Changeling Moon Read Online Free PDF Page A

the past night crowded into her awareness as she fought clear of the pile of quilts and struggled to sit up.
    â€œA wolf! Holy crap, a wolf , a goddamn wolf right in the middle of town!” Her system was hollering for coffee, aspirin, and food, but she had other priorities. The first was to phone the RCMP, the local Fish and Wildlife office, Dunvegan’s mayor and whoever was in charge of animal control in this area. The creature was still out there somewhere and Zoey wasn’t going to let anyone else be attacked if she could help it. People needed to be warned, and once she’d talked to the authorities, she’d write up one helluva front-page story.
    â€œThe paper comes out on Monday, but is that soon enough? Maybe I should put up posters or . . . ow!” She paused in the middle of getting to her feet, eased herself to the couch instead, and inspected her right leg. It was wrapped neatly from ankle to knee in white gauze, but there was a sharp-edged ache in many places beneath the smooth, even bandage. The veterinarian had probably done a good job but she should have her leg checked out by one of the clinic doctors or—
    The vet. Omigod. Her face heated as she remembered all too clearly being carried up the stairs to her apartment like Scarlett fricking O’Hara. Although Scarlett hadn’t complained so much about it. Please, please, please don’t let any of the neighbors have seen us. But the stranger had done more than carry her and treat the bite. He had saved her life. Embarrassing or not, she knew she’d needed the rescue. She could have been killed. She could have died last night if it wasn’t for that man showing up when he did.
    She sat down on the couch and hugged herself until the shaking subsided. Suddenly making all those phone calls could wait. She was alive, and she just wanted to savor that for a while.
    Â 
    Connor was almost sorry for the exquisite night vision he possessed. Had he been human, the darkened house would have softened the effect of what he was seeing. The old man’s face was bruised and swollen, flayed open diagonally in several places. One eye was puffed shut, a jagged cut across the purple lid still leaking blood, staining the white beard stubble on his cheek.
    The damage was daunting from a medical point of view. The healer in him winced inwardly at the sight, yet his usual sympathy was far outweighed by his growing respect for Zoey—and his determination to keep her safe. You did a good job of defending yourself, little falcon. The vicious old bastard deserved everything he got and more.
    â€œI see you went out on the town last night, Bernie,” Connor said calmly as he opened his kit. His working hands were steady and sure, like his voice, never betraying the waves of rage that flooded his gut. “I thought we had agreed that you were going to stay here, lock yourself in the cellar or at least come to me when the urge became too strong.” The man hissed as antiseptic bubbled over the fearful cuts. “You’ve been losing control for a while now, Bernie. You’ve always been a selfish bastard, a nasty drunk, even a thief. The Pack has looked the other way, let you live however you chose. But now you’re a killer.”
    â€œPiss off. I don’t need a lecture from a goddamn dog doctor.” The man tried to shove Connor away and get up, but Connor only moved in closer. One large hand pressed down hard on Bernie’s plaid-shirted shoulder.
    â€œThis is no lecture, Bernie. This can’t go on. You killed a dozen animals in Ralph Wharton’s herd last month. You didn’t need to eat; you just killed for the pure pleasure of it. Last night you tried to kill a human being, a woman.”
    Bernie went still. “I don’t remember that,” he rasped slowly, a look like fear creeping into his good eye. “I wouldn’t do that. I’ve never done that! That’s not true, you