Deni sat down in the darkness, hearing the slither of snakes in the dried grass, they giving her a wide berth. She could scent nothing but the night now—the grains of dust on the wind, the coolness of water far away, the wild dryness of Texas, unchanged for centuries. No wildcats, except those at the wreck behind her, no Shifters at all.

Maybe scent wasn’t what she should be following, the dim thought came. Deni contemplated that in her quiet wolf way, then she closed her eyes, wrapped herself around the mate bond, and sent it outward.

There. An answering tug, far to the west and south of where she stood. Jace was there. False scents could be laid, and scents could be covered, but nothing could disguise the almost painful tug of the mate bond.

Deni loped back the way she’d come, across the wash, and started running, drawn to Jace with surety.

She heard Ellison howl in frustration somewhere behind her. He’d lost her scent and couldn’t find her in the darkness. No matter. Deni would find her mate and bring him home, and all would be well.

* * *

Jace sensed her coming. The snow leopard stopped in midrun, pulled up short as though someone had snapped a tether on him and yanked him to a halt.

He’d been running, putting as much distance between himself and the wreck as he possibly could. Whoever found him—Shifter or human—would want to drag him back to captivity, Collars, and rules. Shifters taming themselves, Jace was realizing, didn’t mean safety. It meant submission.

But his mate was coming.

Jace stopped on a little rise, a rare thing in this flat world. He sat down, panting, wrapping his cat tail around him as he waited for her.

Deni raced out of the dry grasses, her body a streak of gray under the moonlight. She came fast, running up the rise, not stopping. She let out a joyful yip and barreled into Jace so hard they rolled together down the other side of the little hill and ended up in a heap on the bottom.

Deni shifted into her human form, naked, her body outlined by starlight. Tears streaked her face.

“I found you.” She wrapped her arms around Jace’s leopard, who huffed and nuzzled her. “I found you.”

Jace licked her face, tasting her tears, and Deni laughed as his rough tongue nearly pushed her over. Come with me, my love, Jace urged. Into the wild, where we belong.

Deni pulled back, studying him. “Are you all right? It looks like they’re taking Marlo to a hospital. You should get looked at too.”

For answer, Jace jumped on her, knocking her to the ground. Deni’s mouth curved to laughter as she held an armful of fur. “Seriously, Jace. I was worried about you. Everyone is. I thought you were dead.”

The tears returned. Jace licked them away again, this time being gentle.

“I was so scared for you that I jumped on my motorcycle and rode away without realizing it. Did you hear me? I rode. My motorcycle. By myself. And I wasn’t afraid!”

Jace licked her again. I’m glad, my heart. You are healing.

“Ride back with me. That will be even better.”

Nope. Not going back.

“Jace.” Deni stroked his head, and Jace wanted to purr. “I don’t speak Feline very well. Change and talk to me.”

Jace didn’t want to change. He’d stay cat, she’d stay wolf, and they’d make a den somewhere. They were smart enough to hunt and evade hunters, and to teach their cubs to do the same. He loved her scent, which was stirring his mating frenzy.

“What’s wrong?” Deni asked him, stroking him again. “I let go of my biggest fear just now—losing control of myself—to let my wolf take over so I could find you. And you know what? I’m fine. Look.” She spread her arms. “I didn’t go feral. I found you, and I didn’t lose myself. I don’t have to be afraid anymore.” She held Jace again, his mate strong and warm. “The crash must have been horrible. But don’t lose yourself, Jace. Please. Come back to me.”

There was nothing wrong with Jace. He was free, and Collarless. But it was dark and Deni hadn’t touched his neck. She didn’t understand yet.

“Please, Jace. I need you.”

Tears trickled from her eyes again, tugging Jace out of his animal focus. He shifted, not as smoothly as he usually did, but jerking and groaning with the pain of it. His cat did not want to let go.

“It came off,” Jace said, the words bearing a Feline growl. “Look. The Collar. Gone.”

He took Deni’s hand and put it to his neck.

Deni’s eyes widened. She brushed Jace’s bare neck, which didn’t hurt at all, skimming her fingers around to his throat. “What happened?”

“Don’t know. Was out of the wreck before I realized. Maybe the fire. Maybe it takes intense heat to melt them off.”

Jace touched Deni’s face, his need for her kicking him hard. Deni moved to his touch, then she grabbed his hand and stared at it. “What is that?”

Jace glanced at his palm. It still hurt, and now he saw why. His palm was burned but crossed by a gold streak, which he realized was Deni’s bracelet. The slender gold band had been fused into his skin.

Chapter Thirteen

“Hurts,” Jace said. And itched too.

Deni kissed his palm, her lips cool. “I can see that. What happened?”

“It must have heated and melted,” Jace said. “Sorry, Den. I promised I’d bring it back to you.”

“You did.” Deni touched his face and gave him a smile that tightened the bond around his heart. “Let’s go home.”

“We are home.” Deni was under him, her body soft, her scent and warmth making him forget pain. “Stay here with me.”

She looked worried again. “We need to go back. You have friends and family who love you, and they’re afraid for you.”

Jace nuzzled her. “But I’m free of everything. I’m done with being used, hurt, experimented on. I’m finished being easygoing Jace, in the background. I have my mate, my life. I have you.”

Deni’s expression softened. “Yes.”

The mating frenzy was kicking in with her too; Jace saw it in her eyes. Her fingers were hot as she brushed his face, finding his hurts.

The touch of the mate healed. Jace closed his eyes and knew his wounds were closing, his burns easing, his Shifter metabolism helped by the gentle caress of his true mate.

“Jace, stay with me.”

Jace opened his eyes, realizing he’d started to revert to his leopard. He forced himself into human shape again. He needed to stay human right now, because he wanted to have her.