Page 197 of Knot Baked Out For This
Nash strides to our table with confidence that fills the room.
"Nash Rivera, representing Ms. Holloway. And Your Honor, I have some evidence of my own to present that I believe will clarify this situation significantly."
Korrin's face flickers—just for a second—with something that might be concern.
"This should be good," Judge Winters says dryly. "Proceed."
Nash opens his briefcase, pulling out a folder that's somehow thicker than Korrin's.
"Over the past three months, my associates and I have been documenting a pattern of harassment directed at Ms. Holloway by Mr. Voss."
He starts spreading photos across the table. Time-stamped images of Korrin outside the bakery. Screenshots of burner phone messages. Security camera footage from the barn showing someone trying to tamper with the electrical.
"What you're seeing," Nash says calmly, "is evidence of stalking, harassment, property damage attempts, and—" he pulls out another set of documents, "communications between Mr. Voss and his pack members discussing Ms. Holloway's potential accidental death and a rather sizable life insurance policy he maintained on her even after their separation."
The room goes silent.
Completely, utterly silent.
"That's—" Korrin's voice cracks slightly. "That's taken out of context?—"
"Context?" Nash's smile is sharp. "Let me provide some. Here we have messages discussing 'accidents' that could occur at a bakery. Gas leaks. Electrical fires. Falls down stairs. All very detailed for someone who's simply concerned about an ex-wife's wellbeing."
Judge Winters is reading the documents, her face growing progressively more severe.
"There's also this." Rowan stands, pulling out his own folder. "Official incident reports from the Oakridge Fire Department regarding suspicious activity near Ms. Holloway's previous residence. Three separate investigations into potential arson attempts, all occurring within weeks of her moving to town."
"And this." Reverie appears from somewhere—when did she get here?—with her laptop. "Comprehensive social media analysis showing that every negative comment, every suspicious review, every attempt to damage Ms. Holloway's business reputation traces back to accounts connected to Mr. Voss's IP address."
Korrin is pale now, his lawyer—some guy who looks like he handles real estate disputes, not criminal cases—whispering urgently in his ear.
"Your Honor," Nash says, voice carrying through the room, "I move that this defamation case be dismissed immediately, and that the evidence of stalking, harassment, and conspiracy to commit insurance fraud be forwarded to the district attorney."
Judge Winters looks at Korrin with an expression that could freeze hell.
"Mr. Voss, do you have anything to say before I make my ruling?"
He stands, and for a moment, I see him—really see him.Not the powerful Alpha who made me feel small. Not the husband who convinced me I was worthless. Just a man who's losing control and can't handle it.
"She was mine," he says, voice low. "She was my Omega. She doesn't get to just leave and be happy. That's not how this works."
The room erupts.
Judge Winters bangs her gavel.
"Order!"
But I'm already standing, and maybe it's the nest from last night, or the court order ruining my Halloween, or three years of swallowing words, but something inside me breaks open.
"I was never yours." My voice is steady, clear, carrying through the room. "I was trapped. There's a difference."
Korrin turns to face me fully, and I smell it—his scent turning sharp with anger, with Alpha posturing, with the need to dominate.
But I don't flinch.
"You don't own me anymore." I take a step forward, my pack moving with me like we're choreographed. "The men standing behind me? They're my pack now. My choice. My future. And you know what's different about them?"
"Hazel—" Korrin starts, but I'm not finished.
