His eyes snapped to Scepter.Ready?
Scepter gave a nod.
“Hello, boys,” Savage said after unfreezing the shifters.
The largest of them glared at Savage and then at Aurora.Scepter watched the shifter’s bright blue gaze narrow.
The alpha took a step forward, the anger evident in his fisted hands.Scepter moved to stop the idiot, but Savage held up his hand.The other males glanced at one another, then at Savage and to Aurora with something akin to horror, as if they were regretting their life choices.
Smart wolves.
“What the fuck is going on?Where the hell is our female?”The alpha raised his arms out to his sides, nodding toward Aurora.“Who the fuck is she?”
Savage remained silent, letting the shifters stew in their own doubts and insecurities.His lips stretched into a smile as he ran his hand in a possessive gesture along his female’s leg.Scepter had seen the other male do the same maneuver many times before, minus the female in his lap.Savage was very good at staring down an enemy until they squirmed and started spewing all their sins.If this fucker thought he could intimidate Savage with his anger or bellowing, he’d be sorely disappointed.
One of the other shifters clumsily got to his feet, eyeing his alpha as if asking for permission to move.Scepter felt the air stir and knew they were speaking to one another.Not that it mattered since neither he nor Savage would be making them buddies.
The alpha’s eyes blazed brighter as if whatever was said shocked him.
“Mmm, did your little buddy just tell you that my female is the same one he and your little crew tried to kill?”Savage asked.
“I’ll ask again, and this time I want a real answer.What the fuck is going on around here?”A growl rattled up from deep within the shifter’s throat.
Scepter moved forward, letting the others grasp the knowledge that Savage wasn’t alone.Although Savage could handle the males without breaking a sweat, Scepter knew his Boss would hate to kill them in front of Aurora.
“Why don’t you tell me why you came here with a female who wasn’t here of her own freewill, in tow?And before you think to make demands of me again, should I remind you that I can, and will, kill all of you with the snap of a finger.”Savage narrowed his eyes.
Scepter peered over and noticed his blue orbs were the burning red of his beast.He looked back at the shifters, watching them move nervously at Savage’s show of anger.
The sound of their shallow breathing filled the room as they watched the Boss.Scepter wanted to laugh at their fear.Savage growled, his anger growing in volume.At that point, Scepter made a small move toward the chair where the duo sat.If Savage decided to launch himself toward the males, he’d need to be in place to protect the female.
“Savage, would you like me to escort your female into your inner sanctum?”he offered, knowing she’d be safe within the space.
“No,” Savage said—his voice like gravel.
The shifters flinched back as if Savage shot them with flames.
“I’m right here, Savage,” Aurora whispered, wrapping her arm around his neck, the other she pressed against his chest, right above his heart.
Scepter met her gaze over Savage’s head.“Good female,” he said to her.
“Yes, she is.”Savage gripped the back of her head in one palm, bringing her face close to his.“Woman, you are going to get your ass spanked.”
She wiggled her brows but stayed quiet.
“I’m still waiting for one of you to answer my question, shifters.In fact, I don’t give a fuck which of you does it.Should I repeat myself?”
“Just so you know, he doesn’t like to wait.”Scepter let out a sigh.“I don’t either, for that matter, and I’m getting really tired of standing here.”
“A census taker once tried to test me.I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice Chianti.”
“Oh my gawd, you are a geek.”Aurora squealed.“If you had hissed when you said that, I’d have totally jumped your bones.”
“I’ll hold you to that after we finish with these boys.”Savage gripped her chin.
“I got your boy, bloodsucker,” the alpha said, his voice a deep-throated rattle.
“You don’t want me to force your compliance,boy.Trust me, I am being much more patient with all of you than I normally would.If my female weren’t here, I’d probably have already drained all of you and been done with it.”
