Chapter 17

**Derric Shadow's P.O.V.**

I watch Jinx as she directs everyone. I'm leaned against the banister, watching the bloodhounds follow her orders. Jinx looks back at me, tears in her eyes, as nearly every bloodhound stands at a post for one of the missing hellhounds. A few hellhounds stand with the bloodhounds, all of them looking hopeful.

"Derric," Jinx says "Only one hellhound wasn't claimed."

"What," I say "Which one?"

"Clarity Mae," Jinx says softly "And according to her bloodline, she's your aunt."

"What," I say "I don't have any aunts."

"You do," Dad says "Clarity Mae Ryanson is my half-sister. My father had an affair with a hellhound woman. I didn't know about Clarity until she went missing thousands of years ago and my father finally told me. I thought all this time she was dead but I guess not so I need to go call my mother, father, her mother, sisters, my brothers, and your siblings."

Mom stiffens, not liking the idea of my half-siblings coming to the pack due to their mother being a pain in my mother's butt. I send her a sympathetic smile as she follows behind my dad, who is pulling out his cell phone to make the necessary calls.

"Alright," I say "What do you need me to do?"

"Right now," Jinx says "We need to tell the pack what's been going on. I know you don't want to scare them, but they need to know, Derric. This affects them and their lives, too."

"You're right," I say "I don't want to just let it out right here."

"Do a pack dinner," Jinx says "And include the bloodhounds. They stay away from the pack because they feel like they don't belong...like they're not important here."

"They do belong," I say "That's the whole reason my dad's family created this pack; to give the wolves that don't fit in somewhere that they do fit in."

Jinx smiles, squeezing my shoulders. We head to my office to look over the information again. After six hours of looking over the information we found, the door flies open.

"Derric Shadow," A voice says "Why didn't you call me and tell me that the Moon Goddess gifted you with a second chance mate that didn't reject you?!"

"Maya," Another voice says "Not everyone wants to hear your shrill voice."

I sigh.

"Jinx," I say "Meet my half-siblings. The short blonde female is Maya, the tall blonde female is Mara. They're twins. The tall blonde male is Kieran. The tall brunette is George."

"Hi," Jinx says softly "Nice to meet you all."

"Jinx," Darian says, running into the room "We have a problem."

"What," I say "What's the issue, Darian?"

"Uhm," Darian says "Jinx..."

"Darian," Jinx says "Spit it out."

"Hunter shifted," Darian says "And took off into the woods..."

"What," Jinx yells "And you let him?! He's a hellhound, Darian!"

"We tried to catch him," Darian says, flinching away "But...he's fast."

Jinx growls, putting her hands into her hair.

"Hey," I say, grabbing her hands "Relax. You're going to put every hellhound, bloodhound, and hound on edge."

"We need to find him," Jinx says "I can't put him back on that list when I'm trying to get rid of it, Derric."

"I know," I say "We're going to find him, just relax."

After four more hours, Jinx suddenly curls over, whimpering.

"Jinx," Vincenzo says, alarmed "What's wrong?"

"No," Jinx says "Not now. Not now. You can't shift right now."

"Jinx," I say "Who are you talking to?"

"A hellhound," Elder Henry says "That's why she keeps saying that whomever it is can't shift right now. We need to find that hellhound before whoever is snatching them."

I grab a notebook and pen, kneeling in front of Jinx.

"Jinx," I say "Love, hey, look at me."

Jinx lifts her head, her normally blue eyes now glowing gold. Gasps ring through the room from my family, as well as her parents.

"Hi," I say softly "I need you to tell me about this hellhound. What's her name?"

"Georgia Ross," Jinx says softly "Her name is Georgia Ross. She's seventeen."

"Okay," I say, writing it down "Good. Now, what pack is she in or near?"

"Uhm," Jinx says softly "She doesn't know. She's running. Derric, she's being chased."

"Relax," I say "She needs you to be calm for her, Jinx. Listen to me. What's around her?"

Jinx pauses, her eyes glowing gold.

"I know where she is," Jinx says "She's running to me."

"Good," I say "What border?"

"Northern," Jinx says "They shot her with icefire in her left leg. She can't make it much further."

Vincenzo leans forward, on edge.

"Dammit," I say "Lindsey, come with me. Charles, send all the bloodhounds to the northern border. Tell them it's time to scare."

Charles nods, sending out the mindlink to the bloodhounds. Lindsey follows me downstairs and I shift into my gigantic black wolf, leading the bloodhounds through the woods. My mom keeps talking to Jinx, leading me through the woods to Georgia. Finally, I spot her small blonde form, running. She's nearly shifted, her eyes glowing and her canines protruded but I can tell she's forcing the shift back. I leap through the air, snarling at the people behind her. The bloodhounds race around me, Lindsey rushing to Georgia like I'd ordered her to. Once the bloodhounds have the group of six under control, the fifteen lupus I'd told to follow behind arrive, taking the six into custody. I shift back and immediately pull on some sweats, heading to Georgia.

"Oh goddess," Georgia says, crying "Please, no, please. I didn't know where else to go. I'm sorry. I didn't mean to intrud-"

"Georgia," I say softly "Relax. You're safe here. I'm Alpha Derric, I'm a lupus. You're on Black Moon Pack territory...where you belong."

Georgia cries, covering her face.

"I didn't think I'd make it," Georgia whispers "They were so close..."

"Thank your Gaia for that," I say softly "Come on. Let's get you treated so you can finish your first shift."

Georgia nods. I bend down, gently lifting her into my arms. I take her to my office and Jinx sighs in relief. I set Georgia down next to her, knowing it will calm both of them down.

"Alpha," Dr. Kent, my hellhound doctor, says "You told Nick to bring me here?"

"Yes," I say "This is Georgia. She's been shot with icefire."

"Oh goddess," Dr. Kent says "Let me see, child. Where at?"

"Left leg," Georgia says softly "Am I going to be able to shift?"

"Not yet," Dr. Kent says "Icefire weakened your wolf so it'll take a few days to exit your system. However, once it exits your system, you'll be able to shift."

"So," Georgia says "What happens when I do?"

"You'll be with me," Darian says "I'll guide you through it and keep you from doing any harm. Vincenzo and a female hellhound of Alpha's choosing will be present."

"So," Georgia says "I won't be alone?"

"No," Jinx says softly "You won't be alone. Where are your parents?"

"I don't know," Georgia says "I ran off when I felt the shift. They're probably looking for me."

"Relax," I say "Both your parents are hellhounds?"

Georgia nods.

"Jinx," I say "You need to make sure they stay hidden."

Jinx nods.

"Georgia," I say "I need you to sit beside Jinx and take her hands."

Georgia does as told. Moments later, Jinx's eyes fly open, glowing gold.

"Her eyes," Georgia says "Why are they like that?"

"She's the Gaia," I say "She's connecting with your parents through your connection with them to tell them to stay where they are until someone arrives to bring them here."

"Why can't they come on their own," Georgia says "Those people were only after me."

"No," I say "Those people are part of a group that has been snatching hellhounds through their usage of icefire. If we hadn't gotten to you today, you would be added to a list of nearly six hundred missing hellhounds."

Georgia gasps.

"Yes," I say "So, to keep your parents from being added to that list, I'm sending some people to them to bring them back here, safe and sound."

Georgia nods, relaxing.