Chapter 10

**Jinx Willow's P.O.V.**

I get out of bed after my alarm goes off and head into my bathroom, turning on my shower and brushing my teeth. Once I brush my teeth, I strip off my sweaty tank top and shorts, stepping under the hot steam. I lather shampoo and conditioner in my hair and body wash on body, taking my time to clean myself free of any traces of nightmare left behind. After I finish cleansing myself, I step out of the shower and rub lotion on my arms, legs, and upper body, exiting my bathroom. I walk into my walk in closet, heading to the back wall which holds my dresser of undergarments and socks. I decide on a pair of black knee high socks, a pair of black lacy cheeky panties, and a black lace cross backed bra. I put it on and then head back into my bathroom, blow drying my curly brown hair and then pulling it up into a high ponytail at the top of my head and put on some eyeliner, mascara and lipgloss. Once I'm done doing that, I return back to my closet and decide on a fitted cropped royal purple long sleeve v-neck shirt, black high waisted shredded skinny jeans, and a pair of black lace up heeled combat boots. I grab one of my many leather jackets, settling for a black one to match my outfit, and slip it on, walking out of my room. I walk into Elder Henry's office and upon my entrance, he looks up and grins. Elder Martin is with him and he immediately holds out his hand, his wolf seeking comfort from mine. I take his hand, sitting down beside him.

"So," I say "What have we figured out, my Elder's?"

"Not much," Elder Martin, who doesn't talk much, says "We don't have much to go off of besides the rumored prophecy."

"That again," I say "My mate rejected me so how could I possibly be mated to a lupus?"

"A second chance mate," Elder Helena says "But if that is the case, who would be it? There are not many powerful lupus who would match your strength."

"Let's contact Alpha Derric," Elder Henry says "Maybe he's figured something out that we haven't."

We all agree and Elder Henry dials the number, placing the phone on speaker.

"Hello," A voice says "This is Darian speaking."

"Hello," Elder Henry says "Is Alpha Derric Shadow present or available?"

"Uh," Darian says "Luna Claradine...is Alpha still...tied up with the issue regarding his wolf?"

"Yes," A female voice says "Why? What is it?"

"The Council is calling," Darian says "What if it's regarding the Gaia?"

The Elder's stiffen and my eyes widen slightly as we all lean forward, interested in what's to be said about me.

"Hello," The female says "This is Luna Claradine, Alpha Derric's mother, speaking. What can I do for you to help you while my son has stepped away?"

"Luna Claradine," Elder Helena says "This is a very...sensitive matter. We are not aware of whom knows of such topics as of yet until we speak with Alpha Derric."

A door opens and closes.

"Derric," A male voice says "Calm your wolf down. We can't keep pulling you away from duties because you're stressing about the hellhound attacks."

"It's not a hellhound," Another male voice says "Why do I have to keep repeating that it's not a hellhound?"

"Luna Claradine," Elder Helena says, sensing my anxiety from the anger I'm hearing "May you place me on speaker?"

"Sure," Luna Claradine says "Of course. Derric, Peter, it's the Council."

"Bloody moon," The first male voice says "Why didn't you warn us sooner, Clara?"

"How could I," Luna Claradine says "You haven't given me much of a chance to speak between you lecturing our son and him lecturing you. Now, if you two are done, I believe Elder Helena has something to say."

"Not quite," Elder Helena says "But...I do have a question. You mentioned the Gaia. What do you know of her?"

"Not much," The first male voice says "This is Alpha Peter speaking. We don't know much about the Gaia other than that when she calms an out of control bloodhound, hellhound or hound down, she sends them to us. We've had seventy eight hellhounds, bloodhounds and hounds come to us, claiming that the Gaia calmed their wolves down and sent them to us."

"Good," Elder Henry says "Then they made it to you. Next question, what do you know about the hellhound attacks?"

"Not much," Alpha Peter says "I'm sorry, Elder Henry, could you give me a moment? My son is losing control of his wolf again."

Elder Helena looks at me, nodding.

"Alpha Derric," I say, leaning forward "Can you hear me?"

There's silence on the other end.

"Holy mother of moon goddess," Darian says softly "That's the...that's her. That's her voice!"

"Shh," Luna Claradine says "Derric, come here. Come closer."

There's shuffling.

"He can hear you," Luna Claradine says "You're the Gaia?"

"Yes," I say "I am."

A sense of anxiousness sweeps over me.

*Derric is anxious. You must soothe his wolf.*

I calm myself down, pushing my energy outwards. There's a gasp on the other line.

"I feel her," The other male says lowly "It doesn't make sense. I'm not a hellhound, bloodhound or hound. How can I bloody feel her?!"

I immediately stop.

"What," I say "Repeat what you just stated."

Elder Martin squeezes my hand.

"I'm not a hellhound," The male says "I'm not a bloodhound. I'm not a hound. Yet I can hear you. My mother can hear you but that's because the hellhound blood running through her veins is strong. I don't have that. We've tested it. So...why can I hear you in my mind and why can I feel you almost as if I could reach out and put my hands on you?"

"The prophecy," I say softly "It's not a rumor."

"What," Luna Claradine says "What prophecy?"

"There's a prophecy," Elder Maggie, Elder Malcolm's mate, says "This prophecy states that every time a Gaia awakens, one lupus will be able to connect with her on a level that only hellhounds, hounds, and bloodhounds can. This lupus will match her in strength and yet, she will be the calm to his storm. Situations in which he shall be mad, she shall be his calm. Situations in which he shall lose control, she will help him get it back. The Gaia millions of years ago kept her mate a secret from the world, except for the Council, in an effort to keep him safe as he is her only weakness...the only one with the power to kill her."

"Wait," He says "You're telling me that I may be mated to the Gaia? If that's the case, why did I get rejected three years ago?"

"That makes two of us," I say "We're not going to get anywhere doing this over the phone."

"Dear," Elder Helena says "If you leave Council grounds..."

"I dare that bloody werewolf to try," I say, growling lowly "I've let that pack control me for long enough. If and when that Alpha finds out what and who I am, I want to be there to watch him tremble in his skin."

"Pack," Luna Claradine says "What pack?"

"All will be explained," I say "How many bloodhounds do you have in your pack?"

"Sixty three," The male says "Before you go...what's your name?"

"You'll learn it soon," I say "Would you like to tell me yours?"

"Why," The male says "So, you can reject me?"

I laugh.

"Oh my love," I say softly "I have no intentions of rejecting you. I have asked the Moon Goddess for a mate who will love me since I was old enough to understand what mates were. My first one was not the one meant for me. I have long since accepted that."

"Derric," The male says "Derric Joshua Shadow."

"Well," I say softly "I will see you soon, my love."

"Expect us tomorrow," Elder Martin says "All the Council members and the Gaia herself."

"We will be expecting you," Derric says "I will have rooms prepared for each of you."

"Sounds good," Elder Nikida, Elder Martin's mate, says "We shall see you tomorrow."

We bid them goodbye and head to our rooms, packing bags for a week. Once we've all packed our bags, our guards carry our bags down and we all retire early to bed.