Rick's New Pack.

On the roof of the department building in Atlanta, T-Dog, Glenn and Rick are still staring at Merle's severed hand as they circle around the younger Dixon. Daryl was pacing, sniffling and whining silently as he stares at the blood. The Beta opens his mouth, placing one foot in front of him, going to comfort the hunter when the man turns his crossbow on T-Dog to kill him, an outraged shout following. Rick's gun is out and pointed at the Omega's head before the hunter can even think about pulling the trigger. T-Dog backs up with Glenn, trying to get out of firing range, but Daryl just turns the bow with him. stiles had his hand up but the shift happen anyways causing people look look at him but Daryl was only intrested in killing t-dog.

Rick rumbles loudly, "I don't care if every walker in the city hears it."

Daryl keeps his eyes on T-Dog. His jaw twitches and his eyes water again, but the archer just blinks them away and lowers the crossbow. After a moment, he glances at Rick and the gun is gone, back in its holster. Daryl blinks a few more tears away and glares at T-Dog with a shuddering sigh.

"You uh..." Daryl clears his throat "you got a do-rag or something?"

T-Dog hands him one, never breaking eye contact. stile rumbles a purr out of his throat as he watches the alpha grabs the cloth, trying to ease the others without knowing he was doing it. Rick was fascinated at the noise and watches closely as the Omega his son probably didn't know he done it as Daryl leans his crossbow against the pipes and lays the bandana T-Dog gave him on the ground. He picks up Merle's severed hand that's already decaying.

"I guess the saw blade was too dull for the handcuffs." Daryl huffs out a sob as he folds the cloth around what's left of his brother. "Ain't that a bitch."

He stands up, wiping his hands off on his jeans before picking up the hand. He glances at the men before gesturing to the lesser of the three evils and puts the hand in Glenn's backpack, ignoring Alpha's badly hidden disgust and fearful whine. Daryl zips the bag closed and picks up his crossbow.

"He must have used a tourniquet... maybe his belt. Be more blood if he didn't." Daryl notices a blood trail and the group starts to follow it. Rick takes one last look at the spot he had left the redneck Beta...

Rick returns to the group and watches the Alpha, concerned at the complete change of character. Daryl had been ready to kill T-Dog before, and now he seemed fine. Rick watches as the man's shoulders heave with a silent sigh a few times with sniffles. The man was bottling all his emotions away, to focus on tracking the blood. stiles let out a soft whimper but then growl, Omegas were taught to do that at an early age, the same way boys are taught to stop crying about small things, like scaping their knees when they fall off their bikes.

Rick had never met an Omega like Merle Dixon. Sure, the man smelled and behaved like a Beta, Rick had met plenty of those kinds of Omegas. It was the way merle seemed to bounce between an Alpha, a Beta, AND an Omega that threw the man off. T-Dog finds Dale's box and picks up the tools on the roof, leaving the bloody hacksaw for last. They come upon another door leading into the building.

"Merle? You in here?" Daryl yells as the group walks down the stairs, a slight crack to it. He clears his throat and calls out for his brother again. Coming into a different building than the department store, the group splits off, checking each room for Walkers. Daryl goes into an office ahead of the group and shoots a gruesome-looking Walker; their mouth a bloody mess. The group continues into a reception area and find two Walkers with their heads bashed in, a wrench from Dale's toolbox nearby.

"Had enough in him to take out these two sum bitches. One-handed." Daryl places the crossbow to rest on the ground, pulling the string back with a grunt of effort, the arrow held tight in his hand. "Toughest asshole I ever met, my brother. Feed him a hammer, he'd crap out nails. He always was angry he wasn't an Alpha; though it was like a birthright, ya know? He hung out with so many of them, studying them and whatnot, and he got so good at pretendin' he was one, I think his buds actually forgot he was just a Beta."

Rick watches the Alpha load the crossbow. The man's arm muscles bulged as he pulls the string back swiftly, his grunt the only thing indicating it wasn't easy. Only used to seeing Omegas as petite and slim with small muscle mass, it was strange seeing Alpha thickness on the Omega. Rick wonders if the man had always used a bow, or if it was a skill the man learned after the dead started walking. Realizing he was staring at the other man's arms and face Rick looks away. It would be creepy if he was caught, not to mention beyond inappropriate because of their status as old and young from different Packs. Throw in Rick's cheating Beta Mate, and its one rodeo Rick will sell his soul to not enter. Rick looks back for Glenn and T-Dog, not liking a member of his Pack being so far away in this situation. When the two men were in the room, Rick looks back at the archer.

Cocking his gun and moving forward Rick catches Daryl's eye. "Any man can pass out from blood loss, no matter how tough he is."

The group continues to search for Merle, Daryl shouting his name in every room.

"Merle!" Daryl calls again as they come into a new hallway. Rick gets close to remind the man they weren't alone. Daryl scoffs, and glares at the Alpha to back off. Rick steps back and tilts his head, causing the alpha's eyes to widen at the submission before he narrows them with a growl. The others stiffen behind the men, waiting for an attack. "Screw that. He could be bleeding out. You said so yourself."

They come upon a kitchen where a stove is still lit. The smell was terrible, but they push it to the back of their minds when they find Merle's belt sitting on the top of it. Glenn whimpers as he comes into the room and he cowards against the wall, moving out of Daryl's way when the Omega passes him. Rick follows behind T-Dog into the room and puts his hand on Glenn's neck. The sweat Rick had swiped off his forehead cools against the other Alpha's skin. Glenn leans into Rick's wrist slightly, scenting him.

"What's that burned stuff?" He points to a piece of metal sitting next to the stove as Daryl shuts it off, with a little more confidence. Rick rumbles his approval before he picks it up by its handle and takes a closer look at the burnt meat. He pulls the black mess off and tests the texture. Bringing it to his nose, Rick takes a deep breath. The Alpha sneezes into his elbow, but he caught the scent. Beneath the smoke, blood, and burnt meat was Pack... was Merle.

Setting the piece of metal back down Rick sighs, "Skin. He cauterized the stump."

at that stiles whines softly and looks at the alpha.

Daryl swallows loudly, while Glenn whines about being sick, "Told you he was tough. Nobody can kill Merle but Merle."

"He's lost a lot of blood." Rick holds his gun up and the group makes to move into another room.

"Yeah?" Daryl stops the group as he moves to the window, "Didn't stop him from busting out of this death trap."

"He left the building?" Glenn's voice raises in shock, "Why the hell would he do that?"

"Why wouldn't he?" Daryl says, observing the blood trail going into the alley, scenting the window and the blood to make sure it was Merle. "He's out there alone as far as he knows, doing what he's got to do. Surviving."

"You call that surviving?" T-Dog huffs. "Just wandering out in the streets, maybe passing out? What are his odds out there?"

Daryl turns on the group with an angry snarl, "No worse than being handcuffed and left to rot by you sorry pricks."

He turns to Rick, chin held high but not neck exposing, and keeps eye contact while speaking slowly; a challenge. "You couldn't kill him. Ain't so worried about some dumb dead bastard."

Rick gets in Daryl's face with a growl of his own, eyes flashing, chin raised, teeth bare. The man may be an alpha, but if he was going to act like a beta, Rick would treat him like one. "What about 1,000 dead dumb bastards? Different story?"

Daryl whines in his throat but clears it with a huff and tries to push pass Rick, shouldering his crossbow, dismissively. "Why don't you take a tally? Do what you want. I'm gonna go get him."

Rick puts his hand on Daryl's chest to stop him, regret and shame coursing through him for the way he was acting towards the alpha. "Daryl, wait..."

Daryl jumps back like he'd been shocked, yelling, "Get your hands off me! You can't stop me!"

Rick holds out his hand but makes sure not to touch the Alpha after such a bad reaction. He cuts off the Alpha's rant as Daryl gets in Rick's face. "I don't blame you, he's family, I get that. I went through hell to find mine."

Better to do this now before the hunter ran off by himself. Daryl looks down at his hand, clutching his fist tightly closed when he sees the pills. Shooting his eyes up to Rick's, the Alpha sees nothing but guarded fear, like the Alpha was ready for a fight if it came down to it. Rick bares his throat completely to Daryl, a soft comforting rumble echoing between them. Daryl breathes in Rick's scent and Rick lowers his gaze. Lowering his voice, Rick speaks directly at Daryl.

"Merle came out here for those, to protect himself. He told me that if he didn't make it back to camp, I was to give them to you so you would know. And I will; even if you're not part of my Pack. That's my duty as a cop, alright?"

Rick waits for Daryl's nod before he continues, "The group doesn't know merle was an om, I get it. I'll take it to my grave if that's what you want. But you gotta work with me. If we're passing you off as a Beta, you need Suppressants, more than that. I've got the bottle in my bag, but only you, Merle, and I know it hasn't been opened yet. I'll separate a portion for you, and I can go on a different run to look for some for you if that's what you want, ok?"

Daryl's throat about closes as he takes deep breathes and nods. Rick catches his gaze again and speaks gently. "He can't get far with that injury. We could help you check a few blocks around but only if we keep a level head. Ok?"

Daryl stays quiet, taking in Rick's face, his body language, everything. He looks in Rick's eyes, his own darting all over the man as he tries to see if he was lying. Seeing only honesty, Daryl relaxes. This man, this Alpha, would help find Merle but only if Daryl followed his lead. Daryl swallows again, nodding slightly. "I could do that."

T-Dog and Glenn watch the two's exchange silently from across the room, barely able to hear a word between them. When Rick nods again after getting Daryl's cooperation, T-Dog speaks up. "Only if we get those guns first. I'm not strolling the streets of Atlanta with just my good intentions, okay?"

...

The group meets in one of the conference rooms, so they can go over how to get the guns. Glenn grabs a marker and starts drawing a map of the area on the floor and the others gather around the Alpha, waiting to see what he comes up with. Glenn steals glances at Rick, drawing slowly. If his Alpha doesn't like his plan, Glenn doesn't want to be punished for overstepping. After all, Rick was the Prime-Alpha, not Glenn. Rick smiles at the Alpha and nods his consent for Glenn. Working faster, he starts to explain his plan.

"Look. That's the tank, five blocks from where we are now." Glenn uses some of the office supplies to show what his plan is, "That's the bag of guns. Here's the alley I dragged you into when we first met. That's where Daryl and stiles will go since your crossbow is quieter than his gun." Glenn points at Rick. Daryl nods, it was a good explanation. "While Daryl waits here in the alley, stiles run up the street, grab the bag."

Rick cuts the Alpha off quickly with a rumble, "he is not doing this alone."

" dad I can do it, I can." stiles said with a rumble of his own.

Daryl agrees, to everyone's surprise, "Even I think it's a bad idea and I don't even like you much."

Glenn sighs. "Hear me out. We're slow in a group, drawing attention. If stiles is alone, his fast."

Glenn points down the street. "You and T-Dog, right. You'll be in this alley here, Walkers might cut stiles off and he won't be able to go back to Daryl. So, if you guys are over here then stile will go forward instead. Whichever direction he go, I would be able to see from the roof, stiles got you guys to cover him. We meet back hereafter."

Daryl gets Glenn's attention and points at the map. "Hey, kid, what'd you do before all this? With a plan like this..."

Glenn looks at the others "Delivered pizzas. Why?"

The group share a look, and Daryl shrugs, "Alright then, let's go."

...

The plan goes off well enough; Stile got the guns and Rick's hat, which had fallen off during the rumble with the Herd the day before. Stile's had gone back to Daryl, Walkers blocking the way to Rick. When he gets there, he sees two Alphas beating up Daryl, the crossbow on the ground next to a young beta. They turn on him when they notice he has the guns.

"That's it. That's the bag, Vato. Take it! Take it!" One yells. They grab Stile's and Daryl shoots one in the rear end with his crossbow.

Stile's calls for help, knowing Rick would hear his Packmates distressed call. "Get off me! Get off me! Daryl! Daryl! ALPHA!"

A car pulls up and they start to back up. With Glenn as a hostage, the Pack flees leaving the beta behind as well.

Daryl gets up, dizzy and stumbles to the gate, just as the car drives off. "Come back here, you sumbitches!"

Daryl grabs the gate and shuts it before the Walkers can get at them. Rick and T-Dog arrive to see Daryl ready to beat the kid.

Rick pushes Daryl back while T-Dog holds Miguel, "Whoa whoa whoa. Stop it. Daryl hold on, what happened."

Daryl starts pacing, looking for a way at the kid and growls. His voice resembles an Alpha as he screams at the beta, causing the young boy to bare his neck with a sobbing whine, "They took Stile. That little bastard and his little bastard homie friends. I'm gonna stomp your ass!"

T-Dog points to the fence. "Guys! Guys! We're cut off!"

Rick gestures for T-Dog to grab the boy. "Get to the lab. Go."

Daryl grabs his crossbow as the two make their way down the alley. He waits for Rick, the only one ready to help Daryl get his family back. The only one to treat merle like more than an Alpha's plaything, other than himself, "Come on. Damn, let's go."

Rick picks up the bag of guns and his hat and the group runs back into the building.

.....

Stile's laughs as the group go back to the cube van, "Admit it Dad, you only came back to Atlanta for the hat."

Rick and his group, and the Pack that had taken Stile's, had parted on good terms. A group of Alphas and Betas had taken up residence in a nursing home to take care of the old folks that had been left behind. The Prime-Alpha there, a Beta nicknamed G, told them that the needed the guns to protect the medicine that was left. Rick left them with a decent load and matching ammo, in exchange for Stile. When he got him back, Stile's had scented his Prime-Alpha in front of everyone while giving Rick a hug. Daryl and T-Dog exchanged an uneasy glance, knowing how Shane would react to a newly formed Pack bound, without the him being the Prime.

Last time it had happened was a week into the camp being formed. Two women had become close to an Alpha male in the camp, and Shane had forced all three of them into submission, scenting them in front of everyone.

"Don't tell anybody." Rick laughs as well. pulling his son into a hug.

" get off of me old man," stiles said as he pushes himself away from his father and trip into Daryl on an accident. Daryl huffs as he walks a little ahead of the group, keeps an eye out for his brother. It was almost dark, they had spent the better half of the day fighting with the Vatos, G's pack, and looking for Merle. "You've given away half our guns and ammo."

Rick clicks his tongue, "Not nearly half."

"For what?" Daryl looks back at the Alpha, "Bunch of old farts who are gonna die anyway? Seriously, how long you think they got?"

Rick sends a stern look and a rumble to the Omega hunter, "How long do any of us?"

They come to the spot where their truck was, but it is gone.

"Oh my God."

"The hell's our van?"

"We left it right there. Who would take it?"

Rick growl in anger, jaw clinched to keep from baring his teeth. "Merle."

Daryl whimpers and flushes in shame, though his voice and posture portraying else wise, "He's gonna be taking some vengeance back to camp."

Rick slowly places his hand on the man's shoulder, trying to silently tell the man it wasn't his fault. Daryl's attention snaps to the hand and the Alpha attached and watches it land on his vest. With tight lips, he nods his thanks and lightly scents the hand before shrugging it off, and the group starts the long walk back to camp. Glenn nods at Daryl as well, and Daryl runs a little faster to hide the softening of his eyes and minute smile.

....

The group makes it halfway to the quarry before Rick calls for a break. The Alpha motions for Glenn to come over to him, grabbing two water bottles from the backpack and handing them to Daryl and T-Dog. Handing another to Glenn and stiles, Rick watches the trees while the others rest. Taking a sip from his own water bottle, the Alpha sits with the guys in the middle of the road. They all lean against each other's backs, facing every direction, all on the lookout for Walkers.

Once the group has been rehydrated, Rick nods at the woods. "I have to go take a leak. If you guys got to go, now is the best time to do it."

Daryl shrugs the crossbow off, arrow already loaded. "Ain't nothin' more pathetic than gettin' bit while your pants are down. We go in pairs and one can watch the other's back."

T-Dog and Glenn stay on the ground, waving them away. Not wanting to wait any longer, the Alpha and Omega make their way into the forest. Staying close to the road,

" Stiles is my son... He is an omega, like your brother... but I think he likes you.. Daryl if he want you as a mate then you can have him... i know you will take better care if him them anyone."

"Thought you were gonna take a piss, not inventory." Daryl snorts. The Alpha's face changes when Rick waves as he walks back to camp"Thanks... for uh..." Daryl clears his throat. Rick rumbles softly with pleasure, happy that he could help the alpha. Daryl swallows and nods to the road, "We should be getting back. Wouldn't want your Pack-mate to get anxious, waiting for ya."

Rick clicks his tongue with a smile, "We'll go back in a few, I still have to piss. Buddy system and whatnot. Come on."

Stiles and Glenn and T-Dog are still sitting in the road when they get back. The Asian Alpha jogs over to Rick, scenting him lightly. The group continues to the camp, wanting to be closer to their people. T-Dog glances at the two Alphas occasionally, biting his lip, like he had a question but was afraid to ask it.

"Something on your mind T, you can ask. I'm not gonna jump ya, and I doubt the others will." Rick says lightly, chin lower to seem less threatening.

"Ask away. Not like I give a shit." Daryl huffs, observing the forest. Glenn nods in agreement, looking at the Beta and waiting for the man to ask whatever was on his mind.

"How... How does that scenting thing work? Ya know, with building Packs and stuff?" T - Dog wonders.

"Why were you nervous to ask 'bout somethin' like that?" The Omega glances at the Beta out of the corner of his eye.

"They don't teach A.B.O. dynamics as a mandatory subject in schools, they were electives. I never got into it before I guess. But now with so many in one place, I want to be prepared."

"Shane's the Prime back at camp; he took control when the group met up. He doesn't explain stuff about the Pack hierarchy to the group." stiles adds.

"Well," Rick grins, "We'll be together for a couple of hours while we get to camp, might as well answer some questions for ya. Most of our world is based on our sense of smell. Alphas and Omegas are able to smell pheromones that give off emotions, health, intentions... it's how we are able to tell when someone goes into Heat or Rut."

"Scenting is a big deal when it comes to Packs. It's how we identify what group you're a part of. But Scenting is different based on whether you are Traditional or New-School." Stiles points out.

"Traditional? New-school?" The Beta asks.

"Damn, ya really don't know how it is, huh?" Daryl grunts, "Traditional Packs and New-School Packs don't get along with each other; they have different views on second genders. Traditional believe that Alphas are the superior gender and that Betas are the foot soldiers; there to do whatever the Alpha dismisses as unimportant and unworthy of their attention. Omegas are Breeders; a hole to fuck and provide pups for the Pack. They take care of cooking, cleaning, and raising kids. The Alpha can sell the Omegas to other Packs, legally, and could sell any pups that weren't the Primes. They would get rid of any pup they wanted to, and not all of them came from the Omegas. Some Beta couples had to give up their litters to stay in the Pack."

"Oh my god." Glenn whimpers. T - Dog looked ready to hit something. A Walker came out of the trees and was on the ground before anyone knew it was there. Looking pleased with the blood on his knife, T motions for Daryl to continue.

"New-school Packs are better. They believe in the whole, your second gender doesn't have anything to do with your abilities as a person. They're the ones that fought for Beta rights and Bonding rights." Daryl looks at Rick, "Cowboy here is one. You can scent it on him. Your buddy and Mate though, they're both Traditional."

"How can you tell?" Rick wonders.

Glenn speaks up, "That's more body language. Shane has Alphas on watch at camp, and the Betas do the fire wood, hunting, fishing, anything else. Omegas clean the clothes, cook, wash dishes, and take care of the pups." at take Rick turn to his son.

" you're not being forced to do anything" rick ask his son.

" no I'm an beta" Stiles said he gave his father a look not wanting to be found out.

"All the pups," T - Dog nods, "I thought Carl was Carol's kid for a while, because Lori was always walking around, telling the others what their chores were and when shifts started and ended. Then she always smelled like the Prime, so I figured she had one of the Omegas watching her pup."

The group was quite for a moment when Rick growls loud. "How long?"

Glenn was the only one that really knew what the Alpha was asking, "They smelled like each other since they joined the group."

Rick lets out a noise of pure distress. Stiles leans into Rick's shoulder and whines silently. His Prime rubs his son's neck, scenting his Packmate.

"A few of the group members were wondering about that? I thought Mates were off limits, why would you go after some-"

Rick had T - Dog's back against the trees before the name was off the Beta's tongue. Rick rumbles loudly and threatening, teeth bare and eyes flashing. Daryl goes to pull the Alpha off quick, but Rick steps back and punches the tree next to the man.

"Lori was MY Mate. Carl is MY pup Stile's IS MY pup." Rick rumbles in warning. Glenn whimpers and hides behind the Omega slightly, not wanting to anger his Prime. Rick backs up and breathes deeply. Pulling T - Dog away from the tree, the Beta shows his neck and shoulder, shuddering in fear. He could smell something bitter, not recognizing the smell but knowing instinctively that showing submission would make the smell go away.

"Hey T, no no it's ok. That's not necessary man, shh." Rick purrs at the Beta, calming him.

"What the hell was that!?" T - Dog pants. Rick whines through his nose and looks to the others for help. Daryl rumbles and kneels next to the Beta.

"This is a normal feeling for Alphas and Omegas. You're feeling a bond, the need to please a Pack member."

"Let's take a break, finish the rest of the conversation and get back in about half an hour. We're almost there." Stiles suggests. Rick nods and the group sits down.

"Lori and I have been Mates for almost 12 years. We met through my brother in high school and got together a year before Carl was born. We rushed to get Bonded and married cause Lori didn't want to have a kid out of wedlock. Shane's been my best friend and Packmate since we were in grade school." Rick sighs, "In a traditional Pack, when the Prime dies, his second can claim his/her Mate and pups as their own and take over as the Prime until they die, or they are overthrown. Shane acted the way his parents raised him to be, but I made it clear when I took him as my second that Lori and Carl were mine. We were going to raise Carl in both a Traditional and New-School area, so he could choose which one he wanted to be a part of. Stile is from my first mate"

"When Rick showed up at camp, Shane should have stepped down as the second does when their Alpha comes back. He had a taste of the power that kind of position can give you and he wants to keep it. Fine," Daryl scoffs, "Rick can make his own Pack. You already started with Glenn, ya just need one more."

"You're only considered a Pack when there are three or more people." Glenn points out, "So, if you guys joined..."

" what about me" Stiles whines as he jumps on his father his omega side was showing.

" pup your mine so you are already my pack" rick said

" I'm not a pup dad I'm 18" stiles whines

"Nah. I can't join another Pack... not now." Daryl swallows. The guys say nothing, knowing that the alpha was thinking about Merle.

"Anything is better than going back to Shane's Pack. What do you have to do?" T - Dog sits up eagerly. Daryl nudges stiles and Glenn and the three make their way a little further down the road.

"What are they doing?" T asks.

"Forming a Pack bond is considered an intimate act between people. They're giving us a little privacy." T stiffens at that, remembering how Shane had 'accepted' people into the Pack. The Alpha would make the Bonding a public event, one that would show everyone that Shane was dominant over that person. The only Bonding he did in private was with Lori and Carl.

Rick extends his neck to the side, exposing his scent glands. Waiting for T-Dog to do the same, Rick sits still. T-Dog glances at the others, but their backs are still turned. A high-pitched noise comes out of the Betas throat and Rick starts purring. Calming down, the man looks at Rick not knowing what to do.

'Scent.' T-Dog thinks, 'This has something to do with scents.'

He slowly puts his nose against the Alpha's glands and takes a deep breath. Not getting anything the Beta goes to pull away, but Rick holds T-Dog's shoulder, keeping the Beta there.

"You have to keep smelling until you can catch my scent, and you're able to imprint it in your brain as Pack or Alpha. Just a little bit, because this is new to you and we will have time to build upon it at camp. I can keep you safe from Shane but only if you can catch my scent." Rick purrs softly. T-Dog closes his eyes and presses closer.

It took less than five minutes to catch a scent other than death. The Beta's body sags with a sigh, the comfort coming from the Alpha made T-Dog want to go to sleep. It reminds him of when he was young and would curl up with his mom after a bad dream. He could almost feel her hand on his back, rubbing in circles; her fingers gently tugging his hair as she runs them through it. T-Dog whines through his nose and imprints the smell, vaguely realizing Rick was scenting him as well. When they pull back, the Beta wants to flush, it had been extremely exposing. "I get why it's an intimate ritual."

Rick smiles with a chuckle and extends his hand to pull up his Packmate. Walking over to the others, the group sets out for the camp, Stiles, Glenn, and T-Dog scenting each other easier due to them all three being part of Rick's Pack.

"So, if we're part of Rick's Pack, does that mean we're New-School?" T-dog wonders.

"No." Rick says, "Shane was a part of the Pack and he was Traditional. You can choose whichever one you prefer but the Pack is New-school because your Prime is. So, you will have to deal with the differences between the two and play by my rules. Which one are you guys anyway? I haven't been here long enough to scent you guys out."

"New-school." Glenn and T-Dog fist bump before turning to Daryl.

"Old man raised me and Merle as Traditional, but we converted after we presented as beta and Alpha and were no longer of use to the Prime, as far as he was concerned." Daryl shrugged.

"So, we're not going to have any second gender-related problems, right?" Glenn asks the group.

"Let's find out." Daryl nods at a car on the side of the road. Shouldering his bow, he makes his way next to it with a knife, the Pack following. Opening the door, Daryl plunges his knife in Walker's head.

Rick reaches out and pulls the corpse from the car. Glenn and T-Dog, stiles start searching the suitcases and bags in the trunk and back seat, anything of use to the camp going in a pile to be sorted and packed up to take with. Daryl checks the actual car to see if they could drive it back. Finding no gas and the battery was gone, he gives up and searches the front. Coming out, he sees the guys putting supplies into backpacks and shrugging them on. Shaking the bottle of Suppressants, the alpha walks over and hands them to Rick. He pulls out four more bottles he found in the car as well as the bags he got from Rick and Merle.

"That's six bottles." nods at the Alpha's hands, where Rick was staring at the medicine, "Figured we can put mine back and everyone gets their own."

"Your's? I thought Betas didn't need Suppressants, they don't work on us." T-Dog asks, grabbing one of the bottles, turning it over and noticing that it was for Alphas.

"Nah, but we needed a group. We would have left but with all the Betas and Omegas already there..." stiles watches as Daryl picks up the bags.

"These are yours? They're for Omegas."

"That gonna be a problem?" stiles growls, getting closer to the red neck alpha. Rick rumbles in a gentle warning and the Omega steps back.

"Not for me." Daryl takes the gun bag and pulls out the other pills, ready to dump them into the bag, "You're gonna want the bag, it's easier to hide."

"Why're you helpin' me?" stiles asks, stand-offish.

Dary; dumps the bottle and Merle's bag into the bigger bag, pressing on it to release the air before zipping it closed. "I was the only Alpha in my family; dad was an beta and my papa was an Omega. My brother was one too. I was sent to live with my grandfather when I presented. He was Traditional and would have sold my brother to one of his old friends to merge Packs. I got good at hiding the pills and Scenting my brother to cancel his scent."

"I don't like Shane," T-Dog huffs, "and regardless of you not wanting to join another Pack, I'm probably going to imprint your smell as such. We take care of our Pack, right Rick?"

Stiles's lip quivers slightly but he clears his throat and accepted the bag from Daryl, stuffing it into his pants and pulling his shirt over it. "Thanks."

Rick purrs a quiet rumble of happiness as the group sets out for the camp again, glad he had chosen right with his new Pack.

.....

Rick's new Pack and Daryl are almost to the camp, running tiredly when they hear the gunshots.

"Oh God."

"Go! Go!"

They arrive in time to see the camp overrun with Walkers. Acting fast, they grab guns from Ricks bag and start shooting. The male Alphas and Betas of the group are in full swing, killing the Walkers and protecting the Beta and Omega women and the pups that were crying and huddling next to the RV. The Alpha women were circling the huddle and killing any Walkers that were too close. When all the Walkers are dead, Carl runs to Rick sobbing and gives him a hug, Scenting him father with whimpers and whines. Rick and stiles falls to their knees Scenting Carl, tears in his eyes at the thought of Carl dying in this mess.

Everyone turns when Andrea begins to sob and wail loudly.

"Amy! Amy! Amy!" Andrea is leaning over her sister's dead body, bite marks on the fallen Omega's arm and shoulder. The Walker had bitten her glands completely out of her neck causing her to bleed out quickly. As everyone else gets rounded back up, Jim turns away to see the dead Omega.

"I remember my dream now, why I dug the holes."

They look at the camp; dead Walkers and dead campers. People had gotten to know, family. All of them were dead. Andrea's wails stay with the group all night