The moon shines brightly above him. One more day, he keeps telling himself as he sits alone shivering in the cold cave. One more day, one more night and he as well as his people will be free. Around him they're all sleeping soundly knowing their prince is keeping watch. As the second moon's light reaches him he's aware of a figure sneaking towards him. "Shouldn't you be asleep?" He asks in a voice above a whisper.

Kneeling beside his friend the Omega sighs, "I couldn't sleep anyway."

"Your mates snoring?" Lovino gives him a smile pulling his legs up to his chest seeing a small bag of dried bread and slices of tomatoes in Alfred's hands. While not much it's been what his people have been living on so he takes it and slides it to the other side of his prison to be given out later in the morning.

Alfred shrugs, resting his head back looking up at the moon. "Yeah but I've gotten use to it." He can't stay long tonight in case one of his lovers wakes up to find him gone. "Just came to see if you were, ready I guess?"

"I've been ready for this since those mother fuckers tried to clip my wings." It comes out with a hate filled growl. "Bastards, all of them."

"Why didn't they clip them?"

Looking back at his brown wings as he carefully flexes them. "Probably to keep me afraid, if they took them right away what fun would I be?"

"Fun? You'd probably bite their throats out."

It gets a light hearted chuckle. "I would have taken at least one down with me." After a month of these late night talks the Avian is starting to hate the feelings creeping into his heart. It's something forbidden after all, the man in front of him is mated already but it won't keep him from asking questions he craves to know. "So are you going to come back to Teal? I mean it's a safe place to have your pup and I know my idiot of a brother would be thrilled to have you."

"While that would be awesome I doubt we'd make it there in time," he says starting to rub his legs still sore from the day's work. "Sure Gil can sort of walk but it would still take uh three months?"

In the moonlight Alfred can see the soft blush grow on the other's cheeks. "Well it's pretty damn quick when you fly and I could...help you with that." With each word his face grows hotter as a single thin curl bouncing off his head morphs into a heart.

"I'm not too heavy for you to carry am I?" Again the Avian's face turns a deeper shade of red.

"No and well I'd get a hand from one of the others..." Lovino looks away, hoping that the younger hasn't noticed his stuttering so he's not prepared for the Omega to kiss his cheek. "The fuck are you doing!?" He starts seeing a sly smirk on the Omega's face. "You're a bastard."

"And you're awesome." Alfred starts warmly knowing he has to leave soon. "Though I know what you were trying to say."

The Prince's mind is going a mile a minute. "You're mated, fuck you're mated to three assholes."

"Hey they're not assholes."

The Alpha sighs as his wings fold behind his back. "You know what I meant."

Nodding Alfred stands. "I do though I do really care about you." It's met with a grumble from the other. "You're a good friend and I want to see you out of this hell hole."

Every bit of his mind is screaming to be distant and push him away but his heart won't let him. "Yeah, same." He answers looking up, unable to say what he truly wants to, to the blue eyed man. "It's getting late."

"Okay Dude, I'll see you later." He expects Lovino to stay sitting and usher him out with a wave of his hand like normal but to his surprise the shorter man stands embracing him in his large wings. "Uh?"

"Stay safe, you idiot." His wings are free from the chains that held him to the wall thanks to the Hyenas though he won't leave until the rest can.

Alfred nods wrapping his arms around his chest. "I will." They stay together for another moment before Alfred disappears within the crack.

Left alone again among his sleeping men the Avian rests his head on the cool rock behind him. "Damn it..." he mutters as the moon is hidden behind a large black cloud. "Why do you punish me? Haven't I suffered enough?" Again he brings his knees to his chest. "Bastard..."

Back in his small apartment the Omega crawls into bed. What was once three beds has been pushed together so all five of them could stay warm in the cold nights. Abel sleeps curled around the youngest member purring softly in his neko form with the other two on either side. For a moment he watches them, slowly sinking into the warmth he left an hour before.

As he does, two arms pull him closer as jade eyes meet his. "I was starting ta think you got stuck."

"No just making friends."

He curls up into the Fox's embrace feeling Allistor's lips on his forehead. "Mmm he'll be harder to win over you know. He keeps his heart guarded from most."

"Who said I was trying to make him another mate?"

Allistor chuckles letting sleep take him over again. "Because I know you and your heart can't resist a wounded Alpha."

The hairs on the back of his neck stand on end. "Are you upset?"

"Naw." He answers as his eyes close.

"Why?"

From the other side of the bed another voice answers. "Because we love you now go to sleep." Truthfully the three Alphas do love him and while it would mean one more member of their family they aren't jealous like most mates would be. Especially since they know a few things about the Avian that the Omega doesn't so they'll take it for what will be. An alliance with the Avian breed, nothing more and nothing less. "We'll talk about it in the morning."

Nuzzling into Allistor's neck the Omega inhales slowly, breathing in their collective scent. "Okay." He mutters falling asleep, letting his dreams take over.