Cursing, Justin pulled Victoria off the couch and pushed her into the adjoining room. Her mouth opened to speak, but he put his finger to her lips.

"Do not make a sound. The witch is here."

He quickly hurried out of the room, closing the door behind him. He ran back to the couch and sat before the witch entered.

She sashayed through the doorway before leaning against the wall. As always, her overpowering scented perfume made him gag.

"Do you ever knock?" he snapped.

Her throaty laugh hung in the air. "Oh, Justin darling. Why would I knock? I'm the only one who comes here."

"You can stop that at any time. I'd be most grateful."

"I'm quite certain you would." She moved away from the door and slunk toward him.

He held his breath, waiting for her to say something about his visitor, but as he studied her, he realized she didn't know. He said a silent prayer of thanks.

She sat on the edge of the armrest and ran her hand over his chest. "Have you grown weary of shifting, my dear? You know what to do if you want me to change you back."

Pushing her aside, he stood and moved away. He linked his hands behind his back and paced the floor between the witch and Victoria who remained behind the closed door.

"Since you know I'll never love you, I assume you've come to harp about the non-existent treasure map." He shook his head. "I grow weary, not of shifting into a wolf, but of your inability to accept what I tell you as the truth." He stopped in front of her and glared. "I do not, nor will I ever, have that cursed treasure map. There's no such thing. If there was, don't you think someone would have found it by now?"

"Oh, there's a treasure there, I assure you. It's been told in old wives tales for several centuries. Someone must have it, and I believe you're hiding it from me. Peter Fawson gave it to you, I know he did."

Anger poured through him, and his animal instincts took over. He wrapped his hands around her throat. Her eyes widened and she gasped, but she didn't say anything, nor did she try to peel his hands away.

"Do you know how I loathe you? Every day I want to kill you with my bare hands. I want to choke the life right out of you just to be free."

The glimpse of terror that had been on her face didn't stay long, and she grinned. "You won't kill me, because then you'll never turn back."

If he squeezed hard enough he could snap her neck. He was certain of it. But she was correct. The curse would die with her.

Releasing a frustrated growl, he yanked his hands away and stepped back. He drove his fingers through his hair as he paced the floor again, breathing deep and slow, trying to control his hatred. His foot knocked into the paintings he'd taken off the walls in the manor earlier, toppling two over, the wooden frames broke as they hit the floor. He hoped the witch didn't ask about them.

Nothing would please him more than to tell her what she wanted to know, even if he had to lie. Unfortunately, she'd eventually discover the untruth and be back, which was the last thing he wanted.

The only thing to do was work harder with Victoria to see if there really was a secret map. According to Peter Fawson's journal, the stranger at the end of the book believed there was. Now Justin needed to find it. Or die trying.

He glanced back at the witch, her gaze was still on him along with that ridiculous smirk he'd enjoy wiping off her face. "Would you please leave?"

She tsked. "Justin, you're out of sorts today. That's not like you." She walked toward him. "It makes me wonder if your attitude has anything to do with Miss Fawson?"

He stared hard into her eyes. "If you touch one hair on her, I swear—"

Her cackle floated through the air as she stroked his cheek. "I cannot believe these threats you're throwing at me, my darling man."

He slapped her hand away. "You forget easily. You don't frighten me any longer."

She shrugged and turned away, moving toward the door. "I hope you haven't fallen completely in love with Miss Fawson," she said over her shoulder. When she reached the door, she stopped and met his gaze. "Jonathan is madly in love with her. Did you know that? I believe he'll ask her to be his wife soon."

Justin's gut clenched and he gritted his teeth. He shouldn't be surprised. He'd suspected as much when he saw Jonathan kissing Victoria.

"Then I wish them a happy life together."

She arched an eyebrow. "Oh, you cannot fool me, Justin. You've become infatuated with her, too. Why else would you shift so often?"

"Good night. I'm weary of your chatter and I need my sleep."

She flipped her hand through the air. "As you wish. I'll see you again very soon."

When she walked out of the room he listened for her footsteps and the squeaks the door made as she left his sanctuary. Sighing with relief, he sank to the couch and covered his face with his hands. That had been the closest he'd ever come to killing her. Or anyone, for that matter, since he didn't remember his nights as the wolf.

He glanced at the door Victoria hid behind and groaned. They'd almost gotten caught. He shuddered to think what the witch would have done if she'd seen Victoria in his arms.

He stood and released a deep breath before walking to the door and opening it. Victoria's wide eyes, moist with tears, stared up at him. His heart crumbled and he gathered her in his arms. Her body shook against him, making him tighten his hold.

"Oh, Justin," she sobbed. "We were almost discovered."

He kissed the top of her head. "I know."

"It's my fault. If I hadn't come here—"

"Shh." He lifted her chin until she met his eyes. "It's not your fault. It's mine. I could have told you to leave several times, but the truth is I want you near me. You make me whole. When you're with me, I'm a man instead of a beast."

He bent and captured her mouth, but only kissed her for a few moments before pulling away. "But I think it's best to return to your room. Don't you agree?"

She nodded.

Taking her hand in his, he led her through the tunnels to sneak her back. His chest ached. How he wished he'd never met her and fallen in love, but she had brought happiness and hope back to his life.

Now, he'd never let her go. And that thought frightened him more than anything.

* * * *

Justin had shifted again. Because of her.

The wolf howl during the night brought tears to Victoria's eyes. His cry was so painful, so emotional, that it wrenched her heart. She'd tried to block out the mournful wails with her pillow over her ears, but it didn't work.

The next morning her eyes were heavy with fatigue and all she wanted to do was sleep. Yet so much needed to be done, and quickly. Knowing Justin shifted every night was hard to bear. They must find a way out of this curse.

Breakfast wasn't as quiet as she wished. Bethany chattered about Jonathan's birthday ball and the last minute plans they had to make. It hurt Victoria's face to smile, but she had to keep up appearances. They mustn't ask questions at this point.

From down the hall, a door slammed and voices rose. Her heart dropped. The last time this happened, the white wolf had killed. She prayed it was something different.

But as the voices drew nearer and wails filled the air, tears stung her eyes. Not again.

Bethany and Roderick jumped from their chairs just as Mrs. White and two other maids ran into the dining room.

"What has happened?" Roderick demanded.

"It's Anne." Mrs. White wrung her hands against her bosom. "She was attacked last night." Beside her, the two other maids cried into their hands.

"The white wolf?" Bethany's whisper was greeted with nods.

"But Anne isn't dead," Mrs. White added.

Victoria gasped and jumped out of her chair, knocking it over. All heads turned toward her. "She's not dead?" She hurried toward the housekeeper. "Where is she? We must ask her what happened."

"Henry, the footman, found her. She was still breathing. He took her to the physician in town."

Roderick ran his fingers through his hair. "Good heavens, I must go to her at once."

Bethany passed her husband a heated glare before rolling her eyes. "Fine, go. While you're gone, Victoria and I have birthday plans to make." She gave Victoria a fake grin.

Victoria couldn't believe Bethany's attitude. Didn't that woman have any feeling at all for her servants? Then again, she probably knew about Roderick and Anne's affair, which was why she acted as if she didn't care.

Victoria nodded. "Yes, we do have plans to make." She gave Mrs. White a sympathetic smile. "Please keep us informed of Anne's condition, and let me know if there is anything I can do."

Mrs. White nodded. "I will." When the housekeeper turned back toward the door, Roderick hurried after her.

"I certainly hope Anne is going to be all right. Maybe she can tell us what happened and how the white wolf attacked her." Victoria shook her head. "It's still hard for me to believe the white wolf kills. He had the chance with me, but he didn't take it."

"Yes. That's quite amazing. Perhaps the creature detected your sweet demeanor and pure heart, so had no inclination to kill you," Bethany said with sarcasm in her tone.

Victoria shrugged. "Perhaps."

As she walked beside Bethany toward the parlor, Victoria counted the minutes until she could be with Justin. Would he remember anything about Anne? Was it really the white wolf who attacked her, or the rabid dogs? It would be interesting to discover.