Chapter Text
The golden beams filtered through the leaves of the everoaks, casting the forest in a warm glow and illuminating the goings and comings of the evenings' animals. Sinking down tiredly on the horizon, the sun presented its last gift of the day: painting the sky with hues of purple, pink, and orange. Humming with quiet life, the everoaks swayed in the breeze, the mighty trees relaxing their limbs and letting the wind run her course through their leaves.
Many animals stopped to appreciate the generosity of mother nature, a family of birds perched on a low branch, teaching their younglings to fly. Two squirrels raced from one tree to another, competing for the best few of the captivating sunset. Rabbits padded through the soft grass, the ears getting tickled by the harmless blades. Evenings in the forest were peaceful, even soothing for those who venture in. One wolf, however, cursed the sky, willing the sun to set faster as he bounded through the woods, disturbing several animal families as he went.
George’s paws began to ache and he spared a glance over his shoulder, slowing slightly. He was only met with the everoaks waving back at him. Sighing, George sunk to the ground, the soft grass under his side cushioning his tired body as the sweet smell of the forest filled his burning lungs.
He had been running for days at this point, desperate to escape his pack. George was the son of the Ragnar packs’ High Alpha family but on his 14th birthday, he was revealed as an omega. In the Ragnar pack, being an omega was the last thing you want to be. Especially if you're the son of the High Alpha.
George stretched out his lean body, trying to find a more comfortable position so he wasn’t lying on his wounds which ached mercilessly on his side. Like he said, being an omega in the Ragnar pack is the last thing you want to be. He finally gave up and curled into a protective ball, resting his head on his paws. As much as he wanted to sleep, George needed to keep moving. He fled from the pack on his 18 birthday to prevent himself from getting bred by an alpha. If he had stayed, he would have had no choice in his partner and most likely would have been gifted to one of his dad’s guards who certainly would not treat him well.
George’s head shoots up as a twig snaps, the sound echoing slightly. He stumbles quickly to his feet, backing himself against the tree as he smells wolves nearby, one omega and one alpha. The bark digs into his hind but he stays quiet, trying to make himself as small as possible as he subconsciously pins his ears at the alphas scent. The wolves don’t smell like their part of Ragnar but George would prefer to avoid any interaction. The wolves move closer and George glances around wildly. Now the sun has dipped completely below the horizon, leaving darkness in its wake. He can use this to his advantage if he has to run, he’s very good at getting lost in the darkness only to emerge when the sun shines once more.
“C’mon Bad. I’ll protect you if anything pops out,” a loud voice sounds. The alphas voice. George is too scared to move, they’re close enough to hear him, and if the wind shifts only slightly they’ll smell him. So he stays silent, praying they will pass by unnoticed. Unfortunately, Mother Nature isn’t on his side, per usual.
“Skeppy, do you smell that?” the omega asks as the two near George’s hiding place. George holds his breath, determined not to let a single sound escape his mouth.
“Bad, stay behind me,” the alpha mutters, “it smells… it smells like a… an omega?”
“They’re scared!” Bad exclaims. George quietly curses Mother Nature as the duo step closer. He’s going to have to run for it and pray they aren’t fast. The other omega seems to sense his distress, however, because the voice calls out, “Please don’t run, I promise we’re not going to hurt you. We can help if you need it!” George pauses for a moment, weighing his options.
This is his opportunity to join a different pack. To secure his safety. Goerge shifts so he's on his hutches, prepared to spring away. He's never been able to trust alphas or any omega that sides with them. He doesn't know if this pack is any different and it's not worth the risk. He'll find a different pack that he can scope out and make sure he won't have to repeat what he's already gone through.
"Please come out? Skeppy, back up a few steps," the omega calls, whispering the last part to his alpha friend. Goerge's eyes widen. Did this omega just give an order to an alpha?
"I don't know, Bad. I don't want you to get hurt," the alpha replies, sounding unsure.
"Please?"
"Fine but if anything happens I'm jumping in, okay?"
George hears the alpha back up a few steps. Maybe he can come out... this alpha is actually listening to the omega. That has to count for something, right? Steadying himself, George takes a deep breath and steps out into the open, keeping his stance guarded and studying the omega curiously. The omega perks up, his tail wagging slightly as he studies George.
"Hello, my name's Bad!" the omega chirps, taking a few steps forward. George's eyes immediately widen at the advance as he scrambles back a few steps, his paw catching on a root. The gray omega pauses, tilting his head as George rights himself, struggling to find any words and finally deciding to stay quiet.
Goerge watches the alpha hesitantly, his white coat making him stand out as he studies George in return. He can handle the shaking and anxiety better in wolf form but still, being face-to-face with an alpha is something he doesn't think he'll ever get used to again.
"I'm sorry, are you okay?" Bad asks gently, sitting down. The alpha eyes his friend and goes to step forward when Bad turns and sends him a sharp look, stopping the alpha in his tracks. George's relief must be obvious because Bad turns back to him and starts letting off a calming scent, trying to combat the overwhelming alpha smell that has filtered through the trees.
George watches them cautiously before shaking his coat slightly, it's now or never, "I need somewhere to stay, a new- a new pack," he admits quietly. It was a gamble to tell them he was in need of a new pack as most wolves automatically assume the worst when they hear of a wolf leaving their old pack.
"Oh! You can sta-" Bad starts excitedly when Skeppy steps forward aggressively. George flinches harshly, closing his eyes as Bad gasps. The clearing is silent for a moment before Skeppy speaks again.
"I'm sorry," he murmurs quietly, backing up and studying George with worried eyes before his expression turns slightly more defensive, "Why are you packless?"
George's chest tightens. So many reasons..."I.. I ran. They aren't for me,"
Skeppy studies him closely once more. The stare makes George increasingly nervous as tense silence stretches between the three.
"Skeppy, it's okay," Bad mutters, nudging the alpha with his muzzle. Skeppy glances at Bad and the two seem to have a silent conversation. Not knowing what's being said sets George on edge. Maybe this way a bad idea, is it too late to run?
"Okay, you can stay with us," Skeppy says, stepping back as Bad turns his innocent eyes back on George, who is tensed at the edge of the clearing.
George takes a second to relax, trying to get rid of the shake in his legs and Bad tilts his head once more, "C'mon, our home is this way,"
"What's your name?" the alpha asks. George jumps slightly when he talks, still shaken from the aggressive advance.
"Geo-" he stops short. Should he give them his real name? What if his father or siblings come looking for him?
"Geo?" Bad asks.
"George," he replies after a second. If his family comes looking for him and this new pack turns him out, he's dead anyway. There's no point in trying to lie.
"I'm Skeppy," the alpha adds warmly, speeding up to walk next to Bad who is thankfully in between George and Skeppy. The more distance between him and the alpha the better.
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The trio has walked for a few hours, now stopping at a creek for some water which George laps up hurriedly while trying to ignore the growing pain in his side. He'd learned that Bad and Skeppy often spend hours in the woods messing around, the latter often playing tricks and pranks on the former but they called it 'memes'.
"How long has you been without pack?" Bad asks, shaking water from his muzzle.
"A few days," he replies.
Bad's eyes widen, "You've been on your own for days? When's the last time you ate?"
George thinks for a moment and realizes he hasn't eaten since fleeing Ragnar territory, or slept for that matter. "Since I left,"
He can tell Bad wants to ask more questions but the omega thankfully holds back, inside declaring, "We have lots of food back at our house! We'll make sure you get all the stuff you need and then we have a guest bedroom and you can sleep for however long you want,"
Goerge bows his head gratefully, it'll be nice to get some rest after these days in the woods.
"Hey Bad," Skeppy calls suddenly. George turns to see the alpha knee-deep in the water in his human form. He backs up slightly, tensing as Skeppy splashes Bad with water.
"Geppy, no!" Bad growls, shaking the water out of his coat before giving George an apologetic look, "Sorry, he's a muffin,"
Skeppy laughs and George finds himself chuckling slightly, "Muffin?"
"Bad doesn't curse," Skeppy explains, making his way out of the stream only to grab Bad around the middle and chuck the small gray wolf into the water.
George jumps up, hackles raised and ready to run when Bad emerges from the water in his human form, sputtering angrily but laughing as he tries to tell Skeppy off but failing miserably as the alpha's laugh drowns him out. George relaxes only slightly as he realizes the two are only playing.
"We should get back," Skeppy finally gasps out, glancing up at the dark sky before shifting back into his white wolf form. Bad nods and shifts as well, making sure to shake the water from his coat right onto Skeppy, who snickers.
"C'mon George, we're almost there and we'll get you that food," Bad calls, matching Skeppy's pace as the duo begins to jog.
George clambers to his feet, feeling refreshed after getting to drink fresh spring water. He tilts his head as he stretches out his legs, yelping suddenly as pain shoots up his side.
Bad and Skeppy turn around quickly, Skeppy's ears up and alert for danger as Bad approaches him slowly, "George are you okay?"
"Yeah, I'm fine. Just some old wounds," he quickly replies, hating the attention he's getting from the two.
"Okay but I'm going to check that out when we get home," Bad replies, tossing his head back as he motions George to follow. Home.
Bad and Skeppy chat quietly as Goerge follows them. His side is beginning to hurt pretty badly but he doesn't want to say anything, especially since Bad and Skeppy are taking him in. It's dangerous to take in packless wolves, especially when you don't know why they're packless and he has a sneaking suspicion Skeppy didn't believe his lie. Maybe that's why he's beginning to trust Bad, and even Skeppy, much faster than he usually would. They're risking pack trust by bringing him in but from what he's seen so far with the size of Bad's heart, he's almost positive he's not the first stray they've picked up.
Soon pinpricks of light appear in the distance. George lifts his head up higher in an attempt to get a better look and Bad and Skeppy speed up excitedly.
"Welcome to the Faolan Pack, George!" Bad exclaims, turning around to motion George forward enthusiastically. Skeppy giggles at his antics and Goerge catches the alpha staring fondly at the omega. Interesting...
"Are you two mated?" he asks before stopping suddenly, horrified with himself. What possessed him to ask that. As he begins to stutter an apology Bad turns around and giggles.
"No, best friends. Skeppy's not even 18 yet,"
Skeppy rolls his eyes, "I'll be 18 in a few weeks," he tells Goerge although his focus is on the omega bounding ahead of them. George speeds up after Bad, desperate not to be alone with the alpha even though he seems trustworthy and obviously head-over-paws for Bad. Still, alphas are unpredictable as he's learned time and time again.
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The pinpricks of light soon grow to illuminate nice looking wood houses adorned with vines and flowers that seemed to add a certain sense of homeliness that George never felt in Ragnar despite living in the High Alpha house most of his life (the past four years he's spent sleeping in the cramped and dirty omega quarters with the servants).
Goerge follows closely behind Bad as the happy omega prances into the main part of the territory, the houses growing more frequent and shops popping up the closer they get to the center of the town as the soft grass is replaced by smooth stone paths that are cool under his paws. He tries to take in all the details but it's slightly overwhelming so he sticks to keeping his eyes on Bad. George knows there are wolves and people staring at him but he had to expect that, he doesn't smell like part of the pack but he's let through unchallenged. Probably because he's with Bad and Skeppy.
"Skeppy and I live right in the center and we can show you the High Alpha's house! It's very pretty," Bad explains, turning a corner. George visibly flinches at the thought of having to meet the High Alphas but luckily no one sees as he follows Bad and Skeppy around the corner.
George's jaw drops slightly as they enter town square. It's set up in a large circle with a fountain in the center, houses and shops surrounding it with roads branching out in all directions. Despite it being dark, everything is illuminated in a soft glow from the many lanterns scattered around, hanging from balconies, placed nonchalantly on benches, even set on the ground. Bad turns around proudly, Skeppy laughing quietly at George's reaction.
"So, what do you think?" Bad asks, sounding nervous. George wags his tail slightly, "It's beautiful,"
Bad's face splits into a grin as he turns to smile at Skeppy before beckoning George forward once again, "Up there is the High Alpha house," he points his snout up a large hill where a beautifully illuminated mansion sits. Even from a distance, George can tell that the wood is detailed and the vines that snake around are a perfect example of contained wildness. As much as he doesn't like High Alphas, he has to admit the house is the nicest he's ever seen.
"Faolan actually has two High Alpha families," Bad recites, "Two different packs roamed this territory long ago and eventually became one when their firstborns were mates,"
"They did it to stop the fighting," Skeppy interjects, sending Bad an exasperated look.
Bad turns, offended, "No, they were already friends and mated because of how close they were! It was romantic!"
"We're never going to agree on this," Skeppy sighs, turning to George who had been listening to the two bicker, "Nobody knows for sure how the packs came together, there are obviously several theories. Feel free to pick your favorite,"
George offers a small smile, turning to glance back up at the High Alpha house. It's unusual for two High Alpha's to share a pack as they are extremely territorial. Those mates must've really been destined for each other.
"Our house is right here," Bad chirps, leading him to a small house with white walls and wood pillars, matching the rest of the buildings except this one has small crystals in the pots outside rather than the customary flowers George noticed and smelled.
He eyes the crystals while Bad shifts to unlock the door, Skeppy shifting as well and catching George's curious look.
"I like crystals," he says simply as Bad opens the door. George studies them for a moment more, admiring the blue glow they give off before turning shyly back to Skeppy, "I think they look great,"
Skeppy smiles warmly as he follows Bad inside, George padding after them.
Immediately the smell of muffins fills his nose which makes George feel better for some reason. The interior of Bad and Skeppy's house is extremely cozy, the front door leading into a den with a couch and three bean bags, the kitchen right behind the den, and a small staircase to the left that leads upstairs. Crystals and plants are dotted around and there are throw blankets and pillows everywhere.
"You can shift if you'd like," Skeppy says gently, entering the kitchen and running a hand through his hair. Bad nods in agreement, sending George a warm smile and the duo starts to pull out ingredients. Goerge's stomach rumbles at the sight.
"If it's okay, I'd like to stay in wolf form," he replies. It's better this way. His anxiety is less severe, he's a lot less flinchy, and he can keep part of him to himself. A type of privacy he hasn't had in a long time.
"That's okay, whatever you're most comfortable with," Skeppy says.
George is taken aback. He's never had someone value his wants since he was revealed as omega. This was a change he could definitely get used to as he slowly sits down in the den, listening to Skeppy and Bad's playful banter. Soon he's had a wonderful meal of deer meat, his wounds inspected by Bad (this was not fun as the other omega had to get a little closer than George was comfortable with but the wounds were, thankfully, deemed mild enough to not receive medical attention), and he was shown his room, Bad apologizing for it being small but George couldn't hide his joy as he curled up on the bed.
"It's perfect, Bad," he said, watching the other omega's face light up before he was alone again but this time, the alone was good. He didn't know how this whole thing was going to go but for tonight, he had a full stomach, a comfortable bed, and for the first time in a long time, he felt strangely... safe.
He slept without nightmares that night.