Rick and the others didn't get back until the next day, in the early afternoon. Carl runs up to his dad and throws his arms around him. Rick swings him up into his arms, scenting and being scented in return. The Flock gathers as the other two Alphas get out of the car; the silhouette of an extra body could be seen out of the window. Maggie runs past her father to Glenn, hugging him tight and scenting his neck. Glenn rubs his hand up and down her back, walking her away from the car. He scents her once he deems it enough of a distance.
"Is everyone okay? Is everyone here?" Rick throws his arm around T-Dog's shoulders, scenting him as well. Daryl comes outside, clean and in fresh clothes. Rick offers him his hand, and he comes down, clasping it in a firm handshake.
"Who the hell is that?" T-Dog points to the car.
"Randel." Glenn answers, "His Pack attacked us, he jumped off a roof and impaled his leg on a metal fence. Hershel tried to save him, but a Walker herd came through. Rick pulled him off the fence and we came back."
"You brought him here?!" Andrea exclaims, "We have Omegas and pups here and you brought an unknown… You thought you'd bring him here?!"
"What were we supposed to do? Let him bleed out on a fence, surround by Walkers?" Rick growls at her. Andrea was becoming a problem, even more now, with Shane no longer as her Alpha.
"What do we do with him now?" Carol asked. Rick looked over to the RV; the door was open.
"Sophia came out of her Heat this morning." Daryl grunts. "Carol, Carl, and I stayed with her last night. She's taking a shower, been asking for ya."
Rick nods, patting Daryl on the shoulder. Daryl scents his hand before moving out from under it. He starts pacing, eyes never leaving the boy inside. He was on guard, nervous like he had been the first time Rick had met the Omega, back when he had to tell him about Merle. Merle. When was the last time he'd thought of the Beta, his first Packmate after the world became overrun with the dead? When had Daryl last said something about him?
"Why is he here? Alpha?" Shane speaks quietly, eyes lowered, pulling Rick from thought. "What are we going to do with him?" The Packs had moved inside the farmhouse and were gathered around the dining table. The three Alphas had explained everything that happened and why they were so late getting back.
"I fix his legs as best I can." Hershel says from the door. "He'll be out for hours."
"What happens when his Pack comes looking?" Shane pushes, meeting Rick's eyes, "What then?"
Rick rumbles in warning, causing Shane to lower them again, "His Pack is made up of Traditional Alphas and Betas. They left him for dead, skewered on a fence as Walker bait while they made their getaway; no one's gonna come lookin'. We give him water, take him to the main road and send him on his way."
"Isn't that the same as leaving him for the Walkers?" Andrea scowls.
"He'll have a fighting chance." Rick counters.
"He knows where we are." Shane raises his voice.
"He was blindfolded the whole way." Glenn steps in, "He's not a threat."
"Not a threat?" Shane laughs, "How many of them were there? You killed three of their men and took one hostage and you think they ain't gonna come lookin' for him?"
"They left him for dead!" Rick flashes his teeth at the Gamma, sending him to his knees, "No one will come looking."
"A guard?" T-Dog suggests, getting a look from his Prime, "If it will make people feel safe, we set up a watchman. Keep an eye on the area."
Shane gets back to his feet, shakily, laughing. Hershel steps in this time, getting in the Gamma's face.
"We still haven't talked about what you did to my barn. This is still my Pack's land, not yours. I wanted you gone, and my daughter did too. Glenn and Rick talked us out of it, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Do all of us a favor and keep your mouth SHUT." He growls out the last word, causing a shiver to go up everyone's spines, even Rick's. This was an Alpha who had been in charge a long time; his words were powerful and had an impact. Shane nods with a scuff, walking back to the campsite.
"Look, right now we're going to take this one step at a time." Rick tells the gathered Flock, "Hershel will fix his leg and we go from there."
Maggie pulls Glenn off to the side to talk about what had happened that they had left out. She could tell because of the way Rick and Glenn would exchange glances. While he told her of hiding and failing his Alpha, Maggie thought better of mentioning the conversation with Rick before they left. She prays that she never has to say goodbye to this kind Alpha, not until they're old and grey, matching Mating Marks fading together in their sleep, hand in hand.
"Rick." Lori comes up as he talks to Daryl about what had happened while the three Alphas were gone. Beth is still comatose from the barn. Lori tried to go after them, and Shane stopped her by locking her in one of the spare rooms in the house. Daryl hadn't come back until dark and stayed close to Maggie, or the RV after his almost fight with Andrea about him skinning dinner, broken up by Dale.
Rick ignores the Beta waiting angrily until Daryl has said his piece, and leaves to get Sophia, who has yet to stop asking about Rick. Sighing, Rick turns to his ex-Mate, "What?"
"We need to talk about Shane."
"What's he done now?" Rick walks towards the barn, where others were cleaning up, forcing Lori to follow if she wanted to talk.
"He's delusional and dangerous. When I went to go get you guys, he told me you had taken one of the guest rooms and all the keys were in there. Then he locked the door. He wouldn't let me out until dinner, and then he followed me the whole time, hovering…. You saw what he did at the barn." Lori got in front of Rick, hoping this would get his attention or stop him from walking away from her.
"He threatened Dale and Hershel. He's scaring people, and me." She wraps her arms around her stomach, the action of a mother protecting her child. She knew it would work; it had before when she was having Carl and wanted Rick's family to be distant. Rick saw the action and swallowed; he knew what the action was and how she expected him to react.
"I think," She breathes shakily and whispers, "I think he killed Otis; sacrificed him to get away with the supplies."
"Did Dale or Hershel tell you this? Or are you..." Rick looks back at camp, where Shane was showing Carl knots with a piece of rope, and Daryl was making his way to then, dragged along by the new Omega with a blonde French braid and a bright smile. Sophia.
"Shane thinks you can't protect us as our Alpha; that you're going to get us killed." Rick looks at the Beta, "You told us earlier that you killed those men to protect what's yours; your son, your Pack. Shane's dangerous and he won't stop. His Alpha instincts rule him even as a Gamma. He's a threat; you need to do what you can to protect what's yours."
"Like kill him? Kill my brother, the one YOU turned against me, trying to play us against each other?" Lori swallows and tries to backtrack. Rick cuts her off with a rumble. "I'll talk to the others; if the Flock thinks he's a danger…. Then I'll deal with him."
Rick walks away from the Beta, from the barn, and heads towards the little girl in the leather and jean jacket, flying towards him with an angel's wings on her back. Daryl watches his Alpha swing the little girl into his arms with a smile; the new Omega buries her nose into his neck, scenting her new Alpha. Rick scents her back and walks her towards the Theta, Daryl's eyes never leaving the satisfied smirk on the pregnant Betas face. He'd watch her, Daryl thinks; he wouldn't fall for the woman's games.
…
Rick took Shane with him when they went to drop off Randel the following day to give the Flock a break from the Gamma. He had settled into his rank, and his hormones were balanced again, making it dangerous to leave him unattended. He and Glenn had been taking turns watching him, not letting him out of their sight in case something happened for almost two weeks now. Glenn took this morning's shift; now it was Rick's turn. They went out to the main road, a crossroad, and were ready to let Randel, a young Beta, go.
It was the farthest Rick had been from his Pack since it formed. The two new bonds pulsed in his head, usually non-existent when right next to them. He would feel a slight tug when Daryl went hunting, but until the Omega scented him properly and allowed Rick to do the same, their bond would never grow past that, like Merle's. Glenn's was the strongest; a steady heartbeat echoed in his brain. He could smell his emotions through their bond, something he was told no other Alpha could do. He could smell Shane's old Alpha scent, dormant in his glands. It was only times like this when he did nothing but focus on his nose that he could accomplish this level of Scenting.
Glenn was with Maggie, and Rick quickly focused on something else as spikes in the beating became faster. T-Dog was working with Dale, steady beats and boredom with slight interest and fondness. Carl was playing with Sophia; tag if the fast heartbeats and smell of excitement were correct. Carol was watching them, calm beats and joy and love thick. The two Omegas had joined the Pack properly after Sophia's Heat. Rick had scented them in the RV, away from the others, then they went and got scented by the others. The two smell the strongest of Daryl because he has spent the most time with them.
"I thought we were going further?" Shane asks.
"We are. 18 miles out."
"Then why are we stopping?" Shane growls. Rick turns around and pushes the Gamma to his knees.
"I was nice the last time. If I have to do it again, one of us will not walk away from that fight. Do I make myself clear?" Shane whines and bares his neck. Rick leans down and scents him, allowing his pheromones to mingle with Shane's. The Gamma could tell his Alpha was angry because he didn't smell the way he usually does. He smelled like the summer wind before a thunderstorm. Like danger, fierce wind, and unforgiving cold that sank into his bones. But also comfort, like the smell of rain hitting dirt while you curled up in front of the fireplace, the thunder like a heartbeat, a soothing lullaby to rock you to sleep. It was confusing and so…. Rick. Shane whines again, and the Prime helps him to his feet without looking at him.
"We need to talk." Rick sighs. "I've heard rumors about you. That you killed Otis; threatened Dale and Hershel, and yes, I've spoken to both and no Dale was not the one who told me about it. But it made me very curious as to why Dale seemed so scared of you that he tried to make me promise not to tell you. Even went as far as threatened to take the RV and leave if I couldn't promise to protect him against you. Mind filling me in? And handing over the gun you're white-knuckling."
Shane passed his gun over to his Alpha, who swung it over his shoulders and crossed his arms over his chest, waiting like a parent would while Shane gathered his words together. "It was him or me. One shot to the leg and Carl lives. I didn't hesitate."
"But you think I would?"
"I know you would man." Shane spits at the ground near the car, even turning so his Alpha wouldn't think he was disrespectful. "You don't have it in ya to be that mean."
"You think I'm going to lead this Flock to their deaths? Heard a bit of that too. That I can't protect Carl?" Shane backs up quickly, hands spread in submission.
"I didn't say that! Not about Carl."
"But yes, to everything else." Rick gets closer, Shane averts his eyes. "Lori says you're a danger to the Pack. Not anymore. Not to the others, not to me, not anymore. How about you look at me and explain what the hell is going on." Rick growls, using his Alpha voice, something he hasn't done to Shane, ever.
"When everything started," Shane swallows, "It was just stories on the news. Then it was everywhere, happening so quick…. Two weeks go by and I'm with you in the hospital. Lori refused to bring Carl back after that first day, but I kept going before our shift ya know…. I wanted to be there when you woke up, I wanted to see my Alpha when he first woke up. Then one day I was there and man…." Shane sniffled, and Rick wiped some tears from his brother's eyes, "There were soldiers, shooting people in the halls. People, Rick, not Walkers. But then the Walkers came too and…. I tried to get you out, I did. But all those tubes and the machines went dead, and I couldn't hear a heartbeat. I couldn't carry your corpse out of there man, I couldn't. I closed the door up as tight as could, put a gurney in front of the door…. Tried to keep them out of the room as best I could. Then I left, before the Walkers or the soldiers could get me. I got to Lori and Carl and we left as soon as we could, heading to Atlanta."
"You put the gurney in front of my door?" Rick whispers, resting his forehead against Shane's.
"Figured they'd be too dumb to move it ya know? One last barrier between you and death. I couldn't stop you from being shot, but I could stop that much." Shane's laugh was a poor cover for his sobs. The two men wrap their arms around each other and stay there until they calm down. No matter what happened or would happen, Shane was still that little boy who had sat next to Rick on the bus so many years ago and claimed him as his brother, his pack. They stayed there until they both calmed down and then got into the car.
….
Randel knew about the farm. He had gone to school with Maggie, even though the Alpha didn't remember him, meaning he also knew about the Greene's farm and where it was. To let him go as they had planned had ended in disaster. Shane had pulled a gun on the Beta as soon as he confirmed he knew the farm. Rick had knocked it from his hands, causing a small fight between the two Alphas. Shane was losing, pinned under Rick. He kicks at the Alpha, forcing his way out from under him, and grabs the first thing he can get a good grip on. Throwing a wrench at Rick, with enough force to decapitate him, makes the Alpha realizes at that moment that Shane would kill him if he thought that would put him on top. The wrench hits the bricks next to the window. Rick gathers up Randel and Shane as the Walkers from inside the building start banging on the glass.
Shane stays quiet and helps load the Beta in the back, then gets in the passenger side, staring out the window as Rick drives them back to the farm. The Flock gathers around the car as they pull up. Daryl comes up from behind, growling, something that shall forever fascinate Rick, "What the hell is he still doing in there?!"
"You guys didn't let him go?"
"I thought the plan was-"
"-There better be a damn good explanation for-"
"QUIET!" Rick roars. The group shuts up, glaring at the car. Some shoot those glares at Rick too.
"Why's he still in there?!" Daryl gets in Rick's face before he pushes past him, pacing.
"He knew about the farm." No one moved, no one breathed, "He named Maggie, Hershel, Beth, and Shawn by name. Said he went to school with Maggie. He knew where he was and letting him go was more dangerous than having him here, locked up."
"How?" Andrea spat.
"He could lead his Pack to us if he found them. Traditional Alphas and Betas, all males, outnumber us three to one. I made a decision for the good of the Pack and I'm not taking it back." The others nod in agreement. Shane gets out and slams the door, earning a few looks at his busted-up face and with a slight limp. Rick might've stood on Shane's ankle while hitting him; it was most likely a sprain, if not broken. He shrugged it off; not his fault.
"What the hell?" Andrea and Lori crowd the Gamma, helping him walk and fussing over his injuries. Rick growled at them, getting louder and louder until they stepped away.
"We had a disagreement." Rick rumbles. The two Betas round on the Prime like they would yell at him, but Daryl shut all of them up by throwing Randel down in front of them. He rips the bag over his head away and the headphones out of his ears, leaving the whimpering Beta staring at the Flock in full for the first time. Rick hadn't known the Theta moved, but the Omega was kneeling right in front of the downed Beta with a crossbow leveled with his eye.
"Daryl hold your fire but keep it on him." Rick says, coming up behind the archer and laying his hand on the back of his neck, squeezing lightly. Daryl rumbles in response but leans into it as he pulls away.
"So, what now Rick? Huh? We make him a nice bed, bring him some mints for his pillow?!" Shane growls. The Gamma wouldn't learn, and Rick's fuse might be long, but right then was when it burned out as far as Shane was concerned.
The Prime storms back over at him and drives his elbow into the already broken nose, making the man fall to his back, howling. Rick grabs him by the collar of his shirt and drags him up enough to choke him out. As Shane claws at the Alpha's arm, Daryl watches as the fight drains from him, along with his consciousness. Rick was rumbling the whole time, flexing his arm to get a better grip and block the Gamma's airway faster. For some reason, Daryl felt satisfied. Felt it deep in his bones, a slight tingle down his spine at the display of power. He sees Carol shift, too, a flush coming out on her cheeks. Maggie and Glenn both piped up in interest; even the Betas seemed pleased. Lori and Andrea flush, watching Shane fall to the ground, knocked out, and Rick standing tall as the victor. Daryl chalks it up to the pleased reaction of their Prime's strength, though he might go to Carol later to double-check. She was a fellow Omega who had been a part of Packs before; maybe she could help him with this.
Rick directs Dale and T-Dog to take Shane to the barn and tie him up, sending Maggie with them to drug Shane with sedatives and Suppressants. Shane had pushed Rick too far on their journey, and now the Prime was Disowning him; he would be Dismissed from the Pack soon. Daryl was instructed to take Randel to the shed he'd be kept and locked up in until Rick came for him. Daryl bares his neck with a nod, Rick's eyes flashing in response. When Andrea smacks Rick in front of everyone, the Alpha presses down on a pressure point at the back of her neck, sending her down as well. He directs Glenn to lock her in the RV, then stares at the others, waiting. When no one else challenges him, Rick has Hershel hand out chores while he follows Daryl, ready to get some answers.
….
Daryl had been in the shack with Randel for a while, beating him to find out more about the Beta's Pack and where they were. Rick waits outside, having volunteered to do it, but he is shot down by the Omega.
"You go in there like you are and you're gonna beat the kid to death, whether he tells ya anything or not. Yer Alpha's to close. I'll do it, I need to let out some frustration and it's better used on him than the Flock. You stand outside; if it sounds like I'm going too far, pull me out. Use your voice if ya gotta, I'll be pissy with ya, sure, but I'll be grateful too. Don't want the Beta beaten to death so close to the Packs, in case them pups hear it, ya know?" Rick had accepted that as an answer and let the Omega inside.
"How many in your group?" When Daryl doesn't get a response, he pulls out his hunting knife, ready to scare the answers out of him.
"NO! No no no no no no! PLEASE!" Randel sobs, "I swear I don't know anything!" Daryl stabs the ground next to his injured leg, going through the Beta's pants leg, causing the poor boy to yelp and piss himself. Daryl ignores the smell and the sound of Rick at the door, calling softly.
"HOW MANY?!" Daryl yells.
"30! 30. 30 guys, Alphas and Betas."
"We knew that." Daryl growls, looking at the Beta's eye growing wide at the news.
"Tony and Dave, the fuckers my Prime took out, they already coughed up those details. Where are they?!"
"Uh…." Daryl rolls up the boy's pants leg some more and rips the Duct Tape over the bleeding leg wound off. The boy screams and swears.
"We were never in one place for more than a night! I don't know where they are, I swear! Please!"
"Scouting?" Daryl touches the tip of his knife into the stitches on his leg.
"Okay! Okay! They- they have weapons. Heavy stuff, automatics." As the boy talks, his voice changes from scared to coy, almost cocky like he was making a sale pitch instead of begging for Daryl to not dig into his bloody leg even more.
"Your Pack shot at my Pack and tried to take this farm. You just went along with the ride? You tryin' to tell me you're innocent?!"
"YES!" The Beta pants, "These people took me in. Not just guys- a whole group. Men and women," Daryl gets up, taking his knife with him as the kid talks, knowing Rick heard everything, "kids too- just like your Pack. Thought I'd have a better chance with them, ya know? But…. we go out, scavenge- just the men."
Randel gulps, "One night we- we found this little campsite. This Beta guy and his two daughters- Teenagers, one Beta, one Omega. Real young…." He looks at Daryl with hooded glazed eyes, "... real cute. The Omega had just come out of a Heat a few days before. I'm a Beta and even I could smell it."
The Beta must have thought Daryl was an Alpha or a Beta, and given his redneck appearance, Randel was trying to appease him, find something in common to connect with his torturer. The Beta was so lost in a memory that he couldn't see Daryl's rage.
"They made their daddy watch while these guys- they-" The Beta's arousal almost had Rick breaking down the door, but Daryl's whispered purr to calm his Prime was enough to control the urge. Randel took the purr as something else.
"And they didn't even kill him afterward. They just- they just made him watch-" The smell was so consumed with rage and hatred, Randel was starting to notice, the look on Daryl's face had him stuttering, "-as his daughter-ers- they just-just left him there. No, but I-I didn't touch those girls. No, I swear- I didn't touch them."
Daryl threw all his force into a kick to the injured leg. Randel screams again, sobbing. Daryl throws another kick to the Beta's stomach, a punch to his face. The Omega pants as he looks at the crying Beta before he gets an idea. He goes to the door and opens it a crack, motioning Rick over. "I'm gonna try something else. Go check on the others, he ain't going nowhere."
"You good?" The Alpha asks, looking inside. The Beta was a bloody pulp, crying and eyes begging Rick to not be left alone with Daryl again. The fear in Randel's eyes when he looked at Daryl's back made Rick want to rumble with pleasure, pleased the Omega had made an impact. The Theta was panting lightly through his nose, sweat making his skin shine, the bloody like rubies on the man's knuckles. Very pleased.
"Yeah, I'm good." Daryl nods, silently preening with the approving smile and rumble Rick gave. His Prime was happy with him; he still thought Daryl was useful now that Sophia was found, and the hunter's usefulness had dwindled to bringing food and not much else. Daryl was pleased with that; it meant Rick wouldn't kick him out yet.
Rick nods and raises his hand to Daryl's neck, hesitating inches from the skin. Daryl rolls his eyes but leans into it, letting the Alpha's fingers graze just shy of his glands before closing the door in Rick's face. The Omega waits for Rick to walk away before he turns back to Randel. Daryl walks over, and to the Beta's surprise, the Omega drops into his lap, the hunting knife inches from his eye.
"You telling' me your Pack found a young Omega and her family, just out of her Heat, and raped her? And her sister? Then left then with their father? Alive or dead?"
"The other-er guys, y-yeah. And they were-re de-ead. Dead."
"What were you gonna do when you got to the farm? Huh? Your Packmates knew we had women; we have Alphas…. Betas…." Daryl shifts a little closer, intentionally grazing the Beta's lap and his hard-on, "... we have a couple of Omegas too. And you just managed to piss off the most dangerous one with that little story of yours." Daryl growls.
Randel's eye widens as far as it can, the other swollen shut, "You're an Omega?!"
"I'm the Theta." Daryl drives the knife into the wall beside the kid's head.
There were multiple news stories about it from Before, all of them from New-School Packs. Thetas were known to be the most aggressive in a Pack; the way rumors go, a Theta could wipe out Delta Packs, slaughter every Alpha without remorse if they put their hands on an Omega without consent. The Theta had as much power as Elders, or more when the Theta was Mated to the Prime. They almost always got away with killing the rapist, or rapist-to-be, if the Omega attacked gave a testimony. Even then, they were never held long.
Randel had heard those stories of Thetas and more, and he pissed himself again at the thought that he'd angered one as aggressive as Daryl. When the Theta bares his teeth in a snarl, eyes black, the Beta regrets not having a better hold of his bladder, especially with the enraged Omega on his lap. Good thing Daryl's tent was on the way back to the group.
…
Daryl gets cleaned up before he goes see the Flock, changing his clothes and throwing the pants outside of the shack, along with the boxers soaked with the Beta's urine. Then he goes to see Rick. The others are there as well, all except Shane. Even Maggie's Pack was outside, Beth no longer unresponsive and sporting new bandages from her suicide attempt.
She had tried to kill herself the morning after Rick and Glenn went looking for Hershel. Maggie was ever-present at her side until she had gone to the bathroom, leaving the distressed Omega in Andrea's care. The Beta had said some things to her then left her alone, saying it was her choice as to how she left this world. Maggie and Lori had broken down the bathroom door to find Beth with a broken mirror, arm bleeding, and a piece of glass embedded in her skin. Shaking and crying, Maggie had rushed her sobbing and apologetic sister into the other room, where Patricia had stopped the bleeding, and Hershel had stitched it up. Maggie was close to ripping into Andrea but settled to ban the Beta from the house and contact Beth. Andrea had a lot of ass-kissing to do if she wanted a warm bed for winter.
Daryl stands next to Glenn and Rick while he gives the news, bloody knuckles on display, clutching his crossbow over his shoulder.
"It's a Delta Pack with a few Betas hanging around, over 30 men. They got heavy artillery and they ain't lookin' to make friends. They come through here and the Alpha and Beta men ain't gonna make it. The women, Omegas, and pups- we gonna wish we were." The Pack did not comment how Daryl included himself, not wanting to think of a group that could overpower the rouge Theta.
"What did you do?" Carol asked, clutching Sophia and Carl to her. Daryl moves over to her and rubs the pup's hair, then scents her and Sophia lightly on their shoulders.
"We had a little chat." Daryl was close enough that Carol could tell how the chat ended. Daryl's pheromones smelled sour, like he'd done something he hated. She knew he had used his Omega status to get some of the answers out of the Beta, though she was unclear as to what extent. Randel's scent was heavy on him, as though he'd been Marked by the Beta. Those that could smell it were worried. An unwanted Mark on an Omega, and ones as strong-willed as Daryl, their emotional state would have to be a mess. No one pushes, though. Glenn hands Daryl some shower supplies, and Hershel leads him to the house, offering to clean his hand, the rest of the Greene Pack following quickly behind.
"No one goes near this guy." Rick rumbles, watching Daryl's back, "He's dangerous and a threat. We don't have a choice anymore."
"You're gonna kill him?" Dale breathes.
"It's settled." Rick rumbles again, walking away, "I'll do it today."
Dale follows behind his Alpha quickly. "You can't do this. You don't want to do this, I know you don't."
"I thought about it all night. After what Daryl said, and what I heard, I'm not taking any chances; not ones that will endanger the Pack like that."
"You can't just decide to take a man's life, not by yourself. And you didn't let anyone else speak up if they had any disagreements. This isn't the kind of Alpha you are. This sounds like Shane's way…. Not yours."
"What do you suggest then, as our Elder? Our people are scared, and I don't feel secure knowing he's close enough to where we sleep, that if he gets out…. If he gets out, one of ours could be hurt or worse before we can get to him."
"Let me talk to the others, please Rick."
"You have until sundown. After that, what happens, happens."
…..
Randel was straining against the chain, holding him away from the door. "Hey! Can I get some water, Please? I'm thirsty." T-Dog was on watch now that Shane and Andrea were both under watch as well. They had Jimmy watching Shane since he was faster than all the others, while Dale watched over Andrea and the camp from the top of the RV.
Randel watches as the Theta comes over with the Prime, and his guard walks up to meet them. They start talking about patrols and someone named Dale bugging Daryl about Randel while the Omega was trying to make more arrows near the woods, where an old stone chimney stood. The beaten Beta pulls on his chain in frustration. Dust falls from the rafters along with a creak. The Beta looks up and sees a kid with short brown hair under a sheriff's hat, watching him, his face void of all expressions.
"Hey," Randel whispers, not wanting the others to know he was talking to someone. "Hey. My name is Randel, what's yours?"
Nothing.
"That's a nice hat. Is your dad the Prime? I like him, he's a good Alpha, I can tell." The Beta swallows, "Your mom out here too? You're lucky you got your family with ya' still. I lost mine…. Hey, I don't know what they've been saying about me, but I didn't do nothing, I swear."
The kid started walking down the beams and then down a ladder.
"Yeah, your dad was gonna let me go until his Gamma started to fight with him. I was kind of worried." Randel wasn't paying attention to the volume of his voice anymore, not hearing that the group outside had gone silent. "My camp, we got a lot of supplies. You help me, and I'll take you and your folks back to my people. We'll take good care of you, keep you real safe."
Carl was standing just outside of Randel's reach, watching him with the same blank expression.
"Yeah, you just got to help me out of here, okay? Help me pick the lock or-or go find the key, okay? Please? Please?!" Randel lunges for the boy, his voice getting higher and the rattling of the chains covers the sound of the door opening.
"What the hell are you doing in here?!" Daryl yanks Carl behind him, towards Rick and T-Dog. Then he turns on Randel, a pistol between the Beta's eyes and his hands wrapped around his throat in seconds, "WHAT'D YOU SAY TO HIM?! HUH?! YOU DON'T WANT TO TALK NOW THAT THE ADULTS ARE HERE?! IS THAT IT?! HUH?!"
"I didn't say nothing I-I-"
"OPEN YOUR MOUTH! WHAT'D YOU SAY TO HIM?!"
"Nothing I swear!"
"Daryl!" Rick pulled the Omega back, "Daryl stop!" Daryl huffs, panting and pacing, but agrees. When Rick turns to the sniffling Beta, he snarls.
"Thank you. I swear I-I didn't-" Rick grabs the boy's cheeks with one hand, squeezing his mouth shut, and slams his head back against the wall, causing the Beta to whimper as the black-eyed Prime digs his nails into the tender flesh.
"I ever catch you talking to my pup again," Rick flashes his teeth, "I'll rip your throat out."
Randel nods as best he can, pissing himself again, this time in submission. Rick drops him and pulls a pacing Daryl out of the shack, slamming the door closed. The Prime storms past a cowering T-Dog, who was trying to explain he hadn't known Carl was in there. Daryl moves towards him and grabs the man's neck, scenting him and crooning to calm his Packmate down. The Beta falls to his knees and latches onto the Theta when Rick snarls, punching the shack's wall. Daryl bares his teeth when Rick comes over to apologize, shaking his head to make the Alpha back off.
"Dad I-" Rick picks Carl up by his scruff and carries him away from the makeshift prison; the pup's limbs curl up to make the ride easier. Daryl is quick to follow. T-Dog stays at his post, not wanting to make his Prime any angrier than he was already. Rick walked to the farmhouse, Carl whimpering at every person he passed as if asking for help getting out of trouble. Daryl follows half a step behind the Alpha, silent and strong. Once they get into the house, Daryl calls out to the Alpha.
"Rick. Hey, Rick." He tugs on the Prime's shirt collar, "Alpha."
Rick freezes; that was the first time in the weeks that Daryl had been a part of Rick's Pack, unofficially or otherwise, that he had called Rick his Alpha. Well, the first time he did it when he wasn't being sarcastic or making fun of.
"Hand me the pup and calm yourself down. Ya ain't gonna want to handle this while you're borderline Rut." Daryl takes Carl from his father, lifting him under the arms and pulling him away. Once Rick is sure that Daryl's got a good grip on Carl, he lets go and sits down on the couch, pulling at his hair. Daryl checks Carl over for any indication Randel had hurt him, glaring at the pup when he tries to explain himself again. Once he's sure the pup is fine, he moves him over to stand in front of his dad. Daryl retreats to the doorway where Glenn and Maggie are, then explains what happened to them. Rick sighs and looks up at his pup; Carl's eyes are at his feet, and his eyes gleam with tears.
"What you did was dangerous. I told you and the Flock to stay away from him as much as possible because he's dangerous. A guy like that will say anything, ANYTHING, to get you to let your guard down. He'll try to make you feel sorry for him, paint himself out as a victim." Rick tilts Carl's chin up, so the boy is looking him in the eye, "You let your guard down out here and people die. Don't go near him again."
"Yes sir." Carl whispers. Rick pulls his pup into his lap, scenting his glands as the pup whimpers and sniffles.
"I'm not angry at you pup. Mad that you disobeyed me, yes, but not at YOU. I'm sorry I scared you, but you terrified me; you being in there. What if he had gotten out of his chains? What if he had hurt you?" Rick purrs and croons at the boy until he calms down.
"I'm sorry dad." Carl sniffles with a small chirp. Rick pulls Carl into his own glands and chuffs. Once they are calmed down, Rick lets the pup up.
"You're grounded." Rick tells him, "You're not allowed to leave this house or the camp without someone from the Pack or Maggie's accompanying you. Today you're not leaving Carol's side and I'll make sure she stays at the campsite. Tomorrow we'll see what else you can do. Glenn." The Prime looks at the younger Alpha, "Take him to Carol, please."
Carl goes to his Packmate after a quick hug from his dad. When he passes Daryl, he lowers his chin to his chest. The Omega reaches out and rubs the back of the pup's neck, scenting him. Once he's gone, the two Alphas with him, Daryl turns to Rick. "Rick, man I'm sorry. I didn't have any right to-"
Rick pulls the Omega into a hug, letting go just as quick and backing away, flushed. He clears his throat and looks at Daryl, "No. No, you had every right. You're the Pack Theta, you look out for the Omegas and pups, as well as everyone else. You were right about Carl, and T-Dog, and about my temper. Thank you."
"It's what we do. We're Pack, and Packs look out for one another."
Rick smiles and nods. "I'm going to go apologize to T." He walks out of the room, pausing to pat Daryl on the shoulder. The Omega uses that time to rub Rick's neck, fully scenting the Alpha and hurrying away before Rick could say anything.
…
It was almost sunset when the Packs started to gather around the house. Rick had been cleaning out the barn while keeping an eye out on Shane; the Gamma was still out from Rick's chokehold. Carol had kept the pups entertained all afternoon with chores and schoolwork, then they helped cook dinner, Carl staying right by her side the whole time.
Glenn walks into Beth's room, where Hershel checks on her, the two singing an old nursery rhyme and laughing together. It reminder Glenn of what he used to do with his dad and papa and siblings. His dad held them to her chest and sang while their papa did his best to make them laugh with little dances. The Alpha clears his throat to get Hershel's attention and clear away the whine of longing in his throat.
"How is she?"
"Better." Hershel kisses Beth's forehead and follows Glenn out of the room.
"Let me know if you guys need anything; I don't mind making runs into town."
"That won't be necessary, though I appreciate the offer." Hershel puts his hands in his pockets and looks at the Alpha with interest, "Not to be rude, but where is your family from?"
"Michigan." The Alphas chuckle, "But uh… before that, Korea."
"Immigrants built this country, never forget that." Hershel smiles at the other, trying to ease the nervousness from him. "Our family came from Ireland."
"Maggie Greene- Kind of figured."
Hershel pulls out an old pocket watch with a silver chain, twisting it in his hands, "My grandfather brought this over from the old country. He passed it on to my father, who passed it on to me as the male, as the Alpha heir. I pawned it to pay for a night of drinking I no longer remember."
They chuckle again. Glenn gestures to it, "You bought it back."
"My late Mate did- Josephine, Maggie's mother." Hershel sighs, rolling his shoulder where the faded Mark was, "She gave it back, years later when I sobered up. She was a good woman, my Jo. Maggie's a lot like her."
Hershel looks at Glenn, could see the calmness sweep over him at Maggie's name. The pup had it bad for his daughter, Alpha or not. It helped make this easier, "When we were in that bar, and afterward, I thought about a lot of things. You become a father someday, you'll understand. No one is good enough for your little girl; no Alpha, no Beta, no Omega."
Hershel grabs Glenn's hand and places the watch in his palm, then curls his fingers around it with a loving pat, "Until one is."
"Sir I-"
"Think of it as a gift." Hershel cuts the speechless Alpha off with a chuckle, "And my blessing to your's and Maggie's courtship."
"Hershel-" The door opens, and the Packs wander in.
"Come on now, son." The Elder steers Glenn into the living room with a nod to Rick, "Let's join the meeting before they vote without us."
…
Guilty.
Rick, Daryl, Glenn, and T-Dog drag Randel from the shack to the barn, a bag over the Beta's head. They force him to the center of the barn; Shane's eyes glow in the light from the oil lamp from under the loft where he was tied up. He'd been beaten again and gagged after he woke and started screaming profanity so loud it could be heard from the house. And if they could hear it, so could Walkers. Randel was sobbing as Rick checked the chamber to his python, double-checking the silencer was secured.
"Would you like to stand or kneel?" Rick asks the boy. The boy only cried harder. Daryl kicks the injured leg, forcing him to his knees with a yelp. The Theta grabs his hair and pulls back before the Beta could face plant into the straw that covered the ground, then steadied him and let go, backing away.
"Do you have any final words?" Randel sobs some more and begs Rick not to do it. The Alpha looks at his Pack, each giving their nods, then points the gun at the Beta's head and clicks the safety off. Randel sobs grow louder.
"Mr. Grimes? Is Daryl with you?" Sophia stood in the doorway with wide eyes, staring at the men.
"Girl what are you doing out here?! Where's your ma?" Daryl moves quickly, blocking the Omega's view of what will happen and herding her outside.
"What's going on? Who's that?" Sophia starts sobbing and chirping in fear, holding onto Daryl tightly as he picks her up and carries her from the door. Rick secures the gun and holsters it, near sprinting to the opening. Sophia had her head buried in Daryl's neck; the poor girl was chirping louder even as Daryl tried to soothe her. Rick turns to Glenn and T-Dog, "Get him back in the shack, then head to the house. Daryl."
The Theta was already walking, Rick jogging to keep up. His Pack works quickly to move the Beta back into his cell and close the barn. Carol was slamming the house door open and sprinting towards them before they even got halfway there. The older Omega was crying too, her thrills and croons loud and desperate.
"Sophia!" She takes her daughter into her arms when Daryl hands her over, finally soothing the pup's chirps. Then she turns to Rick and Daryl with quiet sniffles. "I'm so sorry. I went to take a shower, I thought she and Carl were still asleep. I came back and she wasn't there; I thought she just went looking for one of the Pack members in the house, so I was checking the rooms when I heard her. I'm so sorry."
"Hey, no harm done. She didn't see anything." Daryl reassures the Omega.
"Where's everyone else?" Just as Rick asks, the house door opens again, and everyone spills out. Andrea comes out of the RV, and Glenn and T-Dog jog up behind them. Everyone was there; Hershel, Carl, Patricia, Beth, Maggie, Lori, Dale….
"Where's Dale? Has anyone seen him since we voted? Or Jimmy?" Rick raises his voice so everyone can hear him.
"He was upset because of the verdict and went to take a walk." Andrea says.
"Jimmy's inside." Maggie adds. Suddenly a scream was heard; Dale.
"Carol, take the pups inside, lock all the doors and turn off the lights! GO!" Daryl instructs as the Flock takes off towards the field.
"Beth goes with Carol! Hurry!" Maggie sent her sister inside, just as Jimmy came out slamming the screen door, handing a shotgun to T-Dog as he ran. They call for Dale as his screams get louder and more pain-filled.
Daryl finds the Elder first, laying on the ground with a mutilated cow next to him, a Walker fist deep in the man's gut. Snarling in rage, Daryl drops his oil lamp, catching the lightly damp grass to catch fire but not spreading as he body slams the Walker off Dale. Rolling on the ground with it, the Theta rips the head off with his bare hand, fingers digging into the eye sockets. He stabs it with his knife for good measure and then drops it next to its body. Forgetting the knife, he falls to his knees next to the Elder: he wasn't going to make it. Seeing the lights coming closer, Daryl throws his head back and Howls, signaling his location.
Rick hears the Howl of their Theta, filled with pain and grief, and knows they were too late. They were going to lose Dale. Pushing ahead of the Pack, Rick falls to his knees next to the old man, Daryl's hands adding pressure to the wound, trying desperately to save his Packmate.
"Hang in there buddy." The Omega's voice was rough and thick with emotion.
"HERSHEL!" Rick roars. The Pack surrounds them, all calling out to Dale and trying to choke back their sobs as the link to the Elder started to fade. Once the other Elder was next to them, everyone quieted down. "What can we do?"
"Nothing." Everyone cries harder at his words, "If we try to move him, he'll die. If I try to go get my kit and come back, he'll die. It's too dark out here for me to operate now. If I try to…."
"He'll die?" Daryl cries. The Theta had never been a big one for emotion, except with Merle or the pups, but no one could fault him for his tears over this. It was hard on them all.
"I'm sorry." Hershel turns to Rick, "He's only going to suffer the longer he's like this."
Dale could understand what Hershel was saying and grabbed Rick's hand, nodding through the pain. The Alpha whines loudly, pulling the gun from his holster and causing a fresh wave of sobs from the Flock. Rick stands and points the gun shakily at the Elder's head. Daryl comes up on the other side of the Alpha and pulls the gun from him, choking out croons to calm him. Rick lets the Theta pull the gun from his hand and pulls Andrea from her knees next to Dale's body, hiding the distraught Beta's sobs in his chest. He purrs but knows it won't be enough; Dale had been a father to her, to all of them. She didn't need to see this. Rick pulls Maggie and Glenn to him, letting them cry it out, while Daryl kneels.
Click. "Sorry brother." BOOM!
Rick doesn't look away; he owed it to Dale, as his Prime, to be there for his final moments. When the gun goes off, most of the Flock hits their knees. Daryl drops the gun and stands up, moving over to the Walker's corpse and kicking out his frustration. Rick hands Andrea off to Glenn and Maggie, who helps her back to the house. The rest of the Flock moves with them, all crying and whining. Jimmy comes up to Rick with a blanket, tears in his eyes and sniffling. Rick takes it with a nod and hugs the teenage Alpha, thanking him before handing him off to Hershel.
Soon it was just the two of them with Dale's body; the Prime and the Theta, the leaders. Rick pours some water on the small fire that the oil lamp made from his canteen, then he covers their fallen Elder with the blanket. Rick stands up and wipes his eyes, watching as the blanket turns red. The Alpha looks up as near-silent sobbing draws his attention to the Omega. Rick walks up to the hunter and lays a hand on his shoulder.
"Daryl-" The Omega turns around and buries his face in Rick's neck with a whine. Rick lowers them to their knees as he breaks down, purring and crooning at the Omega. Daryl sniffles and rubs his glands against Rick's, scenting his Alpha properly for the first time. Rick does the same, and they sit there until the moon is high in the sky before making their way back to the farmhouse, needing a whole night's sleep for tomorrow. Dale had loved the willow by the barn, where they had buried the others. They'd put his grave under it too.