The four alphas and Daryl left the cellblock, a cussing and growling Merle left behind.

"What do we do with him? We can't let him go, he will lead his group here."

"Kill him." Daryl suggested, he had never thought he would say it not out loud at least, but this was the last straw. His brother could beat him, and sell him to whoever he wanted, but his pups were off limits.

"Daryl are you sure?" Rick asked, his brow furrowed.

"Never been so sure in my whole life Alpha," Daryl replied, his body shaking with rage. "I will do it, I want to do it."

"Daryl are you sure?" Michonne asked, echoing her prime. Daryl lowered his blue eyes to the ground, his busted lip twitching as he bit the inside of his cheek.

"Yes, please."

Rick nodded, "If you want and only if you want. I won't make that choice for you, and you don't have to do it for anyone but yourself."

"It isn't for me, it's for my pups, for their protection. I need them safe, and he-" his voice cracked his hand shaking as he pointed back towards the cell, "is far from safe. I could care less what he does to me, he can keep beating me like he and my pa did..he can sell me off and watch me be used by every alpha left on this goddamn planet. But my pups are off limits, off limits to everyone." There was a deep growl in his voice. Rick's eyes were wide, Axel and Oscar were shocked by his statement, and Michonne could only nod understanding having lost a pup of her own once.

"Daryl," Rick said, stepping forward. Daryl looked up, his eyes darting between the four alphas. "This needs to be for you too, what they did to you, what he did to you. Revenge doesn't always fix things, it won't change the past, but it may make you feel a little better. I want you to do this when you are ready. He can stay there for a few days or you can do it now."

"He isn't safe to be left unchecked, my bow please." He held out his hand, Rick pulled it off his back and gave it to the omega. Daryl nodded in thanks and headed back into the cell, one arrow left the lucky arrow that had been blessed by both pups in their games of fetch.

"You came back," Merle chuckled, "not as tough as you think you are."

Daryl cocked his head, his eyes narrowing as he smiled a bit, "I think you mistake me for that scared boy who was forced to live his life in a closet, big brother."

Merle looked him up and down, his scent milky and fresh, there was something new about him. The way he stood, there was more confidence, the way he talked he wasn't scared to voice his opinion anymore. "Well shit, you really have changed."

"Last words?"

"What?"

Daryl lifted his bow, the arrow trained on the skull of the alpha. "My mate is a man of law, any last words?"

Merle's eyes grew wide in shock, he had never expected his end to be the little omega. "I was wrong."

"What?" Daryl grunted, confused.

"I was wrong, I had said you would amount to nothing but a hole for an alpha to get quick pleasure. Seems that I was wrong, you may be something yet. I wasn't a good man, I was a worse brother, and I accept what you're about to do pup." Merle eyed Daryl, Daryl's hands shook as he held the bow. "I deserve it, what we did to you, no one should have lived the life you did. I think it was worse than being in the ring itself, so go ahead little one, take what you deserve."

Daryl felt tears rushing down his face, damn omega emotions.

He nodded. "I'm taking my life back."

With that the arrow flew, Merle didn't move, he didn't stop the fate waiting for him. Merle had done one thing for Daryl his whole life and it was at that very moment. He had let him take control, let him be the master of his own fate.

Merle had given Daryl the key to the closet, and he was finally stepping out for the first time.

Daryl dropped to his knees, his body ragged with sobs. "Why did you have to step up..step up and admit you were wrong now.." Daryl crawled towards the now dead form of his brother. He pulled the arrow free and looked it over, his fingers running along the feathered end. He finally was free, free of a past that haunted him at all hours, and yet he didn't know what to do now. He slowly pulled himself off the floor, what he needed now was his pups and his mate.

He cleaned off the arrow, and headed out of the cell block. With one last look at his brother Daryl was walking away from a life of regret to one of hope.

He was in control of his own life now, no one to hover over him and tell him lies.

He may be an omega, but he was going to live life like a man without a placement. He was strong like an alpha, had compassion and love like an omega, and a care for his pack like a beta.

He was no normal man, he was just Daryl.

That was all he had to be, himself.

He just had to be Daryl.

—--

Daryl stepped into the light, Rick was waiting for him alone. "I promised you something." Daryl smiled sheepishly, Rick grinned remembering their conversation from before.

"Are you honestly okay though, love?" Rick eyed his mate, Daryl nodded. "Really?"

"Yes alpha, really, really I am okay."

Rick smiled and took Daryl's hand leading him back inside their safe and secure cell block. The other alphas watched as Rick and Daryl stepped in, something about Daryl seemed different, but they couldn't place a finger on it.

He felt more confident now.

The two made their way up to their room, Daryl and Rick stopped dead in their tracks as they opened the door. Daryl's heart melted, his smile was wide. The three pups were cuddled together on the floor out cold. Beth held a sleeping Judith in her arms, Carl being the protective alpha male he was, had one arm wrapped around Beth, while his other hand was set carefully on Judith.

Rick looked to his mate, seeing his blue eyes round with love as he stared down at his pups. "I want another one." Daryl whispered.

Rick's eyes grew wide with shock. "You what? You just had Judith and Nathaniel, you sho-"

"I know, I know..I just really love that. Look at them all, and it just makes me feel funny inside like I could have another one. I don't think we should now, but it's just..I just you know." Daryl was getting flustered now. Rick smirked at his mate.

"When you are ready we can go for it, but for now we should wait. Alright?"

"Yes alpha, I understand I wasn't really saying now."

Rick smiled as he crept close, he carefully took Judith from Beth's arms and placed the sleeping puppy into her crib. Daryl picked Beth up without much effort while Rick picked up Carl and they carried them to their beds. Everyone watched as the two carefully placed their pups into bed, the way the pack felt about their prime and his mate was something else. These two were truly a power couple, "If you need us we will be enjoying one anothers company."

Maggie smirked, Glenn handed her a bullet having joined the game she once had with T-Dog. Hershel and Carol began to work on dinner, while Michonne, Axel, and Oscar headed to take care of Merle's body, Maggie and Glenn cleaned up the cell block while their alpha took his omega up the stairs.

Daryl yelped in surprise as Rick picked him up quickly, Daryl never thought he was light, and he wasn't. Yet Rick picked him up like he weighed as much as their puppy. Daryl grinned as Rick laid him on the bed and began to undress himself. Daryl followed his mates lead, Rick smiled as he looked over Daryl's body.

"Just perfect, my perfect mate."

"Alpha." Daryl blushed, Rick smiled as he cupped his cheek and began to kiss him with intensity. Daryl muttered into the kisses as he felt his slick covering the bed. Rick couldn't help but smile at how ready Daryl was for him already. He lined himself up and entered his mate's body slowly. "Ah..faster please."

Rick couldn't help but smile, his speed began to grow with each deep thrust. Daryl held the sheets tight in his fist as Rick began to deepen the thruts. Daryl moaned loudly, Judith stirred but didn't wake. "Ah shh momma, you don't want to wake her."

Daryl grunted as he was gagged, a simple piece of fabric wrapped around his head and placed in his mouth. Rick couldn't help but smile, he was pleased with himself, Daryl's eyes crossed his pleasure as he was pounded into. His grunts and moans still loud but muffled, the others couldn't help but smile hearing the pleasured moans of their prime and his mate.

Daryl gripped the sheet letting out a whimpered yet pleasured moan as the knot formed. Rick chuckled as he quickly readjusted their positions, Daryl was now sitting on top no longer quivering under his mate. The knot sunk deep as Daryl's full weight came down on it. Rick removed the gag with a grin.

"Good boy."

Daryl blushed and swatted at Rick, the alpha's eyes flashed and before Daryl knew it his mate mark was being renewed. Rick held his hand over his mouth to keep him quiet, Daryl panted as he felt a rush of euphoria. "You belong to me." Rick muttered as he pulled away from the mark. Daryl nodded, words weren't forming, his brain felt fuzzy. Rick scented him, he smiled, feeling pleasure as cum filled his mate. "You smell so good 'mega."

Daryl shook in pleasure as Rick lapped at the renewed mark.

"Yours." Daryl managed.

Rick smiled and nodded, he continued to kiss Daryl's body up and down until the knot finally released. Daryl laid breathlessly by his side, Rick smiled, planting a few more soft kisses along his body. "Sleep Dare, you never know when the hungry monster will wake."

Daryl nodded accepting the order, he pulled on boxers and pants first before rolling to his side and falling asleep. Rick was surprised he wasn't hiding his scars, his usual rule was his shirt stayed on if anyone could come in. It seemed things were really changing, truly going Daryl's way.

Rick chuckled, pulling his clothes on, the alpha male stepped out and walked down the steps to see his pack waiting for him. "We found some seeds while we were getting supplies for Judith, can we plant them?" Maggie asked.

"Of course, this place is our home, we should fortify and begin anew." Rick smiled, he felt refreshed.

Maggie smiled, Beth had woken up by now and she wanted to help her sister. Hershel made his way with his daughters to a place to begin farming. Glenn and Axel helped. Oscar and Michonne were talking about fortifying the broken gate on the other side of the prison, while they had cleared everything out, they found the dead were getting in from the broken fence. Rick smiled hearing his pack speak and work to better their future.

"Carol, how are you?" Rick asked as he sat beside the female beta.

"Good, how is he?" Carol asked, "We saw Merle."

"Fine now, good, he seems happier."

Carol smiled. "After Ed died, I felt lighter, freeer. I am sure he is feeling the same way."

Rick nodded understanding what she was getting at. "He will never be the same, not after losing our son and then with what happened to him before, but he seems to be turning a new leaf."

"Losing a child is painful, I know you felt that loss too, but it's different for the mother. Carrying your pup inside you, feeling it move, bonding with them before they are even born. I know Daryl felt the loss with Sophia and even Jimmy, but this..this will never leave him." Rick nodded, he knew very well what Carol was getting at. "Foods almost done." Carol chirped as she stood, the stew nearly finished.

Rick smiled thankful for his entire pack, his mate was stronger than anyone could ever know, there were multiple alphas working together, betas that worked as one to protect and reclaim, and pups that were thriving. "Thank you Carol, for cooking for us tonight."

Carol smiled. "Anything for our pack, for you and Daryl."

Rick smiled, blinking his thanks, they were thriving, and they needed to keep it that way.

He needed to know more about this self proclaimed governor and his pack. They also needed to save Andrea and bring her pack into their fold.

Carl was soon awake, he rushed to his father. "Whats up pup?" Rick asked as he pulled him into a hug.

"Hows mom?" Carl asked, eyeing his father.

"Really good, thanks to you bud. You did something really brave."

Carl beamed, he had saved Daryl in a way and no one was going to forget that. Carol couldn't help but smile at their interaction, and how lovingly both the elder pups called Daryl mom. "Foods done, Carl can you go get the pack?"

"Yes Miss Carol." Carol called as he raced off, Rick smiled and headed up the steps to wake Daryl. The omega however was already awake, their young daughter latched to him.

"She never stops." Daryl muttered as she patted his chest with her tiny hand. Rick smirked as he sat beside him. He placed his hand on her small head, a small growl emitted from her lips. "Don't interrupt her feeding season, she gets scary." Daryl warned his mate, Rick couldn't help but smile as the young female alpha stopped her growls as soon as his hand left her. "She likes food."

"I can see that," Rick smirked. "Darling, if you want more food you gotta let momma eat, come on now."

The female pup eyed her father but seemed to understand what he was telling her to do. She unlatched and wiggled, Daryl smirked and Rick took the small pup from him to let him put on a shirt. Judith reached for Daryl, he took her back quickly before heading down the steps with his mate.

The pack sat together as one eating and talking, laughing and speaking of the future. They needed this prison for the betterment of the pack, for the future, for Judith, Carl, and Beth. For Daryl.

They finished eating and headed off to bed that night, smiles on their faces as they finally felt like things were going well. They slept as a pack that night, Daryl in the center with Judith in her hat. Carl and Beth in a semi circle around the female pup and their mother. Rick held Daryl, while the betas formed the first circle, the three alphas forming the next, then Carol and Hershel the outer layer.

Their pack bonds were strong, they were a family, a strong family.