SHADOWS OF A WOLF MOON Book 5: RISE OF THE ARKANSAS WEREWOLVES

by Jodi Vaughn

  He mumbled a quick goodbye and hurried out of the house.

  Catty was more than pissed. She was hurt.

  Standing on the sidewalk, he scanned the area. No sign of her. He closed his eyes and inhaled.

  Her scent.

  He hurried after her.

  His footsteps pounded against the concrete sidewalk. Sweat broke out under his leather jacket and seeped into his T-shirt.

  He turned and headed down an alley. When he reached the end, he stepped out onto the next street. He caught sight of Catty in jeans, boots, and a thin T-shirt heading toward her apartment.

  He took off at a run.

  “Stop, Catty.” He grabbed her elbow, but she snatched out of her grip.

  “Leave me alone, Lucien.” She kept walking, her hands jammed in the pockets of her jeans.

  “Caty, Shelly was just being a bitch.”

  She stopped in her tracks and turned on her heel. “That may be, but the fact is she’s right. You deserve to be with someone who’s your equal. Not a stripper.” Pain flashed through her eyes as she continued walking.

  “What the hell are you talking about?” He hurried beside her, matching her pace.

  She stopped again and met his gaze. “Look, this thing between us needs to stop.”

  “Why?” His heart froze in his chest. He figured once it started beating again it would fracture into a thousand pieces.

  “I can’t keep living in this daydream. That we will somehow be together when next week comes.” She gave him a sad smile. “I live in the real world. And in my world, the best I can hope for is to leave this place and start over where no one knows me or my past.” Her smile faltered and she glanced away.

  He grabbed her by the arms and forced her to look at him. “Listen to me. I can’t promise you next week, hell, I can’t promise you tomorrow. In the line of work I’m in, I have no guarantees.”

  “It sounds dangerous. What line of work are you in exactly, Lucien?” Her gaze narrowed on him and she lowered her voice.

  “Doesn't matter. What does matter is I care for you, Catty. And I’m not ready to walk away from this, from us.” His heart beat rapidly in his chest. He felt open and vulnerable, yet he couldn’t stop the words from spilling out from his mouth. “And I don’t think you’re ready to walk away either.”

  “Look at me. Tell me the truth. Do you regret what we did, do you regret what has happened between us?” His chest squeezed as he waited for her answer.

  She smiled. Her fingertips trailed down his jaw.

  “No. I think what happened between us will keep me going for years to come. You’ve given me more in a few days than I can ever get in a lifetime. For that I’m grateful.”

  His heart shattered in his chest for her. He wanted to grab her and take her back to his place and make love to her until she was consumed with him. Like he was for her.

  “You don’t give yourself enough credit.” His heart tugged in his chest, and he kept his gaze on hers. “You don’t see what a wonderful person you really are. It goes beyond your beauty, which is pretty damn hot.”

  She let out a reluctant laugh.

  “I’m serious. You are more woman than I ever thought I would find.” God, he wanted to tell her more, tell her how much he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. But he couldn’t.

  If this mission went south and he didn’t live, he didn’t want her to feel like he’d abandoned her in his death.

  Suddenly the idea of being done with this mission and going home rushed into his chest. He’d lived his job for years, but now with Catty he longed for something different. He longed for someone to come home to at night.

  “What are you saying?” She looked up at him, hope shining in her eyes like stars.

  “I’m saying right now, today is all we are guaranteed. I want to live each day like it’s my last.”

  “You say that like it’s a possibility.” Her brows furrowed.

  He shrugged. “I want to be here, present in this moment with you. And once I’m finished with New Orleans, I …”

  “You what?”

  He swallowed. “I want you to come home with me. Back to Arkansas.”

  There. The words were out. There was no going back now.

  “You do?” Her voice waivered, like she didn’t dare to believe what he was saying to her.

  “Yes, I do.” He meant it.

  The busyness of the morning moved around them. The hum of cars passing slowly on the street, coupled with the scent of breakfast in the nearby diner, seemed dull in the space between them.

  “I need to hurry up and be done with this business for the Guardians. It’s important I get this done first. You understand, don’t you, Catty?” Suddenly, finding his brother didn’t seem so important. Not anymore.

  “Of course I do.” She stepped closer and rested her palms against his chest.

  He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her senseless, but he knew too many people could be watching them. He wouldn’t jeopardize her safety for his selfishness.

  “Good.” He didn’t know what the future held for him, but he sure hoped she was part of it.

  “I was worried when I woke up and you were gone. I wanted to tell you goodbye before I left for Yazoo City.” He reached for her hand and intertwined his fingers with hers.

  “The reason I left before you woke up was to check on Mrs. Willis. Besides, you’re not going to Yazoo City without me.” She cocked her head.

  “I don’t think you need to be going. I don’t trust that witch.”

  “Why do you think I’m going? After seeing how Shelly was all over you? Forget it, Lucien. I’m going.”

  ***

  Lucien tried to persuade her not to go, but Catty wasn’t having it. She definitely wasn’t going to let him be alone with the witch. It wasn’t that she didn’t trust Lucien. She did. Somehow she felt this draw, this compulsion, to trust him.

  It was the witch she didn’t trust.

  As soon as they made it back to his motorcycle, they took off.

  She laid her head on his back as he tore down the highway on his Harley. She tightened her arms around his lean waist. She loved how he felt against her, like he was the missing piece of her body.

  When he reached down and held his hand over hers in an affectionate touch, it nearly melted her heart. He could be so intense in bed and so gentle out of it.

  She closed her eyes, letting herself envision a life with Lucien. A home, lazy nights making love, and, maybe a few years down the line, a child or two.

  Tightening her arms around his waist, she settled into the trip, holding on to her fantasies and her love for him, which was growing with each mile.

  Chapter Twenty-Five

  The sun dipped low over the horizon by the time they hit the city limits of Yazoo City. He lowered his speed and pulled into a crowded gas station.

  She climbed off the bike and he followed.

  “I’m getting gas so once we meet with this chick we can haul ass out of here.” He glanced around as people passed him by. “I don’t like staying longer than I have to.”

  “Me either.” She dug in her jeans pocket and pulled out a couple of bills. “I’m going to grab a water. Do you want something?”

  He stared at her for a beat, and a seductive smile spread across his handsome face. “Yeah. There is something I want.” He pulled her into his arms. She smiled before he dipped his head and kissed her lips. When he pulled back, his eyes were dark with lust. “I want you.”

  “After we get what we need from this witch, you can have me,” she whispered near his ear. “I promise.”

  He groaned and let her go.

  She couldn’t stop smiling as she walked into the convince store.

  When she came out, he was waiting by the door.

  Her stomach warmed at the sight of him on the Harley. Dark hair and leather jacket made him look like something off a biker magazine.

  She opened the bottle of water and took a drink, then
handed it to him.

  She watched as the condensed water dripped from his hand onto his shirt. A couple of girls passed by, and both gawked at him. She turned her glare on them and growled.

  Lucien laughed and pulled her into his chest. “Easy, baby.” He nuzzled her ear. “I don’t need you shifting in front of everyone.”

  She kept her gaze on the two girls as they hurried inside the store. “I don’t need to shift in order to rip their throats out. I can do that now.”

  “I have no doubt.” He pulled her down for a heated kiss. Between the heat of the day and the heat of the kiss, she was going to burst into flames.

  She climbed on behind him and held on tight as he maneuvered out of the gas station and back on the street.

  They drove down the residential area of town toward the cemetery. Kids were playing in their front yards while parents talked to neighbors. The scent of freshly mowed grass made Catty long for her home and the days of her childhood when she’d felt safe and loved and cherished.

  She swallowed the knot in her throat as she thought of her mom and dad and most of all Zane. He was one person she’d always wanted to make proud.

  Now she never would.

  Purple streaks stretched across the sky as the day faded. Soon it would be dark. The heat wound about her like a heavy wool blanket, threatening to drown her in the humidity.

  Lucien took a right.

  When he turned down Main Street, she knew they were not even close to their destination.

  He slowed his speed along the street flanked by rows and rows of tall buildings that had been there for a while. The buildings were each painted a different pastel color, and it reminded her of a picture she’d once seen of Rainbow Row, the famous street in Charleston, South Carolina.

  He pulled into an empty parking space and killed the engine.

  She slid off the bike and waited for him.

  “What are we doing here?” She looked around at the quaint shops and stores.

  “Getting something to eat.” He nodded at a restaurant named Tom’s and lowered his voice. “The witch can’t perform the spell until midnight. A full moon at midnight is the best time for the spell, or so I’ve been told. We have hours. Figured we could grab a bite first, since nothing will be open after midnight.”

  “Good idea.”

  He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her inside the restaurant.

  It was already full of people in line from the dinner crowd and there were only a few tables available.

  “How many, sir?” The young red-haired hostess reached for some menus.

  “Two.”

  “Right this way. You guys got the last table.” The hostess laid the menus on the table as they sat in the chairs.

  “Is it always this busy?” Catty looked around the room at all the people.

  “It is. We just opened and so we get a lot of business right now.” The hostess smiled. “Your waitress will be right with you.”

  “Are you hungry?” Lucien picked up his menu.

  “Starving.” She hadn’t eaten lunch and had missed breakfast. But she didn’t dare say anything. She didn’t want him to regret letting her go with him.

  “Think I’ll get the burger.” He laid his menu down and let his gaze shift through the crowd.

  The aroma of grilled chicken, burgers, and French fries had her tummy rumbling. She pressed her hand to her stomach.

  “Sounds good. Order me the same.” She pushed back her chair to stand. Lucien rose with her. “I’ll be right back.” She headed for the bathroom.

  She stood at the sink washing her hands and glanced up in the mirror.

  Lucien was so different from any other male she’d encountered. He was kind and gentle and he had manners. He also had a deadly edge about him. From the way he dressed to the way he could shoot holes through someone with just one glare.

  She dried her hands and sucked in a deep breath. She needed to be focused on what they had to do tonight. She needed to focus on helping Lucien get the information he needed so he could complete his mission.

  The sooner he was finished with his business, the sooner they could be together.

  She walked out of the restroom and made a beeline for their table. Their drinks had arrived and Lucien was giving the waitress their order.

  His gaze met hers, and he stood as she approached. Her heart nearly stopped in her throat as he pulled out her chair for her. Such a gentleman.

  She looked around the room and was met with jealous looks from more than a few females. She didn’t blame them. She’d be jealous too.

  “Thank you.” It had been a while since she’d been around someone like him. Her father and Zane had set the bar high when it came to the male species. She’d given up hope of finding a guy with those qualities. Until Lucien.

  “So what’s the plan?” She took a sip of her beer. She pressed the cold bottle against the inside of her wrist to help cool her down.

  “We get to the cemetery before midnight. I’ll give the witch the ingredients she needs and she’ll make the spell. Tonight she’ll tell me everything I need to know.”

  “How can you be so sure she will cooperate? Or if she is even telling you the truth?”

  “I’ll know.”

  “You that sure of yourself?” She smirked.

  “I am.” He leaned across the table and took her hand in his. “And once this is over, we can talk about us.”

  She bit the corner of her lip.

  “What’s wrong?” His brows furrowed and he leaned closer and lowered his voice. “I know there is something on your mind.”

  “Just thinking about tonight.”

  “You’re a terrible liar.”

  “I am not.” She pulled away and crossed her arms over her chest.

  He laughed. “Yes, you are.”

  “Remind me never to play poker with you.” She snorted.

  “Believe me. Honesty is sexy in a woman. Every male wants that. Complete honesty with their female.”

  Her heart leaped in her chest. Their female? Was Lucien claiming her as his? She didn’t want to press the issue right now, not with everything at stake, so she locked it away for a later date.

  “I think this is our order.” He sat back. The waitress approached and set their plates in front of them.

  “Dig in. You’re going to need your strength for tonight.” He settled his gaze on her before picking up his burger.

  “Think I’m going to get into it with the witch?” She arched her brow.

  “Nope. I think you’re going to need your strength for what I have planned after. And it involves you naked in my bed.”

  ***

  After dinner, he led her to the bar down the street to kill some time. The cigarette smoke and loud music was too much to handle so Catty talked him into driving to the library near the center of town.

  It was closed but that wasn’t why she wanted to go. She wanted to sit underneath the large oak trees and stare up at the sky. They spent their time talking and laughing and kissing.

  It had been a perfect simple moment. Just them together while the world ceased to exist.

  He wished he could stay in that time forever.

  But the urgency of his mission called to him.

  At eleven thirty they’d headed for the cemetery, ready to meet the witch.

  He slowed his speed as he approached the road that led into the cemetery. He pulled up to the locked gates and parked. He waited for her to get off first before he followed.

  The little town had gone to sleep hours before as the traffic dwindled off and the house lights went dark. The security light at the entrance of the cemetery cast a yellow glow on the ground and shrubbery and the drone of frogs echoed in the darkness.

  Lucien grabbed her hand and tugged her toward the fence, away from the lights. Hidden by the shadows, he waited for her to climb on his shoulders so he could climb the fence.

  “I got this, Lucien.” She laughed as she grabbed the f
ence.

  Before he could speak, she was scaling the wrought-iron fence. She slung her leg over the side, barely avoiding getting caught on the iron spike. She shifted her weight and jumped to the ground.

  Landing on her feet, she gave him a wide smile.

  “You could have been hurt.” With his heart in his throat, he scaled the fence and landed on the other side.

  “But I wasn’t. I know what I’m doing. I’ve been climbing poles for years now.” She snorted.

  “Not funny.” He grabbed her hand. “Come on. Stay close. I’m not sure what Ella has in mind.”

  He led her deeper into the cemetery and stayed off the path and away from the security lights. Habit of being a Guardian. Always staying out of sight while doing the job.

  He threaded his fingers between hers and kept scanning the area for any movement.

  The closer they got to the witch’s grave, the quieter it became.

  “Well, well, well. You came back. Hope you’re not empty-handed.”

  He turned and nudged Catty behind him.

  Dressed in a black flowing dress, Ella looked more like a witch tonight than the last time he’d seen her.

  He pulled a white bag out of his jacket pocket. “Everything is here. Just like you asked.”

  Her eyes widened for a brief second before she recovered. She took the bag out of his hand.

  “You seem surprised.” He arched a brow.

  “I didn’t think anyone would help you. They risk a lot in doing so.” She held his gaze in an unapologetic way.

  “The shop owner wasn’t all that ecstatic.”

  “No doubt.” Ella turned. “Come with me. I need to do this over my grave.” She glanced up at the sky. “Perfect. No clouds. The light of the full moon will give energy to the spell.”

  They followed behind her. He noticed she picked up the hem of her dress and stepped over each grave instead of walking on it. She stumbled once and touched a headstone to steady herself. She hissed and snatched her hand away.

  “Why did you do that?” Catty asked.

  “Do what?” She continued to walk.

  “Did it hurt when you touched that headstone?” Lucien asked.

  “I’m not supposed to touch them. When they sealed me in here, they decided I can’t touch the stones or they shock me.”