After hunting, and searching the woods for hours, Maverick and Jordan had convinced Damian he was imagining things. There was no trace of anyone having been in the woods, despite Damian’s repeated claims that he could smell her.

His soul-mate.

They returned to the cabin with their bellies full from feasting on deer, rabbits, and squirrels, and were met by Xavier’s guards.

“Xavier has requested you break your fast with him before you leave,” one of the guards said. He curled his lips as he scrutinized them from head to toe. “But judging by the residue on your faces, you haven’t been fasting at all.”

“Please, take a shower. You reek to high heaven. You’re all filthy,” the other guard chimed in.

“No shit. We’ve been out in the woods most of the night,” Jordan sniped.

Damian held out his hand, palm facing outward, toward his Beta in an effort to get him stop talking. They’d be leaving soon after eating, and he didn’t want there to be any bad blood.

“Sorry about my Beta. We’re tired. Please let Xavier know we’ll be there. And we’ll be squeaky clean.”

“The morning meal will be served in thirty minutes,” the first guard stated.

The guards glared at the trio, then turned and walked away. Damian couldn’t make out what they were saying, but could hear the low mumbling. He didn’t care. He had someone on his mind, and the pangs shooting though his abdomen were causing him to take shallow breaths. He’d never felt that stabbing sensation, mixed with a feeling of starvation, before.

Breakfast was eaten on Xavier’s porch. Leia was there, and she was all smiles during the meal until the conversation turned to discuss how the new Pack was to get to their destination.

“I don’t want you to leave,” Leia whispered.

“Damian needs to establish his own Pack, sweetheart. Maybe one day, after he and his friends get settled, we can make the trip to visit them.”

Leia bounced in her seat while clapping her hands. The frown turned to a huge toothy grin.

“Have you come up with a name for your Pack?” Xavier asked.

“I thought of one: Exiled Shasta Spawn.”

Maverick and Jordan shook their heads. They’d heard the name in the woods the night before and had asked Damian to reconsider. They both knew it wouldn’t sit well with Alpha Thor, and could possibly put them each in an even worse predicament.

“That’s the best you can come up with?” Xavier shook his head. “There certainly has to be something less controversial. Isn’t there? Perhaps you can think about it a bit longer before announcing your Pack name.”

“It’s the only thing I can think of,” Damian said. His tone was clipped, and he shoveled huge forkfuls of food into his mouth.

“May I make a suggestion?”

“Sure,” Damian said.

“Perhaps something along the lines of Mountain Rumblers, or Shasta Redeemers. I’ve seen your father at his angriest, and I’d hate to see you poke at that beast in him with your proposed name.”

Damian’s stomach growled as he swallowed his mouthful of food.

“Perhaps Insatiable Blue is a viable option.” Xavier chuckled at his reference to Damian’s bottomless pit of a stomach and his piercing blue eyes.

“Ha-ha. I’ll take your advice and think about it for a little more, but your options are out. All of them. Maybe we’ll just be known as the Pack with no name.” Damian stopped talking abruptly and his nose rose high into the air, sniffing. Then, with a look of disappointment on his face, he lowered his head.

“Fine. My guards will be ready to accompany you to your land when you and your friends are ready.”

“Thank you, but that’s really not necessary. I think we’ll be fine to travel on our own,” Damian said.

“Nonsense. I promised your father I’d make sure you got there in one piece. You have no choice but to accept my offer, because I never make empty promises.”

“Thank you, again, for everything. I guess it’s time for us to get moving. We have no idea what we’re going to find when we get there.”

Damian and his Betas shook Xavier’s hand, then they each leaned down to give Leia a hug and told her good-bye.