Lost! (private)

Jethro smiled.

"Yes. He will be." he agreed. "But he also need to learn you're no longer a little pup. He won't be able to protect you forever."

Jethro threw Brody an amused smile and the young pup fidgeted slightly. He knew that comment was aimed at him as well as Jared. Jethro turned back to Joanna.

"Apart from scrapes, bumps and bruises.. you're fine, Princess. he told her. "Your head injury is the worst and I want to keep you h for a while for observation."

Feeling eyes on him, Ivan turned to see Madeline frowning at him. He raised an eyebrow at her, then frowned.

What is it, cousin? he asked her. What have I done to displease you this time...?

Thane smiled at the she-wolf.

"It's good to see you too, Marina. It's been a while since you've been to Deep Forest." he said. "Not since Annie was born..."

Thane shook his head lightly.

"My son is as healthy and hearty as ever, as you saw." he said. "Joanna took a tumble in the forest earlier and is being looked after by our healer. She should be fine. How fares the rest of your family?"

Thane looked at Ivan.

"I haven't seen you since you were knee high to an oak sapling." he told him. "You look just like your father."

Jared all but stormed into the healer's den.

"Out with it, Annie." he spat out.

He as sure he only one out of the loop was himself. And he disliked feeling like he didn't know what was going on.

Madeline smiled slightly and said, You didn't need to be so rude to Prince Jared.

Marina chuckled and nodded. "I'm glad that your family is well. And as for mine, well as you can see Ivan's grown and the little red head is my niece Madeline."

Joanna winced slightly as Jared entered the den. When she looked at him her light purple eyes were hard and determined. "I'm sorry I didn't tell you. I wasn't trying to keep it from you, I was trying to hide it from Clayton. I told father that if I were mated I wouldn't need Clayton anymore. Somehow he found out and that's what really sent him over his boiling point. I never told father, but since Clayton started watching over me he's had it out for me. Today was his last chance to get rid of me." She said and then slowly took a deep breath. "I was going to tell you about the contract when father and I agreed to it. But every time I tried to Clayton was there. I'm really sorry Jared." She added quietly.

Edward sensed Shatoka was uneasy in her sleep and gently stroked her hair to try and calm her. He hummed softly as he sat beside her.

Ivan's frown deepened, then he sighed. Madeline had a point. He hadn't really started on the right foot/ paw whatever, with his future brother-in-law. And to be honest, Ivan wasn't even sure why he had been snarky himself. He sighed again.

To be honest... I'm not sure why I took my irritability out on him... Ivan told his cousin, then turned to the Alpha and bowed. "It's an honour to see you again, Alpha. My father speaks of you often."

Thane nodded to Ivan.

"Your father is a fine male and a good friend." Thane told him. "The honour is mine to have his heir visit my pack."

He then turned and smiled at Marina.

"And a fine young man he has grown into." he told her, before looking at Madeline. "And it's a pleasure to meet you, Lady Madeline."

Thane then swept his arm before and away from him.

"Please, enter. You must all be weary from your trip from Blood Moon."

Jared listened to his sister with mounting ire.

"I don't understand, Joanna... why didn't you come to me at night, when Clayton had retired for the evening?" he asked her with a deep frown. "There must've been some way... as for Clayton... just what the hell is his problem anyway...? Did you dis him or something?"

"May I ask why Joanna is in the healer's den?" Marina asked worriedly.

Madeline shrugged slightly and said, I guess it's the stress of being forced to mate a stranger. I mean we knew her when we were little, but it's been a long time. And she might be totally different now. Madeline then turned to Thane and smiled with a bow.

Joanna got up and hugged her brother. "Clayton has spies in our pack. Even if he had gone to bed doesn't mean his spies did. As for why he hates me I have no clue. I've never done anything to him." She said quietly.

Thane smiled at Marina, but his eyes became serious and alert.

"As I said, she took a tumble while running about in the woods. It's a miracle Jared, Clayton and Terence found her in time, but she's none the worse for wear." He told her, while he added for her ears only. It seems Clayton has finally made his move... I've been watching him for years. Through no fault of her own, Joanna is looking more and more like Rebecca... and I think that's the problem.

Ivan smiled at Madeline.

Maybe... but that doesn't mean I get to act like a petulant child... he said. And I doubt Joanna's changed much, Maddie... Jared certainly doesn't seem to have changed much... he's still a hot-head!

Jared sighed as he hugged his sister back. Yes, Joanna was right. Nothing seemed to escape Clayton, especially not when it came to the royal siblings... he obviously had many birds in the pack. Then again, in the eyes of their pack mates, Clayton was somewhat a favourite. He was very popular as both a man's man and a ladies' man. He could roll with the male punches and dish out the charm to the females in equal measure. As a pup, Jared had even admired the male. Before he started realizing who and what he really was.

As he watched the siblings with his pups, Jethro sighed.

"I think I may be able to shed light on Clayton's... dislike... of Joanna..." he said.

As the delegation from Blood moon entered the Deep Forest packs camp, Ivan turned to Thane.

"Alpha... is it alright if I go and see Princess Joanna...?" he asked politely.

Thane smiled.

"I'm sure she'll be happy to see you and pleased that you are concerned about her health." he said. "But she may not be in the best mood once she's done with what she has to tell Jared. But if you'd still like to see her, I can ask one of my wolves to show you the way. I'm sure she'd appreciate the company..."

Marina nodded and said, "I'm glad that she's alright." Her expression didn't change when she was told the true reason. I'm sorry that he's attacking your daughter. I hope that this match with my son will help. She added as she smiled at her son and niece.

Madeline smiled and said, You might be surprised. She's not a little girl anymore cuz. "I'll go with you." She said softly.

Joanna turned to look at Jethro. "Does it have anything to do with the fact I look exactly like my mother?" She asked not realizing that she had figured it out.

bump

Thane smiled and nodded as he lead the Blood Moon wolves to the guest dens.

"Thank you." he told Marina. I doubt it... I fear it'll only make him more determined... after all... he's already lost Rebecca once. He won't do so again.

Ivan nodded at Madeline.

"Thanks, Cousin." he said to her. "I appreciate it. Especially if his Highness is still there..."

I'm well aware she's no longer a little girl, Maddie... I mean look at Jared... All the years when we were kids, he was the shrimp... now he's taller than me!

Thane nodded and summoned a young warrior to take the Blood Moon royals to the healer's den.

Ed gently calmed Shatoka as she awoke from her nightmare.

"Easy, Shatoka..." he said softly. "What's wrong...?"

Jethro looked at Joanna, then sighed and nodded.

"Exactly. I don't know how much either of you remember of your mother... but she was quite a few years younger than your father... and an old friend of Clayton's... hence Clayton being named Joanna's guardian." Jethro began, but was interrupted by a growl from Jared.

"Please don't tell me this is going where I think it is..."

Jethro turned to him.

"If your mind is on the right track, then I don't think I need to continue."

Brody, who had walked outside came back into the den.

"Looks like you're about to get some guests, princess..." he said. "Two of the Blood Moons are heading in this direction."

Jethro's head shot round to his son, a look of panic on his face.

"Brody, Lacy. Go to your rooms now and don't come out until I call you." he ordered them.

Ed nodded.

"Just remember... you're safe here." he told her. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

He then glanced at Jethro.

"Wonder why he's suddenly so worked up...?"

Marina smiled and followed Thane.

Madeline walked beside her cousin and smiled.

Joanna looked up at her brother and said, "let's meet them outside." She then hurried out the door.

Edward smiled at Shatoka.

"While I'm a rogue and born to it... you could make the Deep Forest pack your home, you know." he told her.

Jethro smiled his thanks at Joanna and ushered his pups through a door and into their home den beyond. Jared frowned at Jethro's weird behviour and a bit p!ssed at the uncovered reason of why Clayton was always on his sister's case. But he hurried off after his sister.

"Annie, slow down!" he called after her. "You're still hurt, remember!?"

Ivan grinned at his cousin. They had nearly reached the healer's den when Joanna burst through the door, followed by an agitated Jared.

"Woah! Where's the fire?" I van teased, then smiled at the beautiful blonde with the strange amethyst eyes. "Joanna Forest, I presume?"

Once they had reached the guest dens, Thane smiled and bowed again.

"I'll leave you and your pack mates to get settled, Marina." he said. "I'll send for you when preparations for tonight' supper are done with."

He then gazed at Marina, his smile still friendly although his green eyes had turned serious.

"I'm glad you're here." he told her. In more ways than one.

Joanna slid to a halt in front of Ivan and gave a sheepish smiled. "Hello, um yes I am. Sorry about the abrupt appearance. I hate being inside for to long and I had to make a run for it or Jared would have stopped me. You must be Ivan and Madeline." She then shot her brother a warning glance.

Lacy frowned and looked at her father, "what's the matter?"

"I'm glad I came too." Marina smiled back and then add sadly, I'm sorry I didn't send notice, but Torren isn't doing to well. He's very sick.

Ed smiled at Shatoka.

"I think that'll be a great idea." he told her. "But you'll have to get the okay from Jethro first."

Jared merely snorted and rolled his eyes as Joanna threw him a warning glance. Whatever. He wasn't about to rat out the healer when he wasn't even sure what the hell he was supposed to be ratting out about. And yet... Jared narrowed his eyes, locked onto the red eyes of Ivan.

Ivan chuckled.

"Well, you've been hurt and Prince Jared wouldn't be a very good big brother if he let you hurt yourself further. But I understand not wanting to be cooped up." he then nodded. "Yes, indeed, we are as you say."

Ivan then saw Jared staring at him.

"Is there something on my face, Prince Jared?"

"Not at all, Prince Ivan. It's just both you and Annie have rather unique eye colours..." Jared lied smoothly, his face betraying nothing as his mind tried to link the pieces in this strange puzzle. "I was wondering what colour eyes any pups you may or may not have will have."

He then turned and smiled at Madeline.

Jethro sighed and ran a hand through his white hair.

"I want the two of you to avoid our guests from the Blood Moon if you can... especially the royals." he said softly. "I know you two don't understand... but I haven't told you everything about who you and I are... some of it I don't understand myself... but I will tell you two this... my eye colouring is a genetic trait which is found in one, and only one, family in our world... and there are members of this family visiting us at this moment."

He looked at his children seriously.

"I promise... if it doesn't come out sooner... I will tell you two everything once our guests are gone."

Brody looked over at his twin sister. Their father rarely told them to do something without giving them an explanation... but he seemed serious about this. He bit his lip. Then he nodded.

Thane nodded at Marina's words, but his green eyes darkened slightly.

How bad is it...? Thane asked, his mind jumping to Jethro. Is there anything we can do to help?

Torren was Thane's oldest and dearest friend. He wasn't about to sit on his laurels if anything could be done.

Joanna just shook her head at her brother's words. "Honestly Jared, did you have to bring up that subject?" She asked with a slight blush. She then turned to Ivan and said, "It's just a small bump on the head." She winced slightly and gently touched the bump.

Madeline smiled back at Jared and then frowned slightly as Joanna winced.

Lacy looked up at her father again and asked silently, Are you part of the royal family, Papa?

Marina gently touched Thane's shoulder and said, We have tried everything, my love. I know that Jethro is here, but I don't want the other's to know. He's happy here and I want it to stay that way.