Elation swept through her as she leapt from the porch and streaked across the open yard for the trees. She knew every inch of the way between their property and Jake Bannaconni’s. She also knew Eli had to be battling the third leopard, which meant her female would have to outrun Rafe’s male.

She didn’t look back. The little female valiantly ran for the fence that bordered the two properties. She knew where Jake’s men, all three shifters, had been working to repair a broken fence line so their cattle would remain on their land. She headed for that spot, hoping the men would get an early morning start and they would help her.

She ran full out, but she hadn’t counted on the damage Rafe had inflicted on her body. Every step hurt. She had to fight to breathe. He’d definitely hurt her ribs, and she felt each vicious kick he’d inflicted on her. She wasn’t nearly fast enough and she knew it. With a little sob, she pushed the female harder.

Something large slammed into the female leopard’s side, sending her tumbling, rolling over and over. She landed winded, shaking her head, trying to come to her feet. The heavier male was on her fast, too fast. His teeth bit down hard, lifting her, claws raking at her belly. She curled to protect herself. He shook her much smaller body and dropped her to the ground.

Catarina’s leopard rolled, came to her feet and ducked under the male’s attack, slicing at his sides with one claw, ripping him open as she leapt sideways out of the way. The male snarled, his eyes going yellow green. Her leopard eyed him warily. They stared at one another, the female trying to recover her breath.

She couldn’t outrun him. She couldn’t outfight him. But she might be able to outmaneuver him. She was much smaller, and she had a few moves Eli’s male had taught her. The key was not to panic and not to waste energy.

The male charged, exploding into action. She held her ground until the last possible second, springing into the air, swiping at his eyes with one claw, turning direction in midair to land a few feet away and behind the howling male. Blood streaked his side, not a killing wound, probably just shallow, but she’d scored there. Now blood streaked his face, and she saw one eye was damaged.

The male turned his head slowly and her heart nearly stopped. Rafe was not in control of the beast and his leopard, a true killing machine, targeted her for the kill. She could see the rage and fury in his eyes. He wasn’t going to simply demand her submission, he was going to annihilate her.

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