Shadows Of A Wolf Moon(59)
Right now, Lucien was their only hope.
***
“I think they are all so lovely. It’s hard to pick a favorite.” Haley looked up from the table filled with bridal bouquets ranging from pastel to vibrant colors. She should be excited about shopping, but today she couldn’t get in the mood. A twinge of guilt stung her gut as she dug in her purse and checked the time. “I’m worried about staying another day. I did promise Jayden I’d be on my way home today.” She looked at the older woman who was more a mother to her than her own biological one.
After she’d been kidnapped by rogue wolves, Haley’s parents thought she’d been raped and therefore ruined in their eyes. They’d transferred her from LSU to the University of Arkansas. It was there she’d met Jayden when he was protecting her from a stalker.
“I know, dear, but you know what they say. Absence makes the heart grow fonder.” Granny picked up a white bouquet with lilies and baby’s breath and sniffed. She wrinkled her nose and set the bouquet down. “Besides, you want to have as much stuff done while we’re here as possible so once you get back home you can concentrate on Jayden.”
It sounded good to her.
“So, when you talked to Jayden, did you mention we saw Lucien?” There was a different tone in Granny’s voice. One that seemed cheerful enough but held an edge of barely concealed curiosity.
“I did.” She looked at Granny under her eyelashes. “He sounded surprised. He thought he was riding the Pig Trail. I guess he decided to make his trip longer and come visit New Orleans.”
“Oh.” Granny’s tone almost sounded normal. Granny never sounded normal.
She picked up a pink bouquet and frowned. Her gut told her the old woman had another reason for staying another day in New Orleans. Something she wasn’t telling her.
Something that had nothing to do with the wedding.
***
Jaxon headed for his room in the barracks. He knew better than to expect Barrett to reveal anything to him. Barrett would take a secret to the grave.
He ducked in his room and locked the door. He opened the closet and pulled out a saddlebag and slung it on the bed. He tossed in some T-shirts, a pair of jeans, and some underwear before opening the drawer of his nightstand.
He reached for his .9 mm, loaded a full mag, and slid the action back, throwing a silver bullet into the chamber. While a normal bullet wouldn’t hurt another werewolf, a silver bullet would send a werewolf into a world of hurt before he finally died.
He tucked the gun in the back of his jeans and pulled his T-shirt over to conceal the weapon. He tossed in two more full magazines into the saddlebag for good measure.
His moto was Always come prepared.
Barrett was wound tighter than Dick’s hatband. His Pack Master never got himself worked up over anything. He ran a tight group, enforced the law, and was more than fair.
Now, Barrett was on the edge. Completely unlike the ruler he’d come to respect.
Barrett was hiding something. And it involved Lucien.
***
Lucien walked up the uneven path to the old yellow house of Mrs. Willis and glanced around the neighborhood. The house next door had graffiti painted along the side, and its shutters were hanging on by sheer desperation. A beat-up car was up on blocks in the front yard like a lawn decoration, and a couch was perched on the front porch. He cringed as he imagined the numerous bugs and rats that had made their nests in the furniture.
He looked back at the front door of Mrs. Willis’s house. Despite its age, the home had a cozy feel to it. It stood out among the rest of the run-down houses on the street. Mrs. Willis’s house seemed to emit hope among the otherwise desperate neighborhood.
He’d discovered a note on the side table from Catty when he woke up. He didn’t want to leave for Mississippi before talking to her. Not after last night.
An image of their bodies moving together as they made love throughout the night flashed in his mind. His body tightened as he remembered how she had called out his name, lost in her pleasure, locked in his arms.
He’d hoped to have her again that morning, but she’d been gone when he woke up.
He frowned and stepped up to the door and knocked.
A staccato of taps on the floor followed the door opening. Mrs. Willis stood there, eyes unfocused and wearing a green muumuu.
“Catty, is that you?” Mrs. Willis called out.
“No, ma’am, I’m Lucien. I’m a friend of Catty’s.” He glanced over the old woman’s shoulder into the house. “She said she was coming over here this morning. I wanted to talk to her before I went out of town. But I see she’s not made it here.”
“Oh! It’s so nice to meet one of Catty’s friends.” She reached out and patted his arm. “I worry she doesn’t have anyone to look after her. She doesn’t have family here, you see.”