Shadows Of A Wolf Moon(5)

“He owes me.” He spat the words out and anger boiled in his heart.

“Your bitterness where your brother is concerned will be your Achilles heel if you don’t watch it, Lucien. Your wounds will always be there. But if you keep this up, it will scar your soul and then there will be no coming back from it. Be better or be bitter. You can’t be both. Make up your fucking mind.” Barrett shot him a glare and then walked toward the front of the truck.

Anger pounded in his chest like fists in a bar fight as he watched Barrett get in the truck and drive away. Rage pulsed under the surface of his flesh, and all he wanted to do was shift. He refused. He needed to remain in control. He squeezed his eyes shut and trapped the wolf inside.

“What’s up, man?” Braxton slapped him on the back.

Lucien growled and rounded on his fellow Guardian.

“Whoa, bro.” Braxton held up his hands in defense. “My bad.” His eyebrows drew together. He searched Lucien’s face. “Everything okay?”

Braxton, the werewolf with the sleeve tattoos and blue hair, had recently been inducted into the Guardians. He knew from what Braxton had shared that his family life hadn’t been pretty. In some aspects, he could relate to the guy.

“Sorry, Braxton.” Lucien swallowed back his rage.

“Anything I can do?” Braxton eyed him carefully.

He shook his head. “No. I’m good. Just need to get back to work.” He walked back to the work site and picked up his hammer.

Busy was good.

Busy kept him distracted.

Busy kept the ghosts from his past from resurfacing.





Chapter Three



Lucien stopped in front of Barrett’s office door, knocked, and stepped back to wait. Right after they were finished working at the construction site, he’d gotten a text from Barrett saying he needed to see him. He scanned the hallway for the other Guardians but realized he was alone.

His scalp prickled, and the sensation spread down his torso and settled in his gut.

The door flew open and bounced off the wall.

“Fuck!” Ryker stormed out into the hallway. His narrowed gaze landed on Lucien and he stopped, nostrils flared and teeth bared, looking like a wild animal ready to kill.

Lucien’s stomach tightened. He didn’t get involved in any of his Pack brothers’ business, but he knew Ryker’d had some beef with Damon after he’d been inducted into the Pack. Afterwards Ryker had made himself scarce, and the Pack never saw him anymore. Until now.

“Ryker.” He glared at the Were and didn’t bother holding out his hand in greeting. He’d learned better than to let his guard down around anyone. Even his own Pack.

Keeping his eyes trained on Lucien, Ryker reached for Barrett’s door and slammed it shut. The earsplitting sound echoed in the cavernous hall.

Lucien bowed up to the Were, his adrenaline spiking like mountains in his veins. “If you have an issue with me, Ryker, I suggest you speak. Otherwise, I’m due for a meeting with Barrett.”

Ryker growled and stepped into his personal space. Lucien’s heart jackhammered in his ears as he curled his fingers into fists and prepared to set Ryker straight if he decided to start swinging.

“So he sent for you, did he?” The scorn in his voice echoed the contempt in his eyes.

Ryker’s words sent an angry chill straight to Lucien’s core.

“If you have a problem with me, then let’s settle this right now.”

Ryder glared, spit on the floor, and then stormed toward the exit.

“Don’t mind Ryker. He’s just hungry. Missed lunch. Come in,” Barrett’s bored voice called out from behind his massive office door.

Lucien looked up and around, searching for a camera before opening the door and stepping inside. He couldn’t find one, which meant Barrett either had it cleverly hidden or he had ears like a bat.

He stepped inside the Pack Master’s office. Despite the lack of furniture in the room— other than the essentials of a desk, a bookcase, a couple of chairs, and the state seal on the wall— Barrett’s presence always seemed to make the office smaller than it was.

“You needed to speak to me?” The tone was more guarded than he liked, but after what Ryker had said, he knew this was no ordinary meeting.

Barrett nodded at the empty chair, and Lucien took a seat.

“I did.” Barrett tore his gaze away from the computer screen and opened the folder lying on his desk.

“This is a delicate matter.” His hard gaze bore into Lucien’s. “What I’m about to tell you is confidential. You aren’t allowed to discuss this with any of the other Guardians.”

“Understood.” The muscles around his gut twisted ever so slightly like someone turning a screw. His eyes tracked Barrett and time slowed as he waited.