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

snatched him up by the collar of his T-shirt. Hauling him off the ground, he held him at eye level.
    “Don’t try to tell me how to do my job, Jaxon. You forget your place.” Adrenaline cascaded through his body. His muscles twitched, aching to punch something until it bled.
    “Easy, man,” Jaxon said calmly.
    He had to hand it to Jaxon. He didn’t try to act like a pussy when he was in his cross hairs. Nor did he beg.
    Barrett blinked, released his grip, and stepped back. His gut twisted with regret. He’d never laid a hand on any of his Guardians, ever.
    “My bad, boss.” Jaxon nodded his head but didn’t back up. “I shouldn’t have overstepped my boundaries.” He ran his hand through his hair. “It’s not that I don’t trust you. I’m worried about Lucien.”
    “I know.” Barrett’s hardened gaze landed on the package. He was worried about his Guardian too. But Jaxon didn’t need to know that.
    “I’ll let you know when I need you, Jaxon.”
    Jaxon nodded and looked as if he was about to say something else and then thought better of it. Without another word, the Were slipped out the door.
    Barrett had to handle this correctly, had to keep things quiet. He wasn't going to let one more of his men get hurt because he’d managed to piss off some psycho.
    His gut told him there were no easy decisions in this matter. He was betting everything on Lucien.
    If Lucien came up with nothing, then they were all as good as dead.
    ***
    Lucien waited in the obscure shadows of a ramshackle house. He couldn’t imagine why Catty would be in this part of town unless she was up to something. Maybe she had a drug habit he hadn't picked up on.
    His brows knit together as he recalled both their meetings. He shook his head. She wasn't on drugs. She didn’t have the usual signs of being a druggie, nor did he smell it on her.
    Her scent .
    He closed his eyes and inhaled a breath. She smelled hot and sweet, like a breeze coming off the ocean in the middle of a scorching summer.
    Her scent was as unique as her sassy mouth. Who would have thought she’d be as strong-willed as Zane?
    He let out a little chuckle as he tried to image what life had been like for her growing up. And what had happened to make her end up here?
    He’d seen the fear in her eyes when she’d thought her parents had sent him to find her. And the flash of disappointment that had followed when he said her parents hadn’t sent him.
    Catty had a wall up. A boundary she kept up between her and the men she danced for. He’d seen it at the club, how she’d placed her mask of sexuality on, and he’d seen it when it slipped.
    She didn’t belong there in the bowels of hell.
    He caught a whiff of marijuana. He jerked his head in the direction of the smoke, and his gaze met a pockmarked-faced druggie.
    “You looking to party?” The guy nodded at his joint before glancing nervously over his shoulder.
    Lucien doubted the cops would even dare venture into this crack-infested neighborhood.
    “No.” He growled and looked back at the house.
    “I got some harder stuff if you want, man.” The guy shoved his hand into his baggy jeans pocket and pulled out a bag of crack. His hand shook as he held it out.
    “Take a hint and fuck off.” He bowed up and took a step toward the guy.
    The guy’s eyes widened and he got the message. He shoved his bag of drugs back in his pocket and took off at a run down the street.
    “Fucking asshole.” Lucien kept his gaze locked on the guy until he disappeared down the alley.
    “What did you expect in this neighborhood?” Catty asked.
    “I could ask you the same question. You don’t strike me as the druggie type.” He turned and faced Catty. She’d managed to sneak up on him. Not good. Not good at all.
    “I’m not.” She glared and crossed her arms over her amazing chest. “And you already knew. Don’t lie. I know you can’t smell drugs on me.”
    “Why are you hanging around this neighborhood? Don’t you know