It took him so long, dragging his tail between his legs searching for someone he knew didn't want to be found. It was his fault so when Anya appeared at his door, he was ready. "Aaren." Her smile was wicked, her eyes not bothering to hide the vengefulness. "We had a deal." It was followed by the smell of smoke and roaring fire. "We had a deal, you," She said kicking him in the chest. "Gave me a mate and I." He fell to his knees with a grunt. "Well I let your clan live."

He looked up, his left eye swollen shut. "And they will." She sighed before kicking him, almost breaking his jaw.

"I don't know who warned you we were coming but your clan can't hide forever." She said looking around at the quiet village. "Or," She thought for a moment as she walked around him. Aaren watched, knowing it was merely for theatrics and she would turn and kick him again. "Or you can do your duty as a chief and father and bring him to me, hmm?" Her sweet tone made his skin crawl. "I mean I have been kind to you."

He managed to sit up, "Yes."

"Yes?"

At that moment he'd rather have cut out his tongue then say what he knew he had to. "My queen." He dropped his ears, let his tail fall, and tried his best to appear small. "I will bring him to you."

It had been years, a trail that snaked through most of the wide woods and large cities until finally leading him to a vast beach stretching as far as he could see. A smell lingers in the air and finally he knows he was close. Yet, the exact direction has him at a loss.

"Hi," He hears turning to a girl of about twelve. She watches him with a wide smile, her face adored with freckles and her red hair tied tightly in a long braid. "Are you lost?" She asks amused at the older man before her.

He straightens his back, "What makes you think that?"

She answers with a giggle as she ducks behind a dune only to reappear closer. "Because most know better than to come all the way down here." Behind her a boy appears, this one a Neko with blonde hair and pale blue eyes. "So, are you lost?"

"If I am would you point me in the right direction?" There is something about the pair that reminds him of an old memory.

It grows stronger in the way she smiles at him. "But what's the right way for you?" She giggles as the boy behind cocks his head. "Are you a Colorless?"

With a chuckle Aaren shrugs. "Most would say I am but, I am part of a color." As he talks, he can feel eyes on him from out on the water. Watching his every move so he treads carefully. "May I ask you a question?"

"Perhaps."

"It's getting late. Is there a settlement nearby?" He looks over his shoulder at the ocean beyond, catching a head dipping below the waves.

She gives a friendly wave to the ocean before nodding, "There is. Though you'll have to talk to my Mama first." With that the two kids start to walk off down the beach. "Then we'll set you in the right direction."

Carefully he follows suit. "Don't worry, I'm sure I'll find it soon." He says as the two before him race ahead. The beach soon turns to dunes then to rocky cliffs. Soon they climb high as sea sprays them, below he can still feel eyes watching him cautiously until they reach the small village. As they run inside, he stands back, not daring to walk in. He pulls his jacket tighter around him, feeling the chill of the early twilight.

Soon a tall man approaches him. "Hello." The Omega says with a smile. "I heard you were looking for a place to stay."

Aaren nods, averting his eyes. He has waited so long for this moment. He's rehearsed every line, but in this moment, they refuse to come. "I have though I don't know if you'll have me." He says.

"Oh?" Alfred looks him up and down, crossing his arms. "And why's that?"

With a deep inhale Aaren meets his eyes, it takes only a split second for his son to recognize him. "Because I don't deserve it."