JASON

Glancing at the Druids, I draw in a deep breath, "I need to change. Then I'll have a better idea of what happened here."

"So go ahead then." Michael is grinning at me.

Glaring at him, I reply, "The blood will make my beast a little aggressive, watch yourselves."

They shift closer together, ready to defend themselves if they need to. I nod my head in approval. My head lowers, and I close my eyes, focusing on the beast within me. 'We must be careful, these are our friends.' A soft growl is his reply, as he cares for nothing but the hunt and the punishment he was designed to bring. Rescue is not his instinct. His calmness around Aislin had been surprising. I thought I would have to fight him, but he even let her pet him. Everything's been so crazy, I only thought of it.

A wolfy grin floats through my mind. 'She is important to her. Therefore she is pack to us.' This statement from him gives me pause.

'Pack?'

'Yes, our pack is growing. It is good. Even these two are pack.'

Two pairs of eyebrows draw together as my red eyes turn and focus on them. I smile, and their eyes widen. I run my tongue along the razor sharp fangs that have grown. My laugh comes out a bark, and the next instant I am looking up at them, tongue lolling out of my muzzle, beast and man one. Nose dropping to the floor, I follow her sweet scent to the corner, and her terror burns my nose. Beast growls deep and rumbling and his hackles rise. He doesn't like her terror. Turning the corner, I move around the desk, fighting to ignore the rats and blood. Drawing all the scents in deeply, I sort and focus on one that permeates the area. Male, angry, obsessive… Other. Us.

'He is like us, but not. No hellhound.' I send the thought to my beast.

'No, no beast, but he came from hell, like us.' The hellhound sends me images of the underworld. My rage builds and a long howl erupts from my mouth, causing the Druids to swing their gazes around looking for danger. Shaking my massive body, I leap over the desk and race down the hall. I have to get outside… Away. All this, once again, is Hades’ fault. I don't know how, but it is.

'You must call her to us.' I don't want to listen. I don't want her here, I fight him as he tries to force the change. The beast takes control when we reach the outside. 'I will call her… For our pack.'

Eyes glowing red, lighting up the night, his howl echoes across the dimensions. It is one never heard before, not like this. Perséphone appears in front of me, face pinched with worry. Her hand drifts out, running through my thick black pelt and the change begins. Seconds later, because I was fighting it, I stand panting in front of her. I recognize Sean and Michael tense at my back, ready to defend me. Aislin is racing down the steps. She slides to a stop seconds later, out of breath, a bag in her hand.

"What the fuck was that, Jason?" She huffs out as she bends over trying to catch her breath. "I have to start working out," she mutters while glaring up at us.

"Sorry, Kukla, I didn't mean to scare you, and neither did my beast, but he felt we should question Perséphone." I stare at the goddess pointly.

"Jason, you know I will do anything to help you." Her voice is soft as she replies.

"Really? Could you force your husband to stop making people and then throwing them away without a second thought." I grit my teeth, rage causing my eyes to glow. A constant growl rumbles in my chest. "Because once again, one is hell bent on getting revenge."

Aislin gasps behind me. Perséphone's eyes fill with sadness.

"Who?" She asks, resignation filling her voice.

"How the hell should I know?! He is holding Emma, doing god knows what to her. Go inside and maybe you can figure it out, maybe you can recognize him." I stalk away, unable to be near her anymore.

Stopping when the water is on my legs, I stand in the waves and stare at the sea. Aislin's fingers thread through mine once again, and her head rests on my arm. She doesn't say anything, just stands with me. Hands grip my shoulders as Michael and Sean move in behind us, always guarding our backs.

'Pack'

'How much longer I can do this, hunt them. So many, destroyed by those that created us. So many haunt me. Pack scares me. People to be responsible for. People that we can lose… Again.' I can't say it outloud. I can't speak the horrors. I can't open the door. Fifty years ago, I had family, and in an instant of lost control, I destroyed them. Panting, I step away and shift, running through the surf to the other side of the island, leaving them staring after me. They don't follow. Michael holds Aislin as she stares after my fleeing form.

Perséphone appears and walks slowly to my side, sitting on the ground she fingers my fur. "I think I might have an idea who it is. I need to check a few things, but I will come to you at your home as soon as I know for sure." Her hand slides down to my paw and tightens momentarily before she fades away. "I'm so sorry, Jason," floats on the wind as she leaves. My howl fills the night.

I shift back and continue sitting on the shore, staring out at nothing, darkness. My phone rings, pulling it from my pocket, I glance down at it. Nestor. I swipe the screen, and his raised voice fills the darkness before it's to my ear.

"ARE YOU CRAZY? We all heard that howl. I have people calling, asking if they should be running or hiding. That howl has only ever meant you are hunting and one of us is going to die. Are you hunting?"

"Yes and no. Tell them not to worry. It's not for them. He's one of us, the discarded. He left with Emma. He apparently joined the Order at some point. This place reeks of revenge and obsession. The hound felt we should call Perséphone to help and I disagreed, so he took control." I sigh, scrubbing my hand over my face. "He wants a pack."

Seconds tick by, and then he answers, "It might be good for you."

"How can you say that? You are well aware of exactly what happened last time. Listen, I've gotta go; the others are coming, and we need to return to my house. Call me if you find out anything. We have no idea who this is still. Perséphone seemed more worried than ever before."

"Well, that sounds ominous. I'll keep checking. He has hidden well if neither of us has any knowledge of him."

"Yes and that worries me. He has possibly had a very long time to plan this, and Emma fell right into his trap." My fist grips the phone as my rage simmers below the surface.

"Steady, my friend. We will find her." The line disconnects as the others reach me.

I watch them as they move around me. "Listen..."

"Stop. Ye naw need to continue; we hae been there." Strong hands squeeze my shoulder as they pass, climbing into the boat. I slowly come to my feet and look at the men. The scent of magnolias has me turning to see Aislin standing there and watching me sadly.

"We will find her, Jason. YOU will find her. And maybe, just maybe, she will hear what you need to her to." Her hand lays over my heart for a moment as she moves by me to the boat. I stare at her, confused. What is she talking about? Shaking my head, I shrug before joining them on the boat. I program the GPS, finishing as Sean shoves me out of the way.

"Take a seat, I'm driving." The sound of the motor and the wind is the only noise on the return trip, as we all sit lost in our thoughts and memories. Every so often, the others raise their eyes to the sky, searching for the others, hope etched on their faces. I don't bother. Now that I know who and what our opponent is, I have no hope that it will be this easy getting Emma back.