Vivienne looked around the unfamiliar tropical surroundings.

She startled, and then she realized, it wasn’t real. She was in a dream.

She didn’t know how she got there, but in dreams that didn’t mean much.

And this definitely was a dream.

The moon’s light rippled along the waves gently washing on the beach. The breeze was fresh and warm, comforting. A light taste of salt hinted in the air. Sand was soothing and cool under her feet.

Behind her, a howl broke the night air. Her heart flew into triple time. Petrified, she turned around slowly, finding the jungle’s edge only feet from her.

Between the trees were iridescent flashes of color.

A lupine face slipped between light and shadows. Through the blackness of the forest’s gloominess, two rubies stared at her, then blinked.

She wanted to run, but her feet were rooted in the sand.

The largest wolf she’d ever seen stalked out from the forest. The sound of tendons stretching and bones crackling heralded the beast’s morphing from a wolf to a man.

His eyes never left hers during his transformation.

Within several steps, the animal was gone, a man walked in its place.

Not just any man.

Quick.

She should be scared, or surprised, at least, of what she’d witnessed.

Oh, hell.

The man was completely naked.

In real life, she’d be blushing so hard, steam would float from her skin. But here in this dream world, with no one to witness her wantonness, she remained stoic; though she did keep her eyes above his waist.

He stopped inches from her, his breath warm on her cheek.

He took her face in his hands and kissed her.

She nearly melted on the spot.

You’re not afraid of me? he asked, though no words passed between them.

Should I be?

I’m a shifter. Most on this island are.

As soon as he said that, she knew it was true. She’d known what he was, even though the thought of him as an animal never crossed her mind. So many things made sense now, especially the time when Wolph called Quick a wolf.

Oh shit. That meant Wolph was a…wolf.

Quick pulled away and looked into her eyes. He laid her on the soft sand. His calloused hands rubbed down her bare arms, then her hips.

Goose bumps from his touch slid over her body.

Suddenly, he was gone.

A howl rent the night air, a howl of pain.

She flew to her feet.

Before her, Quick was being struck by bolt after bolt of lightning. His body smoked, limbs turning black and crusty.

Vivienne spun around to the source of the lightning.

Ricardo. Where the hell did he come from?

He was a giant in her dream, standing taller than the trees. Hysterical laughter ripped from him with every shot he took at Quick.

Stop, you bastard.

He didn’t even notice her.

I will kill you for this.

She brought her hands up, summoning a spell.

His vile eyes looked down at her.

Vivienne, good to see you again. He held up a hand, palm out. One second.

He turned back to Quick and flicked his fingers.

Quick burst into flames and crumbled into ash on the beach, mixing in with the sand washing out with the tide, right before her very eyes.

“No!”

Vivienne bolted upright to a sitting position.

Sweat poured from her body, her breaths were shallow pants.

Her heart hurt with the thought Quick was dead.

Then she realized it was all a dream.

A damned dream.

She was in her bed in her bungalow. She didn’t remember coming home. Quick must’ve helped her at some point.

Staring at the ceiling, she thought back on her dream. It felt so real. But at the same time, Ricardo seemed like a distant memory. The Wolph guy worried her more, that and Tiko’s safety.

She grunted as she remembered the dream.

Quick was a freaking wolf shifter. Or at least, in her dream he was. She knew in her heart that was right. This was the first time she’d met a shifter, that she knew of, at least.

She learned when she was young that witches and shifters didn’t get along.

But still, she liked Quick and the few others she met in her short time on the island yesterday. They were friendly and seemed to have the same issues and emotions as everyone else on the planet.

Okay, if she had to be honest, she more than liked Quick.

Then she remembered the kiss Quick planted on her in the dream. Nothing she’d experienced even came close to that. If she wasn’t careful, she could see herself falling for him. Really falling. Deeply. That scared her.

She’d never had a prophetic dream before, but she realized some things about her had changed since stepping foot on the island. Things had become so confusing.

Maybe it was better if she left the island to Quick.

That’s what he wanted.

That way Ricardo wouldn’t find her, Quick wouldn’t get hurt, the island could survive.

Yes, that was for the best—leave the island to Quick.

A twinge of pain hit her right in the heart at that thought.

She didn’t want to leave this island or him.