by Jodi Vaughn
“Fine.” She crossed her arms and sat on the bed. “I guess you want me to leave too.”
“No. Stay.” He felt the same tenseness in the air as she did. Something bad was coming, and it was headed straight for Arkansas.
“You’re not going to get in trouble for having me here, are you?”
“Nah. I saw some of the other females sneak into the Compound.” He snorted.
“Ugh, they totally stole my idea.” She crossed her arms and scowled.
“It’s almost dawn. We need to try to get some sleep before noon. I’m sure Barrett will call a meeting with the Guardians to make a game plan.” He pulled his shirt over his head and tossed it on the floor.
Her pupils dilated, and he pulled her into his arms.
Lucien kissed her hard. When he pulled back, he looked into her eyes. “But right now, it’s just you and me. And I don’t want to waste another second without you in my arms.”
* * *
Skylar cracked open an eye when she heard the unmistakable sound of footsteps. She jerked out of the bed and turned on the light that sat on the nightstand. She grabbed the hammer she’d left lying on the small table.
“Skylar, it’s me,” Zane’s familiar voice called out from the doorway.
“You scared the crap out of me, Zane.” She pressed her hand to her heart. She placed her hammer back on the nightstand. “What are you doing here?”
“I was trying to find you. You weren’t at home, so I figured that the only other place you’d be is here.” He grinned and stepped into the room.
A small smile broke out across his face, and her heart sped up a little at the sight of him. It always did.
She’d worked for months on SKYLAR’S HOME. It was a home for runaway girls who’d slipped through the cracks and had nowhere else to go. Skylar had been one of those girls after suffering years of abuse at the hands of her father. Now her mission was to protect other girls.
“What’s up? I thought you were going to be gone all night.” She frowned. Something was up. She could sense it.
“It’s almost dawn,” he said softly. He walked to her and gathered her up in his arms. “We need to get back in bed.”
“Zane, what’s wrong?” Skylar touched her fingertips to his whiskered cheek. She knew him inside and out. “Are you okay?”
“I am.”
“Are the others okay?” She swallowed. “Did Jaxon come back? I thought Barrett was going to make sure Jaxon got back across the Arkansas border.”
“Jesus. Where are you getting your information?” Zane gave her a wide-eyed look.
She shrugged.
“Well, since Damon’s been in charge, I’m going to assume that Ava is the one who told.”
“And Granny.” She didn’t want Ava to take the blame alone. “I think Granny has some kind of hacking ability when it comes to computers. Ever since that online dating episode, she’s been glued to that computer like crazy.”
“Ugh. Don’t remind me.” He rubbed his hand across his forehead.
“You didn’t answer me. Is Jaxon back?” Her heart thudded in her chest. Jaxon was like a brother to Skylar, and he was a good friend to Zane. She didn’t want anything to happen to the Were.
“He’s back, and he’s got Ginny with him.”
“Who is that?”
“Apparently it’s Jaxon’s former love and Edward Boudier’s daughter.”
“What?” A shiver ran up her spine.
“There’s a Tribunal at midnight. I need to be ready for it.”
“A Tribunal?” Her heart sunk to her toes. “For what?”
“I’m shocked Catty hasn’t filled you in.” He smirked.
“My cell phone has been off.” She snatched up her cell phone and turned it on. “There are three missed calls from Ava and two from Catty.”
“Do I need to call her?” she asked.
“No. She’s probably asleep with Damon.”
Skylar grinned. “Asleep? Or in the same bed?”
“You’re right. They’re doing what I want to be doing with you.” He cupped her cheek.
“Zane, what’s wrong?” She gripped his wrist. “Tell me about the Tribunal.”
His face fell and he looked away. Zane was always so in control of his emotions—he didn’t let anything bother him. But tonight something was off.
“Boudier is accusing Jaxon of killing his wife and his son-in-law. They are calling a Tribunal to present evidence.” Zane swallowed.
“So what’s Barrett’s plan? What’s he going to do?”
“Skylar, I don’t know.” He raked his hands through his hair.
“Zane, do you trust Barrett?” Skylar cocked her head.
“Of course I do, it’s just this is bigger than just presenting cases and arguing. Blood will have to be spilt.” He rubbed his hand down his face. “There is no getting out of this.”
“When I was kidnapped and held in that building, I thought that was going to be the end of my life. I figured that was how my luck was supposed to go, since I had just found you and discovered what love really is.” She swallowed back the emotion that filled her throat.
“I had given up hope. And then you showed up with Barrett and all the Guardians. I couldn’t believe it. It was like something out of a story. I didn’t know who they were, but they were willing to face danger for me.
“What I’m trying to say is there is always hope. This Pack is built on it. Just because you can’t see what’s coming up ahead doesn’t mean there isn’t light.”
He smiled and pulled her into his arms. His mouth slammed down across hers. His hand slid up her T-shirt as he found her breasts.
He broke the kiss and looked down at her with such love in his eyes.
“I’m the luckiest male alive to have you.”
She grinned. “I know. Now let’s go to bed.”
* * *
Braxton headed to the empty room at the Compound. It was one he occasionally used when he was in town. He stopped short when he saw a beautiful blonde leaning against the door with a bag in her hands.
“Kate.” He felt a smile spread across his face, and he didn’t bother stopping it.
“Hey, yourself.” She smiled and pushed off the door. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him down into a kiss.
He held her close, loving the feel of her small body against his.
“What are you doing here?”
“I got a call from Ava. She said something was up and that you would appreciate me coming down for a few nights.” She smiled. “Besides, I missed you.”
“You just saw me this morning before I left Eureka Springs.”
“I know, but I always miss you when you are away on a mission.”
“I’m glad you’re here.” He wrapped his arms around her and held her tight. She always had a way of making him feel better with just her presence.
“Me too.” She pulled back and opened the door to his room. They stepped inside.
The room was awash in a soft yellow glow from the sconces that hung on either side of the bed. The oversized couch in front of the large TV was warm and inviting.
She sat the bag on the coffee table and pulled out a bag of cookies.
“I thought you might be hungry, so I brought some things from home.” She smiled.
He grabbed one and took a bite. He moaned as the sweet confection melted on his tongue.
“I haven’t had anything since this morning,” he admitted. He’d been too worried about the shit that was going to go down between Arkansas and Louisiana to eat.
“Ava told me about Jaxon and the Tribunal.” She cocked her head, trying to read his expression. It was a habit she had with him. “She also told me about Ginny.”
“Yeah?” He didn’t know what else to say.
“Did you talk to Ginny?” Kate’s soft voice soothed his soul.
“A little.” He shook his head and frowned. “She apologized to me for her father sending the Assassins to kill me.”
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“She knows what kind of animal her father is, then.” Kate nodded slowly.
“Did Ava tell you that Boudier physically abused Ginny? And so did her husband.”
“Yes. And I’m glad her husband is dead. Surely the Tribunal will see the evidence and not convict Jaxon.” Kate said.
“It doesn’t work like that, sweetheart.” He took her hand, brought it to his mouth, and placed a kiss there.
“Braxton, don’t lose hope. We seem to find ourselves in shitty situations that we don’t think will ever work out. Like when I thought the B&B was going to be foreclosed on. And just when I couldn’t see a way out, you showed up.”
“That reminds me. Who is watching the Bella Luna while you’re here?” He frowned. He knew she didn’t like leaving someone else in charge of the B&B. She’d fought too hard to hold onto it, and she was pretty much a stickler for details when it came to running her business.
“Remember those authors?” She bit her lip, trying to suppress a smile.
“The crazy ones?” He arched his brow. A bunch of authors and Granny had descended on the Bella Luna in search of a writing retreat. He’d expected the older ladies to be quiet and reserved, but once they got all liquored up, they were like a Viagra tornado. They’d even managed to scare Lorcan away when he’d come looking for Braxton.
“They’re really nice, Braxton. Besides, I told them I wouldn’t charge them if they just watched the place while I was gone. They were glad to do it.” She shrugged.
“I’m glad you’re here.” He needed to be with her tonight. “Barrett wants to meet with us around noon.”
“So we need to make the most of what time we have.” Her pupils dilated as she ran her hand down his chest to his groin.
His body tightened to the point of pain. He wanted to take her slow and deep tonight.
“Now take off your clothes while I open the wine.”
* * *
Jayden stood outside the Compound looking up into the night sky. He was physically tired, but his mind was racing with every possible outcome of the Tribunal. He knew he needed to go inside and get some sleep, but he wasn’t sure he’d be able to. Since Haley had come into his life, he didn’t like sleeping in a bed without her.
“Jayden, are you going to stand outside all night, or are you coming inside?” Haley’s voice had him turning around.
“Babe, what are you doing here?” She was standing at the entrance to the Compound.
“Waiting on you.” She walked toward him. Her tight jeans and white T-shirt made her look like a fucking angel. His angel.
“I thought I’d spend the night here with you since you couldn’t come home.” She bit her lip and looked at him under her lashes.
He grinned and pulled her against him. “You know, I’ve never had a woman in my room at the Compound. Barrett never allowed it.”
“I knew I liked Barrett.” She smirked.
“I’m glad you’re here.” He brushed her blonde hair out of her eyes. His heart still melted a little every time he looked at her.
“Ava told me what happened with Jaxon. She said they are calling a Tribunal.”
“Ugh. Damon tells Ava way too much.” He groaned.
“Damon didn’t tell her. Granny did.” Haley brightened.
He rubbed his hands across his eyes. “My grandmother is going to get my ass kicked out of the Guardians.”
“Your grandmother is the glue of the Guardians. She’s the only one tough enough to keep you all in line.” Haley arched her brow.
“You may be right.” He admitted. “The crazy glue.”
“Jayden, are you okay?” She frowned. “I’ve never seen you like this.”
“Like what?” He tried to give her a reassuring smile.
She studied his face. “You are worried about Jaxon and the Tribunal.”
“Maybe.” He lied. His gut was burning with the unknown outcome. He knew damn well that the likelihood of Jaxon getting off without punishment was unimaginably small.
“Surely they won’t find him guilty,” Haley said.
“The penalty for murder is death, Haley.” He said the words he’d been thinking about on the ride home.
“Tell me this, Jayden. The Tribunal is always fair, right?”
“Yes.”
“So how could a Tribunal find someone guilty of murder when it was self-defense? If Jaxon killed those people, then it was self-defense. Plus, he was trying to get Ginny out of that abusive situation and safely into Arkansas.”
“Yes, but Haley, the people killed are her mother, who is the wife of the Pack Master, and the Pack Master’s son-in-law.”
“Who were both horrible, sadistic werewolves, I understand.” Haley crossed her arms over her chest. “When I lived in Louisiana and still had the good graces of my parents, I met her mother.”
“You did?”
“Yes, at some kind of charity event they used to make me go to.” She shook her head. “Boudier held it every year, claiming the purpose was to raise money for the Pack. But in reality, all that money went into his pockets.”
“What kind of person was she?”
“Caroline Boudier was self-absorbed and selfish. I remember seeing Ginny at one event. Her husband refused to let her leave his side the entire night. She wasn’t allowed to talk to anyone without her husband present. Seemed like an asshole to me.”
“No doubt.”
“I trust our Pack Laws, and I trust the judgment of the Tribunal.” Haley wrapped her arms around his neck. “I also know that you’ve got to be up in a few hours, so we need to get inside and you need to get some rest before tonight.”
He grinned and swung her up in his arms. “Oh, there will be no sleeping. Not with you in my bed.”
* * *
Ava ran to Damon as he entered the room in the Guardians’ Compound. Since Damon had been filling in for Barrett, Damon had moved her into the Compound to his old room.
She’d been unable to sleep since Damon had gotten the update from Barrett. She’d stayed awake in the room while Damon stayed in Barrett’s office waiting for everyone to get back to the Compound.
“Hey.” Damon’s rough voice seemed to vibrate through her body, making her feel safe.
“Hey, yourself.” She looked up at him. “Did you talk to Barrett? What did he say?”
“Ava, you know as much as I do. Tribunal is at midnight. Jaxon will stand trial. And no one is saying it, but I’m guessing that he’s taking the fall for Ginny.” Damon took a deep breath.
“Oh, god.” Her heart pounded in her chest. “Barrett can fix this, right? I mean, he’s the Pack Master and the Tribunal is on Arkansas soil, so we have the upper hand. Plus, there’s the fact that he was defending himself protecting Ginny.”
“Yeah. If I was on the Council I would not demand Jaxon’s life.”
“Jaxon’s life?” Her eyes grew wide. “Surely that won’t happen.”
He hugged her tight. “Why aren’t you asleep?” Damon frowned.
“Because I wanted to wait up for you. I wanted to see you.” She bit her lip.
“Well, I’m here now, so let’s go to bed.”
“Wait.” She pressed her hand to his chest. “Damon, there’s something I want to talk to you about.” Her stomach tingled.
“What is it?” He cocked his head and stared at her.
“Sit down.”
“Shit, Ava, tell me.” He grabbed her by the arms. “Did Jaxon skip out? Did Barrett call?”
“No. Nothing like that.” She pointed toward the bed.
He eased onto the bed and she sat beside him. She swallowed back her nerves and took a deep breath.
“I’m pregnant.”
Chapter Twenty-Eight
“A baby?” Damon’s heart did something funny in his chest. His breathing increased.
“I know, we haven’t talked about starting a family, and it’s kind of a bad time with everything going on in the Pack.” She chewed her lip and glanced at the ground.
“Yes, a baby.” She took a deep breath and met his gaze. “Please say something. Other than the word ‘baby.’ You look like you might be sick.” She frowned and took his face between her hands.
A slow grin grew on his face, and he pulled her into his arms. “You’re having my baby.”
“Yes. I am.” She cupped his face between her gentle hands. “I’m not that far along. I just found out today when I took a pregnancy test.” She swallowed and looked into his eyes. “Are you mad?”
“Mad? How the hell could I be mad? You’re having my baby.” He buried his face into the side of her neck and inhaled. It hit him. The scent of her pregnancy.
Ava was pregnant. He should have recognized the signs. Her increased appetite and sex drive. She’d even lost interest in wine.
His body hardened fast and he all he wanted was to pull her jeans down and bury himself in her body.
She moaned and rubbed against him.
“Damon.” She breathed out his name and tugged his T-shirt out of his jeans. She ran her fingernails up his bare stomach to his chest, scraping against his flesh and making his blood pulse.
He rid himself of his shirt and tossed it on the floor. He growled as he tore at her shirt, rending it in two.
She looked at him and grinned. “That’s more like it.” She quickly tugged her jeans off while he did the same.
She jumped and wrapped her legs around his waist. He grabbed her tight butt and positioned her over his erection. She dug her heels into him and impaled herself on his cock.
She moaned and he pressed her back against the wall, thrusting himself into her willing body. She dug her nails into his back, clawing and scratching with lustful desperation. He growled, thrusting faster as a thin sheen of sweat covered both their bodies.
Fingertips traced over muscled and smooth flesh as they discovered each other again, tasting and savoring their love. The connection they’d always had seemed to grow a thousand times tighter now that they were going to be a family. A family never to be broken.
It almost brought tears to his eyes.
“You’re mine. Now and forever.” He growled and then covered her mouth with his.
