Free SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON Book 5: RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES by Jodi Vaughn Page A

cabinets. She went to the first one and straightened the dishes as quietly as possible.
    “Are you finding everything okay, Catty?”
    “Yes, ma’am. Getting your pretty china,” she lied.
    After straightening the set of plates, she closed the cabinet and moved to the next one. Immediately she spied the blue and white china pattern. The intricate pattern was no knockoff, and she knew the set must have been in Mrs. Willis’s family for years. It had to be valuable. Catty was always worried someone would break in and steal it and hurt Mrs. Willis in the process.
    The kettle whistled as she finished setting the cabinets to rights. She set two cups and saucers on the counter and found the tea canister and pulled out two tea bags.
    She poured the hot water over the bags and watched as the water turned light brown. She opened the cabinet to pull out the silver tray.
    It wasn’t there. Maybe it had gotten moved when Shelly cleaned.
    She found a wooden tray instead and set the cups down. She grabbed some lemon cookies she found in the pantry and placed them on the tray as well.
    “Here we go.” Catty smiled as she set the tray down on the coffee table.
    She passed a cup and saucer to Mrs. Willis before taking her seat on the couch and placing her saucer and tea cup on her lap.
    “Ah, cookies too. You’re such a dear, Catty. Your mother must be so proud to have such a lady like you.”
    She flinched. Her mother would be anything but proud.
    “So tell me what really brings you here today.” Mrs. Willis took a sip of her tea as a smile settled around her wrinkled lips. “I may not see so well, but I know when a girl is having some man problems. You, my dear girl, are having some man problems. Wanna tell me his name?”
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

 
    Chapter Ten
     
    “Son of a bitch.” Barrett threw the package across the room and curled his fingers into tightly coiled fists. His heart pounded as rage swelled in his gut.
    He knew without opening it what the box held. The coppery scent of blood permeated the room and sent anger raging through his veins.
    His gaze searched the room before landing on the stained piece of paper sitting on his desk. It had been taped to the outside of the package that had been delivered via the FedEx man, who’d left in a hurry after Barrett gave him a fuck off look. The delivery man had been human and he had no idea of the horrific contents the box held.
    He glanced down at the barely legible scrawl.
    “Your wolves will pay for your arrogance, Barrett. Make no mistake about that. I will skin each Guardian until there are none left.”
    The inside of the box held a hand. He could only guess it was Heimy’s.
    His mind raced as he tried to think who would be behind such a horrendous act. He knew as Pack Master he certainly pissed off a lot of Weres, but there was nothing that demanded this type of retribution.
    A heavy knock landed on the door. Before he could tell whoever it was to go to hell, the door swung open and Jaxon stepped through.
    Jaxon must have caught the look on Barrett’s face because he stopped short. His brows knit together and his nostrils flared as he caught the faint scent of blood.
    “Did someone die in here?”
    “Not yet,” Barrett snarled.
    Jaxon held up his hands and his eyes narrowed. “Does this have anything to do with Lucien?”
    “Maybe.”
    “If he needs help, then send me.” Jaxon lifted his chin as if preparing for Barrett’s wrath.
    “He doesn’t need help. He’s fine on his own.” Barrett turned back to the Pack Master seal that covered the wall. Serve and protect. That was what the Guardians did. They laid down their life for their civilian Weres. So who was going to lay down their life for the Guardians?
    The whole thing made him mad as hell.
    “I know you sent him on a mission and he wouldn’t say shit to me about where he was going. But if he’s in trouble, then tell me so I can help him.”
    Barrett rounded on the younger Were and