Fever Read Free

functioned like a doorbell, Logan waited for an answer. He gazed out his window at the beautiful scenery and thought only of werewolves.
    “Eddie’s Pizza,” a bored voice droned over the airwaves. “Will your order be delivery or carryout?”
    He didn’t miss a beat. “I want a delivery of meatless pepperoni. But only if you’re willing to drag your ass into the wilderness of Maine. I’m in Pinechester.”
    “Dude,” the voice instantly changed. “Haven’t heard from you since your scheduled call-in last week. You switch towns already?”
    “It’s more like the m iddle of nowhere. Track my location and let me know you got it, all right? I’d like to get back to business on the front lines. You remember the front lines, don’t you, Eddie?”
    “ I’m sensing some hostility, bro. Maybe you should take a vacation. Hell, Rudy just got hitched. Not that getting hitched is… uh… sorry, dude.”
    Logan winc ed at the reference to his former girlfriend. “Don’t worry about it, Eddie. Glad to hear my old mentor is settling in. I hear he’s moving up the ranks, too.”
    “He’s the boss . Cracking the whip these days, though. Numbers are looking too hot across the board.”
    “We’re doing our best.”
    “Right on. All right, dude, I have your location.” The sound of furious typing filled the car. Eddie was always forgetting to release the button catch on his mic. “Locked… and loaded. Watch your back out there. I’ll be waiting for your call-in.”
    “ Eddie, come on, man. Nothing’s going to happen between now and 9pm. Can we call it good for the week?”
    “No can do. Keep talking like that and you’ll hurt my feelings. Ease a guy’s mind, huh? Call us at your usual time.”
    “ Fine,” Logan grumbled. “But only because I love the sound of your voice. Over and out.” He tossed the microphone onto the radio.
    It was quiet when he stepped out of the car, almost eerily so. He glanced around with feigned nonchalance as he strolled to the trunk. Where the hell was everyone? The area was remote, not abandoned.
    He retrieved his rifle with more haste than necessary, remembering a nasty ambush in northern Idaho preceded by such silence. Never let it be said that he made the same mistake twice.
    It wasn’t essential to hide the weapon, as they were at the tail end of bear hunting season. There was even a forged permit tucked away in his pocket, although Logan doubted any ranger would believe he was the hunting type. He wasn’t exactly decked out in camouflage.
    With an amused shake of his head, he shut the trunk and began a long trek through the woods.
    Twigs and small br anches snapped under his boots. His breath grew visible as the treetops thickened and the temperature dropped. Nevertheless, the pine-scented air was a welcome respite from his stuffy motel room.
    S igns of a werewolf became more apparent as he hiked beyond what might constitute an afternoon nature walk. He silenced his footsteps as he observed a broken twig here, a patch of fur there. Whoever this beast was, he couldn’t have been bitten more than two months ago. He was lazy as all hell.
    A low growl interrupted Logan’s train of thought.
    It was his only warning before something slammed into his side. Then he was on the ground, futility gasping for breath. The weight on his chest shifted, increasing the pressure on his ribs. Rocks ground against his spine. The rifle was wrenched from his fingers and the weight disappeared. A shot echoed through the trees.
    He turned his head.
    Damn it . There was the werewolf. Logan saw it between the denim-clad legs of a man who stood before him protectively. Claws raked through the earth as the werewolf leapt aside to take shelter behind some trees. Black fur shone under a ray of sunlight when it circled around, growling furiously.
    Golden eyes were trained on Logan where he lay sprawled in the dirt. They flickered up to the man before him, seemingly in irritation. He obviously guarded