Hi!
Yes, I know I take entirely too long to update but writing is something I'm overly anal about but now that my roommate did something stupid and is now in jail I have all the time in the world to write so hopefully I'll be better.
I'd like to thank everyone who's reviewed.
I think you're sexy and invite you to my Bethyl symposium I'm going to give...one day.
A big thank you/shout out/hug to Jaimek45 for being the bestest person ever.
Whenever the ZA happens I'm driving up to save Reedus and Lincoln and taking them to her family farm.
I'll get to see both of them shirtless holding babies and my ovaries will catch fire.

Daryl's skin itched.

He had spent so much time on two legs he was getting antsy and his muscles were coiled uncomfortably tight.

Merle never went more than a few days without a run in the woods but lately Daryl's mind had been on other things.

He knew the longer he and Beth were together the harder it would be to tell her what he was. He just didn't want her to see him as a monster. Daryl didn't think Beth had a mean bone in her body but sometimes she got a little vicious when people kept things from her. She had refused to talk to Maggie for a week when Maggie sprung her elopement on the family.

Beth was going to be busy studying this weekend so there'd be no better time. He could even do a run by and check on everything.

Daryl knew Rick checked the farm's perimeters at least once every week or so but the moon was full and high in the sky and his instincts were going a little haywire. He needed to know his mate was safe.

As he hiked the few miles to the little shack Merle and he hid their clothes in he was filled with nervous energy. He needed to run and run far.

Daryl couldn't sense anything in the area but a few smaller prey animals and as he shed his clothes he welcomed the feel of cool air on his skin.

The change came quickly and he welcomed the pain. This was his curse and his gift. His bones shifted and muscles stretched and contracted to form a new creature. Shaking his shaggy head and orienting himself on four legs Daryl lifted his head to the sky and howled out one long joyful note.

As a human his senses were heightened but as a wolf there were none better. He could see, smell, and hear everything. His thoughts were disjointed and all he could think of was Beth. In this form his mind was different, more primal. Miles of forest were nothing to him. He ran as fast as he could until he came across Rick's scent mark. They may not share blood but Rick was Daryl's second brother. When Merle did something stupid it was Rick who helped him out and it had been Daryl who stood as best man all those years ago when Rick married Lori. Rick even helped Daryl get his associate's in police science so he could get his job as game warden at Hard Labor Creek National Park.

Just because they were close didn't mean that Rick wasn't going to take the piss out of Daryl every chance he got for being mated to little Beth Greene. His mate had been caring for Rick's children for a little over five years and from what he understood Carl was head over heels for her. Daryl couldn't stop the growl that seemed to echo in the darkened woods. Carl was getting to the age where he'd have his first shift and while logically he knew he had nothing to fear from a 14 year old boy the animal part of him only saw a rival.

Running around the perimeter of Hershel's farm Daryl found nothing out of the ordinary. Squirrels, rabbits, a few deer, and those damn coyotes. There were so many in Georgia and they were even crossbreeding with domesticated dogs. Daryl hated those fuckers. No respect.

The sun was just peaking over the horizon and Daryl could smell the beginnings of breakfast. Cocking his head quizzically he noticed Beth walking outside, a basket on her arm to hold the eggs she was going to gather. Merle's list suddenly seemed to pop in his mind and to his lupine brain nothing seemed more appropriate than bringing his mate food. Dashing back into the tree line he quickly brought down a fat rabbit. He knew he had to approach her without scaring her. No need to bring her family outside. Trotting closer to his mate Daryl waited patiently for her to turn around.

When Beth went to begin her morning chores she didn't expect to be facing a giant freaking wolf. Seriously, was this Game of Thrones or something? It was large and dark gray with the strangest blue eyes. Those eyes gave her pause. They seemed so intelligent and…familiar. It had a rabbit hanging in its mouth and Beth could have sworn it was laughing at her. Clutching her basket to her chest she watched as her wolf (though when he became hers she didn't know) dropped the lifeless little Thumper on the ground and nosed it towards her. Frozen, Beth waited and watched as the wolf seemed to grow impatient and picked the rabbit back up and dropped it directly at her feet. This was just too weird. As she slowly bent down to grab her gift she never took her eyes from the beast in front of her. Beth slowly straightened and with a small yip the wolf bounded back into the forest.

Half-dazed Beth forgot the eggs and walked back into the house.

"Daddy…." she started, "A giant wolf just gave me a rabbit and ran away."

Hershel set down his paper and looked at the bloodied animal in his youngest daughters hands.

"Well, seems like you have an admirer."

Beth was shocked at how blasé' her father was being. Maybe he wasn't fully awake yet?

Her mother paused in flipping pancakes and looked with wide eyes at Beth and Hershel.

"I think that it the sweetest thing I've ever heard but Beth, sweetheart, you should probably out the rabbit down. It's dripping all over the floor."

Ok, it was official. Her parents had lost their minds. A giant wolf had given her a rabbit and it was "sweet".

"Screw it, "she thought. "I'm going back to bed."

As Beth climbed the stairs Hershel and Annette shared a secret smile.

"That boy needs to tell her soon. She'd think it was cute if she knew" Annette sighed.

Hershel simply nodded. Maybe he'd tell Beth to ask Daryl about local wolves. He knew more than anyone else and maybe it'd light a fire under his ass to get him to tell. It wasn't like Beth would think any different of him.

Daryl's human mind was embarrassed and a little wary. He'd shown himself to Beth and brought her a damn dead animal just like Merle had said. Well, at least she hadn't screamed. God knew Hershel and Annette would never let him live it down if they knew. Slipping his boots on he leisurely walked the few miles back to his house and was surprised to see Rick's SUV parked outside. Rick wasn't the biggest fan of Merle but both men tolerated each other because they both knew they cared for Daryl but to see both of them laughing over coffee on his couch was something he thought he'd never see.

"Hey there baby brother. Had a good run? Was just tellin' Officer Friendly here about you and lil Greene."

Oh God. He'd managed to give Rick the slip each time he wanted to talk about Beth but now he was cornered and by the shit eating grins on both men's face he knew he was going to go down hard.

"So….Daryl" Rick started, "You and Beth, huh? Didn't know you were into sweet little girls. Poor Carl is going to be heartbroken you've stolen his girl from him."

Daryl couldn't help the snarl that ripped from his throat.

"She was never his! She was always mine even if I didn't know. You keep your boy away from her and we won't have problems."

Merle and Rick both shared a look of barely contained amusement.

"Yep, you've got it bad. I did the same thing with Lori remember? Nearly attacked her gay friend for hugging her."

Sighing Daryl plopped down on a chair and ran his hands through his hair. Rick had been through this before when he found Lori and he'd laughed at the time but now that the shoe was on the other foot….well he was a Dixon and they weren't known for social niceties so Rick should be used to not getting apologies.

Rick's grin dimmed a little.

"I know Hershel probably already gave you a talk but you know if you screw up you've got me to deal with too. I've known Beth since she was a little girl and she's practically a member of the family. I don't know what Lori and I would have done without her when Judi was a baby."

Daryl went to reply but was cut off by his phone. Who would be texting him at 8 in the morning?

Hey Daryl, do you know anything about wolves. Something weird happened this morning – Beth

Rick and Merle were stunned when Daryl paled.

"Has something happened at the park?"

Daryl simply handed Rick his phone and watched as Merle and Rick looked at each other and said together, "Hershel".

"Well now Darylena, now you know how her daddy feels. Ya gotta tell her sometime soon or you'll never get her naked."

Rick looked slightly green.

"Can we please not talk about a naked Beth? It's like thinking of my kid sister having sex and I really can't stomach that."

Personally naked Beth was one of his favorite thoughts but he could understand where Rick was coming from. Thinking of Merle having sex made him want to pour bleach in his ears to wipe the images from his brain.

"Aw c'mon Friendly, Darylena here hasn't even gotten her shirt off yet. He's going mighty slow with her. S'good thing though. Baby brother needs to do this right. You don't get second chances when it comes to girls like her."

Rick looked at Merle with shock. The older man was full of surprises and by the sounds of it he had already accepted Beth as a member of the family. Quirking a grin at Merle Rick dropped a bomb on Daryl.

"Speaking of second chances, what's this I hear about you and Carol Peletier?"

Daryl looked at his brother in astonishment and almost fell to the floor when he saw the telltale blush on his cheeks.

"Now, I thought we were talking bout Daryl and lil Greene here, not me" he sputtered.

Daryl laughed, "Not s'nice now, is it?"

"So what are you going to do about Beth's text" Rick asked.

Shaking his head Daryl stared at his phone. "Don't know what to do. M'not ready yet to tell her. I want her to want me as much as I want her before I tell her. She can't see me as just an animal."

Rick stood and clapped Daryl on the shoulder.

"You should give her the chance to make her own decision. I waited too long to tell Lori and she shut me out for almost two months and I went a little crazy. I swear the day she forgave me was the day we made Carl. Beth's a good girl and she always sees the best in people. I've seen how she looks at you too. Beth may not love you yet but she's damn close." As he grabbed his hat Rick looked at Daryl, "Maybe she'd like to go to that archery thing you've got going on at the park. I'll try to warn Carl away if she does go. I can't have you growling at my son now."

Rick gave Merle a nod and walked out of the house.

"Y'know he's right little brother. She's special and you can't keep something like this from her. "

Looking at his phone for a few moments Daryl shot Beth a quick text.

There's an intro to archery course tomorrow if you want to come. We can talk about wolves then if you want.

Beth replied quickly.

Well I guess I still get to call you Mr. Dixon if you're going to be teaching me. I'll bring lunch….I miss you.

Daryl's heart clenched in his chest. He had to tell her and he had to keep her.