Chapter 7

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

I rub my temples as we all sit over the photos, yet again, trying to figure out what is going on.

"Nobody seems to know," Darian says "Every hellhound, hound and bloodhound has agreed that these attacks are too clean, neat and organized to be an actual hellhound, hound or bloodhound attack. But if that's the case, who has a grudge against hellhounds, hounds, or bloodhounds, enough to piss off the entire species by framing one of them for murders they didn't commit?"

"That's what we can't seem to figure out," Marcus says "Why don't we call the Council? Maybe they can send the Gaia out to the scenes, see if she'll find anything that the rest of us are missing."

"They won't," Mom says "She's untrained, entirely too important to the werewolf race, and completely out of control of her abilities right now. So, we have to solve this on our own."

My office phone rings and I pick it up.

"Hello," I say "Alpha Derric Shadow of Black Moon Pack speaking. What can I do for you?"

"Hello," A male says "This is Alpha Pierce Sinclaire of Blue Moon Pack. By any chance, have you had reports of anymore hellhound, hound or bloodhound attacks in any of the other packs?"

"No," I say "The attacks have been silent since the latest attack on your pack. I've ordered that all packs keep their people out of the woods until we catch whomever is doing this."

"Too late," Alpha Pierce says "One of my warrior groups was on their way back to the territory from helping an allying pack. They were all attacked right outside of our gates. Fifty feet away was an unconscious hellhound, covered in blood from head to toe. I've placed my entire pack on lockdown so that nobody besides myself, my Beta, and my Head Warrior see this crime scene. To say it's gruesome would be an understatement."

"Alright," I say "I'll send a couple of my most in control hellhounds out with a few lupus to get the hellhound."

"No can do," Alpha Pierce says "The Council has ordered that I hold him in my dungeons until further told otherwise."

I growl lowly at the response, not liking the fact that one of my own may be locked up for a crime that he couldn't help.

"He lost control," I say "And you're still going to punish him for it? He's punished every day for being out of control. Let me bring him home where I can see to it that he gets help in gaining control over his wolf."

"I can't," Alpha Pierce says "He'll be tried in my pack for his crimes six months from today. Hell, maybe we finally found our attacking hellhound. I just called to let you know, Alpha Shadow."

He hangs up and I slam the phone down on the receiver, feeling my wolf rise to the surface.

"Derric," Mom says "Calm down before you lose control."

"They're going to convict a hellhound," I say "He's new...fresh. He can't control his wolf the way we can yet, they didn't even give him a chance to learn how to."

I rip the phone off my desk, throwing it at the wall, successfully shattering it. I feel my bones rippling, my wolf fighting to take control as I fight him to keep control over my body. All of a sudden, the strong presence of her overtakes me, her voice echoing inside my head.

*Calm, my love, it is okay, calm.*

My wolf immediately backs down, retiring back to his corner and I slowly sit down.

"Derric," Darian says "Are you okay?"

"She spoke to me," I say "The Gaia...my wolf was about to take complete control and I felt her and then...then I heard her. She calmed my wolf down and told him that it's okay. She's only been Gaia for a month so how is it possible for her to completely conceal her presence from us but then pop in and out of our minds when we need her?"

A low howl echoes through my territory and I get a text from a hellhound stating that there's an unfamiliar hellhound with a bloodhound on the territory. We all go downstairs.

"Hello," I say "Who are you, how did you find my territory, and who told you to come here?"

"Alpha," The hellhound says "My name is Vincenzo. This is my mate...Lindsey. This morning, Lindsey and I lost our pup and she lost control over her wolf. Before she did, a voice told her to come here. That we would be safe here."

"A voice," Darian says "What did it sound like?"

Vincenzo looks to Lindsey who whimpers, her tail swishing low to the ground.

"It was soft," Vincenzo says, eyes still on his mate "Soothing, comforting. The way a mother would speak to her pup."

"The Gaia," Dad breathes "She's directing them to us. But if that's the case, why did the latest one not get directed to us?"

"What if he did," Mom says "But if he's newly shifted, he may not have known. Besides, when a hellhound shifts for the first time, they pass out after losing control. He didn't get the chance to get to us and follow her orders."

"So," Marcus says "Will she save him?"

"She'll have to," Charles says "She'll feel his panic, won't she?"

"Yes," Dad says "She'll feel him. However, it depends on the Council on if she saves him or not."

"What," Marcus says "But doesn't the Council have a representative for each of us?"

"Yes," Charles says "But if they're trying to keep her presence concealed from regular werewolves, they won't allow her to save him, will they?"

"No," Mom says "They won't. Derric, you need to get in to see him, ask him if he heard her before he passed out. Ask him if that's what made him stop."

I nod, heading back to my office. I immediately use the phone that will be used by my Luna, whenever I find one, and call Alpha Pierce.

"Alpha Pierce," I say "This is Alpha Derric Shadow. I need permission onto your territory to speak with the hellhound. We've had some recent discoveries and I have some questions that I need to ask him."

"Alright," Alpha Pierce says "You may come onto my territory. How many will you be bringing with you?"

"Six including myself," I say "Two hellhounds, two hounds, my mother, and a bloodhound."

"A bloodhound," Alpha Pierce says "I'm not too sure about that..."

"She needs him," I say "She's a mother who lost her pup and in the process, lost control of her wolf. He needs a mother presence to explain to him what is going on with him and she needs to feel needed."

"Fine," Alpha Pierce says "Keep her under control."

"I will," I say "Thank you."

I hang up, heading downstairs.

"Alright," I say "Vincenzo, Lindsey, Darian, Charles, Marcus, and mom, you all are going with me to Blue Moon. Lindsey, this pup needs you. Do you think you can gain control of your human body when we arrive there? I'm tasking the two of you with calming him down and explaining to him what's going on with him. Darian, Marcus, Charles, the three of you are going to see the crime scene, collect all the paperwork on the victims and photograph everything. Mom, you'll stay with me. We're going to stay with Vincenzo and Lindsey while they explain to him what's going on and then we'll talk with the pup. Everyone clear on their directions?"

Mom smiles proudly at me as the rest nod.

"Alright," I say "We're riding in the Escalade. Lindsey, you can fit in the back. Vincenzo, you can sit in the seat in front of her or you can sit in the back with her."

Vincenzo nods.

"Alright," I say "Pack some bags."

We all disperse, packing bags and meet back at the Escalade thirty minutes later. Once all the bags are carefully placed inside the trunk where Lindsey can still fit, we all help Lindsey get into the trunk and Vincenzo climbs in with her. After getting comfortable, Lindsey lies down on Vincenzo and he strokes her fur, whispering to her. The rest of us climb in, me getting in the driver's seat while my mom takes the passenger seat. I back out, driving off my own territory.