Daryl tried to hide his smile, he shouldn't want an alpha he shouldn't want to be with the prime alpha specifically. As they came back to the camp everyone raced to see Daryl. "You saved our pups!" Lori claimed. "Thank you Daryl."

"They told us what you did, fighting them without your weapon till the very end." Morales said.

Ed held out his hand, "thank you for saving my daughter."

Daryl took it, shaking it cautiously, he didn't like Ed but he cared about Sophia and Carol. Carl smiled happily, Daryl smelt like blood and death. "Go use the shower." Dale suggested, Daryl nodded, running off to shower. He needed time to think, to take in what Rick had said. He wanted to be his mate? Why? What was his deal, who would want him as a mate?

He stripped, looking himself over in the mirror he cringed, bruises from Merle littered his body, turning the scars from the whip his father used on him, seemed to mock him. This wasn't right, omegas weren't useful, they were breeders and toys. Not worth being a mate to a prime like Rick. He slammed his fist but needed to shower, he was confused, his life was like a weird roller coaster with mostly downs. He let the steam waft over him, he needed answers to his life. He needed to talk to Merle about the lies he had been told.

He needed to go see his brother, if he was still alive.

He got himself dried up and then dressed, stepping out he saw all eyes on him. His scent was strong, he shook, feeling their stares. "Rick," Daryl called. "Can we go talk to Merle? I need answers."

"Daryl, I don't think that's a good idea." Rick said. "I have something to show you.

Daryl eyed Rick, "what?"

"Merle was planning on selling you for double what it said your cost was. 20 million," Rick said, pulling out the notebook and handing it to Daryl. He flipped to a back page.

Daryl read the writing, it was clearly Merle's scrawled handwriting. "No."

"I'm sorry Daryl." Daryl broke, he nuzzled Rick's scent gland for comfort, Rick held him close. "Daryl I'm sorry. Omega, I don't want you to worry, we will protect you."

"What's the name of the guy who he was sellin me to?"

"Uhm, it says Joe. Claimers."

"Mother fucker." Daryl growled. "Those bastards, they are a gang..an all alpha gang. They probably planned to take turns breeding me.."

"Daryl I'm sorry."

"I need time to process everything, I don't want to..I don't want to make you..you worry about me..but I don't know what's happening..I'm trying to piece my life together like a damn puzzle. So many lies I don't know what's true. My brother..my brother planned on selling me! He helped abuse me and he planned to let some monsters rape me." Daryl growled the scent of rage and sadness mixing, Rick held Daryl close trying to help him by exposing his scent glands better.

Lori watched the two, the scent of sadness radiating off of Daryl Lori knew something was going on. She was thankful Rick didn't seem to be pissed off that she was now Shane's mate. It seemed Daryl was taking her spot however and it did piss her off, Carl seemed to like the omega more than herself and Rick didn't look her way anymore. "Rick..I'm sorry but I need time by myself..."

"Use my tent, don't go back to your old one. I'm going to collect your things and you can sleep in mine."

"What about you?"

"We can share it, I don't tend to use it unless I'm sleeping."

Daryl eyed the alpha but nodded heading to the tent that Rick claimed. Stepping in his scent was thick, his clothes in a pile on the floor, Carl seemed to share this tent and his mother's going between the two. Daryl laid down in Rick's cot, the scent of his alpha calming him enough to sleep. Daryl work to screams, he raced out to see walkers roaming the camp.

——-

Sophia and Carl huddled together terrified, Daryl raced out now in hand. He scooped up both pups and ran to the truck, "Don't move you got me?"

Both pups nodded, Daryl raced away slamming the door and making sure it was locked. He saw Rick and Shane fighting back to back shooting the dead and yelling to others to get away from the dead.

Daryl shot an arrow saving Rick's life, Rick turned to nod a thank you. Daryl nodded hearing another scream, he raced off seeing Andrea holding Amy's limp body and crying. Carol sobbed running from her tent. "Ed..Ed's dead!" She sobbed, while he was a bastard and abusive she still loved him.

Daryl held the beta, their scents calming one another, "shh it's okay." Daryl promised. "It's okay."

Carol thanked Daryl, they took a minute to accept what was happening death everywhere. "Sophia?"

"In the truck with Carl, safe." He promised.

Carol took a deep breath, thankful the omega saved her daughter again. Daryl ran off to ensure the pups safety, they were still in the car. Moralis and his family had driven off leaving mid fight. Daryl growled at the cowardly move, the dead finally gone, everyone checking on the others. Daryl took the pups from the car and held them close, they calmed Daryl and Daryl calmed him.

Lori went to take Carl from Daryl but he shook his head. "No. I want to stay with Daryl." The young alpha male growled at his mother, the beta felt hurt but walked away, Carol offered her arms to Sophia but the pup always stayed with the omega. Carol wasn't hurt by it; she was glad knowing if anything happened to her Sophia would have someone to turn to.

Rick ran towards Daryl and the pups. Shane followed close behind. "Thank god you three are okay."

"Fine, just fine."

"Mr. Dixon saved us again." Sophia said, clinging to the omega. The man watched Rick, the alpha trying not to say anything about how attractive he looked with those pups hanging off of him.

"We should end it," Daryl said looking to Amy and Andrea. "That girl is a ticking time bomb."

"Don't be insensitive, omega." Lori snapped. Daryl backed down, her status as the seconds mate gave her some authority even if everyone thought she was an uppity bitch.

Glenn and T-Dog spent the time collecting bodies, Jim had been digging holes for their people, the pups clung to Daryl refusing to leave his side. Rick watched the pups and Daryl carefully, he had to protect them above all.

Rick was giving off a specific scent, Shane and Lori noticed it as a need for the omega who was holding the pups talking to them calmly.

"Have you started courting yet?" Shane asked, looking towards Daryl.

"Not really, he's confused by the concept and believes what he was told that I only want him for pups. I tried to explain dating and courting but I don't think he understands."

Shane nodded trying to get the idea better. Lori watched them talk about the omega, a growl forming in her chest. She strode forward, ripping her son from the omega. "Get your own pups." She snapped.

Daryl yelped in panic as the young alpha whined reaching for Daryl. Lori's claws retracted swiping at the omega as he reached for Carl, Daryl whined the sound only an omega could produce as he pulled back blood pouring from the wound.

Shane and Rick raced to his aid hearing the whine, it was audible to everyone but it called any alpha in range to his protection. Carl was fighting with his mother, Sophia ran off to Carol crying that her friend had been hurt by the beta Lori.

Carl ripped from his mothers arms and to Daryl's aid, the three alphas standing around Daryl who looked hurt and confused. Blood poured from the scratch she gave him. "Why..why'd you do that?" He whined, Carl growled at his mother.

"Yes Lori explain," Rick snarled, the authority in him made her crack.

"That knot clencher is getting all the attention, he keeps taking my pup, and he doesn't deserve you Rick."

Shane slapped her hard, she stepped back gasping. "You don't get to call him that!" Carl yelled trying to get to his other but Daryl held him back. "He's a better mom than you are! I want to be around him, not you!" Carl snarled.

Rick glared at Lori. "Why does it matter if he and I mate eventually? You and Shane are mates, or are you wanting to come back to me? I won't take you, I found the divorce papers before my accident, I know you didn't want me." The alpha snarled, she stepped back. Shane glared at her, "Shane take your mate out of my sight."

Daryl whimpered in pain, her claws had dug deep. Carol had appeared with Sophia in tow, she cleaned the wound as he struggled to sit still. Rick held the omega trying to keep him calm, his scent glands exposed to Daryl if he wanted to scent. Daryl looked between the two alphas and Carol. Sophia hiding behind her. "Sorry..didn't think me watching the pups was bad.. I ca-."

"It isn't bad! You've saved them multiple times, Lori is an insufferable bitch sometimes. She just is jealous and hates being not wanted. I'm sorry she hurt you." Rick said, looking Daryl over softly. "I promise you she's the only one who's bugged. We all are upset with her though."

Daryl nodded, Carol soon had his arm wrapped. Carl smiled, thankful to Sophia and Carol. "Thanks for taking care of me.." Daryl managed. He wanted to know why things were so weird, why being an omega was complicated.

Rick wanted to kiss Daryl, but he didn't dare push him. Daryl was working through a lot, and now more. Shane appeared again thanking Carol who nodded and headed off Sophia following. "Lori's a bitch I'm sorry."

"S'fine." Daryl said again. I'm fine," he grunted. Carl looked between his dad and 'step' dad and to Daryl.

"You got hurt cause of me I'm sorry."

"Wasn't you pup." Daryl said. "She just doesn't like me that's all."

Carl lowered his head but was thankful that Daryl didn't seem mad. Andrea began to cry harder, everyone turned their attention from Daryl to them. Amy was reanimating, Shane went to shoot when Andrea put the knife in her sister's head. "I'm sorry Amy..so sorry."

"I'm sorry we couldn't save her." Rick said. "I failed as an alpha."

"You didn't fail. We hardly lost anyone." Dale said calmly, Daryl nodded in agreement.

"Two deaths, Ed and Amy, that's all. Moralis and his family bailed but that wasn't your fault." Daryl said, sweeping his hand to show the others were alive. "We all are."

Andrea stood and walked past them. "You didn't do that to my sister Rick. You didn't fail."

Rick lowered his head, that was when Daryl nuzzled into him, Rick felt a calmness wash over him scenting the omega. "You didn't fail alpha."

Rick felt butterflies every time Daryl called him that. "Let's collect resources everyone, this isn't safe anymore. We need walls, we need to pack up and move."

"Where are we going to go?" Dale asked his prime, he wasn't going to say no to what his alpha had to say but he needed answers before the left.

"The CDC still stands," Glenn said, "we could try there."

Daryl nodded. "It's got walls, and we have so many guns from when you collected em, that we should be fine." The omega was eager, and hopefully the CDC had suppressants for him. He needed the blockers, his heat was coming soon and it was going to be weird having it for the first time since he was eight.

"Jim was bit!" Jacqui called, everyone turned to see the beta with blood seeping from his clothes. Shane in an instant of panic shot him dead. There was a long silence, Shane tucked tail running off to help Lori pack their things.

After burying Jim, and taking a moment to process everyone began packing up, Daryl left most of his brother's shit but kept his drugs for a rainy day. He climbed on his bike and revved it ready to go. Rick nodded to the omega, and they began to make their way forward.