Cecily shielded her eyes, peering up the side of the mountain to where the others tracked and dug. “Looks like Louise found something good. From here it looks like the size of an egg.”

“The first find of the day.” Chase followed her line of sight. “We’d better get moving before Dan comes looking for us.”

Still shielding her eyes, Cecily scanned the bottom of the slope for the way up. “Oh, hell no.”

“What?” Chase asked, taking a swig of water.

She pointed toward a thick rope dangling down the slope face with knots tied intermittently up its length. “That.”

“I think that’s a guide rope to help climb up the claim,” he replied.

An exhaled huff was her reply. “If that’s how you get up, how the hell do you get down? I’m a big girl, Chase. Not a mountain goat. Plus, that claim is mostly loose rock and dirt. How do you repel down without causing a rockslide? It can’t be safe if you had to descend in a hurry.”

She took a breath. “I complained earlier, but you were right, and the hike wasn’t as bad as I thought. The weather turned out perfect, and the views were worth the sweat. But seriously. Did they really expect me to climb a rope hand over hand like some sadistic gym exercise?”

“So, I take it we’re not scaling the castle wall, then?” His lips pushed into a soft smile.

She sat on a tree stump next to the day tent. “Nope. Or at least, I’m not. I’ll be fine watching the packs. I can do one better and set up lunch for everyone.”

“You really want to stay here by yourself?”

“Not really. But turning me into a spider monkey isn’t an option.”

Chase glanced up the slope and Dave waved. “We didn’t come all this way for you to sit by yourself while I play prospector.” He squatted in front of her, sitting on the stump. “How about we spread a blanket on the grass and chill? We can stretch out and relax, have some lunch and then take our time hiking down.”

She rested her forearms on his shoulders, leaning in to press a kiss to his mouth. “Now that sounds like a plan.”

Chase straightened, holding his hand out to help Cecily up. “You get the blanket spread, and I’ll grab the snacks I packed.” He unslung the rifle from his shoulder and rested it against the stump before turning to walk to where they dropped their packs.

“How about under this tree? There’s a bed of old pine needles, so that should help soften the underside. The sun’s dappled, so it won’t be too hot or too cold.”

He nodded. “Sounds good.”

She flicked the blanket out, letting it settle on the soft ground, but froze. Her head snapped up and she turned toward the trees. Déjà vu hit as she peered into the shadowed light.

“Chase—” she called calmly. “I think you’d better grab your gun.”

He moved fast, but not fast enough. A gray wolf leapt from the shadows, teeth bared. Chase crouched, arms out in front of him in case the animal charged.

“Can you get to the gun, Cecy?” he asked, keeping his eyes on the beast.

She didn’t answer.

“Cecily—”

Another wolf padded from the trees, its large head down and its lips pulled back over sharp teeth. It circled her, cutting her off from the weapon.

“Not wolves, Chase. Definitely not wolves,” she said, circling to keep the stump between her and the wolf.

“What the—” he muttered. “And where the hell areis Dan and the others?”

Cecily spared a quick glance for the slope. “They’re watching.” She inhaled. “There’s no mixed panic in the air. No urgency other than ours.” Adrenaline sizzled through her veins. “Jesus, Chase. It’s like they want us to run.”

“Easier for them to take us down, with the others to witness the attack for the police.” His mouth mashed to a harsh line. “Oh, fuck me! They’re in on it.” He exhaled a harsh breath. “Stupid. And we trusted them. Jackson plays by the rules? If I live to see that motherfucker again, I swear I’ll rip his arms off and shove them up his ass.”

The wolves snapped and growled, front legs splayed. They half lunged, barking and growling.

“Not if I see him first.” Every muscle in her body flexed and tightened.

Electric heat skittered across Cecily’s flesh, and this time she didn’t fight it. Adrenaline and anger fueled writhing muscles. Clothes shredded, as bone and joints snapped and popped, reshaping in seconds. Golden fur replaced skin, and a caterwaul shriek tore from Cecily’s throat as her cat took over.

“Cecily!” Chase stared, mouth slack as he backed up from the majestic cat.

The puma reared, and muscled hind quarters released, launching her toward the closest wolf. The wolf moved to retreat, growling and snapping louder, but heavy paws hit the wolf’s flank as it turned to run.

Scythe-like claws gripped flesh and fur, tackling the wolf to the ground. Snarls and shrieks twisted and thundered as the animals fought, pawing and biting. High-pitched yaps echoed off the slope face. The others ran, leaving the two wolves to fight alone. The distraction was enough. With a violent twist, sharp canine teeth sunk deep in the wolf’s flank, tearing flesh and sinew.

The wolf jerked itself free, its flesh ripping from the cat’s jaws. It turned for the woods, but its fore legs buckled. The animal slumped to the ground with a whimper, transforming in seconds back to human form. Gayle lay in her own blood, her back and torso a pulp of torn flesh.

The cat turned is large head, another caterwaul shriek echoing off the rocks and trees. The other wolf turned for the trees, but Chase rushed after it, grabbing the rifle. A single shot rang clear, and the wolf dropped, its momentum skittered to a stop in the leaves and dried pine.

Chase stood between the injured wolves and the cat, his arms out at his sides. “Cecily, baby. It’s over. Can you hear me, love? It’s done. Dan and the others ran. It’s over.”

The cat lifted a bloody muzzle to the sky and shrieked again, only this time the sound was almost mournful rather than angry. Her back arched as thick ropes of muscle undulated beneath golden fur. Bone and joint snapped and popped once more, as blood-streaked skin replaced matted fur. Cecily knelt, naked and flushed, on the ground. Human once more.

“Jesus. Are you okay?” Chase asked, afraid to approach.

She nodded, lifting a shaking hand to her smeared face. “Are they dead?” Her voice shook as she asked.

“Gayle’s dead, I think,” he replied.

The wolf whimpered beneath the tree, phasing back to human with an expletive. “Ow, fuck! You shot me, you bastard!”

“Who put you up to this, Mitch?” Chase shot back. “You and the others. You’re all pieces of shit. And to think you used a child to ingratiate yourselves. Disgusting. I’m sure the police will think so as well.”

The man scooted his back against a tree, wincing as his hand moved to the gunshot wound. “I don’t think so. It’s your word against mine, and I’m the one who’s been shot.”

“Yeah? Gayle’s dead, my friend, and the others left you holding the bag. If I were you, I’d think real hard on how to save your own ass, because whoever put you up to this is not going to care if you rot.” Chase lifted the rifle again, but this time he cold-cocked the man, knocking him out.

“Maybe I should phase back and bite his head off.” Cecily chuckled, wincing with the effort. “Ow. Gayle got in a few good ones before she went down. I think I may have busted a few ribs.”

Chase put the gun down to shrug out of his shirt. “I’d rather have you bruised and breathing, than the alternative they had planned.” He wrapped the soft flannel around her shoulders. “We need to call 911 and then call Malcolm.”

“911 police dispatch first. We need to get to them before Dan and his pack. They could have spun what happened twelve ways from Sunday by now.” She shoved her arms into his button-down and slowly got to her feet. Chase’s shirt fell to mid-thigh. In any other scenario, she’d have felt like a sex-kitten wrapped in his scent.

“I wouldn’t worry about Dan and the others. They’re amateurs, and never expected you to go all Sheena of the Jungle. Trust me. They’ve run for cover rather than take the heat.” He pulled his bandana from his heck and wiped the blood from her face. “C’mon, pussycat. Let’s get you to the hospital and put this behind us.”