and he caught her as she stumbled back over a fallen body.
I snarled viciously, my wolf in full view in my eyes. I hit Lionel with a blast of dominance. He staggered and raised his hands but didn’t lower his eyes. Instead, he straightened his spine, and his eyes flashed with the amber gaze of his lion. “Hurt her and I’ll find a way to kill you.”
“I have no intention of hurting her. Now get your hands off her.” I resisted the urge to force him to his knees, or punch his lights out, and shifted my attention to Ember. “You’ll come with me right now, or I don’t care who’s watching. I’ll throw you over my shoulder and carry you out.”
She swallowed hard, but her nostrils flared.
I grinned evilly, knowing that my words were a challenge to her independent side. She wouldn’t ignore me now.
“You can’t do that!”
I took another step closer. “Yes, Em, I can. You’re injured, and you won’t best me in a fight, you know that. If you disobey me again, and make me look weak in front of these people, I will absolutely throw you over my shoulder.”
Her teeth worried her lower lip. That reaction was her tell. She wasn’t totally sure of me yet, and I had no intention of letting her work me out. That bit of fear about who I was and what I was capable of gave me an advantage. Her eyes darted to Lionel as if looking to him for support. He shook his head and sighed, his mouth in a flat line.
“Too long!” She needed to be away from the lion shifter.
“What? No!”
I covered the two steps between us. I had over a foot on her in height and weighed far more. No matter how hard her punch landed on my jaw, it wasn’t going to stop me. I rolled with it, then grabbed her wrist and pushed my shoulder into her stomach hoisting her up. I wouldn’t hurt her—ever—but neither she, nor the rest of this scum needed to know that. I kept her weight adjusted so my shoulder rested in her stomach not the broken ribs she’d tried so hard to hide from me.
Santa Cruz stood close by with his chest puffed out and a smirk on his stupid face.
I walked right by him. The north alpha hadn’t been challenged since Ember had knocked him out cold, but he’d sent people to bring her down this week, that meant he was now on my shit list, and I’d make his life as difficult and painful as possible.
I ignored Ember’s furious screams and the discomfort as she gouged strips of skin off my back. I really didn’t want to cause her more pain, but she had to realise she couldn’t ignore me without consequences. “If I put you down, are you going to behave?” I grated between my clenched teeth once we’d left the hall. Bloody Hell, she was as fiery as a hellcat!
“Yes!”
I grinned, and lowered her gently to her feet but didn’t let go of her wrist. The fingers of her other hand curled into a fist. I raised my brows, ignoring Owen, D and Stone who had flanked me, watching my back like always.
“You said you’d behave.” I let go of her wrist, but carefully touched her clenched fists with my fingers.
She yanked her hands away and wrapped them around her torso. “You’re a total dick! What the hell did you do that for?” She panted, holding her ribs.
“Come with me, Ember, and I’ll explain.”
Owen and my brothers slowly stepped behind her, obviously worried she might run.
Ignoring them, she glared at me and didn’t move. I swallowed my growl at her challenge. “Please,” I said, softening my voice.
Owen raised his brows at me. Stone shook his head. And D grinned. I ignored their censure.
“Fine. But do that to me again, and I’ll find a way to remove your balls.”
I didn’t bother to hide my grin. “I’d expect no less from you, Firecracker.”
Still seething, she followed me to my cell.
I opened the metal door and gestured for her to enter. When Owen and Stone made as if to come in, I barred the door with my body. “No, wait out here.”
Both of them gave me an incredulous stare, but Stone's eyes turned icy as his attention fell on Ember. I didn’t care about his suspicion, I owed him no explanation. As soon as the door clicked shut, Ember launched herself at me. Her open palm stung