Moonlit Feathers Read Online Free PDF

privacy, but how could I explain moving away so as not to hear both ends of the phone call? Sooner or later, I would slip if I paid too close attention, but that didn’t seem to worry my coyote.
    She returned her gaze to me and pursed her lips as if in thought. "Sorry, Kevin, now isn't a good time. I'll call you back later." When she hung up, she messed with the phone a little more as if sending a text, then set it aside again. There was an elegance to her movements that drew me in. I was impressed that she'd set aside time to talk with me, someone she didn't know, after I showed up unannounced. Sure, she was beautiful, but there was more to it than that.
    She seemed to be around my age, but I'd never seen her around Woodland Creek. With a little over three thousand residents, that wasn't easy. The college was a decent size, but not big enough that I wouldn't have seen her before, so I could only wonder if she locked herself away from everyone else on purpose. I preferred to have some distance from the everyday worries of humans myself. It was hard enough trying to survive the college lifestyle with a rambunctious coyote. Bars and other normal hangouts weren't my thing.
    I couldn't help but drink in the brisk, somewhat aggressive, black-haired woman in front of me. This chick was different. I could tell she was a shifter, since she didn't smell like any human I'd ever been around. The way she carried herself and her focused attention spoke of strong self-control brought to mind something predatory. Regardless of the type of shifter she was, she exuded strength in a no-nonsense way that was admirable, even though I sensed an enormous amount of pain floating off her. She came across a bit like a wounded animal, and I hated seeing anyone like that.
    "We should grab some coffee tomorrow." The words spilled from my lips before I could hold them back. At her frown, I continued in a rush, "So I can tell you more about the talisman and the proof, of course. Besides, it's getting late, and you have to call Kevin back." I hated how desperate I sounded, when I’d never struggled to ask anyone out before. The slightest bit of jealousy crept into my voice, and I gave her a crooked smile to defuse it. I felt like an idiot, but my coyote seemed to approve.
    She frowned at me, watching me closely for a moment as if I might pounce, but then nodded in acceptance. "Okay, that sounds fine." Picking her phone back up, she tapped it a few times, then glanced at me once more. "How about four o'clock?"
    Penciled in. Ouch. My teeth ground at her needing to schedule time with me, but I forced myself to relax my jaw. The last thing I wanted was for her to see how much it annoyed me. It wasn't exactly a new experience. My siblings never wanted to spend any time with their white brother. They allocated me as little time as possible, and instead played with others who shared their heritage more strongly.
    She was probably just busy with other clients and didn't want to overlap appointments. "Yeah, that's good. My classes end around three, so I'll be free." Something about her made me want to try for more than a strictly business relationship. Maybe I was a sucker for rejection. Who knew? Maybe it was my coyote hoping for the best, a place to finally belong. Someone to spend time with who mattered to me.
    With even my own blood not wanting to be near me, I'd had more than my share of trouble growing up. Part of me always longed to head out into the woods and lose myself. If I followed my coyote, maybe he would be my light in the dark. But I never gave in, fearing the isolation from humans might twist me into a feral inhuman monster, like the witikos of Cree folklore.
    "Good. If you have any pictures of the item or the proof, please bring them with you tomorrow. I..." Pausing, she fidgeted with the phone for a moment, scratching at its edge as if nervous. "This doesn't mean we have a deal, you understand. I just want to get all the facts before I decide