“You mean abusive?”

Zac nodded. “The Alpha’s the worst. He likes to see people in pain. David always healed me so there was no evidence.”

A growl rumbled up Ryan’s chest. He wanted to know every detail, but he knew from personal experience just how hard those details could be to share. “Did you think people here would judge you for not being able to defend yourself against someone bigger and stronger than you?”

“Not for that.” Zac met his eyes then. “I wanted to run for a long time. But . . . I was scared. The night I left, David came into my room, said he was taking me to Brogan, the Alpha. My wolf . . . he just lost it. Like he couldn’t take anymore. He took control, and I shifted, and my wolf went crazy on his ass. He killed David.”

“Your wolf went feral. In dangerous situations, people can lose control of their wolf.”

Zac shook his head. “You don’t get it. I didn’t try to stop him when he attacked David. I didn’t try to pull my wolf back. I just watched. The only thing I did was urge him to run when I heard people coming. That’s it. David is Brogan’s brother. He’s dead because of me. When I say they’ll come for me, I mean it.”

“They’ll die if they do.” It was a vow. “I’ll end them. I won’t allow them to hurt you again. You got me?” He needed Zac to believe that.

“I got you.” The words were low but strong.

“Good. It was brave of you to share what happened. Is it okay with you if I give the basics to the pack?” They needed to be prepared for the inevitable battle ahead. “They will not judge you.”

After a moment, the kid gave a curt nod. He looked a little lighter. Maybe opening up had helped him in some way. Ryan hoped so.

When he returned to his room, it was to find Makenna dressing. He shared Zac’s story with his mate, not at all surprised when she paled and sank onto the edge of the bed.

“No wonder he’s so sure they’ll find him,” she said. “If he killed the Alpha’s brother, they’ll never stop until they do.”

“As I told Zac, we’ll kill them if they come.”

Makenna nodded. “I know. That’s why, on some level, I hope the bastards do.”

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ryan had just finished a training session with Dante, Tao, and the other enforcers when his cell phone rang. He was surprised by the identity of the caller. “Garrett,” he greeted.

“One day, you could try saying hello.”

“I could.” But he probably wouldn’t.

“I’m calling about the salamander brand.”

Ryan stopped in his tracks. “You remembered something?” It had been over three weeks since he’d mentioned the matter to Garrett.

“No, but you know I don’t like unanswered questions, so I looked into it. Asked a few people. The Alpha of a wolf pack in New Zealand made a point of branding each of his wolves. His name was Conrad Griffin. He was a sick bastard.”

“Was?”

“He’s been dead for seven years now. From what I’ve heard, the new Alpha’s nothing like him.”

Ryan would decide that for himself after he’d done some research. “Thanks, Garrett.” Ending the call, he went to his room, took a shower, and then pulled out his laptop. He could have asked Rhett to do the research, but it wasn’t right to share any of this without Makenna’s permission.

Two hours later, Ryan’s head was swimming with information. He wanted to share it with her, and yet he didn’t. Some of it would hurt her; he didn’t want that. But she was already hurting, wasn’t she?

Torn, Ryan spent the rest of the day debating what to do. Makenna deserved to know her past. But she’d already told him she didn’t want to know. The thing was, he didn’t believe that. Not for a minute. And neither did Dawn.

That night, as they lay in what had become their “spot” in the forest, she braced herself on one elbow and said, “Okay, spill it.” She jabbed a finger at him. “Don’t blow me off. Something’s been bothering you all day. I gave you the chance to tell me, you didn’t. So now I’m asking, what is it?”

He played his fingers through her hair. “You’ll be mad at me.”

Makenna stilled as various bad scenarios ran through her head. “What?”

“I couldn’t let it alone, Kenna. Not when it hurts you.”

Just like that, she knew what this was about. “What have you done?”

“I haven’t killed them, if that’s what you’re asking.” He rolled onto his side to face her. “You have a choice to make: you can ask me to share what I’ve discovered about your past, or you can tell me to keep it to myself and we’ll never speak of this again.”

She ground her teeth. “I trusted you with my secrets, Ryan.”

“I haven’t shared them with a soul.”

“All I asked was that you let it lie.”

“I’ll never overlook something that hurts you.” Ever. She tried to stand, but he curled an arm around her waist and pulled her close. “I can tell you about your pack. About your father. I can tell you what your real name is, what your mother’s real name was.” He raked a hand into her hair. “If you don’t want those facts, I’ll drop this forever. I just wanted you to have the choice.” He rested his forehead against hers. “But I’m sorry if I’ve hurt you.”