Defiance crept into her eyes. Shame. His heart contracted. He caught her arms and dragged her to him, his mouth coming down on hers. His kiss was long, tender and filled with as much love as he could pour into it.

“You have to believe me, Isabeau. This isn’t your fault. Did you think because all the people in this valley are so kind, that leopard people are always good? The danger of our business is that we see the worst of people, not the best, as we have in this valley. But I’ve seen the worst in leopards and the best in humans. Ottila is a sick man. You didn’t give him an opening, he fixated on you all by himself.”

She refused to meet his gaze. “He did this so you wouldn’t want me. I know he did. The wounds will heal, but they’ll scar. Right now, his scent and his marks are all over me. He wanted you to find me distasteful—repugnant.”

“Well, guess what, he didn’t succeed.”

Her gaze leapt to his face. “My cat can smell your lie.”

“Not a lie. My cat is raging. As he should be. As, deep down, I am. I don’t want another man touching you.” He kept his gaze steady on hers, never flinching. Yes, his cat was snarling, hating the smell of the other man—but never her—never his mate. He raged at himself for not protecting her, but the blame was on his shoulders, not hers, if there was blame to be had by one of them. “I could never be repulsed by you, Isabeau. You’re my heart. My soul. This man can’t drive a wedge between us. Let your cat smell whether I’m telling you the truth or a lie. Now let me take your clothes off and see what damage he’s done.”

“He was careful not to really injure me.”

“He’s a first-class bastard who gave no thought to your feelings. Possession isn’t love, Isabeau, no matter how possessive a man feels. And I do feel possessive, but I know I don’t own you. And I don’t have the right to hurt you or take away your choices. I put my mark on you to protect you from him, not to brand you as mine. I think my leopard may have that idea, but I’m not just my leopard and I refuse, as every man should, to use our cat’s instincts to guide us into animalistic behavior. And don’t get me wrong, Isabeau, Ottila’s behavior was an abomination against animals.”

For the first time a faint smile crept into her eyes. “Did you think he dazzled me with his show of strength? He terrified me. I never want to see him again.”