I awoke in a cold sweat staring up at a sea of stars above me. They were somehow a comfort to me, because I felt it was nothing more than a dream. But then I turned to the small fire and the Alphas sitting around it and my heart sank deep in my chest. For a second I thought I could both lie back down and pretend to sleep or simply make a break for it but the moment his eyes locked with mine I knew it would be useless.

"You're awake." He said simply with a soft smile as the others turned to stare at me. "My name's Gilbert." He then pointed to the others. "This bastard here is Abel." He said with a laugh as a tall blue eyed man laughed along before turning to the man on his left. He was taller than this Gilbert with blonde hair and sharp blue eyes that stared coldly at me. "This is my little brother Ludwig." He said wrapping his arm around his brother's neck. "The other two well is Kiku but he doesn't talk much and the last dude is Antonio but mostly we call him Tony." The other two nodded.

The one named Tony smiled at me trying to put me at some ease, "And what's your name?"

"Alfred." I said never taking my eyes off the five Alphas. I didn't know what they did to me while I was out cold or if it was one of them that caused me to pass out so I had to be ready for anything.

What I wasn't ready for was Gilbert's question, "Why where you running?"

"What?"

"You looked like a ghost was after you or something."

It honestly sent a chill down my spine as I sat up remembering my mother's lullaby in my head, "I was running from...someone." It wasn't a complete lie after all and for the most part that seemed to have been enough for them.

Ludwig nodded as he looked past me at the woods that I had emerged from, "Well whoever they were are gone now."

I didn't believe that, I couldn't. You can't run from a ghost and when I looked back towards the looming forest I felt her watching. "You can stay with us." One of them said as I turned back around.

"No, sorry but that's a little odd don't yah think?" I answered with a smile, "I mean a beta hanging around with a bunch of Alphas I mean thanks but I got this." I shrugged slightly hoping I stilled smelled enough like my jacket to fool them.

I could tell Abel wanted to say something but Gilbert cleared his throat, "Fair enough but it's not smart for anyone to be walking around in the middle of the night. So hey at least for the night why don't you stay here?" Somehow I felt I didn't have much of a choice in the decision so I nodded.

I was thinking fast and had to play it cool, "Yeah I get it man. It makes sense so thanks for not taking all my shit and leaving me in the mud." I grinned at them like I would do to my brother and it seemed to work as most turned back around to the fire.

"So you want to join us around the fire?"

"Nah I should try and sleep." I said knowing by how my legs were throbbing that I'd be sore in the morning and the last thing I wanted to do is use them again. So I laid back down pretending to sleep but I kept an eye on the men around the fire. Slowly one by one they moved away from the fire and drifted off to sleep. All but one that is, the one named Kiku sat calmly by the fire clearly looking out for anyone who might be out in the dark.

I don't know when but I drifted off to sleep, dreaming of my mother's garden again. I swore I could smell the roses bursting with life and there in the middle of the daisies, tulips and marigolds was my mother. "Alfred." She said with a soft smile, "They're good Alphas."

"Because they think I'm a Beta." I answered sitting with her as a bee buzzed past. "Once they know I'm an Omega they'll-"

"They already know." She interrupted with a small sigh, "You can't fool them mon Ange."

I looked down at my hands, "Mom…I can't."

"Don't hate them Alfred."

"Why not? They're the reason you're gone." It was strange, I knew she was gone but here I was arguing with her and when she reached out and took my hand I swear I could feel her warm touch. "I hate them."

She sighed softly at me, "Hate is a strong word for men you don't know."

"Well, what if they're the bastard that-"

"They aren't Alfred. Now stay with them." She said sternly as a butterfly landed on her shoulder. "Remember Alfred…I want you to be happy." Her smile was sweet and angelic as she slowly disappeared, "Love them and they will love you."

It might have been a dream but it was her, and as I opened my eyes I felt her kiss my cheek. Instantly I regretted it as every muscle in my body ached. It wasn't like my body wasn't use to the activity but it had been too much. I winced as I slowly rose from my spot in the grass to see the Alphas once again sitting by the fire, this time though with bowls of oatmeal in their hands.

"Morning." Gilbert said with a smile as Anthony offered me a bowl, "You look like shit."

Ludwig tried to smack him in the back of the head but the white haired man moved at the last moment, "What he meant to say was, you still look sick."

"No I get it." I forced a chuckle, "I probably do look like shit." I joined them at the fire but sat farther away from them just in case. "But thanks for breakfast." After all those days with little food it was a blessing and soon it was gone. It wasn't until I lifted my head up did I see once again they were all staring at me, "What? Did I get some on me?"

"Haven't eaten much?"

"Well not really…" I said wiping my mouth with my sleeve only then remembering that I was still covered in dried blood and mud. "I'm going to the border and only took what I could carry."

Abel nodded as he took my bowl, "Makes sense and hell we're all going that way."

"Oh? Why's that?"

This time Ludwig answered, "We're soldiers that had enough."

Soldiers? My mind was racing a mile a minute when he uttered that, "Have you seen my brother?"

"What's your brother's name?"

"His name is Matthew Williams, he's my twin brother so he has blonde hair, blue eyes and he's slightly taller than I am. He's really quite and please, tell me you've seen him." I didn't realize how desperate I sounded but then I really didn't care.

They all shook their heads after a moment. I knew it was a long shot but damn it if I wasn't going to try. But this was something odd than. That would mean they're all deserters and if that's so than why would they be out here in the open? It was almost if Kiku could read my thoughts because he turned to me, "The war...is a lost cause."

"Please it wasn't a fucking war. It was a bunch of assholes waving their dicks around then when someone blinked it went all to hell."

"What?" I understood but it was a strange way of putting it.

"The bastard says shit like that so don't pay attention." Gil said with a chuckle as Abel shook his head, "Well it's true."

"But why am I a bastard?"

"You fucked my Omega sister right?"

"Yeah?"

"Then you're a bastard."

"Wait, then why isn't Ludwig calling me that too?"

Ludwig just sighed, "Because when you don't expect it I'm going to kill you."

"Then why would you tell me now?"

"So you can expect it."

"That's fucked up."

Anthony shook his head as he turned back to me, "So anyway we're just a handful of hundreds that's given up the fight. But we know that we could find a new life across the border so since we're going the same way would you want to come too?"

I had a feeling it was coming but I didn't know what to say. I wanted to tell them no with every being of my body but something was holding me back. Maybe it was what my mother had told me in the dream or a fear of being alone again but either way I nodded.

"Good so do you want a change of clothes?"

"Um…yeah that would be awesome dude." I stood up but quickly sat back down as my body screamed at me. "I'm just gonna sit here."

"No problem." Gilbert said as he handed me a pair of jeans and a white t-shirt, "And you can keep them since yours are…"

"Fucked up, yeah I know." I smiled as I quickly changed amazed by how much was coating my clothes, "Damn." I said as I threw them to the side never wanting to see them again. "Um so when are we going?"

"Tomorrow since you clearly can't go anywhere."

"Oh than just leave me and I'll catch up." I didn't know why I didn't think of that in the first place. But Gilbert just shook his head, "It's okay."

"If you were a beta than sure but then that's not entirely true is it?" I stared at him knowing I didn't have to say a word. "Okay then it's settled." He said as he picked up my old clothes and tossed them into the fire. "We leave tomorrow morning."