Adrian clutched the wheel so hard his knuckles went white.

He’d never seen Lucy so upset.

He was torn. He desperately wanted to make things right between them, claim her as his own, whether she wanted him to or not.

And just as badly, he needed to protect her, even if it meant protecting her from himself. His panther was huge and dangerous, and his temper wasn’t his strong suit. He could harm her so easily.

And he was older. Ten years might not seem like a lifetime, but she was so innocent…

“I know you’re angry,” Lucy said, interrupting his train of thought. “But I hope we can put this behind us.”

“Put it behind us,” he repeated incredulously.

“Obviously we can’t let it happen again,” she said quickly. “But I love working with you, Adrian. I know you get frustrated with me, but I have so much respect for you. You’ve given me everything. I’ll do whatever I have to do to earn back your trust.”

The panther raged inside him. Adrian felt his skin ripple in sympathy, as if he were going to shift right now, behind the wheel of a car.

He blinked hard and focused on the road, trying not to feel the shivers down his spine or scent the female beside him, so alluring through the panther’s nose.

But damn it, she made it so hard. He needed her.

He pulled over as waves of the change tried to wash over him again. Gravel crunched as he skidded to a stop. They were nearly at the motel, but he couldn’t risk her safety if there was any chance he might shift without meaning to.

Lucy placed a hand on his arm, sweetly, as if she thought he had a headache. “Are you okay?”

I love you. I’ll never be okay again, he thought wildly to himself.

She gasped and drew her hand away.

“I’m fine,” he said, sneaking a glance, afraid that his arm was transforming.

But it wasn’t.

Why had she gasped like that?

Lucy had her face in her hands beside him.

“Are you okay, Lucy?” He was completely confused. She looked despondent.

“I…I don’t know,” she stammered. “What if this was more than a fling, Adrian?”

This had to be a dream.

His mind flashed to see her in a white dress, in an apron, in a business suit, in a station wagon full of laughing children, in a rocking chair on a porch…

But that was selfish, worse than selfish. She was young and talented, and she had a bright and happy future ahead of her. He had no right to claim her for himself.

“It can’t be more than a fling, Lucy,” he said, wondering if she heard the tightness in his voice.

“Why not?” He loved her rebellious tone, for once she sounded relaxed instead of restrained.

“You’re young, you don’t understand,” he said wondering how he could avoid talking about the panther. “I’m no good for you.”

“What does that even mean?” Her voice was up a note from usual. “No, never mind. I know what it means.”

Suddenly she was removing her seatbelt, opening the door to the car.

“Lucy, what are you doing?”

“I get it, Adrian,” she spat, “I really do. You like me, but you prefer your actresses. And who wouldn’t? They’re so pretty and they always tell you exactly what you want to hear.”

And with that, she was gone, bolting into the shadow of the trees like her life depended on it.

Actresses?

But the panther was not going to give him time to figure out what she meant. The beast had had enough small talk. He wanted his mate and he wanted her now.

Give me a second, let me get out of the car, Adrian pleaded.

Hurry, it roared back at him.

A moment later he was dashing into the woods after her, clothing shredding as he fell to the ground. His front feet were paws before they touched the soil.

Lucy was a surprisingly fast runner, but the panther found her easy to track. Adrian sort of hoped that he would be able to convince the creature to let him shift again when they got close.

Of course he’d need to find some reason to explain his nudity, but it seemed preferable to the alternative.

Before he had time to think about it further, he burst into a clearing and there she was, standing among the ferns.

It was humid and she was winded from the run. She had removed her tailored jacket to reveal the white shift dress she wore underneath, her dark curls spilling over the bodice.

Suddenly, he was wrenched back to the dream he’d had on the airplane: Lucy dressed in white, out in the ferns. It was all just like this. Everything was the same.

For once, man and beast were of one mind as they approached her on reverent paws.

Lucy turned and the world moved in slow motion.

Adrian hadn’t shifted back. In his wonder, he had forgotten. He waited to see her face contort in fear and to hear her scream of terror.

Her sweet mouth dropped open slightly, but she didn’t make a sound.

He held himself still, unable to think of what to do next. He was huge, as big as a horse, much bigger than the male panther he’d seen at the Philadelphia Zoo.

Anyone would be right to be afraid.

Yet she approached, quietly, carefully.

Her face was cautious, but not fearful.

“It was you, wasn’t it?” Her voice was soft and hopeful. “You saved me last night.”

He held his breath, trying to tell her yes with his eyes.

She extended her hand to him slowly.

Joyfully, he thrust his big head down against her palm.

Her laughter rang through the clearing.

“Adrian,” she breathed wrapping her hands around his furry cheeks, gazing wonderingly into his eyes.

And then she seemed to be shrinking.

He realized that she wasn’t doing anything - he was shifting. The panther had let him go at last.