Page 37 of Protected By the Wolven

Fury, who used to be the angriest male in the pack, pipes up from where he’s lounging on a couch. “Bro, have you tasted those kolaches? Baked by the angels.”

Warmth bursts in my chest as I’m overwhelmed by their unwavering support. “You really think I could do it?”

Lash squeezes my hand, his gaze locked with mine. “I know you can, Starlight. You can do anything you set your mind to. And I’ll be right beside you every step of the way.”

Looking around at these incredible males, my heart feels as though it might burst with love and gratitude. Never in my wildest dreams did I imagine I’d find a family like this, a love like Lash’s. But here I am, surrounded by warmth and laughter and unconditional acceptance. And for the first time in longer than I can remember, I believe anything is possible.

Even a little Ukrainian bakery, filled with the sweet scent of pastries and the sweeter sound of laughter from the people I care about most in this world.

Chapter Thirty-One

Zoya

In the parking lot, Lash and I walk hand in hand to the Visa office. We haven’t left the Zone for weeks, not since the confrontation with Max. We both just want the legalities sorted out so we can move on with our lives.

Lash is wearing a black hoody, pulled up over his ears, trying not to attract attention since we’re in public in broad daylight. My stomach is tied in knots knowing today’s the day we’re meeting with Samantha and the authorities to finalize the paperwork, officially switching my K-1 fiancé from Max to Lash.

It’s a moment I’ve been dreaming of, but I’m not looking forward to having to prove Max’s abuse. The day I can erase the pictures of my bruises from the phone Lash bought me will be one of the most freeing days of my life.

Lash must sense my nervousness because he gives my hand a gentle squeeze. “It’s going to be okay, Starlight. We’ve got this.”

I nod, trying to let his reassurance wash over me. “I know. It’s just that I can’t shake the feeling something’s going to go wrong. Like it’s all too good to be true.”

He stops, turning to face me. His silver eyes filled with love. “Hey, we’ve come this far. We’ve faced every obstacle thrown our way. This? This is just one more step toward our future. Together.”

Warmth flashes behind my eyes, and I lean into him, letting his strength steady me. “I love you, Lash. More than anything.”

“I love you too, Zoya. We’ve got this. Besides, it’s all just a formality now, at least that’s what Samantha said. Even Max has had the intelligence to stay away these last few weeks.”

We continue toward the building, the warmth of Lash’s hand in mine a constant comfort.

But before we can take more than a few steps, a figure emerges from behind a nearby van. Ice floods my veins as I recognize the hulking form, a cruel sneer on his face.

Max.

“Well, well, well,” he drawls, his voice dripping with malice. “My fiancée and her talking dog.”

Lash immediately steps in front of me, shielding me with his body. A low growl rumbles from his chest. “What the hell are you doing here, Max?”

Max’s eyes glitter with a manic light. He reaches behind his back and pulls out a gun, pointing it directly at us. I can’t breathe, terror seizing my lungs.

“Did you really think your little threats would scare me off?” Max sneers. “That I’d just let you walk away with my property?” He gestures wildly with the gun.

Property. My fear almost transforms to anger—the word makes my skin crawl. In Max’s eyes, I’ve never been a person. Just something to own, to control.

Lash’s muscles are coiled tight, ready to spring. “Zoya isn’t yours. She never was. Put the gun down, Max. Don’t make this worse than it already is.”

Max laughs, a harsh, ugly sound. “Oh, I’m just getting started.”

What happens next is a blur. Max lunges forward, swinging the gun toward Lash, who moves with inhuman speed, knocking the gun from Max’s grip. It skitters across the pavement as the two men crash to the ground in a tangle of limbs.

I hear gasps and the words “Other” and “wolven” as the hood concealing Lash’s identity falls off his head revealing his ears. There are several people in the parking lot, all of them focused on the skirmish between Max and Lash.

After their last meeting, Lash had explained that he was lucky there were no onlookers, or he would have had to control his urge to shift. The Others are hated enough without the world knowing they’re able to become even more deadly than they already are.

I stand frozen, my heart in my throat as they grapple. Max may be bigger, but Lash is faster, stronger. He lands a solid punch to Max’s jaw, then leaps off him.

Lash backs up several steps as Max gets to his feet, wiping the blood from his split lip with the back of his hand.

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