Claim Me — Crystal Jordan

When Antonio Cruz, the powerful new leader of San Francisco's Panther shifters, meets outcast Solana Perez in a dark alley, their passion lights up the night.  He senses that she is his mate, but her position as a non-shifter—a Panther who cannot change forms—means he can never claim her. Rejected by the Pride long ago, Solana knows she's untouchable for a Pride leader, knows that she has no place among her kind. She tries to resist her craving for him, but their chemistry is undeniable, challenging Pride laws and Antonio's leadership. As rival Panthers sense weakness, Antonio faces an impossible choice: reject Solana to maintain order, or risk everything for a love that defies shifter tradition. In a world where passion clashes with duty and shifter politics turn deadly, Antonio and Solana's forbidden romance could be their salvation—or their downfall. Note: this story was originally published as part of the On the Prowl anthology.