Shifting the Night Away by Terra Wolf, Artemis Wolffe, Wednesday Raven, Rachael Slate, Lucy Auburn, Jami Brumfield, Lyn Brittan, Claire Ryann, Cynthia Fox Read Free Book Online Page A

watch the fireworks.   Nobody ever fell."
    "I think about the crazy stuff I did as a kid too," Mia said.   "It’s a shame we lose that fearless nature."
    "Shit, we haven’t lost it.   Sometimes you have to be fearless just to wake up in the morning.   It really is a jungle out there, but it’s a beautiful jungle."
    "Worth the risk, Jonesy?"
    "Absolutely."
    Their conversation was interrupted by the incessant yapping of a little dog.   It was lunging forward toward the thicket of trees, restrained only by its elderly owner who was struggling to control the leash.   "C’mon Spike.   There’s nothing in there.   Bad dog," she said as she wrestled with the little beast.  
    Mia watched as a man sitting on the nearby bench walked over to the woman and gently took the leash with one hand and held out an elbow for her to hold onto.   "Must be squirrels," he said.   "Let me walk you to the crosswalk before your dog drags you into the trees."   She laughed and eagerly took his arm.
    "That dog sure was going nuts," Mia said to Jonesy.   "Now I’m curious."   She got up and slowly made her way down the rocks.
    Peter was watching her from the trees and slowly backed up in a vain attempt to hide his white fur.   He could see Charles in the background as he walked back to the bench.   He often played the role of "keeper" in human form, allowing Peter to shift and expend his energy in relative safety.   They’d only had a few close calls that left them running from curious city dwellers who had entered the park for bird watching or a quick make out session late at night.
    Mia reached the edge of the thicket and scanned the ground for any nests that may have fallen and then moved her sight along the trees for any trace of squirrel tails.   Finding none, she turned to leave.   Peter unconsciously stepped forward to follow her scent when his front paw snapped a twig.   He tried to retreat, but she had whipped back around too quickly.   They both froze.   Peter didn’t want to move.   He wanted to see how she’d react.   Mia paused to focus her eyes, but didn’t run.   She bent down and placed both hands on her knees before puckering and making kissy noises.
    What the hell?   Is she blowing kisses at me?
    "Come here boy," she said while slapping a hand on one thigh.
    She thinks I’m just a dog.   Peter wanted to laugh, but knew it would come out as a howl.        
    "Did you find some squirrels, Miss Mia?" Jonesy asked as he walked up behind her.   "They might want the crust from my sandwich.   I never finish it."
    "No, it’s a beautiful dog.   I think he’s afraid.   Maybe he’s hurt."
    Jonesy peered in behind her and suddenly jerked his head back with wide eyes.   "That’s no dog!   That’s a wolf!"
    "Whaaat?"   She grabbed his arm and they both took a few steps back.   "Why would he be in the park?"
    "Maybe he escaped from the zoo."   Jonesy moved in front of her.   "Just stay behind me.   Don’t make any sudden moves."   The wolf turned in a circle to find a comfortable spot, revealing his dangling bits in the process.   "We know he’s a male."
    "Yes, we do!   Why isn’t he running away?"
    "He’s probably deciding which one of us to eat first?"
    She smacked his arm.   "But he’s not even growling.   He could have gone after that little dog earlier.   Throw him your scraps."
    They kept their eyes forward as Jonesy dug into the paper bag he’d crammed in his pocket and pulled out pieces of crust.   He tried to throw them, but their weight kept the pieces from going very far.   Peter yawned in response and used his paw to swat away some annoying gnats.
    "Aww look at him rub his nose," Mia gushed.   "It’s like ‘Dances with Wolves’ city version."    
    Uggh, not that fucking movie.   Peter hated the film and thought it made things harder for shifters, turning their packs into tourist targets with everyone expecting some type of animal show.   But if Mia liked it, he