sheriff,” Phil explained, “but he retired, so he could work for MacKay S & I. I had a little trouble training him. He was sorta angry with me.”
Phineas snorted. “Well, you did bite him, you know.”
“He shot me first,” Phil muttered.
Phineas grinned. “You looked at him funny.”
“So what’s the problem with Billy?” Howard munched on his bear claw. “He doesn’t like being a werewolf?”
“He was shocked at first,” Phil began.
“I’m sure he was.” Howard stuffed the last of the bear claw in his mouth. “It can be a tough adjustment for those who become shifters as adults. It’s a lot easier for us who were born into were families.”
Phineas snickered. “So you had a Mama Bear and Papa Bear? Was your porridge too hot or too cold?”
“It was just right.” Howard smiled as he licked the sugar off his fingertips. “So what happened with Billy?”
“After I took him out on his first hunt, he seemed okay,” Phil said. “He was excited about having extra strength, superior senses, and a much longer life span. Everything was fine till about two weeks ago when Billy’s girlfriend left him and he decided his life was ruined.”
“Hey, I remember his girlfriend. She was hot!” Phineas sat up. “Do you have her number? She might need a little comforting from the Love Doctor, if you know what I mean.”
Phil snorted. “If she rejected a werewolf, she’d probably reject a Vamp, too. Personally, I don’t think she would have stayed with Billy even if he didn’t go furry with the full moon. She was used to being a celebrity fashion model in New York and Paris. Life in a small town in Texas would have never suited her. I told Billy that, but he was convinced his life was over.”
“What did you do?” Howard asked.
Phil had tried reasoning with Billy, but the new werewolf had sunk into a depression that logic couldn’t reach. “I took him to New Mexico. I have an old friend on a Navajo reservation. Very old. And wise. He’d helped me before, so I figured he could help Billy. And he did.”
“What did he help you with?” Phineas asked.
“He helped me undertake a…spiritual journey about six months ago. Hard to explain.”
Phineas’s brown eyes widened. “You got high, didn’t you? What were you smokin’, man?”
Phil crossed his arms. “I’d rather not discuss it.”
Phineas snorted. “Ate some of those mushrooms, huh? Did you dream you were a giant iguana?”
Howard grinned, then cast a curious look at Phil. “I think that’s when he became an Alpha.”
“Cool,” Phineas whispered. “Are you still keeping that Alpha stuff a secret?”
“Yes.” Phil took a deep breath. “So, where did Connor go?”
“Oh, that was smooth, bro. We would have never noticed you changing the subject.” Phineas motioned toward the monitors. “Connor’s making the rounds.”
Phil scanned the monitors and noted a blur of movement through the trees west of the parking lot. Connor was moving at vampire speed. “He’s fast.”
“Like the Flash, man.” Phineas cocked his head. “I think he’s slowing down. He must have seen something.”
“There.” Howard pointed at another monitor. “Someone’s just teleported onto the grounds.”
All three guards tensed, ready to spring into action.
Phil relaxed. “It’s Jack.”
Phineas lounged back in his chair. “I guess he’s just getting back from Venice.”
Howard helped himself to another doughnut. “You two going to his engagement party on Friday?”
“I am.” Phil watched the monitors. Connor had met up with Jack in the woods.
“Me, too,” Phineas added. “Man, have you noticed how many of the guys are getting lucky? Roman, Angus, Jean-Luc, Ian, and now Jack—they’re all hooking up with hot-looking babes.”
Phil edged behind the desk to fill a cup of coffee from the pot Howard kept on a credenza. “I’m happy for them.”
“So am I, but where the hell is my hot babe?” Phineas stood and planted