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CHAPTER ONE

Iona s before she saw him—Eric Warden, the alpha Feline who ran the local Shiftertoho’d decided to make half Shifter Iona Duncan’s life hell

She loped down the desert canyon, rock grating on her paws The Nevada night arlow of the city far behind Out here, Iona could be what she wasfree

For some reason, Eric wanted to end that

Catch me if you can, Feline

Last night, after her half sister’s bridal shower, Iona had stayed out until daith Nicole and about twenty friends—all huone to a human bar, no Shifters allowed, thank God They’d liberated the bar of plenty ofIona had snatched a couple hours of sleep before she’d dragged herself to work

The frenzy of the night out followed by the hangover of the day triggered Iona’s need to shift After work, Iona had driven her red pickup out to her favorite spot in the et there She’d barely shed her clothes before her wildcat had taken over

And now Eric was following her

He pounded behind her, a powerhouse Shifter, his wildcatFeline Shifters were a er, and others—but most Shifters tended toward a certain type

Iona was mostly panther, with black fur to ed, sure-footed, and a good julee as she left Eric far behind

She dodged across a dry wash, kicking up dust, and scrambled into the rocky crevices on the other side She knew by scent how far she was frouarded by men with SUVs and rifles Shifters could escape detection if they wanted to, but heading the other direction, east and a little north of here, was safer Iona hopped fro a little in the gravel

She loved this The joy of being in wild country nearly impossible for humans to reach was heady This is what I’m meant to be

Daht after her, faster than she’d thought he would Iona crested the ridge at the top of the canyon and kept going

She ran along a ledge and dropped down the other side of the ridge Before she got to the bottom, she slunk into a shallow cave she kneas there fro from the top would see only that she’d vanished

Eric wouldn’t need to see her to find her though He’d scent her, but why make it easy for him?