Waking up from disturbed sleep, the four ate a quick meal and set off into the woods.


    ''So what is the n here?'' asked Gabrie, ''are we just going to walk around in the trees and hope to stumble across a sign that says Shaman pack this way?'' Vaughn shrugged nonmittally, ''do you have a better idea, if so please enlighten me?'' he muttered.


    The princess threw her hair over her shoulder with a smirk, ''nope, just like to know what''s on the agenda Vaughny'' she replied as she grabbed Rowan''s hand and made her way fearlessly under the green leafy canopy that was knitted over their heads. Taking Olivia''s hand possessively in his own, Vaughn fell into step behind the couple and they made their way slowly and silently over the moss covered ground.


    Walking for hours, their morale slowly began to seep away as they passed endless trees and bushes with no sign of a cave or a human presence.


    ''This is hopeless'' Gabrie huffed throwing herself down onto a small rock and pulling off her shoes to massage her feet, the others sitting down around her, Olivia pulling out water and some pasties for them to eat as they took a rest.


    ''Lets be honest Gab, it was highly unlikely that we were going to stumble across a pack that wants to remain hidden within a few hours'' the she wolf said consolingly, ''we just need to keep looking, we will find them!


    Gabrie scowled in annoyance, ''why do they have to be so darned secretive?'' she muttered before raising her voice and shouting loudly into the surrounding woonds, ''we don''t want to hurt you members of the Shaman Pack, we just want to talk to you,e oute out where ever you are.


    ''Gabby! You need to be quiet!'' Olivia hissed as her eyes shot into the gloominess that surrounded them.


    ''Why? From what the shop girl said, they are not ones to harm people'' Gabrie replied with a shrug.


    ''Maybe not'' Olivia grumbled back in a low tone, ''but we have no idea who or what else might be in this forest and they might not be so friendly!


    The princess scoffed, ''if we meet a Vampire, we have the Vampire prince'' she replied, indicating to Vaughn, ''they cannot hurt him or hispanions, anyone else, we have an immortal Rogue warrior, I think we are safe''


    Rolling her eyes in exasperation, Olivia looked pointedly at Vaughn who squirmed slightly under her demanding gaze.


    ''Olivia is right Gabby, even with our enhanced protections from who we are, we don''t want to be drawing negative attention to ourselves. What if we get into a scrap with some Rogues and the Shaman Pack decide to never show themselves to us because they deem us a threat who bring trouble?'' he asked.


    Gabrie groaned, ''you are just saying that because Liv is your mate so you have to share her opinion'' she replied with disgust, ''anyway, Rowan is on my side, aren''t you baby? Stay silent if you agree with me'' she added as she smirked at the other couple who returned her gaze, their own filled with exasperation.


    ''seriously, you cannot keep pulling out the Rowan stay silent to agree with you crap just so you can try and win an argument'' Vaughn growled, ''the guy is mute Gabby! Stop using it to your advantage!


    The princess shrugged unconcerned, ''even if he was not mute, he would still agree with me as I am his mate Vaughny and that is what mates do, is it not? Is that not exactly what you did only minutes ago?'' she asked, eyeing him archly. ''That was different'' Vaughn replied as he averted his gaze.


    ''Come on lets get moving before we lose any more daylight'' Olivia cut in, disrupting the brewing argument between the two.


    Reluctantly letting the argument die, the two royals helped to pack up and they all stood to resume their search for the illusive hidden pack.


    The more they stumbled around in the ever expansive forest the more they realised that their search was futile.


    ''Everything looks the damn same'' Gabrie muttered kicking a small rock that was in their path sending it skidding into the undergrowth. ''Are you sure we haven''t seen that log before? I swear we walked past it an hour ago'' she added grumpily. ''Gab, we''re in a damn forest! There are logs and stumps everywhere'' Vaughn snapped back irritably, causing Gabrie to bristle at his tone.


    ''0000 sorry Mr tracker guide sir'' she mocked, ''I had no idea that we were in the presence of the world renounced seeker of secret werewolf packs, please lead on!''


    As Vaughn span around to snap a retort, Rowan grabbed his arm as Olivia gave a muffled scream. Spinning around his eyes widened at the sight of his mate held in the vice like grip of a warrior werewolf who was nked either side by fourpanions. ''Let her go'' Vaughn growled furiously, his ws extending as his wolf started to surface.


    ''Now now, lets not do anything we might regret'' the main warrior replied quietly as he pulled out a silver knife, ''oh it''s steeped in wolfs bane just so you know'' the stranger added as he held it in front of the panicked she wolf.


    ''What do you want?'' Vaughn spat out, his fists balled but not daring to take a step closer whilst the stranger had a knife to Olivia''s throat.


    ''Well firstly I suggest we all take a seat, as I like to befortable as I question intruders'' the stranger replied, his stance unbothered by the Vampire Prince''s anger.


    Nodding to the right, he indicated for the trio to walk, two of his friends following behind and then he with Olivia in front of him, a guard on either side.


    Soon they stumbled into a clearing that hadrge stones that were positioned in a rough circle.


    ''Sit'' the leader ordered, waiting until the three were sat across from him before seating Olivia on one of the stones and standing behind her, still with the knife in front of her exposed neck.


    ''OK'' the stranger said easily, ''lets start with some names shall we?''


    ''Sure, who are you?'' Vaughn shot back immediately with a growl.


    The leaderughed, ''you are trespassing on ournd, I think we will start with your names'' he replied.


    Gabrie snorted, ''trespassing? Thisnd isn''t owned as far as we are aware''


    The leader looked at her with interest, drawing a growl of warning from Rowan, ignoring the warrior, he raised an eyebrow, ''well you are obviously a werewolf of rank little one, what pack do you belong too?'' Gabrie lifted her chin in defiance, ''How do you know I am a werewolf?'' she demanded.


    The warriorughed, ''please sweetheart, I can smell your werewolf scent a mile away, and this pretty thing here as well, I must say I''m surprised to see someone of your rank travelling with a Rogue but that growl makes me think he cares for you, I would say mates but I see no mark on that sexy neck of yours'' he replied slowly, ''the only one I am not sure of is the mouthy one here, I smell wolf but it''s different, tainted even and I can''t quite put my finger on what it is, so tell me tough guy, what hybrid are you?'' Vaughn growled angrily, but stopped abruptly as the knife inched closer to Olivia''s neck, ''I am Prince Vaughn, only child and heir to the Vampire King'' he finally muttered gruffly.


    The leader''s eyes widened as the knife dropped a fraction, ''what is the son of the Vampire King doing in the middle of nowhere looking for our pack?'' he asked in astonishment.


    ''Wait, you are from the Shaman pack?'' Gabrie interjected quickly, shuffling forward on her seat, her eyes hopeful.


    The warrior nodded, as his eyes swept around the group, sizing them up, ''OK, I have a feeling that you have a story to tell and one of us is going to have to show some trust. I will release your friend here but in return you agree to not show us aggression and tell us who you all are and why you are looking for us'' he offered.


    ''Deal'' Olivia replied immediately, ring at Vaughn as if to dare him to disagree, nodding hesitantly, Vaughn breathed a sigh of relief as the man took the knife from her skin and re sheathed it in a holder attached to his belt. Indicating to two of hispanions he waited until they disappeared until taking a seat across from the group, his remainingrades sitting down either side of him as if in protection of him.


    ''Introductions'' the warrior said crisply, ''I am Parker, Gamma to the pack you know as the Shaman Pack, this'' he added pointing to the man on his left, ''is Sean, and this'' pointing to the right, ''is Deagan.


    ''So your pack is not called the Shaman pack?'' Gabrie asked surprised.


    Parkerughed, ''no, that is what the outsiders call us, we actually prefer to keep our real name away from the public as a lot of people would like to find us'' he replied cryptically.


    Olivia took over the conversation, ''I am Olivia, I am the daughter of the former Beta of Oak Ridge pack, this is my mate, Prince Vaughn, Princess Gabrie, daughter to the Alpha of Silver Cross pack and her mate Rowan who is a Rogue warrior who has been hired to protect Prince Vaughn as he travels.''


    Parker''s eyes widened as he listened to her narrative, his eyes resting on Gabrie, ''I have heard of your mother Gabrie, the first female Alpha, it is an honour to meet a member of her family'' he said formally. Turning back to Olivia he gave her a warm smile, ''so Olivia, daughter to the Beta, this doesn''t exin why you are stumbling about in our forest searching for us'' he mused.


    The she wolf nodded, ''we were on our way to Prince Vaughn''s castle as we have just found each other, so I was returning to his home with him. We happened upon a small town and a young girl in the shop said that you might be able to help us with our friend, for some reason he cannot talk. she replied earnestly.


    ''Tia?'' Parker asked with a grin that widened as Olivia nodded agreement, ''that little madam, she always wants to help everyone, it''s the seer blood in her, she wants to fix the broken, well if she has sent you too us then it would be rude not to take you to our pack'' he ended thoughtfully.


    ''Really? You will help us?'' Gabrie squeaked excitedly, grabbing Rowan''s hand and squeezing it tightly.


    Parker gave her an understanding look, ''I cannot guarantee that we can help you Princess Gabrie but I will take you to our Beta who will listen to your request and decide if and what we can do for you'' he replied softly.


    Nodding happily, Gabrie made to stand up as Parker held up a hand to stop her, ''one final thing Princess, I am afraid that we will need to blind fold you all before we go to the pack house'' he added ruefully.


    ''Hell no, you could take us anywhere'' Vaughn snapped immediately.


    ''I''m sorry Prince Vaughn, but that part is non negotiable, we have to maintain the secrecy of our pack location at all costs, if you refuse to be blind folded then I will have to unfortunately refuse you ess to our Beta'' Parker replied, ''I do swear to you that no harm wille to any of you whilst you are in our care.''


    Olivia ced a calming hand onto the agitated hybrids arm, ''Vaughn, he is telling the truth, I can feel it'' she murmured, ''we should ept his terms.


    Swallowing, Vaughn reluctantly nodded as Sean and Deagan stood up and walked behind them, throwing a thick bag over each of their heads, blocking their view of the outside world.


    Letting out a loud whistle, a rustling came through the trees before each of the four felt a hand grasp their elbow, theirpanions leading them through the trees and toward the hidden pack house that they had been searching for.