Page 18 of Protected By the Wolf Prince

“Silence!” the closest one shouts. “Or I’ll—”

“Youwill nottouch her,” Malak snarls, placing himself directly between them and me. “I am your prince, and I order you to stand down.”

“We answer to your father,” the second one sneers. “Not you. Now, step away from her, Prince Malak.”

“No,” Mal states firmly. “I will not.”

They shift into their four-legged wolven forms, and Malak quickly does the same. His black fur bristles in anger, and he releases a low and menacing growl as they stalk toward us, lips pulled back in feral snarls. “Your father has ordered the arrest of her and her family, and we will not leave here without her.”

The closest one charges at me, but Malak blocks his path, colliding in a clash of fangs and claws as they twist and roll on the ground.

Blood stains the snow as they fight, locked together in a deadly embrace before Malak swipes his massive paw across his throat, slicing it open with his dagger-sharp fangs.

The other two attack, launching themselves at Malak from either side. He rolls on the ground to shake them off, but one of them charges forward, sinking its fangs into his shoulder.

“Luna, run!” Malak cries out, and I know that I probably should, but I cannot.

I love him, and my love for him is stronger than my fear. I will not leave him behind.

Scanning the ground, I notice a fallen limb. I grip it firmly and rush toward the fight. Raising it overhead, I bring it down with all my strength, hitting one of the wolves with sharp crack to his head.

He falls still and slumps to the side.

The second one raises its head and then pushes away from Malak to charge me.

“No!” Malak cries out as he launches himself at the wolf. He clamps his massive jaws around his neck and rips his throat out. Blood sprays out as the wolf collapses in a crumpled heap to the forest floor.

He turns to the first fallen wolf and swipes his massive paw across his throat, slicing it open with his dagger-sharp claws.

I force myself to look away from the bloodied scene, and Malak shifts back into his two-legged form. He rushes to me, gathering me in his arms.

He stares down at me with a panicked expression as he runs his hands over my body, checking for injury. “Are you hurt?”

Still in shock, my heart thunders in my chest as I shake my head and tip my face up to his. Worry coils tight within as my gaze travels over his bloodied form. I reach a trembling hand to his bloodied chest. “You’re injured.”

“I’m fine,” he says. “I am a Wolf-Shifter. We heal quickly. I will be all right.”

Fear spikes through me, and I whip my head in the direction of the house. “My family!”

Malak hoists me into his arms and races through the forest with his inhuman speed.

When we reach the entryway, my mother rushes to us. “Thanks the gods!” She blinks several times as she looks us over. “What—”

“We were attacked by the king’s guards,” I tell her. “Malak killed them, but—”

“We just received word,” Mother says. “They said an assassin from Avalor tried to murder the royal family. The king wants blood. Your father went to find you. We have to leave before—”

“Luna!” Father’s voice calls out from behind us.

Malak spins with me still in his arms and my father’s eyes are wide as he takes in our bloodied appearance. He jumps down from his horse and rushes toward us.

“My father sent three guards to arrest you,” Malak says as he carefully sets my feet back on the ground. “You need to take your family and leave. Now. But first, you must change into servant’s clothing. Hurry.”

“Why does the king think you’re responsible, Father?” I ask, halting everyone in their tracks. “The king’s guards said that you were seen with the assassin this morning.”

Father clenches his jaw. “He came to the house, but I knew not what he was planning.”

Malak growls low in his chest, and my father goes silent, as he grinds out. “Do not speak unless the next words out of your mouth are truth, Ambassador Falen. And if you cannot do that, then at least do as I tell you from this point on if you want to save your family.”

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