She threw jeans and shirts and underwear into the bag as fast as she could. She wouldn’t need much else there. Hastily braiding her hair, she glared at herself in the mirror. “Don’ tell me you didn’ know, Bebe, because that’s why you rose and accepted his claim. You were feelin’ all amorous and you were willin’ to throw me to that wolf just for sex.”

Her cat was unrepentant. Even amused. You want the man.

She did. She so did, but that wasn’t the point. “That male leopard is dangerous. You heard Alonzo or Fyodor or whoever he is. His cat wants to kill the women he sleeps with.”

Not you. Again there was that impression of stretching. Unsheathing claws. I would protect you.

“He’s a dangerous fighter. He’s been fighting for years. He’s experienced.” Panic welled up, and for a moment she was that child in the swamp, listening to the alligators bellow and knowing the huge male leopard prowled outside, looking for her, wanting to kill her.

Evangeline drew in great gulps of air, trying to get her lungs to work properly again. She couldn’t think when she was panicked, she’d learned that early on as well. Alonzo could tie her to him in so many ways, but the worst would be sexually. She didn’t want a man to be with her because she was leopard. Or because they had great sex. This was her worst nightmare. The very worst. A lair. A dangerous, killing leopard. Her female in heat causing her to be. She wouldn’t be able to use her brain. Her body would be on fire and so hungry for him she wouldn’t be able to think.

She swore even more as she snatched up her car keys and slipped out her back door. No way was she going to get caught up in Alonzo’s world. She would be so vulnerable if her female went into heat. She would never be able to fight him or even stand up to him. He’d walk all over her. She’d be back in a world of deceit and violence. No. No. No. Not happening. She’d always decided her own fate. She wasn’t about to let leopards or sex or the most gorgeous, irresistible man who needed her dictate her life.

She knew she was in a state of panic. The idea of her body betraying her. Her leopard betraying her. It was frightening. Terrifying. She was a woman always in control and if she was out of it . . . A small sob escaped. She couldn’t let that happen. She wouldn’t.