required skills that Ryan simply didn’t have. He lacked pretty words and didn’t know how to make people feel good about themselves. He wasn’t very tactile or affectionate. Hell, he didn’t even know how to accept affection. What’s more, he could be pushy, abrupt, and overbearing—which weren’t exactly winning qualities.

However, he was also relentless and focused—which were traits that would help him achieve his current goal. And he would achieve it. Ryan never settled for anything less than what he wanted. And right now, Makenna Wray was the thing he wanted most. Nothing could make him walk away. Not her fears, not his faults, and not even her doubt that she was his mate.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Mediation meetings were typically held on the territory of whichever mediator was dealing with the case. As such, Makenna found herself on a corner of Mercury Pack territory two weeks later. She and Madisyn sat on either side of Dawn at a long table, and all three stared boldly at the Alpha male opposite them.

He’d been looking especially smug since entering the clearing. His smirk had faltered somewhat when he caught sight of Ryan among the security team, which consisted of three other males and one female. Makenna was guessing they were Mercury wolves, much like the slim redhead sitting at the head of the table who was both an Alpha female and mediator.

Makenna could feel Ryan’s piercing gaze fixed on her with absolute precision. It always was. Despite the grave circumstances, his unbridled attention was heating her blood. He was still utterly convinced they were mates. “The facts speak for themselves,” he often said. That was something she agreed with, but she saw a different set of facts.

One, there was no mating bond.

Two, her wolf didn’t recognize him as her mate.

Three, mates completed each other—she had the kind of personality that would annoy Ryan rather than fit with his. Yes, he claimed to have been possessive, protective, and attracted to her from the start. But it was worth noting that those things hadn’t been enough to tempt him until he found himself convinced they were mates. Only then had he begun his pursuit.

If she was honest, though, she hadn’t tried very hard to push him away. In a world where she was surrounded by jaded people who’d suffered loss, betrayal, and pain, Ryan—with his loyalty and honor—was a breath of fresh air. He might not be sensitive or particularly empathetic, but he was good. Each time he stepped out of his comfort zone for Zac, each time he donated things to the shelter, and each time he swore to Dawn that he’d never allow Remy to take the shelter from her, he chipped away at Makenna’s defenses. And he damn well knew it.

Zac was totally won over by Ryan. They saw each other almost every day. After only a week, Zac had felt comfortable enough to go on day trips without her as an escort. Sometimes it would be him and Ryan alone; other times they would be joined by other members of the Phoenix pack. They had taken him to an amusement park, a bowling alley, and another football game, among other things.

Zac thoroughly enjoyed their contact, and he was always eager to see them. Nonetheless, he remained undecided about joining the Phoenix Pack. She knew it galled Ryan, and she could sense his eagerness to take Zac. But the kid had learned very early what it was like to be betrayed by those who were supposed to take care of him. He wasn’t going to risk that happening again by rushing into this situation.

Given how intense Ryan was and the danger that surrounded him like a cloak, she’d been surprised by just how comfortable Zac was around him. He actually preferred Ryan’s company to that of the other pack members—although Dominic was a close second. Maybe it was because of how strong and dangerous Ryan was. Ryan’s level of dominance most likely made him feel safe. Zac talked about him constantly . . .

Ryan said he’ll teach me how to track.

Ryan’s going to show me some combat moves.

Ryan promised me an iPad if I stop laughing at Dominic’s jokes.

Words like “fleek” and “awesome” were used a lot when describing Ryan. She was glad Zac had found a new role model, because she was far from a good one.

Pulling Makenna out of her reverie, the Mercury Alpha female cleared her throat. “I’m Shaya Critchley-Axton and I’ll be acting as a mediator in this dispute. I’m here to help this be a productive meeting by guiding the discussion, so you can communicate and explore your issues. Be aware that both parties are free to leave at any point. If you do so, a decision won’t be made in your absence. Now, starting with the applicant, could each party please introduce themselves?”