Evangeline received the impression of her female trying to answer without upsetting her. Searching for the right images. He is strong. But I am strong. Your mate is very strong because he can control mine. He scares me more, but I know you, and you can handle him.

That answer set her heart pounding. If her female believed that she could handle Alonzo’s male but was a little concerned about Alonzo, what did that say about him? Had she made a mistake? She chewed at her lower lip as she paced.

You’re strong.

“Ten minutes ago I was curled up in the fetal position like I did when I was two.”

She got the distinct feeling her leopard was laughing at her. You always do that. And then you get up and take care of the problem. You did when you were two.

That was true. Evangeline couldn’t deny it. Her first reaction was to want to hide and pull the covers over her head, but there was never anyone else around to figure things out or aid her if there was danger. She’d learned to do it herself if she wanted it done.

You have no intention of giving him up. You’re just doing that thing you do.

Evangeline stopped pacing. “What thing? I don’ do a thing.”

You do. He makes you nervous because he’s unpredictable and you think you want normal and steady. You always think that in your head. But you don’t. You want him. You always go after what you want.

She did. She so did. And her female was right. She was locked in a safe room, had been shot, her bakery had been taken over and still she found herself arguing, trying to think of reasons to stay. It was ludicrous to want him, not to run as far and as fast as she could. It wasn’t logical to be with him.

“I can change. I don’ have to give in to this because I find him . . .” She trailed off. What did she find him? Overwhelming. Gorgeous, certainly. But was her attraction to him all physical? If that was the case, she could have sex with him and move on. She knew that wouldn’t happen. If she actually had sex with him, there would never be any moving on. She had to make up her mind. Right. Now.

His male is my mate.

Evangeline’s heart jerked. She loved her leopard but could she stay in a dangerous situation, one that she’d sworn she would never be in, for her cat? “What about children? You saw what happened to me. Do you want that for our child? I’ve been thinkin’ with my body, not my head.”