by Jodi Vaughn
Barrett looked at the crowd. Jack looked horrified at what had happened. He looked over to where his Guardians stood. Mississippi Guardians were holding back Braxton and Jayden, who were trying to get to him. Zane had shifted and was growling and biting the five Guardians holding him back. Lucien had started a fight, and it took three Mississippi Guardians to hold him down. Jaxon, still in chains and restrained by the Assassins, sank to his knees, yelling and screaming at the top of his lungs. Ava started toward him, and Damon in wolf form was pacing back and forth, unsure of what had just happened.
Barrett got to his feet. He was acutely aware of the silver poisoning what was left of his heart. He struggled to breathe and coughed up blood. It wasn’t finished. Not yet. He looked at the horrified expression of the Council and walked backwards to the edge of the mountain. He didn’t want his Guardians to watch him take his final breath.
“You hereby have your blood debt. Paid. In. Full.” The heel of his boot found the edge of the mountain. He held his arms out to his side. He looked up at the sky one last time before he felt the last beat of his heart.
He fell back into nothing.
He didn’t hear the screams of Ava or the wails of Jaxon. He didn’t hear the curses of his Guardians trying to break away from the Mississippi Guardians restraining them. He didn’t hear the yells of Boudier saying it wasn’t Barrett who was supposed to die. It wasn’t even the sounds of the crowd demanding the council do something. Anything.
The last thing he heard as he looked up at the starlight sky was the howl of the wolf who had killed him.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Silence swept across the crowd of Guardians and Pack Masters from all the Southern states as Barrett fell off the mountain.
“What does this mean? I don’t understand, what does this mean?” one of the Mississippi Guardians yelled out, breaking the silence.
“It means that Barrett died for me,” Jaxon said from his position on his knees.
“Has that ever happened? Has a Pack Master ever sacrificed himself for one of his Guardians?” a Kentucky Guardian asked.
“I don’t give a shit about that.” Boudier spoke up. “I still demand the life of Jaxon Taylor.”
“Not so fast, Boudier. You can’t demand Jaxon’s life. Barrett just paid the debt. It’s paid in full.” Jack Welbourn held the briefcase in his arms. He still couldn’t believe what he had just seen. Couldn’t get over the fact that Barrett had sacrificed himself.
All eyes went to the Council. One of them cleared his throat.
“Jack is right. If someone sacrifices himself for a death debt, then it is considered paid in full.”
“Fuck!” Boudier screamed and fisted his hands like a toddler.
Everyone looked at him.
“But the law also states that if a Pack Master vacates a position, then a current Pack Master may claim it as his own. I claim the state of Arkansas as my own.” Boudier glared at the other Pack Masters, daring them to challenge him.
Anger burned in Jack’s gut.
“I’m afraid that’s not going to be legal. Not in this case.” Jack rested the briefcase on a rock and opened it. He hadn’t told Barrett that once he’d given him the suitcase, he’d sneaked a peek inside. He already knew what legal documents he would find. The blood vow he’d made to Barrett wouldn’t let him reveal this information until now.
“You see, I have the legal paperwork of Barrett Middleton putting Damon Trahan as next in line as Pack Master should anything happen to him.” Jack waved the document in the air and then handed it to the Council.
“But Damon killed him,” Boudier said.
“As I recall, you killed the Pack Master of Louisiana to gain the power.” Jack narrowed his gaze on Boudier. “It’s how a lot of these assholes get into power.”
Murmurs swept the crowd.
“Brutus and Killian, kill Jaxon. I demand it.” Boudier screamed until he was red in the face.
“Yeah, see, that’s a no-go on that.” Killian stepped in front of Jaxon, blocking Boudier’s view. “When you tried to kill Lorcan, that’s where I drew the line in the sand.”
“You worthless piece of shit.” Boudier spat out. “Brutus, kill Jaxon, now!”
“Fuck off.” Brutus stood beside Killian and rested his hand on the silver knife he carried in a holster next to his gun.
“You killed one of your Assassins?” Jack looked over at Lucien. He knew Lorcan and Lucien were brothers. Lucien’s face was dark with rage and retribution.
“Tried. He tried to kill me.” Lorcan stepped out from the shadows. “You should also know that the Witch of Yazoo City never killed any of her victims. She bled them enough to keep her power but left them alive. Boudier had someone following her and ordered anyone she took blood from killed. He wanted everyone to think she was a killer.”
“But she testified for him,” Jack said.
“She admitted to me that she lied. She lied in order to secure her freedom. Boudier promised her freedom from the cemetery if she lied for him.”
Murmurs rose up around the crowd, and Boudier began to shift his weight from foot to foot. It was the first time the Pack Master looked uncomfortable.
“Release Jaxon,” Lorcan ordered. Killian nodded and quickly unlocked the chains.
“You are under no power to order…” Boudier stated.
“You forget. As Assassins, we are judge and jury. We might be deadly killers, but we are well versed in the Pack Law. I dare anyone here, including the Council, to come up against us.”
Everyone looked at the Council.
“Lorcan is right. Jaxon is free to go,” one of the members said.
“I also have something else that might be of some value.” Lorcan smirked and pulled an envelope out of the back of his leather jacket. “Before Ella, er… the Witch of Yazoo City left, she gave me something. Something of Boudier’s.” He waved it in the air and walked over to Jack.
“You need to read that,” Lorcan said.
“What is it?” Jack asked as he turned the envelope over in his hands.
“It’s a hit list from Boudier. You see, he has a hit list of all the Guardians and Pack Masters he wants taken out.” Lorcan looked at the Arkansas Guardians.
Boudier’s eyes grew wide and he took a step back.
“And your name is on there too, Jack. In fact a lot of the Pack Masters’ names are on there. Seems like Edward Boudier was wanting to take out a lot of werewolves to increase his territory.”
Jack gritted his teeth. “Take him into custody.” His Mississippi Guardians stepped forward and grabbed Boudier.
“Take your fucking hands off me. Now,” Boudier screeched.
“I would love to declare a Tribunal on account of everything presented today.” Jack looked at the Council.
“Granted,” the council said unanimously.
Chapter Thirty-Five
“Fuck. I shouldn’t have worn heels for this.” Ella stumbled on the rocks and finally gave up, bent down, and tugged off her heels. She stood and glared at the figure lying on the ground.
“You better be worth my Louboutins.” She eased her way over to the lifeless figure and bent down beside him. Because she’d had Lorcan’s blood, she could see pretty well in the dark. It wouldn’t last, but she didn’t need it to.
She bent over the large Were and grabbed the knife sticking out of his chest. She tugged.
It didn’t budge.
She stood over him, straddling him, and gripped it with both hands and pulled. It finally slid out of his chest.
She cringed as she looked at the bloody knife. She wasn’t sure what to do with it, so she stuck it in the back of her skinny jeans. She leaned down and brushed the hair out of his face.
The majority of his blood was on chest. When he’d fallen off the mountain, he’d crushed the back of his skull in, but his face was still pretty. She liked a good-looking face. He certainly had one.
She ran her hand down his chest to his wound. It wasn’
t healing, and she wondered if it was too late. Maybe he’d gotten too much of the silver inside him. Maybe he really was dead.
She stood and looked down the rest of his body. Her gaze landed on his crotch. Even dead, he was still sporting a bulge in his pants.
She bit her lip and looked around to make sure they were alone. She bent down and put her hand on the front of his jeans.
“Very nice, Middleton. Even in death, you’re hung like a horse.” Maybe she could make a mold from it.
She stood and grinned.
“Let’s go, big guy.” She grabbed him by the legs and tugged his body toward a nearby cave.
“Took you long enough.” Ryker groused from inside the cave.
“Well, if you had gotten off your ass and helped me drag him, I would have been here a lot sooner.” Ella glared at the werewolf.
“Besides, I don’t even know if I can bring him back. Blood magick is a tricky thing. He might not come back the same.” She dropped his legs and propped her hands on her hips.
She looked at Ryker. “So you knew Barrett was going to sacrifice himself? And you let him? That’s pretty fucking… sick. Even if I do say so myself.”
“I suspected. I wasn’t sure.” Ryker knelt beside Barrett’s body.
“Do you feel any life in him at all?” He looked up at her.
Her heart tugged. “I’m not sure. The silver has saturated his heart, and his skull is crushed. I don’t think there’s a spell for that. I’m sorry.” She was.
“That’s why I brought in a backup. You can come out now, Celeste,” Ryker said.
A stunning blonde stepped out from the depths of the cave wearing a beautiful red dress and high heels. Ella immediately hated the woman.
“Nice shoes.” She studied the blonde’s heels.
The blonde hurried over to Barrett’s body and knelt. She looked up at Ryker.
“I’ll do what I can. But I can’t promise anything,” Celeste said.
“I’ve seen what you can do. I’ll take anything you’ve got,” Ryker said and then looked up at Ella.
“You two have not been introduced. Ella this is Celeste Nordstrom. Celeste, this is Ella, the Witch of Yazoo City.” Ryker grinned.
Ella arched her brow. “Are you a witch too?”
Celeste narrowed her gaze. “No. I’m a fairy.”
“Are you shitting me? I thought fairies only existed in story books.” Ella snorted.
“Watch it, witch.” Ryker snarled. “Show some respect. She’s not that kind of fairy.”
“What kind are you then?” Ella crossed her arms and glared.
“If you’re not careful,” Celeste took a step toward her, “I can be the dangerous kind.”
Chapter Thirty-Six
Four weeks later…
“How’s Damon doing?” Granny gave Ava a hug before stepping inside the Compound in Little Rock.
“Not good. He hasn’t shifted back. It took all of our Guardians and a few of the Mississippi Guardians to restrain him and get him in the back of the eighteen wheeler.” Ava sighed and led the way down the hallway. “We had to put him in the holding cell.”
“Why?”
“Because it was the only thing strong enough to hold him. He tore a huge hole in the side of the trailer before they could get home.” Ava stopped and looked at her. “They had to use a tranquilizer dart to get him the rest of the way home.
“He won’t say it, but he blames himself for Barrett’s death.” A tear slid down Ava’s face. “I don’t know how to help him. He won’t listen to me.”
“Oh honey.” Granny pulled Ava into a tight hug. She felt Ava shudder with silent cries as she held her. After a long minute, Ava pulled back and wiped her eyes.
“First of all, this is not your fault or Damon’s.” Granny pursed her lips. “Barrett made a choice. He sacrificed himself for Jaxon.” Her chest ached with such grief she thought it would burst right open. Now was not the time for mourning or for tears. Now was the time for strength and courage.
“Where are all the Guardians?” She lifted her chin.
“They’re here, in their rooms. No one has left the building since we got Damon home.”
Granny nodded. “I talked to Jack Wellbourn and he has his Mississippi Guardians stationed in Arkansas to help out until Damon can settle into his position.”
“Jack’s been very kind.” Ava nodded.
“I want you to gather our Guardians. Tell them Damon is going to meet them in the gym.” Granny lifted her chin and hooked her purse on the crook of her arm.
“Damon doesn’t want to see anyone, Granny. I’ve tried.” Ava shook her head.
“He will. You run on now, tell them to meet in an hour.” She drew back her shoulders. “But first, take me to Damon. I want to talk to him.”
* * *
Damon trembled as he paced back and forth in front of the bars of the holding cell. The tranquilizer they’d shot him had worn off and adrenaline now filled his veins. His wolf eyes darted around the darkened room.
Ava had come to see him and tried to talk to him. Her grief and sorrow had filled the room like funeral flowers. It had been too much for him. He refused to shift back into human form, preferring to stay as a wolf.
Every time he shut his eyes, he kept seeing Barrett falling off the edge of the mountain with that hideous knife stuck in his chest.
Ava had told him afterwards what Barrett had said. He’d asked for Ava’s forgiveness and he’d told her to take care of Damon.
Every time he thought about it he wanted to scream.
Barrett had paid Jaxon’s debt with his own life. And put Damon in charge as Pack Master.
How could he live with Barrett’s death on his hands?
The creak of the metal door filled the empty space. He jerked his head toward the door and snarled.
“Look here, mister.” Granny stepped into the room wearing a bright yellow muumuu and carrying that white plastic purse on her arm. “Don’t you dare growl at me.” She stepped closer and narrowed her eyes at him.
He sighed and sat back on his haunches.
Granny stepped up to the bars and stuck the key in the lock.
His eyes widened as she swung open the door and stepped inside with him. She shut the door behind her.
“I’m here to talk.” She pointed her bony finger in his face and glared. “And you are going to sit there and listen.”
He let out a low growl at his displeasure. She pressed her lips into a thin line.
“Damon, that’s enough.”
He looked away. He wasn’t in the mood for a lecture. He just wanted to be left alone.
“Barrett knew what he was doing when he sacrificed himself for Jaxon. He was one of the best Pack Masters I have ever known.” Granny lifted her chin. “Damon, you need to know something. You didn’t kill Barrett. He planned to die.”
Damon jerked his head towards the old woman. Of course he killed Barrett. He was the one who landed on him and shoved the knife into heart.
“Barrett had papers drawn up months ago in case anything happened to him. He knew months ago that he wanted you to be the next Pack Master. He saw your potential. Most of all he saw your courage and strength.” She cocked her head.
He studied the ground.
“As Pack Master it is time for you to rule. Your Guardians need a leader. And you need your Guardians.”
But how could they want him as their leader?
“I want you to look inside yourself and see if Barrett was right about you. See if you have the courage to step into that role.” She nodded. “I see the greatness inside you. Even if you don’t.”
She reached out and ruffled the fur on the top of his head and smiled.
“You’ve got a lot of people counting on you, Damon. Ava and your child and your Guardians. They are waiting in the gym for you.” She walked to the iron bars and opened the door.
She stepped outside and left the door open. “You know in your heart this is the right thing to
do.”
He listened to her footsteps as she walked away, leaving him alone.
* * *
Damon avoided looking in the mirror in the hallway as he made his way towards the gym. His stomach clenched. He wasn’t sure what he was walking into and he didn’t know yet what he was going to say.
“Damon,” Ava’s soft voice had him stopping in his tracks.
He turned and faced her.
She was pale and there were dark circles under her beautiful eyes. He frowned.
“Are you okay?” He asked.
“Yes.” She nodded. “Damon, I…”
“Stop.” He held up his hand. “I don’t want you to apologize for being at the Tribunal. The outcome wouldn’t have been any different. Barrett still would have died for Jaxon.”
She looked at the ground and nodded.
She looked so tiny and frail. He couldn’t take another second of the awkwardness between them.
He closed the distance and took her into his arms. She clung to him and buried her face into his chest.
“I was so scared, Damon. Scared that I wasn’t going to get you back.” She sobbed.
“What did I tell you? You’re never getting rid of me.” He said softly.
She looked up and let out a chuckle. “Good.”
He bent his head and covered her warm lips with his. She held on tight as he kissed her slow and deep. When he pulled back he stared down into her eyes.
“I need to ask you something. Something serious.”
“Okay. What is it?”
“How do you feel about me being Pack Master? I know you didn’t like it much when I was just filling in. Now it would be permanent. So I need to know how you feel about it. Because if you’re not all in, then I won’t accept it.”
“Are you serious? Has anyone ever turned down the position?” Her eyes widened.
“No, not that I know of.” He shrugged.
