Chapter Thirty
Barrett had arrived at Petit Jean State Park hours before his Guardians. He’d left Damon at the Compound to update the Weres about the Tribunal set for midnight. The Guardians were set to arrive that afternoon to start securing the area high on the mountain where the meeting would take place.
He squinted up at the sun beating down on his back like a relentless bitch. He stared down from his perch on the mountain to the waterfall below. It had to be at least a hundred, a hundred and twenty feet down from where he stood.
He had notified the Southern Pack Masters of the time and place of the Tribunal. Besides Arkansas and Louisiana, the other states that would be present would be Mississippi, Alabama, and Tennessee. Even Milfred Jones, the Pack Master of Kentucky, had agreed to come to the Tribunal, although it had taken some convincing. Milfred hated taking sides and getting involved. He wanted to stay out of everyone else’s business and wanted to be shown the same courtesy.
Barrett couldn’t blame him. But things were different now, and all the Pack Masters knew that whatever went down tonight at the Tribunal would somehow affect them all.
“I wouldn’t get too close to that edge, man. The fall won’t kill you, but it will hurt like a motherfucker,” Ryker said.
Barrett turned and faced Ryker. “Have you been updated by Damon?”
“No. I drove straight here because you told me to. Besides, you’re my Pack Master, not Damon.” Ryker crossed his arms, and Barrett could tell the Were was studying him behind his sunglasses.
“Tribunal starts at midnight. The Pack Masters will arrive around eleven.”
“What about the Council?” Ryker asked.
“They will be here and will rule with the final decision.” Barrett turned his gaze back out across the state park.
The gray mountains dotted with green trees jutted out of the ground and rose to the sky. The rhythmic splash of the waterfall below and the scent of dirt and leaves and nature surrounded him. Usually, just being in nature calmed him, allowed him to be more in tune with what he needed to do in certain situations. But not today. Today he was as conflicted over how he was going to get Jaxon free of the charges brought by Boudier.
Barrett knew that Jaxon hadn’t killed Caroline or John. And he also knew that the Were wouldn’t let Ginny take the blame either. He knew Jaxon well enough to know that he would go to his death declaring Ginny’s innocence.
The only way he was going to get out of having Jaxon killed was to try to talk to Boudier and broker a peace. If he gave Ginny back to her father it might appease him enough that he’d let Jaxon go. He hated doing that. It went against everything he believed in. But he couldn’t let another Guardian die.
Ryker’s cell phone buzzed.
“Fuck.” Ryker scowled.
Barrett turned and his heart rate increased. “What is it?”
“Things just got complicated.” Ryker lifted his gaze from the phone.
“Things were already complicated,” Barrett growled.
“Well, things just got fucking complicated.” Ryker shook his head. “Just got a text from Damon. Did you know that Ginny is pregnant?”
Barrett’s stomach dropped.
“Why the fuck didn’t Jaxon tell me?” Barrett growled.
“Jaxon just told Damon.” Ryker shook his head. “Said he didn’t want Ginny to be at the Tribunal tonight because of her condition. Boudier doesn’t know she’s pregnant.”
“She has to be there. She has to confront Boudier about the allegations she made against him. If she doesn’t go, then Boudier will ask the Council to have her returned to him.” His gut twisted. This was worse than he suspected.
“The Council will order you to return Ginny if she doesn’t show and present her case. Boudier will kill her once he gets his hands on her,” Ryker stated.
“No. He’ll torture her for betraying him. He’ll make sure she stays alive so he can make her pay for the rest of her life.” Finality settled over Barrett like a death shroud.
Boudier would be outraged once he found out about Ginny’s pregnancy.
“So what do we do?” Ryker asked.
He had no choice. Barrett walked down the trail back to where he’d parked his Harley. “Make sure my Guardians are all accounted for when they start arriving. Boudier wants blood. So we give him blood.”
* * *
Damon rode toward Petit Jean State Park. Barrett had ordered him to stay behind and watch over the state while the Tribunal was held. But his conscience wouldn’t let him. Besides, he figured since he was filling in for Barrett that technically made him temporary Pack Master. And being Pack Master meant he didn’t answer to anyone.
He’d called Ava and told her where he was going. She’d been shopping with Haley for her wedding. He was glad she was distracted from the crap that was going on. He told her to buy a new outfit while she was out.
He saw the signs for the state park, slowed his speed, and turned.
After tonight, he was afraid they would be going to war with Louisiana.
After tonight, none of them would be safe.
* * *
“Hey, Jack.” Barrett stood near at the top of the mountain where the Tribunal was to be held. In another hour, fates would be sealed and debts would be paid.
“Barrett, I got your message,” Jack Welbourn said. The Pack Master of Mississippi’s tone was flat. He sounded unlike the genteel alpha that Barrett had come to know. “You have to give me more information about Boudier.”
“No. The time for talking has passed.” Barrett glanced down at his cell phone and noted the time in the dark. He looked up across the sky. “It’s actually really beautiful out here.”
“Yeah, well, that’s what they say about a hurricane. That right in the center of it all, it’s calm.” Jack forked his fingers through his hair. “Tonight is nothing but a shit hurricane.”
“I think if you’re patient enough you still might catch your witch.” Barrett looked up at the starlit sky. Out here in the middle of nowhere, the sky was putting on one hell of a display. It was the perfect night for a Tribunal.
“Ella?” Jack jerked his head in Barrett’s direction. “She’s here?”
“I got some intel that she’s coming.” Barrett shook his head. “That witch of yours is the one who holds the key to all this. She is Boudier’s witness. She is going to say that she saw Jaxon kill both Caroline Boudier and John. She’s going to stand up in the Tribunal and lie.”
“Jesus Christ.” Jack’s eyes widened. “But why would she do that? Why would she help Boudier? She hates our kind.”
Barrett narrowed his eyes at the older Pack Master. “Can I trust you, Jack?”
Hurt flashed through Jack’s eyes. It was the reaction that Barrett needed.
“Of course. I know things went to shit at my house, but I have always had your back, Barrett. I’ve always sided with you. To say that I’m not trustworthy is very offensive to me. You know you can trust me.”
“I know. I needed to ask it. I needed to see your reaction.” Barrett gave him a little smile.
“How did I do, smart-ass?” Jack cocked his head.
“You passed… for now.” Barrett narrowed his gaze a little.
“After all these years, I should have known that in your most critical hour as Pack Master you would still be busting my balls.” Jack chortled.
“Yeah, well, I have to have something to entertain me.” Barrett shrugged.
Jack chuckled, and the tension between them was gone.
They stood there for a few minutes saying nothing, just taking in the night air and staring back at the beautiful sky.
“I’m going to ask you to do something. Something you might find difficult.” Barrett turned to look at Jack.
“You know I’ll do what I can to help. Anything. Just tell me.” Jack’s face creased with concern.
“Before I ask you, I need a blood oath, Jack.” Barrett pulled out a knife from the back of jeans. He wasn’t allowed to carry a gun to the Tribunal, but a knife was acceptable.
“Are you shitting me?” Jack arched his brow. “Just when I thought we were having a moment, you ask me something like that.”
“You’ll understand later. Quit bitching and cut your fucking hand. Let’s get this shit over with. Then you can bro out as much as you want.” Barrett sighed.
“Ugh, with this new vernacular. I’m not sure what bro out means, but if it involves getting a drink, I’m in.” Jack held out his hand and then hesitated. He narrowed his eyes on Barrett. “And I don’t want some girlie drink like wine either. I’m a scotch and bourbon man. Always have been, always will be.”
“Jesus, will you just give me your hand?” Barrett lifted his eyes to the sky.
“Fine. But don’t cut too deep. I’m on a blood thinner and I’ll fucking bleed like a stuck pig.” Jack scowled at him.
“Pussy,” Barrett murmured as he took the knife and brought the blade across Jack’s palm. Blood came to the surface and dripped out of the cut.
He turned the knife on himself and made a cut in his own palm, slashing a large cut across the flesh. His hand stung and he squeezed his hand, making the blood come faster. He held out his hand to Jack.
Jack sighed but stuck out his hand, and they shook. Barrett held on and looked Jack in the eyes. “This blood bond is unbreakable. For the next twenty-four hours, you will be unable to break our deal or reveal what was said between us. Agreed?”
“Agreed.” Jack nodded.
Barrett released his hold and glanced down at his hand.
“So tell me.” Jack took a silk handkerchief out of his jacket pocket and pressed it against his palm.
“You won’t interfere in the judgment of the Tribunal.”
“I swear it,” Jack said. “I’m not sure why you need a blood vow for that. No Pack Master has ever interfered with a Tribunal ruling.”
“And I expect you to stand with the ruling this time as well. Just so we’re clear.” Barrett held Jack’s gaze.
“Barrett, do you mind telling me what the fuck is going on?”
“The fact is, Boudier will demand retribution for the killing of his wife and son-in-law. There is nothing for the Council to say but to uphold that.”
“So you’re going to let them have Jaxon even though we both know the daughter probably did it.” Jack glared. “Hell, why don’t you just give him the girl. That’s what he wants anyway.”
“No. That’s not what he really wants. What Boudier really wants is to watch me suffer.” Barrett glanced up at the sky. A shooting star whizzed across the twinkling canvas, and he wished that there was something else that could be done. “There’s more. Ginny is pregnant.”
“Holy fuck.” Jack scrubbed his hand across his face.
“You tell me, Jack. If you were in my position, would you give Ginny over to Boudier? Knowing what kind of life she would suffer at his hands?”
Jack scowled and then studied the ground.
“No, you wouldn’t.” Barrett chuckled. “We are more alike than you think. You would do anything to protect your Pack.”
“I would. But I don’t know if I could hand over one of my men. Even if it would save the rest of them.”
“The life of one versus the life of the many.” Barrett closed his eyes and inhaled deep.
“I won’t interfere with the ruling of the Tribunal. Is there anything else you need me to do?” Jack propped his hands on his hips.
“I have a briefcase over there by that rock. You need to grab it and take it to the Tribunal. Don’t let anyone else touch it. When the time is right, I want you to open it and hand over the contents to the Council.”
“How will I know when the time is right? You’re being awfully vague here, Barrett.” Jack scowled.
“Trust me, Jack. You’ll know.” He clasped his hand on Jack’s shoulder and nodded. “And one more thing. When the shit goes down tonight, I’m going to need help holding back my Guardians. I would greatly appreciate it if you could position your Mississippi Guardians beside mine. They’re not going to be happy with the outcome. They will fight to save their own. They might even come after me.” He gave him a wry smile. “So I need you to hold them back. Use whatever force. Just don’t let them interfere. Okay?”
“You have my word.” Jack nodded. “You will have a hard time ruling over Arkansas when your Guardians see that you handed Jaxon over to Boudier. They will feel betrayed.” Jack shook his head and clasped Barrett’s hand in his. “I don’t envy you the choice you have to make tonight, Barrett. But I’m here to stand beside you.”
“I appreciate it, Jack.” He gazed up at the sky again. “I’m sure my Guardians will get over feeling betrayed soon enough. We all eventually do.”