Chapter 6

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

I sigh as I sit in my office, filling out paperwork.

"Hey," Dad says "Need any help?"

I look up.

"No," I say "But would you like to sit and provide me with some company? I have lots of thoughts going on in my head."

"Sure," Dad says "Talk to me, son, what is it?"

"I don't know," I say "Something just doesn't sit right about these hellhound attacks. They're too...organized."

"Okay," Dad says "Explain to me how."

"When hellhounds attack," I say "They normally leave behind bloodshed. They don't just kill one person, and they never leave anyone alive. Hounds don't even do that. So, what I'm saying is, if this was an attack by a hellhound, why are these people still alive, why is it only one person that's attacked, and why is there minimal blood left behind?"

Dad leans back in the chair.

"Hmm," Dad says "I never noticed that. Let's call your mother in. Put our three heads together. Maybe your advisors for each species, as well?"

I nod in agreement, picking up my cell phone and texting Darian, the advisor for the hellhounds, Marcus, the advisor for the hounds, and Charles, a hound who advises over the bloodhounds until we can get a bloodhound who is in human form. The three enter after we wait fifteen minutes. After thirty more minutes, my mom walks in, closing the door behind her. We all sit over the photos, trying to figure them out.

"It makes no sense," Darian says "It mimicks a hellhound attack, yes, but it doesn't have all the specific qualities that every hellhound leaves behind, whether intentional or unintentional."

"Exactly," I say "It's too clean."

"Too neat," Marcus says "I mean, look at this. One slash across the chest, diagonal. That's it. Everyone knows hellhounds have no control. Once we're mad, we lose complete control and if you're in the way, you're as good as dead. If this was an attack by a hellhound, this hellhound is extremely organized and has this planned out."

"That's impossible," Charles says "Why would a hellhound go around killing random werewolves that have literally no common denominator between them? I mean, look at it. Blue Moon, Red Moon, Grey Moon, White Moon, Purple Moon, Gold Moon, Silver Moon, Green Moon, none of these attacks have anything in common. The attacks are random, the gender changes every time just like the pack."

"The only thing in common is the species," I say "But even then, what would a hellhound have against normal werewolves? The regular werewolves don't mess with the lupus, hellhounds, hounds, bloodhounds, or any species stronger than themselves. So, why is this hellhound targetting these werewolves, if it even is a hellhound?"

"It's not," Mom says "You all said it yourself. It's too clean, too neat, too organized. Let me see the paperwork on each attack victim."

I hold out the manila envelope.

"Hm," Mom says "There's no way this could be a hellhound. These are previous attacks here."

Mom pulls out the envelope and shows us gory photos of hellhound attack scenes. The photos depict trees with bloodied scratchmarks, multiple victims torn to shreds, bloodied drag marks across the ground, and bloodied walls.

"Compared to these," I say "This is child's play."

"Exactly," Mom says "Except hellhound children do worse than this. So, this is someone trying to make it look like a hellhound."

"But why," I say "And who? None of the victims have anyone in common."

"What if they're not the targets," Dad says "What if the targets are actually someone close to them?"

"Already checked into it," I say "Everyone linked to each and every one of them has nobody in common with anyone else inside their lines."

We all lean back, sighing as we stare at the photos.

"Wait," Darian says "If it really were a hellhound, wouldn't the Gaia know?"

"Not necessarily," Dad says "Since she's still new, she doesn't know how to use her full abilities yet."

"So," Charles says "How long could that take?"

"It depends on how fast she learns," Dad says "And how fast her wolf can teach her millions of years worth of information."

"Basically," Marcus says "He's saying it could be days, months or years."

"Great," Charles says "How strong will she be?"

"Considering even wolves with hellhound blood in their lineage felt her presence," Dad says "I'd say she's going to be pretty strong. She'll be the strongest wolf to exist. Her power will not be as strong as the Moon Goddess', but she'll definitely be up there."

"So," Darian says "When are we going to get her from this werewolf pack?"

"We're not," Mom says "According to other Alpha's, an unnamed female who was found on Blue Moon Pack territory with extensive injuries is going to be taken into the care of the Elder Council to press charges upon Red Moon Pack for her attempted murder."

"Wow," Marcus says "But if that's the Gaia...nothing kills her. So, why would it matter?"

"That's the pretense," Dad says "That's all anyone is being told. The only ones who know that she's the Gaia are those she tells, the Elder Council, and those inside this pack."

"So," Charles says "She may never come here."

"Not yet," Dad says "We won't know until she shows up and makes herself known."

The three groan, wanting to meet the person who can calm the beasts inside of them.

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

I stare out the window of the SUV as the guard drives. I'm seated in an SUV with the werewolf Elder's. There's a hellhound Elder, bloodhound Elder, hound Elder, and a regular werewolf Elder. I'm seated between the hellhound Elder and the bloodhound Elder. The bloodhound Elder, Elder Martin, is staring straight ahead. His hands tremble in his lap, his eyes constantly flashing between black and red.

*Soothe his beast.*

I reach over, wrapping my hand around Elder Martin's. All the Elder's look at me as his wolf calms down, his eyes returning to their shade of black. I return my gaze to outside the window, watching the trees fly by as we head towards Council grounds. After a few more hours of driving, we pull up to a large black gate that parts open, revealing a large black mansion.

"Welcome to the Elder Council grounds," Elder Malcolm, the hound Elder, grunts "Someone will show you around."

The SUV parks and we all get out. Women rush over, the Elder's reaching for them. I immediately realize that these females are the Elder's mates. They introduce each of them. I'm shown to my room by a maid who tells me that some guards will be assigned to me within a few hours and that they'll take me to go shopping using one of the Elder's credit cards and I'll be able to get clothes and anything else I may want or need. After a few more hours, there's a soft knock on the door as I'm putting away the little amount of stuff that I do have. I open the door to see Elder Henry, the hellhound Elder, his mate, Helena, and six guards.

"Jinx," Elder Henry says "May we come in?"

I nod, opening the door wider and letting the small group into the room. I sit on the bed and look at Elder Henry.

"These are your guards," Elder Henry says "Wherever you go, they will be with you. Here is my credit card for when you go shopping today or tomorrow. Get anything you may need. If you need help at any point in time, ask myself or Helena, she'll happily assist you with any female related issues that you may have."

"Uhm," I say softly "Well...I uh...I don't know my sizes."

"Oh," Elder Helena says "That's quite alright, dear. I can measure you and write down your sizes. Or...I could just go shopping with you tomorrow. I can take my own guards as well so we have double the security."

Elder Helena looks to her mate for permission to which he nods.

"That is fine," Elder Henry says "As long as you both take all your guards when you go shopping, it is fine."

"Well," I say softly "Could we...could we go now?"

"Sure," Elder Henry says "Love, why don't you go get your guards? I'll have someone pull the car up."

Elder Helena nods, exiting my room. After half an hour, Elder Helena gets into the SUV beside me and smiles at me. The guards start driving and we head to the mall. I get lots of ripped jeans, unripped jeans, sweaters, hoodies, t-shirts, tank tops, cropped tops, sports bras, pajama shorts, pajama pants, sweatpants, leggings, athletic leggings and shorts, athletic tank tops and long sleeve shirts, bras and underwear.

"Okay," Elder Helena says "What type of underwear do you like? They have lots of different kinds in Victoria's Secret and Pink, just like with bras so it's up to you."

"Uhm," I say "I don't really know what type I like. I've never gotten to choose my own underwear before."

"Alright," Elder Helena says "So, we'll grab one kind of each and you can try them on and see which type is more comfortable to you."

I nod. We grab a kind of each underwear and head into the dressing rooms. I try on each and finally decide on three different types of underwear that I like, exiting the dressing rooms.

"So," Elder Helena says "What kinds did you like?"

"Uhm," I say "Cheekies, boyshorts, and thongs."

"Good choice," Elder Helena says "Let's pick out pairs to go with your bras and such."

I nod and we pick out reds, purples, light blues, dark blues, blacks, whites, florals, striped, polka dotted, and lace types of each underwear. We head back to the Council grounds and my guards and Elder Helena's guards help me carry my bags up to my room. Elder Helena helps me organize my room the way I want it.