The tiger loped along casually, toying with her a little as it chased her. The way it roared and teased her with its claws filled Devlin with rage.
Every time he tried to rise, horrible pain streaked through him. It almost felt as if the initial wound across his guts had literally cut him in half. Devlin blinked hard, trying to clear his vision so he could see what was happening to Kate.
The big tiger looped around her and blocked her path. Kate turned around and ran back toward the parking lot, screaming uncontrollably. Devlin felt a faint spear of hope. If someone heard her, they might send help.
But we are so far from the street …
Kate’s screams suddenly stopped. Devlin felt terrible fear rising in him as he struggled again to rise from the ground. Blinking hard, he managed to focus on the scene in front of him. The tiger had pounced on Kate and had her trapped under it.
If it wanted to kill her, it would have done it already. I don’t understand.
Devlin stretched out a hand, reaching across the pool of his own blood. His body was so cold that he didn’t even understand how his heart was still beating.
Then, the tiger shifted. At first, the changing shape didn’t make sense to him. Devlin couldn’t get a good look at the man’s face to identify him. Then, Kate did it for him.
“Phil?” she screamed. Her voice was far more terrified than it had been before, and something about that changed sound energized him. Devlin managed to move just a little and felt strength returning to his hands.
“Hello, Kate!” Phil cried, laughing. “Did you miss me?”
“Get off me,” she screamed, flailing at him with her arms. Phil grabbed her hands and forced her against the ground, his naked body pressed against her as she writhed and fought against his grip.
“Keep it up, baby,” Phil said. “I’m really enjoying this foreplay.”
Kate screamed and fought even harder. From the way Phil dug his hands into her wrists and shoved his hips against her, it was obvious he was just enjoying it even more.
There was a red-hot fury growing inside Devlin. He could smell his mate’s fear and the fetid stink of the other male’s arousal. The cold, icy lake that was trying to drag him down began to fade as he fought death with all his strength.
“Stop, Phil. Please stop!” Kate screamed. She was tired now, and she couldn’t struggle. Phil had her pinned flat beneath him.
“No, never,” he hissed, leaning in to lick her cheek. “You’re mine, now.”
“I will never be yours.”
“Oh, really?” Phil asked casually. He wriggled on top of her, and Kate turned her face away in disgust.
“My tiger says we are meant to be, baby. That you’re my mate. You must be. Look what you do to me.”
Phil wriggled on top of her again, and Devlin felt hot rage pour through him. He struggled and felt life returning to his limbs.
Not long now. Hold on, Kate!
“I’m going to claim you,” Phil said, leering into Kate’s face. “Right here, in front of that panther weakling. You belong to me, Kate. You’re mine, and I will never let anyone take you from me. Once I’ve claimed you, no man or shifter can have you ever again.”
Devlin felt strength surging inside him. He managed to push himself onto his knees. He was covered in his own blood … he was lying in a pool of it … but the hot, rich scent only inflamed his panther even more.
Phil had his head down now as he attempted to hold Kate down by the wrists and tear open the front of her gown with his teeth. Devlin’s panther rose inside him on a wave of indescribable fury.
As he finally pushed himself up onto his feet, the great cat took over, and he flowed from one form to another, streaking toward the pair on the ground with the swift invisibility of a late sunset shadow.
Phil looked up just as his soft paws fell near Kate’s head. His eyes opened wide with shock, and his mouth dropped open. Devlin was already airborne, springing at him.
Kate screamed as Devlin went sailing over her, catching Phil in his claws. The two of them rolled across the ground, Phil trying to shift but unable to as Devlin hooked his claws into him and left long tears across his shoulders.
Phil kicked out, separating them. Devlin jumped to his feet, his eyes locked onto Phil. The broken man shook his head, touching one of his shoulder wounds.
“You’re dead,” Phil cried pitifully.
Devlin roared in response.