The fire crackles as the wood glows soft yellow and orange and while it's warm by its glow a few feet away into the darkness of the woods it's growing colder by the hour. Alfred inches closer to the fire hating the fact that he's still dressed in a long tan tunic and short pants while the Alphas around him are more than ready for the winter weather that will be hitting soon enough. Even the simple deer skin he collected won't keep the winter wind away especially once they start up the mountains. The leaves are already starting to change so winter will only be a few weeks away and there's no telling if it isn't already snowing high above them.

As the wood cracks his mind wanders back to a few years before when his brother was still with him. Unlike Alfred, his twin brother was born an Alpha but Matthew like their mother was a fox so as soon as it could be arranged he left for one of the tribes in the northern mountains. Really neither could tell why their father had picked a Fox as a mate in the first place nor did they ever dare to ask. Maybe at one point he had loved her but it was a long time ago. She had died right before Matthew had left and once she did…Alfred found that he was a sudden outcast waiting for his turn to be tossed aside to another clan. Even his father refused to look at him most days after.

He's so lost in thought that when he feelings a sudden warm heaviness on his shoulders he nearly jumps out of his skin. "It's alright." Abel says letting the thick jacket rest on the Omega's shoulders. "Just figured you like something a little warmer."

Alfred blinks before shaking his head. "No I'm fine, thanks anyway Dude."

"Keep it." Gilbert says knowing that the Omega is a stubborn one. "He's a Neko that's use to the cold. He'll probably end up losing it again anyway."

Alfred doesn't have to be told twice. "Alright but once we get to my brother's village I'm giving it back."

The Alphas know by the way he wraps it tightly around himself that Abel has lost his jacket for good. "So will they let you stay?"

It's something that Alfred hadn't thought of. "What do you mean? It's my brother's village so…" He stops as the fear sinks in. While he is a half fox that doesn't mean that they have to let him stay in fact they could cast not only him out but his brother as well. "If they won't take me…I won't go back to the Crimson."

"We won't take yah anywhere you don't want ta go." Allistor says knowing that his companions were thinking the same thing. "You'll have to be one of us though."

His blue eyes are full of a mix of confusion and concern. "And what does that mean exactly?"

"We don't have tribes or family to fall back on. Our only loyalty is to each other and yeah we're Alphas but we'll treat you like one of us." Allistor starts and only continues once Alfred nods. "And we don't expect you ta mate with us, we might be one of the colorless but we're not horny fuckers."

"But you will need to learn a few things to keep yourself safe." Gilbert adds as he plays with one of his knifes. "If you decide to stay with us since there's other little groups like us out there that are horny fuckers."

For a moment Alfred lets it sink in. It's not what he was told his life would be what he was destined to do with his life. It would mean a freedom he'd only had ever dreamed of, but while he's excited he's also equally afraid. If he'd ever want to mate and have children what would happen then? Would he pick one of them? Or would all three then expect children? "Can I think it over?" He finally asks. "I'm not saying no but…"

"We understand. I mean it's a lot to take in at once." Abel gives him a smile as the first moon's light shines down through the tree branches. "We'll make camp here for a few days until you decide what you want to do."

"Why here?"

"Because if we go up into the mountains and get stuck as winter hits it won't end well for any of us…well maybe the Fox will live but that's only because he was born in the snow."

In a flash Allistor hits the back of Gilbert's head with the tip of his bow. "He means it's a long way and it's safer to go in spring."

"So we'd wait out winter somewhere?"

"Exactly."

Now he's sure he has to think it through but while he has them talking he wants to make sure he has no doubts about his decision. "What if…I want to mate? I'm not saying I want to this minute but I might one day."

The three Alphas exchange looks before Gilbert speaks for them. "If you want to mate than we'll let you decide that." With a laugh he slides his knife back into its spot on his belt. "Hell if you wanted to mate with all three of us I doubt we'd really care."

Even Allistor chuckles at the thought. "I've heard of Alphas having many Omegas but never the other way around. Though it would mean we'd all be slightly over protective." He shakes his head amused as a wolf howls somewhere in the distance.

Gilbert doesn't bat an eye as he returns the howl. "So what did he say?"

Before Gilbert can answer Abel, Alfred speaks up. "He said that there's a storm coming." Shortly after a few more howls are heard throughout the woods around them. "They're all saying the same things…"

"Then we can probably trust them." The Fox says as he sniffs the air. "It'll be here by tomorrow morning."

"Great…" Abel says with a sigh. "Fucking rain…and the smell of three wet dogs."

"Oh says the guy that licks himself."

Allistor can already feel a headache coming. "Abel, shut up."