The next day the group took a well needed rest, all except Daryl. He kept rearranging his nest, kept moving pillows or shirts. The only thing he knew was where the hat was to go.

"Dare, just calm down. You're fine, it's all okay. We have this place now. The pups won't even know that this space looks like this."

Daryl turned, Rick hadn't called him Dare before. "New nickname?"

Rick smiled, and nodded. "Just come rest, you need the rest please."

Daryl was hesitant but did as he was told, he laid beside Rick fussing with his shirt. No matter how many times he adjusted it the bump forced it to ride up, he wanted to meet his sweet puppies, needed to meet them. He was restless and they just were waiting. The day went by calmly, the pups enjoyed the walls, the pack enjoyed the safety.

"Tomorrow we should find the cafeteria and infirmary." Rick chimed, the pack nodded. Food and medical supplies, with Daryl's coming pups they needed it more then ever. Male omega births were different from any other, C-Sections were nearly impossible to perform due to the movement of the inner body to make room for the pups without killing the man giving birth. They had to give birth rectally and it had to be done quickly or else complications could arise. One pup was hard enough let alone two.

Daryl was napping, he didn't nap often, he hated naps. He didn't want to be lazy; they had things to do and a place to clear. The group however was thankful he was finally resting up, taking care of himself first.

Rick watched his mate sleep, he smiled at the rise and fall of his chest, seeing small kicks come from within. Watching the life growing inside him, all he could do was smile.

This was their life and he couldn't even complain, he had a family. He had pups on the way and a loving mate, two pups and a pack. A real pack that loved him and his family, this was more than he had ever expected to have.

If he had ever woken from his coma in the world before he didn't know what was waiting, possibly a lonely room and a grown son with pups of his own. Maybe he wouldn't ever have woken. Maybe when he woke he would find his mate and best friend had gotten married and were having pups of their own, that his son called Shane dad.

Would he have ever met Daryl?

He would have hoped so, that if Daryl had been sold to the claimers, that he would have been the one to rush in and save the day. Rehabilitate the omega, promise him a better life. Maybe they'd still be like this, expecting twins and surrounded by new friends.

But that wasn't the cards they were dealt.

The group ate and talked, planned out runs after the pups got here. Not all pups liked their mothers milk and would need formula. They also needed diapers, bottles, baby supplies, clothes, and Daryl wanted them to have a crib of their own eventually. He knew it was a big ask but he wanted them to have something for themself.

Sleeping that night the group felt good and safe, feeling nothing could go wrong.

That morning they got to work.

Glenn, Maggie, T-Dog, Hershel, and Rick put on the riot gear and headed into the tunnels. Carol stayed back with the pups and Daryl who paced the entire time they were gone worried about his pack and mate.

Things were going well, until a large group of walkers appeared. They fought and screamed attacking as one, but Hershel got bit.

They raced him into a room, and Rick did the only thing he thought he could. He cut off the point of infection. Maggie sobbed as her father thrashed until the pain took over and he passed out. "Get him on a gurney!"

"Guys!" Glenn started shouting.

"Glenn what did I say!" Rick barked back.

"Alpha look!" Glenn snapped, he usually didn't fight back but a group of men were staring right back at them.

Rick stood and growled asserting himself as Prime before rushing Hershel back. The men looked at one another and slowly followed. They were an all alpha pack, which was rare. They followed the trail of blood and then the scent of vanilla and milk filled their senses.

"A pregnant beta?" Axel asked. "We shouldn't bother them."

"Shut it." Tomas snarled. "We can take her for ourselves."

"Tomas! That's not okay." Big Tiny argued.

"Fine, I'll take her for myself." The man snapped back. Oscar, Big Tiny, and Axel gave him an angry look, Andrew didn't have an option, he'd follow Tomas anywhere. He'd saved his life in the big house.

As they grew closer Daryl smelt the unfamiliar alpha scent, T-Dog was waiting with his gun but Daryl wanted to protect his pack and himself. He walked out with the bow ready, his mate and pack dealing with Hershel.

"Stay back." T-Dog begged, Daryl shook his head and held the arrow up. He was turned slightly so the bump was hidden surprisingly well.

Tomas stepped out. "Who the hell are you?"

"Who the hell are you?" Daryl growled his body shaking.

"Wait. You ain't no beta!" Axel exclaimed the scent of vanilla thick. Daryl growled, Rick's head jumped at the mention of Daryl being omega.

"Daryl Dixon-Grimes ass back here now!" The alpha roared. Daryl had never been called Grimes, and he liked it. He nodded to T-Dog and raced off. He saw his alpha and his eyes were red, Daryl sank exposing his scent gland. Rick scented him, seeing he was safe he headed off to see the alphas threatening their safety.

"Who are you?" Rick snapped again.

"Tomas, and my pack. Oscar, Big Tiny, Axel, and Andrew." The alphas nodded at their name. "That's my cell block, give it back."

Daryl appeared again behind his mate. "Congratulations boys, you've been pardoned by the state of Georgia."

Rick turned a low growl rumbling in his chest and Daryl headed back behind the safety of the locked gate. Tomas growled wanting the omega.

"As my mate so kindly explained, you're free to go."

"No, this is our house."

"We shed blood for this place, my pups are going to be born here. Get out." The man growled, Rick was angry and wanted them out, he wanted his mate safe. His pups safe, his eyes were lighter now but any second another raged high could appear.

Rick began to growl, his nature showing true, it was rare Rick showed the true primal side. Axel and Oscar faltered, baring their necks to show submission to the alpha male. Rick smirked and nodded accepting them on his side.

Big Tiny went to move to bare his neck too when Tomas sliced, killing him instantly. His neck bleeding profusely, "get the brain stupid! Rick growled, T-Dog shot the man trying to fix the growing issue.

"I want my house back."

"I will kill you for this place, go" Rick snapped, his teeth bared. Tomas raced at Rick who fought back, their teeth snapping and spit flying. Soon Tomas was on the ground, Andrew got scared and ran into the catacombs. "Stand down or I will kill you!" He yelled again, Tomas struggled fighting until Rick scented the fear and the alpha male smiled. Tomas was let up but took another swing, Daryl had appeared again not liking the sound of his mate in danger and an arrow flew shooting Tomas in the forehead.

"Daryl Dixon-Grimes!" Rick barked again, his mate kept defying him. Daryl smirked but realized too late what he did, his mate was in a blood rut. Daryl was pinned against the wall, their pack watching. "Lock the pups in a cell. They don't need to see this." Rick snarled. Glenn and T-Dog did as instructed knowing not to move.

"This here is mine." Rick snarled at the two new alphas as he nipped at Daryl's mate mark. The man mewling at his touch.

His mate being in danger as well as the pups then the blood and death had sent him into his first blood rut. His instincts told him that the pack needed to see this, see him take the omega and fuck him rough and hard even with the pups in there. They were ready to come whenever his concern was minimal, the need for everyone to know what belonged to him high.

"Alpha!" Daryl whined. "Ah.."

"Consent I need consent." Rick snarled, even in his blood rut he was still a good man.

Daryl nodded. "Yours..yours take it I'm yours."

"Fuck yes you're mine." Rick snapped, biting his mate mark spot again.

Daryl had heard of a blood rut, it was something his brother claimed to come back from after a gang fight or drug deal gone wrong.

"Why I've never seen an alpha ask permission from their mate during a rut let alone a blood rut." Axel exclaimed.

"Rick's no normal prime alpha." Maggie replied as Daryl's pants were thrown to the side and soon the sound of ripping fabric was heard as Daryl's boxers were torn.

Rick had his pants around his ankles and his cock out in full display as he picked up his mate and laid him on one of the dining benches. "Shirt on. Promise." Rick grumbled as he lifted Daryl's hips and thrusted forward. Daryl was moaning and whining as he was fucked, Rick was surprisingly careful even in the hight of a blood rut.

Daryl was loud and the pups were trying to drown out their mothers pleasured cries. "Mine, mine, mine mine." Rick grunted with each thrust, the pack watched amazed by the kind touches and loving kisses Rick was leaving on him despite his current situation. "You've got to stop defying me, stop putting yourself in danger."

Rick growled his thrusts growing faster yet soft.

"Yes alpha..s..sorry alpha..ah!" He whined moaning loudly as he was knotted. Rick smiled as the rush of seed exploded, he continued to breathe heavily. He looked to the two alphas who were watching dumb founded.

"This is mine." He snapped again. "Daryl is mine, mine." He growled. "You think of touching him. Any of you." He looked between his pack the new members and the old. "I will kill you."

Everyone nodded understanding the threat. "T-Dog, Glenn, and you." He pointed to Oscar. "Get those bodies out, burn them."

"Yes alpha." Oscar replied. Axel watched Rick as he picked Daryl up surprisingly easy with the knot still deep inside him and the bump causing a block so he wasn't as close as he wanted to hold him and walked him up the stairs and into their nest where more moaning and whining was heard from the pregnant omega.

"Well that was one interesting welcome." Axel exclaimed.

"Get used to it. They fuck like bunnies. Even while pregnant." Maggie replied as she joined Carl, Carol, and Beth in the cell with her father.

"You've got to stop misbehaving." Rick snarled at his mate who was muttering nonsense at this point his mind fuzzy. "Do you understand me Dare?"

"Yes alpha..sorry alpha..sorry..I just don't want to be useless."

Rick's heart burned as he heard that, he leaned close kissing him. The knot wasn't budging yet. "You aren't useless Daryl. You are my mate and the mother of my pups. You are perfect, not useless. Just stop putting yourself in danger," Rick kissed him again, his knot twitching.

Daryl blushed as he felt another soft kiss. The knot finally popped after three minutes of soft kisses and pleasured moans. Rick pulled away from him and then lowered his body kissing the belly of Daryl. "You are not useless, you are my mate. You are bringing life to this world, you aren't useless."

Daryl smiled and nuzzled Rick. They kissed again and soon Daryl was out cold. Rick pulled a new pair of pants on and headed down the steps, everyone was watching him.

"Sorry about that.." Rick held the back of his neck with a slight chuckle.

"Don't be sorry, we are all honestly surprised that's the first time you've done that in front of us." Maggie replied. "I owe T-Dog more bullets."

"Maggie, how many bullets are you going to bet on our sex life?" The alpha questioned. She blushed and Glenn smirked, coming closer to his mate.

Axel bowed his head to Rick. "This is my pack now too, and I'll put my life on the line for it. Sorry about how this all happened. Your mate is nice, you've got a good family here."

Rick smiled, thankful for Axel's words. "Thank you. You're Axel right, the other Oscar? We run on our own pack laws and rules, you'll learn soon enough but the number one rule. My omega and the pups of the pack come first."

Everyone nodded, Axel blinked in understanding. "So he is an omega then. A real omega."

"Yes, and we have to protect him. At all costs. He may be prime alphas mate, but his life's in danger from everyone. Alphas want him for their own pups, or just to fuck, he's strong too and that can put him at risk. He's just different and being different can put you at risk in their world. He is also prime alphas mate, a prime mate which means other alphas will want him just for the fact they can say they beat Rick and took his mate. That would happen beta or omega." Carol replied.

"The worlds changed a lot hasn't it?"

"In many ways, our natural pack ways have returned, laws of old are returning as well. The dead walk, and that isn't helpful, but there are more threats than the dead. Other packs and their alphas."

Axel nodded, T-Dog, Glenn and Oscar soon returned. "Oscar, alpha. Alpha, Oscar." Glenn introduced them together. Oscar showed his scent glands again, Rick scented them both and accepted them officially as packmates. The pups came running out of the cell as Hershel came too.

"Dad, dad." Carl barked, the young alpha happy to see the elder waking. "Come quick!"

Rick was fast to check, Beth was holding her fathers hand while Rick, her surrogate father, held her shoulder. "Hey Hershel..sorry for cutting off the leg."

"You saved my life alpha, let me have more time with the pack and my girls. Let me make it another day. I am grateful."

Rick smiled, breathing a sigh of relief. "I'm glad. I'm glad you're not upset with me."

The elder scented the air, sex and the two new alphas thick in the air. Despite Daryl's vanilla and milk combo that was more prevalent. "Blood rut?"

"Ha..yeah..."

"'Bout time." The alpha barked, "shoulda claimed him before the pack long before."

Rick was surprised by the comment but smiled. "Once the pups come I will again."

The elder nodded to the prime, Daryl continued to sleep off the sex. His pups moving, inside ready to come out and see the world.

The next two days were spent clearing more, Hershel was finally up on his one good leg and Daryl, Beth, and Carl were outside walking with him.

Maggie and Glenn were down with Rick at the fence, Axel and Oscar were burning bodies, Carol and T-Dog were getting the cars pulled in.

Then the alarms went off.

And the walkers came.