Changing Hearts Read Online Free PDF Page B

wolf, then just as quickly back to his human form. He started moving faster, deeper into the bayou, walking carefully on bare feet.
    While nudity didn’t bother him, he knew he’d have to find some clothes before he saw Joie again. Slade stopped dead in his tracks. Where the hell did that come from? See Joie again? No way, brother, you just set your face toward LaPlace and get the hell away from here.
    Slade started a slow jog that would bring him to the nearest town in just about an hour. It annoyed him that he still had a little trouble breathing. The fast-healing power of a shapeshifter should have taken effect with his rapid change. He had to stop jogging and walk for a few miles so he could catch his breath.
    More than anything that told him he still suffered the effects of silver poisoning. Who knew how long it would be before he could call himself a hundred percent. It occurred to him that he might as well stick around here. Maybe I could see Joie as a man instead of as a wolf and see if there is something to this attraction. Maybe we could spend the afternoon screwing one another’s brains out.
    Slade stopped again. For some reason, he remembered seeing others in the Pack as they’d made love. There hadn’t been any urgency between them, they’d moved slowly, touching one another over and over, stroking their hands over one another and following with their mouths.
    He’d never had that type of relationship. Most of his encounters had been brief, sometimes even one-time encounters. Hell, he’d never even slept with any woman after having sex. Maggie had been his longest relationship and look how that turned out! The bitch’d tried to kill him.

Chapter Three
    Slade chuckled. Maggie had paid for her treachery. Then he thought about Joie again. He could see himself taking time with Joie, exploring her skin and touching her slowly. He could almost taste her now. She’d be sweet and hot, like warm honey.
    Slade grinned as he started jogging again. He carried the image of making love to Joie in his head as he approached LaPlace. Slade changed back into a wolf, then moved forward quietly. He scoped out the outlying buildings, made note of the traffic then faded back into the woods.
    He couldn’t access his accounts in New Orleans without tipping someone off as to his whereabouts. But his youth spent as a leg-breaker for a numbers runner on the east side of Chicago hadn’t been entirely wasted. His boss had taught him well.
    “Always be prepared to run, kid. Don’t ever let the bastards know everything about you or your finances.” Tonio might not have made it past his fortieth birthday, but he’d lived the high life and taught Slade how to hide assets where people least expected them.
    Slade always had an out. There was always the chance things would go sour and when they did you had to be prepared, roll with the punches. Take care of number one.
    The first order of business, however, was to get some clothes. He might have some difficulty not having any ID, but he’d have even more if he walked into the local bank stark naked.
    Slade sniffed the air. The heavy, hanging odor of bleach and detergent signaled a commercial laundromat close by. He edged against the buildings, hoping that if anyone took notice of him, they would only see a big dog. He’d found that most people only saw what they wanted to see. And not many people really desired to see a wolf running loose in their hometown.
    Reaching the brick that surrounded the laundromat, he peered through the windows. One woman tossed clothes into a dryer. He waited until she sat back down to be thoroughly engrossed by her book. Then he changed back into human form and slipped through the back door of the laundromat.
    Moving silently, he went to the dryers farthest away from the lone woman and peered inside. Luck seemed to be on his side. Two pairs of jeans tumbled one after the other along with some towels and other clothing.
    Slade quietly opened the door