okay? But if she, or anyone else defends her, they are the ones in the wrong? Are you for real, Connor?” I stepped closer to him, not bothered that his wolf was staring right back at me. Connor was always an arrogant prick, but never cruel or uncaring. It was clear his wolf was in charge and didn’t care in the slightest about the atrocities happening under his nose.
A blast of his power hit me, and just as I'd always done when we were younger, I ignored it. His dominance had never worked on me, and it wouldn’t now. The others staggered back, and Shannon cowered against the wall.
I stepped closer to him and stared up into his eyes, my hands on my hips. “What happened to you? You were always arrogant, but never cruel, not like this. You can’t honestly believe gang rape, under any circumstances is acceptable! Lyss would be ashamed of you, as would Rawson. How can you even hold your head up when you allow this kind of thing to happen? And yeah, I’m talking to Connor, wolfie, so back off.”
His jaw muscles twitched as he held my gaze. Within seconds blue consumed his irises. He took a deep breath and straightened, looking away from me to Shannon and the unconscious male on the floor. He shook his head and fixed his heavy gaze back on me. I swallowed hard, that gaze had more of an effect on me than any amount of his power. He stepped closer. “I’m not who I used to be. Neither are you.”
I stood my ground though my heart rate stepped up a notch at his closeness.
He inhaled and his throat bobbed. “I still scent her killer on you. But…” His brow creased, his voice dropping to a whisper. “...you are too like my Firecracker not to be her.”
His voice sent shivers over my skin, and though the intensity of his gaze burned me, I resisted the urge to step back. “I am your Firecracker...I mean Ember.” I quickly corrected my verbal stumble, a flush burning my cheeks when his lips quirked. “Connor, you have to stop this. You can’t allow this kind of cruelty or forced sex slavery of people, male or female, to continue.”
His dark brow dipped. “I can do as I wish.”
“Then change it! Because if you don’t, I will. I’ll work with every victim in here, and together we’ll rip the dicks off anyone who forces themselves on another, whether you agree or not.” His scent drifted up my nostrils and I couldn’t stop my pulse rate from spiking. I wanted to reach out and take his hand, to touch him and convince myself he was real.
He tilted his head, and his beautiful eyes narrowed. Tears stung my eyes when he reached out and tenderly brushed the back of his index finger down my cheek. His whole face softened. It was such a change in demeanor that my mouth dropped open. He gently closed it with his finger.
“Okay, Firecracker, you’re right. But I am a cruel bastard and I’m not going to start protecting everyone in gen pop. However, I won’t let this type of behaviour continue.” He turned away and addressed the north alpha’s men. “Go back to the north wing and take him with you. If you want to challenge for his position or kill him while he’s down, I don’t care, but from now on, no one will be forced into sex, by him or anyone else.” He looked up at the guards and frowned. They looked back, implacable in their full face masks and body armour. Black glazed his eyes again, but he forced his wolf to back down.
“Reed, Myles, go to gen pop and spread the word there. Find some people to pass on the new rule, and be very clear that those who choose to break it will be dealt with swiftly and without mercy.” The two males nodded and headed away. “D. You and Kawan take the east wing. Find Shane and tell him to inform his pack. Stone?” He addressed a tall and stoic looking male with silver grey hair. I blinked. He’d definitely been at the prison we’d escaped from four years ago. The man headed forward, his cold gaze fixed on me.
“Yes, boss?”
“Go and find Drake and tell him what I’ve decided; not that the south pack indulge in gen pop often, but he needs to know.”
“Sure, boss.” Though Stone remained where he was and watched as