The family of wolves walked along the forest path, trailing closely behind the black furred wolf they had just met, who had offered them shelter in his pack. But, to Sam, something seemed off about this wolf. While at first impressions, Cain seemed to be a rather kind wolf, he seemed to give off an aura that did not sit well with the cream-colored wolf and his family. Deciding to get a better read on the black-furred wolf, Sam cautiously approached him, which did not go unnoticed by the large Alpha, who turned and offered a, as Sam observed, a half-heated smile as he spoke.

"Aw," Cain began in a deep bass, a hint of annoyance in his voice, which perturbed Sam, "Terra's mate. Sam, is it?" A bit unnerved by Cain's, as Sam noticed, somewhat forced kindness as he spoke through clenched teeth, Sam, with as much respect and civility as he could muster in his family's current situation, quickly corrected the dark Alpha.

"Samuel, sir," he answered in his signature Irish baritone, "friends and family call me Sam." Cain tilted his head at this information, and seemed to take on an expression of insult and hurt.

"But are we not friends, my dear Omega?" This made Sam stop suddenly, which seemed to confuse the others in the group. With a wary attitude, Sam inquired something of Cain.

"How did you know I was an Omega?" Behind the two males, King and Terra looked worriedly at each other, silently fearing that perhaps this Alpha our his followers had been watching them. Anna, on the other paw was simply minding her own business, more specifically trying to stay warm in the freezing winter snow. Noticing that her daughter was shivering violently, Terra quickly pulled the still very small pup toward her, while also paying close attention to the interaction her mate was having with Cain, who merely laughed at the former's question.

"It is really just the way you walk," Cain answered, a knowing smile on his face, "You keep your tail lowered, your ears slightly back, and off course how you addressed me as 'sir.' It is the clear mark of an Omega." Sam, a bit unsettled by Cain's obvious skills in deduction, decided that there was little point in telling the black furred wolf he was mistaken.

"Yes," Sam sighed as he began to walk again, quickly followed by his family as Cain walked alongside him, " I am an Omega. But, I became one by choice." This seemed to peak Cain's interest. Noticing the large Alpha's inquisitive gaze, Sam continued. "Believe it our not I was actually second-in-command in King's All-Alpha Pack." Looking back to King, Cain noticed that the older male seemed to lower his head in what appeared to be shame. Taking that into consideration for his plans, Cain returned his attention to Sam.

"Was it something that happened between the two of you that made you want to become an Omega?" Sam couldn't tell if Cain was being genuine in his curiosity, but he decided to humor him nonetheless. But as he spoke, bitter memories plagued his mind as he gave a hard stare into the falling snow.

"A multitude of somethings, but I don't want to talk about it" Sam responded in a low, unnerving growling, which did not go unnoticed by King, who lowered his head further, which did not go unnoticed by Terra, who pressed her side against his in comfort, earning a side smile from her father in return. Even though King had only just redeemed himself, he knew it was a long road ahead before his son-in-law could fully trust, even though the latter had said "a big wolf does not hold grudges." Anna, however, wasn't paying attention. With the wind dying down she was wasn't so cold anymore, and was now frolicking in the snow which practically buried her up to her chest, not that she really minded. Without a care in the world, she bounded ahead of her father and Cain as they continued their conversation.

"And you don't have to talk about it, my friend, that is," Cain caught himself as he remembered his earlier question to the cream colored wolf, "if we are friends, off course?" Taking a moment to contemplate an answer, Sam finally looked to Cain, hazel eyes meeting red as he offered an answer.

"No," he said promptly, making everyone stop in their tracks once again "not friends." Catching the look of surprise toward his bluntness on Cain's face, Sam turned to Terra and King, both frozen in place at his answer. Looking back to Cain, Sam could see the black wolf slowly start to bare his fangs, clearly insulted. Thinking quickly, Sam calmly added, "not yet, but perhaps in time we can get there," he finished with a smile.

This seemed to calm Cain a little bit. He relaxed his mouth into a smile of his own, his fangs now covered, but not before Sam noticed that stuck between two of them was a piece of bloody fur, fur he recognized as the same shade that belonged to the dead female that he and Terra had found earlier. Sam was suddenly pulled from his trance as he noticed Cain offer a paw to him, a smile still present. With a half smile, Sam took the paw with his own, shaking it. But as Cain shook his paw, Sam noticed that he seemed to be squeezing it pretty hard, almost as if he was trying to break it. Quickly, but calmly, pulling his paw away, trying to shake out the numbness that was now present in it, Sam looked ahead to see that the group was just near the edge of a huge mountain ridge.

"How much farther is your pack, if I might ask," Sam inquired, turning back to Cain who seemed to be surveying the same range. After a moment he answered.

"Well if we take the path over this mountain range it could take us over night," Cain began, his eyes squinting as he looked toward the top, "so perhaps we should rest hear before we continue." The other adults in the group nodded in agreement, as the group had been traveling for most of the day, and probably should rest. Calling to Anna to return, the group settled in a spacious cave nearby.

Later that night, Sam walked to the mouth of the cave, staring up at the crescent moon that bathed the surrounding area in a beautiful aura. Sam's attention was suddenly drawn to the sound of footsteps approaching him. Looking behind him, Sam smiled as he saw his father-in-law walk about to him, sitting by his side once he reached him, offering a smile in return. After a few moments of looking at the vast winter wonderland, Sam finally spoke.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" King hummed in agreement, his gaze wandering over the fresh snow covered ground, rocks and trees. Although, as Sam noticed, he seemed to be a bit absentminded. "You okay, King?" he inquired. After a moment of sitting in silence, King sighed.

"I just," he sighed again before continuing, "I just want you to know how sorry I am. Hearing you talk to Cain about your time in my pack, the contempt in your voice, I j-just want-t you t k-know..." Before King knew it, hew was sobbing into Sam's chest as the latter held him close, offering words of comfort.

"King, listen to me," he cooed, pushing King away so he could look into his tear filled eyes, "I forgive you and Terra forgives you. Now you just have to forgive yourself." Upon hearing this, King straightened himself up, and after taking a moment to compose himself, smiled at his son-in-law, who smiled in return. But Sam's smile soon faded as another thought ran across his mind.

"Now about our new 'friend'," Sam said, his voice laced with suspicion as he whispered to King, all while looking to Cain whose back was facing them as he appeared to be sleeping, "am I the only one who thinks something is off about him?" Looking to King, Sam was relieved to also see a look of skepticism on his face.

"No," King whispered back, "I feel it too. Something just doesn't seem right about him. I mean, have you seen the way he looks at Terra?" Sam nodded before answering.

"I have," he said, "And I noticed something else." Looking to King, who gave a nod to proceed, Sam continued. "Earlier today Terra and I found the remains of a dead female wolf." King's eyes widened in surprise at the news, but nonetheless leaned in to hear more as Samuel continued to speak. "Now hear is the thing, the bite marks on her neck indicate that she was killed by another wolf. When Cain bared his teeth at me earlier, I noticed that between two teeth was a lock of fur the same shade as that of the dead female." King's look of shock suddenly took on a look of realization.

"When Cain showed up at our den earlier," King began, "he said he was looking for one of his Alpha's who had gone missing during a hunting trip; a female. you don't suppose...?"

"I don't know," Sam interrupted, but looked toward Cain as King looked to the ground in contemplation, "but what I do know is that we will be wary around our new 'friend.' Agreed?" Looking at Samuel, King curtly nodded, a determined expression on his face.

"Agreed," he responded. Meanwhile, over with the three remaining wolves, Terra was enjoying a restful night sleep, her body curled around her loving daughter who snuggled cozily into her side. But, unbeknownst to her, Cain, feigning sleep, his red eyes staring hungrily at her lithe, but fit, form, licked his chops with lust. Cain smiled eerily before turning his attention to the two males at the cave entrance before letting out a low, chilling chuckle.

"I almost feel sorry for you, Omega," he said under his breath, "but with a mate like yours, I think I'll get over it."