Arizona peeked around his shoulder but couldn’t see anything but an endless wall of trees. Movement caught her eye. A flash of color darted through the woods. Good God. Had someone been watching them?

She froze. Had Tony found her? He couldn’t have. No one knew where they were unless…unless he’d been watching them for days.

“It’s him,” she hissed.

“Did you see someone?”

“No. But it has to be him.”

“It was probably some peeping tom. Another hiker who happened to catch us in the act. I can’t believe I didn’t sense him,” he said.

“You were preoccupied.”

“Completely.”

“Is he gone?” she asked.

“I don’t see anyone, but let’s head back to the truck.”

“Is it safe? What if someone’s waiting there for us?”

“We’re sitting ducks here,” he said. “We have to go back. Get dressed.”

She waded out and quickly pulled on her clothes. She was soaking wet but didn’t care. Even though Garrett insisted the person was probably harmless, she didn’t believe it. Garrett’s tense stance and shifting gaze told her that he didn’t believe it either.

“What if the person is waiting for us at the truck?” she whispered.

“Stay behind me. If someone’s there, then I’ll scent them.”

“You didn’t scent the guy in the woods.”

“My nose was occupied,” he said. “I couldn’t smell anything but you. You’re intoxicating.”

She smiled despite the increasing tension. Maybe she was overreacting and the guy really was just a hiker.

As they hurried up the trail, she stayed close to Garrett. She studied the woods on either side of them, but didn’t see any indication of another person’s presence. Her heart thumped harder as they approached the end of the trail. What would they find in the parking lot? Would it be empty and safe? Or would someone be lying in wait?

“When we get to the truck, get in,” he said. “I’ll get you out of here as fast as possible.”

The parking lot came into view. She scanned the area. It was empty. But still, something felt… off.

She ran across the pavement. When she reached the truck, she yanked open the passenger-side door. A bouquet of white roses tumbled off the seat and landed at her feet. She screamed.

“What? What is it?” Garrett yelled as he raced around the truck.

“It’s him. I know it.”

She whipped her head from side to side searching for Tony. She’d only met him once, but she’d recognize his slicked-back hair and cocky swagger if she saw him again.

“Get in the truck!” Garrett said. “Do not leave for any reason. Got it?”

“Yes.”

She stepped on the roses as she scrambled into the cab. Garrett slammed the door behind her and dropped to all fours. Before she could process what was happening, his body twisted and cracked. The sound of popping, tearing flesh filled the air. She’d never seen him shift into a bear. She’d never seen anyone shift. All she could do was stare as fur sprouted on his hands and legs. His nose elongated into a snout while his body stretched and grew.

Her eyes widened as he tore through his clothes. Claws scratched against the pavement as the last hint of humanity vanished. A bear stood in his place. And it was furious.

Spittle dripped from the bear’s sharp teeth. Feral intelligence glimmered in his eyes. He lifted his snout to sniff the air. He chuffed and grunted, pawing around the parking lot as if searching for a scent trail. The fur along his spine stood up. A second later, he bolted into the forest. She struggled to catch another glimpse of him, but he was gone.

One minute passed…

Two…

Five…

She tapped her foot and dug her nails into the seat.

Where was he? Did Tony shoot him? She hadn’t heard any shots, but maybe he had a silencer. Garrett could be lying somewhere in the woods hurt, or even dying.

Her heart pounded as visions of his blood-soaked body taunted her. She considered getting out of the car, but she didn’t have a weapon. If she ran into Tony, she’d have no way to defend herself.

She opened the glove box and searched for a weapon. Nothing. She leaned into the small storage space behind the seats and dug past an extra jacket and a pair of boots. She found a duffle bag and ripped it open. A crowbar sat on top of a first aid kit. She grabbed it.

As she reached for the door handle, a figure appeared out of nowhere. She screamed as Tony pounded on the window with the butt of his pistol.

“Open up, bitch,” he snarled. “You’re my goddamn property and I’m taking you home.”

“Never!”

His eyes narrowed and darkness twisted his expression. She scooted across the seat toward the driver’s side door. Tony raced around front and blocked her escape. He slammed his gun against the glass three times. It shattered, sending fragments of class cascading across the seat and onto the floor.

She screamed as he yanked open the door. She fumbled with the lock on the passenger side. It popped open. She shoved the handle and lunged toward the door. Tony grabbed her hair and yanked her back.

“When I get you home, you’re going to pay for this,” he snapped.

“Let me go!”

“Never!”

He dragged her backward. She tumbled out of the driver’s side door and slammed onto the pavement. He pulled her up by her hair and grabbed her arm. She’d managed to hold onto the crowbar, but as he twisted her arm behind her back, she dropped it. Now she’d never be able to escape.

As her heart plummeted into her chest, she shook from a rush of adrenaline. Tony hauled her back toward the main road. A few yards down the road, a sleek sedan sat hidden in a patch of thick bushes. If he got her into his car, she was dead for sure. Maybe not right away, but she had no doubt he’d kill her.

She shuddered and dropped to the floor. Tony tried to tug her to her feet but she went limp. He’d have a harder time carrying dead weight. She needed to buy time. Figure out another plan of escape.

A rumbling in the woods caught her attention. She turned to see Garrett, still in bear form, crashing through the woods. Tony raised his pistol up. She leapt up and slammed into him, throwing him off balance. A shot rang out. It went high and wide.

As the bear reached them, she stumbled backward. Sharp claws glinted a second before sinking deep into Tony’s belly. Blood spurted out in every direction as Tony clutched his belly. He ran across the road. Garrett followed him into the forest. She ran behind them.

Up ahead, Tony skidded then pitched over the edge of the cliff. Garrett stopped a foot short of the huge drop-off. She rushed to his side.

“Are you hurt? Did he shoot you?” she asked.

The bear huffed and shook his head no.

She fell to her knees and wept with relief. She wrapped her arms around the bear’s front leg and sobbed. She’d almost lost him, and she hadn’t even told him how she felt.

Before she could say anything, the bear’s spine cracked and twisted. Fur receded and the bear’s nose became smaller. She stood in awe of the huge beast.

As Garrett emerged from the tangle of fur, she ran toward him. He raced toward her and pulled her into his arms. He spread rough kisses all over her face. She kissed him back with a desperation she’d never experienced.

“I almost lost you,” she said.

“I almost lost you, too.”

“Never! You’ll never lose me,” she said. “I can’t hold back anymore. I love you. I know it’s crazy, but it’s true. I’ve been trying to pretend it’s not real for weeks, but it is. What we have is more than I ever imagined having. I know our relationship was supposed to be fake, but nothing’s felt more real. Nothing. And I know you’re going to send me away when your dad dies, but I had to tell you.”

As she waited for a response, her chest deflated. She’d finally told him exactly how she felt, and he wasn’t saying a word in response.

* * *

Garrett’s throat tightened. He couldn’t speak. She loved him! All of the energy he’d put into denying his growing love for her rushed out of his body, leaving him lightheaded. He pulled her into his arms and clung to her with the desperation of a drowning man. Although he’d suspected he’d been falling in love with her for weeks, the threat of almost losing her had pushed him over the edge. He never wanted to let her go.

“You’re squeezing too tight,” she gasped.

“Sorry. I can’t believe I almost lost you.” He stepped back and cradled her cheeks in his hands. “I love you, Arizona. I don’t know when it happened, but sometime over the last few weeks I fell hard. I tried to pretend it wasn’t happening, but I can’t deny it any longer. You’re the most important person in my life and I never want you to leave. Stay with me. Stay and be my wife.”

“What? Your wife?” she whispered.

“I never thought I’d ever want to get married,” he said. “But you’re more than I could have ever hoped for in a partner. You love the ranch. You’re a hard worker. You’re sweet, and sexy, and way too good for me, but I need you.”

“I’m not too good for you,” she said.

“You are.”

“Are you sure about this? About staying together? I thought you didn’t want a relationship. I thought you swore off marriage.”

“I’ll admit I’m still afraid of what commitment might do to us,” he said. “But I’m willing to take the chance. I can’t let you walk away from me. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you want to stay.”

“We don’t have to get married right away,” she said. “We could wait.”

“We could… but if we love each other, why wait?”

“I bet it would make your father very happy to see us married before he dies.”

“He’d be so happy and so proud.” A rush of sadness choked his voice. He swiped a tear from his eye.

“You really love him, don’t you?” she asked softly.

“Yes.”

“But you were too afraid to show it?”

“He never made time for me. I guess I hated him for it,” he said.

“His priorities weren’t straight. Family should always come first.”

“And it will,” he said. “I swear to you I’ll never let anyone or anything come between us. If I do decide to take over as head of the bear clan after my father’s gone, I won’t let politics get in the way of our love for each other. I promise I’ll be devoted to you first, and the bear clan second.”

“I can’t believe you’re considering taking on the leadership role,” she said. “You were so against it.”

“The last few weeks have changed my mind. I’ve watched my father settle disputes between shifters. I’ve seen him plan important shifter gatherings and he never misses an important celebration. He’s dying and he’s still ready to help a shifter in need. I never realized how much he does for this clan. He lives to make their lives better, and he’s inspired me to do the same.”

“You should tell him,” she said. “Tell him how much you love him.”

“I will. But before we go, you never answered my question.”

“What question?”

He dropped down to one knee and clasped her hand in his.

“I don’t have a ring right now, but my mother’s ring is back at the house. I want to give it to you. I want it to be a symbol of our commitment to each other. A way of righting our fathers’ wrongs. We’re not like them. And our marriage doesn’t have to fail the way theirs did.”

She sniffed and wiped a tear from each eye.

“Sweetie,” he said. “I’ve loved you almost from the moment I met you. Will you marry me?”

“Yes!”

She launched herself into his arms. He caught her and swung her around in a circle. As he set her down, he kissed her with all of the passion he’d held back his entire life. When he finally pulled away, breathless and filled with love, he knew his life would never be the same.