SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON Book 5: RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES Read Online Free PDF Page A

this to embarrass him, to shame him because of his deformity.
    Barrett had told the tattoo artist, Matt, he was going to do Lucien’s tatt himself.
    Once they were alone in the tattoo shop, Barrett turned to him. He said he knew Lucien’s back wouldn’t take the ink. He told him his heart and dedication to being a Guardian meant more than just some fucking ink.
    He’d locked the door and turned on the TV in the corner. They’d spent hours playing video games, neither saying anything other than the occasional curse word when they managed to get killed in the game. Hours later, they headed back home to Little Rock.
    “Remember this, Lucien.” Barrett’s voice broke his train of thought. “You watch your ass like never before. If someone in New Orleans even thinks for one second you’re a Guardian, you make damn fucking sure you change their mind. Do whatever it takes. You’re going to be alone on this trip, and I need you to make sure you get your ass back here in one piece. We clear?”
    “Crystal.” He wouldn’t get caught. He had a lot of work to do, including finding his brother.
    Barrett narrowed his eyes and then looked away. “There’s more.”
    “What?”
    “I didn’t tell you everything yesterday.” Barrett put his elbows on the desk and leaned in. “There was a list in that package. With the names of all the Arkansas Guardians. They’d crossed off Heimy’s name. And they put a star by Mitchell’s name.”
    “So they are hunting us.”
    “So it would seem.” Barrett’s eyes hardened. “Your name was missing from the list.”
    A mixture of emotions— part relief, part offense— rumbled around his chest.
    “That’s why you’re sending me. I’m invisible.” Hatred for his brother grew.
    Silence stretched between them.
    “This isn’t an easy assignment, Lucien,” Barret said.
    “That’s why you gave it to me. To make sure it’s handled correctly.” He stood and stuck out his hand. Barrett gave him a tight shake. “I won’t let you down.”
    “I never thought you would.”
     
    ***
    Jaxon watched from the shadows as Lucien entered Barrett’s office. Usually when there was a meeting, they were all included.
    Not today.
    Lucien had joined the Guardians not soon after he had. He felt like Lucien had held himself back, kept himself from really being part of the Pack. He suspected it had to do with whatever fucked-up past the werewolf continued to drag along with him.
    Jaxon knew what it was like to watch someone haunted by their past until it swallowed them up like a giant crater.
    Shit was cancerous. Ate away at your soul until you were a walking zombie.
    He didn’t want that for Lucien.
    He glanced at his watch, then bent his neck from side to side to side, stretching out the stiffness in his muscles.
    He contemplated, for a brief second, knocking on Barrett’s door. But he knew better than to bother his Pack Master when he had a meeting behind closed doors. Barrett would rip Jaxon a new one and make him enjoy the trip to the ER.
    If Lucien needed to talk, then he knew where to find him.
     
    ***
     
    “Home sweet home,” Lucien mumbled as he pulled into the busy city of New Orleans a little after four.
    The heat from the engine of his Harley rose up and mingled with the heat from the asphalt. Sweat beaded and rolled down his head to his T-shirt, where it was quickly soaked up in the cotton material. The streets were lined with motorcycles, and he knew the dangerous pull of New Orleans had made them gravitate to the city.
    The light switched to green and he revved his engine, heading in the direction of Bourbon Street. The plan was to scour the city before heading over to his hotel. Barrett had made arrangements for a low-rent room because he’d look out of place in a high-end hotel.
    He needed to keep a low profile and gather information, then find his brother and take his revenge.
    The smells of Cajun food and Hurricanes saturated the thick air as he passed by rows and rows