That was why I missed it the undertones that would have given me a clue that he had been there recently. I couldn’t believe I had been so stupid. I had maneuvered Maren behind me thinking that would protect her. Instead, I led both of us right into a trap. There was a part of me that didn’t want to shift back. I knew that I was weaker in my human form. But I saw the threatening glint of the knife against Maren’s throat. It would take only one cut across her jugular, and then she would be gone. I had no choice. The growl was in my throat even as I changed from my bear form back into my human form. I stood before him not really caring that I was naked. I would find a way to rip out the man’s throat one way or another. He could count on that. “Let her go,” I said. “This is between you and me. This has always been between you and me, hasn’t it?” I felt the tug of guilt inside me. So many years ago, I had drawn Joshua’s attention to me and to my clan.
