Chapter 23

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

I rub my temples as I sit in Derric's office with his family.

"So," Derric says "You can't tell me because I'll lose it but at the same time, everyone here needs to know what's going on, as much as you."

I sigh and look at the Elder's.

"Go ahead," Elder Martin says softly "There is no choice."

"If they succeed in creating a Gaia," I say "And they make her the exact same way as me and the other Gaia's, nobody can stop her except for the four of us. And in doing so, we could destroy the entire world; humans, werewolves, vampires, witches, all of us could die because of this. So, no, allowing them to succeed in creating a Gaia is not an option."

"Shit," Derric says "And based off of what we know...how close are they to succeeding?"

Elder Martin stiffens and I look at him.

"The other Gaia's have arrived," Elder Martin says "I am afraid we need to postpone this."

Derric nods, looking over at me, worriedly. I follow my Elder's downstairs and outside, where the pack has gathered around the different Elder's, who circle around four different girls.

"Elder Martin," A vampire Elder says "What is going on?"

"Come," Elder Martin says "We will explain in the office. Alpha Shadow, would you care to join us?"

Derric nods, following the group upstairs and into his office. We all step into the office.

"So," A witch Elder says "What is going on that we had to get our Gaia's, some before entering their abilities?"

"We believe someone is trying to make a Gaia," Elder Malcolm says "But, as you know, the first Gaia to come into her abilities is the strongest of them and also the closest to their Goddess or God. Well, our Gaia, Jinx, is the first to come into her abilities. Someone is kidnapping the species and injecting them with DNA of each species in an attempt to recreate Jinx. We believe there is a more sinister plan but if they are trying to create a new Gaia, all of the Gaia's need to be together and be completely trained in their abilities."

The four girls look at me, curiously.

"So," One of them says "What does he have to do with it?"

She points at Derric.

"Is he a bodyguard or something," Another says "He's kinda hot."

I growl lowly until an arm wraps around my waist, pulling me backwards.

"Relax," Derric says softly, kissing my cheek "I'm yours."

I nod, taking a deep breath. All of a sudden, a sharp pain springs through my hip.

"Someone's shifting," I say "I can't tell what's going on, their mind is too jumbled."

*Calm down, love, I can't help you if I don't know what's wrong.*

Immediately, alarms spring through my body and I stiffen as their thoughts calm.

"It's a family," I say "Hellhounds. There's six of them. They're being chased by atleast thirty hunters, they have icefire."

"Okay," Derric says "Where are they? I'll send out lupus."

"You can't," I say "They have silver and wolfsbane gas bombs. They were prepared for us to send out reinforcements this time."

"Well," Derric says "That's not entirely true."

I look at him.

"Think about it," Derric says "Jinx, I'm linked to you. I draw strength from you since you are stronger than me."

"I didn't even think about that," I say "Whatever I'm immune to, you're immune to."

"Exactly," Derric says "As long as I'm close to you, I'm immune to wolfsbane and silver, too."

"So," Elder Martin says "You both need to go. Jinx is her strongest with you nearby, Derric, and you're only immune when she is nearby."

Derric nods.

"Come on," Derric says "Let's go save some hellhounds."

I take his hand and we head outside. The pack is watching the woods, anxiously, hearing the movement. Derric looks at me and I nod. I shrug off my shirt and pants, shifting into my wolf and Derric follows. We both sprint into the woods and as we get close, I let out a loud snarl, the Earth shaking beneath my feet. I hear the hellhounds shift direction towards me, moving faster. As they come into sight, I bump Derric and he bumps me back, letting me know he knows what I'm saying. I jump over them, landing in front of the hunters. Derric lands just behind me, both of us baring our canines in defense. The hellhounds drop in defeat. I growl lowly, moving my body to curl around them, Derric shifting to curl his around what my body doesn't fit.

"We can't get through them," One hunter says "Check out the white one's eyes, they're gold. Just like Boss warned us about the werewolf leader. You know, the one we have no weapon against. If we try to attack them, we won't win."

The hunter's back off.

"Don't worry," One says, grinning "We'll get more. They can't hide forever."

I bump Derric and he snarls, making the hunter jump backwards. The hunters leave.

*Get on our backs, stay low to our bodies.*

Derric lowers his body, letting three climb onto his back while I take the other three. We sprint back through the woods, racing into the pack house where the pack is gathered, waiting.

"Gaia," Elder Martin says "You're not supposed to shift!"

Derric lowers his body, letting the three climb off of his back.

"Where are we," A girl says "Mom?"

"We're in Black Moon Pack," One of the women on my back says "Your sister needs the Gaia's help, honey."

I let them climb off of my back and Derric shifts back, pulling on the shorts his mom offers him.

"I'll grab you clothes," Derric says "Be right back."

He runs up the steps, taking them two at a time, before returning. He lets me take the clothes in my mouth and opens a bathroom door, closing it behind me. I shift back, quickly getting dressed before exiting.

"Where is she," I say "The one transforming?"

"Delilah," One of the men says "Come here."

One of the younger girls growls at the demand and I look at her, noticing her eyes flashing between colors, rapidly.

"Calm down," I say, kneeling in front of her "I know it hurts, so much, and you feel so empty but it's okay. You're okay. You're not empty, not as much as you think that you are."

A male runs into the pack house.

"Alpha," He says "A lupus man just ran onto pack grounds...he's carrying two hellhounds."

I look at Derric.

"I'll handle it," Derric says "Darian, come with me, please."

Darian nods, following Derric. After fifteen minutes, Derric rushes in.

"Jinx," Derric says "It's two of the missing hellhounds. And they want you."

I jump up, running behind him with the rest of the pack in tow. I spot Darian and beeline towards him, the lupus male sitting on the ground with the small hellhound girl and larger hellhound boy. I immediately recognize the girl's scent.

"Get Lindsey and Vincent," I say "It's their daughter."

I crouch down, inspecting them both for injuries.