Instinctive by Cathryn Fox Page A

hard to hit him with, although judging by his size, it would take more than her glass vase. She remembered the mace in her purse, but before she could get to her kitchen, her head began spinning, and she felt dizzy. Slyck wrapped his arms around her waist as her rubbery legs began to give out on her.
    He continued with his explanation, and she struggled to make sense of his words. “The female’s panther stays dormant until she’s introduced to male seed. And after finding a true mate and joining as one, an impenetrable bond is formed. And because of that bond, without your mother’s true mate at her side, the panther inside her died, killing the human part of her as well.” He put his palm on her cheek and looked deep into her eyes. “So you
see, Jaclyn, your mother never abandoned you. Never would have. You would have been her pride, and she would have loved you and protected you with everything inside her. It is our way, the way of the panther.”
    Her mother had never abandoned her?
    She touched her stomach, comforted by that. Then she shook her head, forcing reason back to her brain. “This is crazy. Wouldn’t I have exhibited some panther traits?” she said, humoring him.
    “You’re very libidinous, aren’t you? Unable to play well with other females, aloof at times. Not a fan of the canine. Never felt sated before until you slept with me . . .”
    “Yeah, but—”
    “You’re my mate, Jaclyn. I’m your alpha and you belong to me.”
    “So what does that mean, I’m your subordinate?” she challenged.
    “It means I’ll always protect you and take care of you.” He softened his voice. “It also means I belong to you.”
    She swallowed as something inside her gave. She’d never really belonged to anyone before or had anyone belong to her. It gave her a weird sense of comfort.
    “You have the mark of fire, Jaclyn.”
    “You mean my birthmark?”
    “It’s more than just a birthmark. It’s the mark of the panther. We’re all descendants of the courageous Indian maiden Tallie.”
    “Tallie?”
    “Native American legend says the Indian maiden had a vision
of an injured panther. As if drawn by the animal, she traveled great lengths, putting herself in danger in an effort to rescue the wounded animal. When she found the panther, she wasn’t strong enough to carry it back to her grounds to care for it, so she stayed with it to provide warmth and give it food. That night she dreamed the panther had turned into a man and made love to her. Come morning she had gained the strength of the alpha and was able to bring it to safety and nurture it to good health. Tallie was then able to summon other panthers and, soon after, had taken on the animal characteristics herself.” His hand trailed down to the juncture between Jaclyn’s legs, to where her birthmark was hidden. “Tallie wore the mark of fire because she was as bright and beautiful as the blazing sun. The sun that gave us crops, sustenance, and life.”
    Jaclyn became acutely aware of her birthmark, and the way it burned and itched whenever Slyck was near.
    “I have the mark too.” He lifted his shirt and then his arm, showing her the same mark etched on his side. The only difference was that his had bright yellow flames, where hers had gone from pale to red-hot. As if he read her thoughts, he said, “It’s not a coincidence.”
    Jaclyn got quiet, trying to sort through everything he’d just told her.
    “You can’t mention this to anyone,” he said, his voice taking on a hard edge.
    “I would think not,” she said. A trip to the hospital that Slyck had obviously escaped from was not on her list of things to do today.

    “Because as the offspring of the rogue shifter, you’d be terminated.”
    Okay, that totally got her attention. She gulped air. “Terminated?”
    “Our town isn’t what you think it is. You see, you would automatically be killed, as per our rules, for fear that the offspring—you—would retain rebellious traits of