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the surge of excitement that went through me from his touch. It had been just an accident.
    “Weren’t you supposed to be shifting?”
    “Yeah.” Jerk. I let my animal side take over and the familiar strength and instincts pulsed through my veins. I used my claws to break through the chains. I couldn’t get the ones on his legs with my paws, so I used my mouth.
    I stayed as a bear and nudged him to move. Hopefully he’d get the hint.
    “Did you just bite those chains? Is your mouth that good as a human?”
    I couldn’t talk to him as a bear. He was lucky. He would have had another thing coming.
    “You wouldn’t happen to have any extra clothes, would you?”
    I pushed into his side harder. He needed to shut up.
    “Ok, I get it.”
    It was strange walking next to Jared as a bear. I couldn’t get the same read on him.
    He let out a groan. I wished I were in my human form so I could see what was wrong. Was he hurt? Was I really worrying about that? What was wrong with me? I pushed my head into his side to keep him moving.
    He patted my head. Was he serious?
    We moved slowly through the passage. I had no clue who was awake, and that witch was still around. When we reached the fork I pushed against him again to make sure he followed me toward the back entrance. He bent down. “Why should we walk further into this place?”
    I’d never been more frustrated by a lack of ability to speak before. Usually it was one of the nice parts of being in my bear form. Some things were easier when talking wasn’t involved.
    Before I could worry about it for long (or bite him to make him listen), I heard talking. I couldn’t be sure where it was coming from, but I wasn’t going to take a chance. I quickly shifted back. I needed to be able to communicate with Jared. I yanked on his arm and pulled him back into a crevice. The space was tiny, and considering we were naked, it wasn’t exactly the most comfortable hiding place ever.
    “She’s dead if he ever finds her.”
    I didn’t need to listen long to realize the male voice was talking about me. I also knew exactly who it was, Jim, an annoying member of the pact.
    “I can’t believe she’d do that.”
    “The girl was her sister.”
    “So? She’s been with our pack for years. That should count for something.”
    Jim lowered his voice to a whisper. “Yeah, but maybe she didn’t feel loyal to the boss. She is a witch after all.”
    “Shut up!” The second voice, it was his friend Ray, snapped. “Do you want to get us both killed?”
    “How do we know she isn’t going to turn on us too?” The first one asked. “I mean we know she’s more powerful than us. We should get rid of her while we can.”
    “It’s too bad about Vera though.” Ray’s voice was louder. It sounded like he was right next to us. I took in a breath.
    “Why?”
    “She’s hot. I didn’t even get any from her yet.”
    Wow. Abrupt subject change.
    “I did. You missed out.” That son of a bitch. I didn’t sleep with him. Jared’s breathing picked up next to me and he let out a tiny noise.
    “Did you hear that?” Jim asked.
    I wanted to smack Jared. Really? Did he have to blow our cover?
    “I thought I heard something from over there.”
    I held my breath and pushed myself as flat against Jared as possible. The problem was he was facing me, and he wasn’t staying flat, at least not all of him was.
    “Shit, we’re late,” Jim yelled. “It was probably just a bat or something.”
    When their voices faded away I finally stepped away from Jared. Being naked next to him when he was just as naked wasn’t good for the sexual tension that buzzed between us despite our precarious situation. “Just follow me.”
    “To our death? Why walk further into the cave?”
    “I’m the one who came back to save you,” I hissed. “Give me some credit.”
    “But why? Why double back that way?”
    “Trust me on this. There’s another way.”
    “You better be right.”
    “It’s my life on the