the north pack alpha was dragged away. Only the big guy, along with Owen and Shannon remained with us.
Connor raised his brows, clearly wondering why Stone didn’t comply with his order.
Stone inclined his head at me. “You've never given a damn about the shit that goes down in gen pop. What hold has she got over you that you’d change the rules at one word from her?” He tilted his head, and studied me closely. I had no doubts that I was being weighed up by a predator, who, if he found me weak or wanting, would rip my throat out.
Connor gave Stone his attention. “Are you questioning my decision?” His voice was cold and devoid of emotion. His fingers twitched and his wolf surfaced, turning his blue eyes to obsidian.
Stone kept his gaze on me. “Not you, Connor. Her. I remember her from the other prison, and she has a hold over you. That makes her dangerous.”
I smiled sweetly at him. “I am dangerous.”
He leaned in, close enough to whisper in my ear. He didn’t smell entirely like a shifter, there was something else in his scent. Fae. It was a strange, sweet scent; one that I was very familiar with. “So am I.” He held my gaze as he pulled back.
“Stone! Go and find Drake. Now.”
Stone pulled back, his face cold, but he turned and walked away without further comment.
Ignoring me, Connor walked over to Shannon.
I, too, wanted to ask why he’d changed his rules, though I didn’t believe it was purely because I’d made a request. Perhaps reminding him of his past, of the fact that he’d been a person with a family who had loved him and taught him values, had swayed him to control his wolf, not the other way around.
He loomed in front of Shannon, who was leaning against the wall for support. For a moment he just stood and stared at the red and bruised skin around her neck. “Will you admit you need help and join my pack?”
“No.” Shannon set her jaw at a stubborn angle.
Connor’s fingers tentatively touched her neck and his face softened. “I can’t protect you out here, you know that.”
My stomach clenched, my chest tightening to the point of pain. I looked away. I wanted to shove Shannon away from Connor. It was true, I’d thought him dead until two weeks ago, but my heart had always belonged to him. Clearly he had moved on—with Shannon, and probably many other lovers.
Shannon’s attention drifted to me. “You know what I want, Connor. That’s the only way I’ll join your pack.”
“And you know I won’t offer you that.”
I didn’t even pretend I wasn’t listening.
“Well, things will be better now—if you mean what you say about enforcing those rules.” Shannon’s voice was raspy and she held her throat, but she managed a shrug.
Connor sighed, then stepped back. “I do.”
Unable to process the feelings in my chest, I didn’t want to watch their exchange anymore so I walked past Owen and over to the big man. I held out my hand. “Thanks for helping me. It could’ve gotten messy. I’m Ember.”
“Lionel,” he answered, shaking my hand. His amber eyes twinkled as I huffed a chuckle.
“Lionel? Really? What’s your animal?”
He grinned. “Lion.”
I laughed louder.
“Yep, my parents had a warped sense of humour. So who’s the Prime to you?”
Connor and Shannon were continuing their discussion, and by the glower on Connor’s face, I guessed she was standing up to him.
I shrugged, trying to appear nonchalant. “An old friend—at least he was. Now, I’m not sure.”
“Well, I’m guessing his new rule is going to paint a target on your back, if not mine, too.”
“It is.” Owen stood about six feet away with his arms crossed and feet planted firmly apart.
I rolled my eyes. “This is a private conversation.”
He grinned. “Not when you're within ten feet of any other shifter.” He gestured between us. “And you are.”
The guards above moved back to their patrolling as Shannon and Connor walked over to us, obviously deciding the drama was over.
Connor stared at me, and the weight of that blue gaze was hard to ignore. There were so many things I wanted to ask him. I really wanted to know why he’d listened to me, but I didn’t want to have such a conversation in front of everyone else. I looked away. “Glad you’re okay,” I said to Shannon. She’d always been a bitch to me, but no one deserved what had just nearly happened to her.