Moonlight Madness: Bear Shifters of Louisiana, #2

By Ava Catori

Shattered like glass, Ari isn’t sure she’ll ever put the pieces of her life back together. Starting over in Louisiana won’t erase the trauma of what she’s been through, but distance from Alaska offers the illusion of safety. Will she ever find serenity or will she always be running?

Zen is a free-agent, happy to shirk responsibility and play life on the wild side. When Ari stumbles back into his life, he’s thrown by his need to protect her at any cost…even if she doesn’t want his protection. Can Zen convince Ari to let him in past her armor? Or will he always be left out in the cold?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Ava Catori Books
• Release date: Oct 23, 2017
• ISBN: 9781386424796

Book preview

Chapter 1

ZEN HATED THE MOSQUITOS that made a feast of him. He wasn’t a violent man, but when it came to mosquitos he was a serial killer. He slapped his arm hard and fast, trying to stop the vicious attack. Smack! He needed to find better repellant. Other than the damn bugs, Louisiana wasn’t half bad. The past year moved faster than he’d anticipated. He’d settled into his new life easily. Along with Cam and Jagger, he worked the waterways looking for sinker logs. Good logs made them money, and top quality deadwood lined their pockets in gold. Swamp-logging was a new lifestyle for him. It could be challenging at times, but it was his new chosen profession.

While Cam and Zen loved the lifestyle, Jagger had a rougher time adapting. He gave it a year, but decided it wasn’t for him and headed back to Alaska. As an equal partner, he sold his share to a mutual friend of theirs. Alex and his twin sister Ari would join them shortly. Alex would work the swamps, while his sister would take on the books and paperwork. She wasn’t interested in pulling logs and playing in the swampy marshes.

Zen growled and slapped the back of his neck. These nasties are eating me alive.

Better them than the gators, Cam teased. I told you what to use, but you decided you knew better. Notice how I’m not slapping the hell out of myself?

Thanks wise one, but I’m not interested in adding garlic to everything I eat. What if I fall for a sexy vampire or something? She’d avoid me like the plague. They laughed at the idea that vampires were real. Ironic, being a shifter and all.

Man, you should have seen Kyler this morning. I can’t believe how fast he’s growing, Cam raved. You ever going to settle down?

Zen groaned at the notion. He looked over at his friend who sat straight-faced. Oh! Camden wasn’t joking? Too much goodness to let it go to waste. I’m trying to spread myself around. You know, let all the ladies have a taste of the grand prize.

Cam groaned. You buy that line of bullshit?

He flashed a cheesy grin. They do! This playboy has no interest in settling. Variety is the spice of life, my friend.

Cam slowed the boat. They hit the coordinates of the log they’d marked. Zen prepared to dive in. Zander Anders was a natural in the water. He was a force to reckon with. Zander picked up the nickname Zen in his early years— a nickname that stuck. In chaos and crazy, he was the face of calm, even as a child. Nobody called him Zander anymore, except maybe his grandparents.

You ready?

Zen nodded and dropped back into the water. He pinpointed the deadhead wood, wrapped it, then readied it for a pull. The water bubbled around him as he popped his head over the surface. A quick thumbs up and Cam started the winch.

YOU READY FOR THIS? Alex glanced over at his sister.

Ari sat quietly and stared out the passenger-side window. She flicked at her thumb-nail mindlessly, nodded, but didn’t look over. Her entire life changed in the blink of an eye. She figured a new place would be good for her, but it was hard to tell. She was still reeling from last year’s events.

He spoke softly, trying to reassure her. It will be good for you, Ari.

She didn’t answer. Too much on her mind. Alex meant well. She loved her brother, but there were some things he’d never understand. Not as a man. Not as a guy who knew where he stood. Who knew his worth. Who knew that he could easily destroy a man that came at him. At least her bruises and bones had healed. Her teeth had been fixed. She still didn’t know if she’d ever feel like herself again.

Her ex was locked behind bars, and she’d be thousands of miles away, starting over. Even if she was the shadow of her former self, she’d be surrounded by big burly shifter bears that would have her back. She knew they’d keep her safe. Safe was good. Broken...well, they couldn’t fix that. Her spirit had been thrashed and torn into shreds. She figured maybe one day it would heal. Hoped. Prayed.

Darvon Buckner would spend twenty years in prison, but with good behavior might have his sentence shortened. What a slap in the face. Good behavior could drop years off his sentence— and yet his bad behavior would forever remain grilled to Ari’s brain. She wouldn’t get a reduced sentence. At least she didn’t have to cower under her covers with him locked up. She wasn’t afraid of men, but she was deathly afraid of Darvon Buckner. She knew with complete certainty that when he was freed, he’d be on the hunt to find her. Her only hope was that he’d drop dead before that time arrived.

Alex pulled up to the address they were given. They’d taken over the lease of Jagger’s place. He had a two-bedroom bungalow that sat in the sticks. The home was a small colonial blue rectangle with dashes of white trim. It looked to have been brick at one point, with hopes that the paint would brighten the older, dingy exterior. There wasn’t much brush or growth next to the house, but a swath of trees stood behind it.

Alex drew a deep breath and pulled the key out of the ignition. This is it.

Ari turned toward her brother. I’ll be okay.

I know you will, he answered. I just miss the chatty girl you used to be.

I’ll get there again, one day. She hesitated before getting out of the truck.

I wish I’d killed him when I had the chance, Alex growled, then shook his head. He beat his fist against the steering wheel. I hate to see you this way.

She reached out and placed her hand on his arm. Don’t say that. Then you’d be the one in jail.

Chapter 2

ALEX LUGGED A SUITCASE out of the back of the capped bed. What did you pack in here? Gold bars?

I wish, his sister answered. Just as much as I could.

I’d say it was a win. This thing is like a stack of bricks. He shifted through his pocket for the key to