Paws for the Villain by Milly Taiden

When a Woman Who’s Been Falling for His Villains Finally Meets the Man Who Built Them, the Real Danger Isn’t his Drawings.
Lumi Stone, indie comic artist and creator of the cult series Nightbloom, knows how to make readers fall in love with the bad guy. She draws villains with devastating emotional honesty, goes home to an apartment full of plants named after fictional murderers, and swore off collaboration the day her mentor stole her work and her trust. Then Zeir Axan walks in wearing black like a bad decision, looks at her art like he sees it, and makes her remember every reason she stopped letting people get close — and one devastating reason to start again.

Zeir Axan, CEO of Axan Dark Publishing and a wolf shifter alpha, has built an empire on villains his readers root for despite themselves. Cool, brilliant, and intimidating enough to make a room nervous by standing still, he hasn’t let anyone past his walls in years. But when Lumi walks in with ink on her hands and a mouth made for arguments, Zeir — who has never once lost his composure — can’t stop thinking about her lips, her fire, and how badly he wants to be the reason she finally lets someone in.

They’re not supposed to want this. She doesn’t trust. He doesn’t open up. But when Lumi’s past comes back threatening everything she’s built, Zeir’s careful control shatters — and the wolf who never shows softness will burn the world down before he lets her face it alone.