Shifter Wars Read Online Free

you’re having a mid-life crisis!”
    “I’m not having a mid-life crisis. Buncha human psychobabble, anyway.”
    I peeled the label off my beer before continuing. “I should have seen it coming, what with your comb-over. It’s a dead giveaway.”
    His hand moved up to the top of his head. “What’s wrong with my hair?”
    “Face facts. A strong breeze and your top hair flaps like a sail. It’s time to cut it off.”
    His mouth dropped open, and I braced myself for a heated response. Instead, he laughed—a high-pitched sound like a hyena, but it was the first time I had ever heard him laugh, and it was nice.
    “Fine, I’ll get a haircut tomorrow.”
    “And you’ll stop running away?” I added.
    He snorted. “That’s pretty hypocritical, coming from you.”
    My stomach tightened. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
    “If Nicholas didn’t fire you, then what the hell are you doing living in Mesquite, Nevada?”
    “I needed some time to figure things out,” I growled.
    “And have you?” he pushed.
    “Wow, I think I should order whatever you’re drinking. Alcohol makes you philosophical.”
    “Now you’re avoiding the question.”
    “Fine. I don’t have any answers. Are you satisfied?”
    “Go home, Kyle. If I can face Coleen, you can face your demons as well.” He chuckled at his own joke and stood up, wavering a bit.
    I stood, too. “I’ll think about it.” Since when did I take advice from Doyle? He smiled sloppily at me. I liked this mellow version of him. “You’re not driving anywhere tonight, I hope.”
    “Nope, I have a room here. I’ll leave for home tomorrow.”
    “Just remember, Coleen must love you or she would have incinerated your ass a century ago.”
    I watched his retreating form while I paid my bill. Maybe now I could crawl into bed and get some sleep. I unlocked my car door and settled into the leather seat. Turning on the ignition, I sat for a second, waiting for the heat to kick on.
    Nights in the desert could be cold. Nothing like Cleveland cold, but I still relied on my heater to take the chill off. Tonight I had goose bumps running up and down my arms. I rubbed my sleeves, hoping to warm up, but tensed a second later. The shiver that ran along my spine had nothing to do with the cold. Someone was watching me.
    I canvassed the parking lot but didn’t see anything out of the ordinary. Actually, I didn’t see anyone or anything at all. Was the Haltrap back for a little revenge?
    After a second, the sensation passed. Lately I hadn’t been able to shake the feeling someone was watching me. Maybe I was getting paranoid. Although after the evening I’d had, a little paranoia might be in order.

Chapter 3

    The next morning, I tucked Stanley into his holster and put on my jacket. I still had an hour before my shift, but I wasn’t one to sit around doing nothing. It wouldn’t take long to poke around and find out more about the Haltrap. If he was following me, I wanted to be at least one step ahead of him.
    I stopped by the casino restaurant for a cup of coffee, since I hadn’t slept well after my discussion with Doyle the night before. My limbo existence didn’t sit well with me anymore, and Doyle’s comments brought the truth front and center. As I stood in line at the counter, a voice called my name, and I turned to see Running Wolf walking toward me.
    “Hello, beautiful.”
    I grinned. He was a charmer. He had to be close to eighty, and he wore his age like a badge of honor. With skin browned by decades of Nevada sun and long, white hair he wore in a braid, he was impressive. Although a member of the Southern Paiute tribe, he didn’t stay on the reservation, instead opting to live by himself in the desert. He was a frequent visitor to the casino and a friend of Dwight’s, and we had become friends over the past six months.
    “Do you have time for a cup of coffee?” he asked.
    “Sure.”
    He held out his hand, directing me to a booth where a coffee mug and a