Page 64 (1/2)

Chapter 19

Just as before, she'd run, but he would not let her die again He began battling the current to get to the shore Freed of the river, he tossed her to the bank, feeling her for injuries He found none

- She's safe -

His female unharmed Over and over she'd been in jeopardy - his heart about to burst from his chest each time - yet somehow, in all that chaos, he'd kept her froet far before collapsing onto her front He dropped behind her, fighting to catch his breath He'd been shot ht, but hadn't felt the they lay like this, he didn't know Yet when the rain eased and the h, his fe the need the driving urges struggling to ignore the Instinct:

- Clai, yes, but she was also disgusted by what he was - he'd seen the undisguised revulsion in her dazed expression even before she'd risked her life fleeing him

Again

He closed his eyes, hating to the gods what he was -

She leapt up and darted forward, shocking hied in his body stabbed like daggers "No, doona run fro she could do ht up to her, then tensed to spring He lunged forward, his hand shooting out to claed her down to hirip on her ankle

"You canna run " he grated with difficulty from behind her

The hell she couldn't Mari kicked back with her boot, the heel connecting squarely with the side of his face Yet in retaliation he only growled low, smacked her on the ass, and spit out the back tooth she'd knocked loose There was none of the fury she expected

She slowed her struggles, so afraid to look back

When she chanced a glance, she found that the rain and the river had washed clean the blood from his mouth, his face, and his clenched hands and claws His pale eyes e she'd seen in hiruesoer did he seem like a monster - only a now unfamiliar male, one with an animal need to claim what he viewed as his to take

"Doona run fro to confound him "I won't" At her words, his eyes lit souish "I've just I'd never seen anything like you - and I was frightened"