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n~ ZEV ~

nWhen the male first appeared in the kitchen, it was a mere second, a scan from head to toe, and Zev had him measured and evaluated. The male was almost of a size with him—but only almost—and as they were introduced, Rob tensed, immediately sensing Zev's strength.

nFrom behind Sasha's back, Zev gave him the smile he usually saved for prey.

nRob bristled.

nIt wasn't uncommon for males to respond to him this way. Usually they tensed instinctively, but stared at him with admiration, or caution. But this guy looked like he knew him. Sasha had spoken about him to this dude?

nThen the male's face hardened and he settled himself on the balls of his feet, his shoulders and arms loosened and at the ready in a manner that Zev recognized.

nThis male had trained.

nThat didn't make him a threat—but it did make him a potential delay they didn't have time for.

nThen the male glared directly at Sasha and snapped,

"What the ** is he doing here?

"

nEvery hair on Zev's body stood straight up and he swallowed a growl.

nShifting his weight and preparing to launch at the male that would speak to her like she was his to command, Zev smiled. This male might have trained to fight, but Zev would have bet everything that he would win. And had a much more powerful weapon in his arsenal than his fists.

nAs Sasha hissed a warning at the guy, Zev let himself feel his power and strength. He stared the male down, feeling his certainty of winning battle, feeling the deadly strength of his fangs, his claws, reminding himself with certainty that he was not only stronger, but far, far more willing to kill.

nAs his Alpha power filled the room, the male instinctively shrank back, his confidence beginning to waver. Then Zev put a hand to Sasha's back, owning her in the presence of this challenger who was looked like he did indeed have the balls to attack, but he might wet himself before they were done.

nThe guy's eyes—almost as light as his own, which made Zev wonder if he had dormant wolf-blood in his veins—sparked like rock on flint when they followed his arm to Sasha's back.

nBut he was smart enough not to push forward. Trained or not, his strength was in body, not mind. Instinctively, he knew when he was beaten.

nZev smiled the menacing smile again.

"Smart guy.

"

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"Zev! Don't start!

"

nHe didn't take his eyes off Rob—Sasha's closest friend since she had moved to this city—as Sasha cleared her throat and turned to the male with an apology on her face.

nHe hated the way she always said sorry for someone else's discomfort.

n

"Like I said, I just ran into Zev outside and… We were just wondering if we could… use the bathroom?

" she said quickly.

n

"Tarzan wants to take a piss… at my house?

" Rob asked, anger and disbelief in every syllable.

nSasha flushed and Zev tensed again.

n

"We just… we got a little… we just need a second,

" she said, putting a hand back to Zev's chest including him in the 'we'… then swallowing when she found his pulse hammering. She turned, as if surprised, glancing down where her hand rested, right over his heart, then up to search his face quickly.

nShe'd realized his heart was pounding just as hard as hers.

nHe held her gaze for half a breath, then looked at Rob.

"Sorry to interrupt your night,

" he muttered politely.

nRob looked like he wasn't sure whether to laugh or throw a punch, but before he answered, a car door slammed outside on the street. He tensed, taking Sasha's hand.

"We just need a moment,

" he said, then pulled her through the living room, cutting a glare over his shoulder to warn the male from coming close behind her.

nThen, ridiculously, all three of them stalked quickly into the short, wide hallway from the living room. Zev didn't waste any more time being polite. Sasha had given him her hand, and so he pulled her down the hall, looking for the emergency exit—either through a stairwell, or fire escape—that would lead them to the roof.

nSasha opened her mouth to question him when he led her directly past the bathroom, but he shook his head then stopped where the hallway met another staircase going up.

"We need to get out of here. Do you know where the fire escape is?

" he asked quietly, his eyes on hers which made his breath shorten.

n

"There's a door at the other end of the hall,

" she said, a little breathless herself, nodding towards it.

nHe turned and tugged her in that direction just as Rob caught up from behind them.

"Wait a minute, you aren't taking her out of here.

"

nZev swallowed back a growl. This guy had no clue. But he remembered what had happened after her eighteenth birthday party. Zev knew if he hurt Rob, Sasha would ever forgive him.

nHe ground his teeth in impatience, desperately aware of his

"colleagues

" outside, and possibly already surrounding the building. But he forced himself to soften. If another male took Sasha from his home, he would be taking pains to protect her also.

nZev took an impatient breath and squeezed Sasha's hand. He would be polite to this male.

"Look, you aren't a part of this and trust me, you don't want to be. Don't open your door, no matter what. If they claim to be law enforcement, tell them to come with a search warrant. And whatever you do, no matter what, you don't tell them where she went, or with who.

"

nRob frowned, his hands balled to fists at his sides.

"You don't come into my house and take my friend and just start—

"

n

"Rob, it's fine. He's right,

" Sasha said.

"There's some really creepy ** going down out there and you don't want to get mixed up in it, okay?

"

nRob stared back and forth between them.

"So, you're just going to leave with him? After all this time?

"

nSasha looked up at Zev uncertainly then. Her scent was strange, hope and fear threaded through with something spikey he didn't recognize in her.

nBut before he could reassure her, she'd already turned back to her friend.

"I have to,

" she said simply.

"I can't… I need to know.

"

nRob sighed, then looked at Zev. A moment of understanding crackled between them.

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"If you hurt her, I will hunt you down,

" Rob growled.

nZev almost laughed at the irony of the threat, but he nodded as submissively as he was able.

"I am trying to keep her safe and happy.

"

n

"Then you shouldn't have left,

" Rob said shortly.

nThe blow landed.

nBut the doorbell rang then and Rob turned his head.

n

"Go!

" Sasha whispered.

"But don't let them in. Please!

"

nRob took a deep breath, but then he squeezed Sasha's hand, and ran off back down the hallway.. And with a surprising amount of relief, Zev tugged her towards the door at the end of the apartment hallway, praying that Nick hadn't had time to get anyone to the roof yet.

n