Lily traced the faded scars on her forearm with a calloused thumb. Each ridge told a story – a snapped trap near Silver Creek, that foolish tussle with the grizzly cub, the night she outran hunters' bullets through the pines. Her cabin smelled of woodsmoke and wet fur, familiar as her own heartbeat. Outside, three shadows paced the treeline: Ash, her grey-muzzled elder; Silas, all restless muscle; and little Fern, whose paws still stumbled over roots. They didn't need words. A low whine from Ash meant deer nearby. Silas's flattened ears warned of strangers. Fern's wagging tail? Pure joy at a fat rabbit.
"Quit pacing, Silas," Lily murmured, not looking up from mending her bootlace by the fire. "The deer won't bolt faster 'cause you're impatient." Through the window, she felt Silas's answering huff – a warm puff of amusement in her mind. Pack. Even if it was just them.The TV droned in the corner, ignored. Some city reporter's voice, tight with fake calm, cut through the crackle of pine logs. "...unrest spreading from coastal cities... authorities urge citizens to shelter in place..." Lily jabbed the remote. Silence fell. City problems. Like the ache in her knee before a storm, distant and ignorable. She tossed a scrap of venison to Fern, who'd nudged the door open with her nose. "Greedy pup," Lily chuckled as Fern swallowed it whole.Then Ash howled. Not the long, mournful song for the moon. Sharp. Urgent. A blade slicing the mountain quiet. Lily froze, needle halfway through leather. Silas's snarl vibrated against the porch steps. Fern whimpered, pressing close to the door. Lily rose slowly, her bones suddenly too heavy. Through the smudged glass, Ash stood rigid on the ridge, staring down toward the valley. Not at deer. Not at wolves. At the thin ribbon of highway, where headlights usually crawled like distant fireflies. Tonight, they streaked. Dozens. Hundreds. Racing north in a frantic, glowing river.A cold prickle crawled up Lily's spine. She fumbled for the remote again. The screen flickered to life, bathing her face in blue light. The reporter was gone. Replaced by shaky footage of streets Lily didn't know. Dark figures moved in jerking, unnatural strides. Too fast. Too many. A woman screamed, the sound abruptly cut off. The banner beneath flashed red: EMERGENCY BROADCAST. DO NOT TRAVEL. CONTAINMENT FAILED.Lily sank onto the wooden stool, the mending forgotten in her lap. Ash's howl echoed again, closer now, laced with a fear Lily had never tasted from him before. Silas scratched frantically at the door. Fern whined, high and thin. The valley lights kept streaming north. Away.She stared at the silent wolves crowding her doorstep, their eyes reflecting the TV's frantic glow. The city reporter's last words hissed back in her memory. *Shelter in place.* Lily's knuckles whitened around the remote. Shelter. Alone. With the wolves, and whatever was coming up that dark highway.she gathers something and head for the car, whistling for the wolves to get in, she started to drive to the city to see if it was real, Alanta was the closes place to her cabin, she drove for 5 hours, she saw cars crashed on the road, she saw bodies laying on the road, she saw zombies eating people, she saw zombies walking around, she saw zombies trying to get into cars, she saw zombies trying to get into houses, she saw zombies trying to get into stores, she saw zombies trying to get into everything, she saw zombies everywhere, she saw then on the road a massive pill up, people standing their trying to see what was happening and then they ran into the wood, she got out deciding to follow them, once to a quarry they settle and interduce themselves, they are a pack of werewolves, they are the Atlanta pack, well most of them, human had secondary genders, alpha, beta, omega. some was born with wolves and could shift into them.***The Atlanta pack huddled near the quarry's edge, their scents thick with panic and pine resin. Shane Walsh paced like a caged wolf, his alpha energy sparking off the rocks. "We hold here," he growled, rifle gripped white-knuckle tight. Lori clutched Carl against her flannel shirt, the boy's wide eyes reflecting the smoke rising from distant Atlanta. Daryl Dixon crouched on an outcrop, crossbow balanced on his knee, while Merle spat tobacco juice into the abyss below. "Hold? With those *things* crawlin' up the damn mountains at any moment"Lily's wolves bristled at the unfamiliar pack-scent. Ash pressed against her thigh, a low rumble in his chest as Silas bared teeth at Merle's sneer. Fern trembled, burying her nose in Lily's jeans. "They're walkers," Lori whispered, her voice frayed. "They don't stop. Don't feel." Carl's small hand fisted in her shirt. "Like in the game, Mom?"Daryl's eyes flicked to Lily. "You came from north ridge? How bad's the road?" Before she could answer, a guttural moan echoed from the tree line. Shapes lurched between the pines – slow, jerking, relentless. One dragged a mangled leg, bone scraping rock. Another wore the tattered remains of a gas station uniform, jaw hanging slack. Merle spat again. "Told ya. Crawlin' up like damn roaches."Shane shoved Carl behind him, rifle snapping up. "Lori, stay here" no guns" lily yelled before telling the two older wolves to smash their head, the two at her side race off to kill the walkers, she then told the pack to get behind her as she shifted into a large white wolf, she was big, bigger than the two wolves, she was the size of a horse, she then raced off to kill the walkers, she killed them all, she then shifted back and got dressed, she then walked back to the group, she then said " we need to leave, more will come" she then said " i know a place, its safe, its my cabin, its in the mountains, its hidden" she then said " we can go there" she then said " but we need to go now" she then said " the wolves will protect us" she then said " but we need to go now" she then said "its not a far walk but the sound of gun and the cars will draw them like flys to rot"The Atlanta pack stared, slack-jawed, as Lily pulled her worn flannel shirt back on. Shane lowered his rifle slowly, eyes fixed on the carnage she'd left behind—six walkers crumpled like broken dolls, skulls caved in by wolf jaws or her own massive paws. Daryl's crossbow hung forgotten at his side. "Hell's bells," Merle breathed, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. "Ain't never seen a wolf that big. Or ones that listen to a omega."Lori clutched Carl tighter, her gaze darting between Lily and the tree line where more could be." i may be an omega but i save these three when the were babies, hunter killed their mother" she said " as for why i so big in wolf form is because my parents where fated mates and the die to save me when i was a child i have no pack"The Atlanta pack's shock hung thick in the air, mingling with the coppery tang of walker blood. Shane's knuckles were bone-white on his rifle stock, his alpha instincts warring with disbelief. An omega? Leading? Saving *them*? Lori shielded Carl's face, but the boy peeked out, wide-eyed at Lily and her wolves standing guard over the mangled walkers. Daryl finally broke the silence, his voice a low rasp. "Fated mates... ain't heard that outside old tales." His gaze swept over Ash, Silas, and Fern, then lingered on Lily. Respect, grudging but real, flickered in his eyes.Merle snorted, spitting near a walker's corpse. "Size don't mean squat against a horde, sugar. And yer cabin? Bet it's a damn squirrel hole." Silas growled, a deep vibration that made the leaves tremble. Lily didn't flinch. " you need an alpha girly" he spokenlily growl a low growl something omega didnt do. it shock everyone " ive been find all lone, dont need some alpha who only thinks with his dick telling me what i can and cant do" she growls out before turnin to shane "It's defensible. High ground. Springs nearby. Stocked four story high, left to me by my father and mother." She met Shane's stare, her omega calm a stark contrast to his bristling tension. "Your choice. Stay here, where the gunshots just rang dinner bells for every walker for miles... or follow the wolves."Shane's jaw worked. He scanned the quarry – exposed, with only one rocky path down. The distant moans were multiplying, a chilling chorus drifting through the pines. Lori touched his arm. "Shane... the boy." Carl's small hand trembled in hers. Daryl nudged Merle. "Quit yappin'. Cabin sounds better'n bein' walker chow." He jerked his chin at Lily. "Lead on, Omega. Your wolves smell trouble better'n we see it."Lily didn't wait for Shane's official decree. She whistled sharply – two short bursts. Ash melted into the trees ahead, a grey ghost scouting the path. Silas fell back, flanking the group with a low, warning growl directed at the thickening shadows beyond the quarry rim. Fern stayed pressed to Lily's side, her ears swiveling at every snapped twig. "Move quiet," Lily ordered, her voice low but carrying. "No talking. Step where I step. The wolves will warn us."They moved in a tense, single file. Daryl took the rear, crossbow ready, his eyes missing nothing. Merle grumbled under his breath but kept pace. Shane shepherded Lori and Carl in the middle, his rifle sweeping the undergrowth. The air grew colder as they climbed away from the quarry floor, the scent of damp earth and pine needles sharp in Lily's nose, almost masking the reek of decay carried on the wind. A branch cracked loudly to their left. Silas snarled, a sound that vibrated through the soles of their boots. Three figures lurched from the ferns – slow, clumsy, drawn by the movement. Before Shane could raise his rifle, Lily blurred. Her shift was instantaneous, a ripple of power that tore her clothes. The massive white wolf lunged, a silent, lethal streak. Bones crunched under her jaws. A second walker went down under Silas's assault. Ash materialized from nowhere, dragging the third down by its rotten leg, silencing its moan with a swift bite to the spine. It was over in seconds. Lily shifted back, pulling her torn shirt tighter over her bare skin having riped her clothes, she had no shame in being nude, breathing steady. "Keep moving," she panted, not looking back at the fresh carnage. "They're closing in." The Atlanta pack followed, their earlier skepticism replaced by a raw, desperate hope. The mountains loomed ahead, dark and sheltering.The climb was steep, the path narrow and choked with roots. Fern stayed glued to Lily's side, her small whines a constant counterpoint to the distant, chilling moans drifting up from the valley. Lori stumbled, clutching Carl, her breath ragged. Shane caught her elbow, his face grim. "How much further?" he hissed, scanning the thickening woods. Lily paused, listening. Ash's silent presence brushed her mind – *clear ahead*. "Less than an hour," she murmured. "Past that ridge." She pointed towards a jagged outcrop silhouetted against the twilight sky. Daryl sniffed the air, his expression unreadable. "Smoke," he stated flatly. "Old smoke. Settled." Lily nodded. "My chimney. Been cold since yesterday morning." Merle spat. "Hope yer pantry's stocked better'n yer wardrobe, darlin'." Lily ignored him, focusing on the subtle shift in the wind – a new scent threading through the pine and decay. Rot, yes, but underneath it... something else. Something metallic and sharp. Blood. Fresh blood. Her wolves stiffened, ears pricked forward, hackles rising in unison. Silas let out a low, guttural growl, deeper and more urgent than before. Not walkers. Something else was out there. Something alive, and dangerous. The Atlanta pack felt it too, hands tightening on weapons, eyes wide in the fading light. The sanctuary of the cabin suddenly felt very far away.They reached the ridge Lily had pointed to, the view opening up. Below, nestled in a deep hollow surrounded by sheer rock faces on three sides, sat her cabin. It was larger than Shane or Merle had pictured – sturdy logs, a wide porch, smoke curling lazily from the stone chimney. Relief washed over Lori's face. But Lily froze, her breath catching. Movement. Not near the cabin, but on the access road winding down into the hollow. Headlights. Two vehicles – a battered pickup truck and a military surplus Humvee – were parked haphazardly near the cabin's gate. Figures moved around them, shadows in the dusk. Too coordinated. Too armed. Not walkers. Humans. And they were tearing the lock off her gate. Silas's growl turned into a snarl. Ash melted back towards Lily, his grey fur bristling. Fern pressed against her legs, trembling. Shane raised his rifle, squinting. "Who the hell...?" Daryl nocked an arrow, his face like stone. "Trouble," he muttered. "Looks like yer squirrel hole got squatters, Omega."Lily's vision narrowed. Her sanctuary. Her father's legacy. The wolves felt her rage – a hot, electric current in the air. Silas bared his teeth, a low, continuous rumble vibrating from his chest. Ash's yellow eyes fixed on the intruders below, calculating. Fern whined softly, sensing the shift. "They're armed," Lori whispered, pulling Carl behind her. "Military?" Merle spat. "Nah. Look at 'em. Scavengers. Raiders. Smell weakness." He hefted his own rifle. "Easy pickin's." Shane's gaze snapped to Merle. "We don't know that. Could be survivors." But his finger tightened on the trigger guard. Lily didn't speak. Her focus was absolute. The metallic scent of blood she'd caught earlier – it was stronger now, drifting up from below. Human blood. And beneath it, the sharp tang of aggression, of men who took what they wanted. Her cabin. Her supplies. Her refuge. The wolves shifted restlessly, mirroring her coiled tension. They were hers to protect, and this was her territory. before another word she shift and race forther the three men was not looking behind them when she got their she growls and the jump and turn to her, she shift and the three men eye her naked body up and down.The three men spun, weapons jerking up. Their eyes widened at the sight of the massive white wolf, then bulged further as Lily shifted back to human form, naked and unflinching in the twilight. They were rough-looking, clad in scavenged gear – leather vests over stained shirts, bandanas covering shaved heads. The leader, a burly man with a scar bisecting his lip, lowered his shotgun, a slow, predatory grin spreading across his face. "Well, ain't you a sight for sore eyes?" he drawled, his gaze raking over her. "Lost, darlin'? Cabin's occupied now." His companions chuckled, one spitting tobacco near her feet." no but that my home and if you dont get the hell out of here right now, your surround boys " lily growl, one of them a werewolf too sniff the air." she an omega and a unpup one at that" the ugly man said to the other two.Lily didn't flinch. The raider's leer crawled over her skin like maggots, but her voice stayed low and lethal. "This is my land. You're leaving. Now." Behind her, Ash materialized from the trees, a grey wraith with bared teeth. Silas padded to her other side, a low, continuous growl rumbling from his chest. Fern stayed back, guarding the path where the Atlanta pack hid in the shadows.The scarred leader snorted, hefting his shotgun. "Feisty little omega, ain't ya? We got guns, sweetheart. You got... fleabags." His companions snickered, shifting nervously as Ash took another silent step forward.Before Lily could react, Shane's voice cut through the tension, rough and commanding. "She ain't alone." He stepped out from the tree line, rifle leveled, Lori pulling Carl close behind him. Daryl emerged like a shadow beside Shane, crossbow aimed, his eyes cold and assessing. Merle lumbered out last, spitting contemptuously. "Yeah, boys. Pack's here. Now how 'bout you drop them toys 'fore things get messy?"The raiders stiffened. The scarred leader's grin faltered. He glanced between Lily, naked and defiant, the bristling wolves, and the armed newcomers. "Didn't realize the omega had friends," he sneered, but his finger twitched on the shotgun's trigger guard. His werewolf companion, a wiry man with hollow eyes, sniffed the air again. "Alpha," he muttered, jerking his chin toward Shane. "Strong one. And others... betas. This ain't worth it, Jax."Jax, the scarred leader, spat. "Ain't leavin' empty-handed." His eyes darted to the cabin, then back to Shane's unwavering rifle. "We take half the supplies. Fair trade for clearin' out."Lily stepped forward, ignoring the chill air on her skin. "Fair?" Her voice was ice. "You broke my lock. Tried to steal my home. There's no *trade*." Ash took another silent step, his muzzle wrinkling in a snarl that exposed yellowed fangs. Silas mirrored him, the growl deepening into a threat that vibrated the ground. Fern whined, hackles raised, her small body trembling with protective fury.Jax stepped forth placing his hand on lilys breast, she didnt move, she just look at him with a cold look, the other two men laugh as the man squeeze her breast " nice and firm" he said, he then went to kiss her, she growls and throws the man down and breaks the hand that touch her. " i may be an omega but i also a theta" she said as she hears his arm snap then looks to the others as she knocks him out.The Atlanta pack tensed, weapons ready. Shane's finger hovered over the trigger, his alpha instincts roaring at the violation. Daryl's crossbow remained steady, aimed at the wiry werewolf raider. Merle spat, muttering, "Shoulda shot 'em when we had the chance." Lori shielded Carl's eyes, her own wide with horror. The raiders froze, Jax's agonized scream cutting through the twilight. His companions stared, weapons half-raised, caught between shock and fury. Lily stood over Jax, naked and unyielding, her wolves flanking her like vengeful shadows. Ash's lips curled back in a silent snarl, while Silas fixed his burning gaze on the remaining men. Fern trembled but held her ground, a low whine building in her throat. The metallic scent of Jax's blood mixed with the pine air."Touch me again," Lily said, her voice dangerously soft as Jax writhed on the ground, cradling his snapped wrist, "and I'll let Silas show you what *real* teeth can do." The massive wolf beside her lunged forward, stopping inches from the raiders, his snarl echoing off the quarry walls like thunder." now are you boys ready to leave and never come back, i see you again and your dead. " she said before calling out " rise " the word woke up the house defense and a gun pops out next to the men. " leave now" she said.The raiders didn't need convincing. The wiry werewolf paled, grabbing his conscious but whimpering leader under the arms. The third man scrambled backwards, nearly tripping over his own boots. They hauled Jax towards the Humvee, throwing furtive, terrified glances at Lily, her wolves, and the Atlanta pack's unwavering weapons. The engine roared to life, tires spitting gravel as they fishtailed back down the access road, disappearing into the gathering dusk.Silence descended, broken only by Jax's fading moans and the crackle of pine needles under Fern's paws as she cautiously sniffed the broken gate lock. Shane lowered his rifle slowly, his gaze shifting from the retreating taillights to Lily. She stood tall, still unclothed, the cold mountain air raising goosebumps on her skin she seemed to ignore. Ash nudged her hand, a silent question. "I'm fine," she murmured, her voice tight. The adrenaline was ebbing, leaving behind the raw awareness of her exposed vulnerability under the pack's stares – Shane's assessing alpha gaze, Daryl's sharp scrutiny, Merle's lingering leer, Lori's wide-eyed shock."Theta," Shane finally said, the word heavy in the quiet. "Thought those were just stories. Omega was born with an extra bite." He holstered his rifle, a grudging respect tempering his earlier tension. "Explains the size."Daryl grunted, lowering his crossbow. "Explains the wolves listenin'." His sharp eyes scanned the trees, then flicked to Lily. "They comin' back?"Lily shook her head, the movement stiff. "Not tonight." She knelt, retrieving her torn clothes from the dirt near the gate. The fabric was shredded beyond repair. Lori stepped forward hesitantly, shrugging off her own flannel overshirt. "Here," she offered, voice soft. "It's... it's cold." Lily met her gaze, then nodded once, pulling the soft, warm fabric over her head. It smelled of Lori – nervous sweat and maternal warmth. "Thanks." she push the gate open and let them in before the wolves race off to walk the fence like the usually do.Inside, the cabin was a revelation. Four stories of solid timber, built into the mountainside itself. The ground floor held a vast kitchen stocked floor-to-ceiling with jars of preserves, dried meats, and sacks of grain. A stone fireplace dominated the living area, already stacked with dry wood. Shane whistled low, his alpha instincts momentarily overridden by sheer awe. "Your folks built this?" he said looking at a couple on the wall holding a small baby." that my mom and dad" lily said softly, her voice catching as she touched the faded photograph. "They built it after the first outbreak rumors. Said mountains were safer than cities." She moved to the heavy oak door, sliding thick iron bolts into place. "Basement's cold storage – meat, roots, medicine. Top floor watchtower." Her wolves paced the perimeter outside, silent shadows in the dusk.Shane paced the main room, his boots echoing on the wide-plank floors. "We need a watch rotation. Dixon, you take first shift up top. Eyes on that road." Daryl nodded, already heading for the spiral stairs, crossbow slung over his shoulder. Merle slumped into a worn armchair near the fire, pulling a flask from his vest. "Omega got a liquor stash to go with them beans, darlin'?"Lily ignored him, handing Carl a jar of honeyed nuts. The boy's eyes were huge as he took it, his small fingers brushing hers. "Thank you, Miss Lily." Lori smoothed his hair, her gaze lingering on the barred windows. "How long have you lived here alone?""Since I was sixteen," Lily said, stacking firewood by the hearth. Ash padded in, nudging her hand with a cold nose. She scratched behind his ears absently. "My parents... they didn't make it back from a supply run when the early riots hit Atlanta." Silas whined softly from the doorway, sensing her grief. Fern curled at her feet, a warm weight against the chill seeping through the logs.Shane stopped pacing, his alpha presence filling the room. "You held this place. Alone. With just wolves." It wasn't quite a question. Respect warred with his ingrained need to lead. "That changes now. We're a pack. We fortify. We survive." He gestured toward the photograph on the wall. "Your folks built a fortress. We'll honor that."Outside, a long, mournful howl pierced the night – not Silas or Ash, but something wilder, farther out. Then another answered, closer. Lily froze, her hand stilling on Ash's head. The wolves' ears swiveled, bodies tense. Daryl's voice drifted down from the watchtower, tight with warning. "Movement. Tree line north ridge. Not walkers. Wolves. Big ones. And they ain't yours, Omega."Lily moved to the window, peering into the moonlit darkness. Shapes moved between the pines – larger than Ash, shadows with eyes that glowed amber. A low, challenging growl rumbled through the cabin walls, vibrating the floorboards. Silas answered with a snarl, hackles raised. Ash positioned himself squarely in front of Lily, a silent shield."werewolf Pack," Lily breathed, her blood turning cold. "A wild pack. They've scented us. Scented the cabin and the got the scent of omega, my scent blocker and heat block are out, i went out to get more." She turned to Shane, her omega calm replaced by sharp urgency. "Get Carl upstairs. Now. And someone hand me a weapon that won't jam." The wild wolves didn't sound curious. They sounded hungry. And they were closing in.Daryl descended the watchtower stairs two at a time, his crossbow already reloaded. "Six, maybe seven," he reported, his voice tight. "Bigger than yours. Look half-starved, eyes like hot coals. Circling the north fence line." He tossed Lily a heavy, well-oiled machete from a wall rack. "Hope you know how to use that, 'sides choppin' wood."Lily caught it, the worn grip fitting her palm perfectly. "Better than most." Outside, Silas's snarls grew frantic, punctuated by the sickening thud of bodies hitting the reinforced fence. Ash's answering howl was a challenge, pure and feral. Fern pressed against the door, whining high and sharp. The wild pack wasn't just investigating; they were testing the perimeter. Trying to break in.Shane shoved Carl towards Lori, who scrambled for the stairs. "Merle! Cover the south windows! Dixon, you're with me on the north wall!" He grabbed a shotgun, racking the slide. The cabin, moments ago a sanctuary, felt suddenly like a trap. The wild howls outside weren't the mindless groans of walkers; they were intelligent, coordinated. Predatory. And they knew exactly where the weak points were. Lily moved to the heavy oak door, peering through a narrow slit. Amber eyes glowed back at her from the darkness, reflecting the firelight. One massive grey wolf, its muzzle scarred and lips peeled back from yellowed fangs, slammed its shoulder against the gate hinge with terrifying force. The metal groaned. Silas lunged at it through the bars, a whirl of teeth and fury. Lily tightened her grip on the machete. The Atlanta pack had survived walkers and raiders.she open the door and called all three wolves back to her and shift into her massive wolf. the wild alpha shift and open the gate.The massive grey wolf shifted mid-stride, bones cracking like gunshots in the silent night. He landed on human feet – tall, gaunt, ribs visible beneath scarred skin, eyes burning with feral hunger. Behind him, five others materialized from the trees, shifting to human form or remaining in wolf-shape, all emaciated, all staring at Lily's cabin with desperate, predatory focus. The alpha's gaze swept past Shane's raised shotgun, Daryl's crossbow, Merle's sneer, and locked onto Lily. His voice was a guttural rasp, like stones grinding together. "Omega. Warm den. Food smells." He sniffed the air, nostrils flaring. "Weak pack. Give us entry. Share. Or we take." His eyes, amber and unblinking, held Lily's. A challenge. An alpha command that vibrated in her bones, making her omega instincts scream to submit.Lily didn't bow. Her massive white wolf form stood between the wild pack and her cabin door, Silas and Ash flanking her, teeth bared. she shift back to talk. " The only way you guys get into the door is to throw off that wild side, this is my den and my territory"The wild alpha's laugh was a harsh bark. "Territory?" He took a step forward, his pack mirroring him – gaunt humans and snarling wolves closing in like shadows given teeth. "Mountains are *ours*, little theta. Your stone den reeks of fear and weakness." His amber eyes flicked to Shane, assessing the alpha's rigid stance, the sweat beading on Lori's forehead as she clutched Carl behind her. "Your 'pack' is fractured. Prey." He sniffed again, nostrils flaring at the scent of Lori's flannel shirt still clinging to Lily. "Give us the den. Give us the female. The pup. We eat, we leave" she growls" if you eat it will be animals and that it, the human female and her pup is under my proctection, no harm will come to them or the others in this back," she said stepping forther, " i dont submit to anyone alpha or not, so you can stay to eat animal meat or leave. "The wild alpha's eyes narrowed, a predatory stillness settling over him. His pack shifted restlessly behind him, muscles coiled, saliva dripping from bared fangs. The gaunt alpha took another step, invading the space before the cabin porch. "Omega gives orders?" he rasped, disbelief twisting his scarred face. "Weakness." His gaze snapped to Shane. "Your alpha allows this? Your pack is rotten." Shane's knuckles whitened on his shotgun, but he held his ground, the tension radiating off him like heat. Daryl's crossbow remained trained on the alpha's chest, unwavering. Merle spat into the dirt, muttering, "Shoulda blasted 'em when they was wolves."Lily didn't flinch. She felt the pressure of the alpha's command like a physical weight, an ancient instinct urging her to bare her throat. She crushed it. "I don't *allow*," she stated, her voice cutting through the cold air like the edge of her machete. "This is my den. My rules. You eat what I offer, or you leave. Harm anyone here, and you die." Silas and Ash echoed her defiance with low, vibrating growls, their bodies taut springs ready to unleash. Fern pressed against Lily's leg, a small, trembling barrier.The wild alpha's lips peeled back from yellowed teeth. A flicker of uncertainty crossed his feral gaze as he scanned Lily's unwavering stance, the bristling wolves, and the armed humans behind her – Shane's shotgun steady, Daryl's crossbow bolt aimed true, even Merle's rifle held with lethal intent. The scent of unified defiance, however fragile, warred with the aroma of desperation emanating from his own starving pack. He snarled, a sound of pure frustration. "Weakness protects weakness," he spat, but took a half-step back. His pack mirrored the retreat, confusion rippling through their ranks. The tension crackled, thick and dangerous.Lily didn't lower her guard. "The shed," she said, her voice clipped, pointing with the machete towards a smaller log structure near the tree line. "It's stocked with smoked venison. Take enough for tonight. Hunt tomorrow. But you stay *outside* the main fence. Any breach, any threat..." She let the sentence hang, the promise of violence echoing in the sudden silence broken only by the wind and the ragged breathing of the wild pack. Silas took a single, deliberate step forward, his growl deepening into a resonant threat that vibrated the ground beneath their feet.The wild alpha's amber eyes burned into Lily's, a silent battle of wills raging in the frigid air. His pack shifted restlessly, muscles tensed for violence or flight. Finally, with a guttural snarl that sounded more like defeat than command, he jerked his head towards the shed. "Meat," he rasped. "Tonight." He turned, his movements stiff with resentment, and stalked towards the smaller building, his emaciated pack slinking after him, casting hungry, distrustful glances back at the cabin's warm glow. Lily watched them go, every nerve alight, until the shed door creaked shut behind the last gaunt figure.Inside the cabin, the air remained thick with tension. Shane immediately slammed the heavy inner bolts shut on the main door, his face grim. "Daryl, eyes on them. Top floor, now. Merle, check the basement access – make sure it's barred." Merle grumbled but stomped towards the cellar stairs, muttering about "omega diplomacy." Lori sank onto a worn sofa, pulling Carl close, her face pale. The boy clutched his jar of honeyed nuts like a talisman, his eyes wide as he stared at the barred windows.Lily moved to the kitchen area, her movements sharp. She pulled a large ceramic jug from a high shelf and a stack of tin cups. "Drink this," she ordered, pouring a dark, pungent liquid. "Boiled pine needles, yarrow, and valerian root. Masks scent, calms nerves.Shane took his cup first, sniffing it suspiciously before downing it in one grimacing gulp. "Tastes like dirt and regret." He passed cups to Lori and Carl. Lori hesitated, watching Carl sip his and make a face. "It's okay, baby, just bitter herbs." She drank hers slowly, her knuckles white on the cup. " stay inside no matter what, shane lock the door behind me and only open it for me. " lily said as she grabs three jugs of water and walk to the door. she opens it and heads for the meat shed. she know she still naked she can feel daryl eyes on her from the top floor,Outside, the cold bit deep into her naked body. Lily walked steadily toward the shed, the three jugs heavy in her arms. Silas and Ash flanked her, silent and alert, their eyes fixed on the shed's closed door.Inside the shed, the wild pack tore into the smoked venison, the sounds of desperate chewing and low growls echoing through the wood. Lily step to the door and knock loudly for them to hear.The gaunt alpha whipped around, blood and grease smeared across his chin, eyes blazing. "What?" he snarled, stepping forward. His pack froze, hunched protectively over their meat.Lily met his glare, unflinching despite the cold and her nakedness. She set the water jugs down just inside the shed door with a heavy thud. "Water," she stated flatly. "Clean. From the spring." Her wolves stood like sentinels at her back, their presence a silent warning. "Drink it. Wash the blood off. You stink of rot and desperation. It draws walkers."The alpha stared at her, then at the jugs. His pack watched, eyes flickering between their leader and the precious water. One of the wolves, a mangy brown female, crept forward, sniffing cautiously. The alpha growled low, a command that made her flinch back. He took a step closer to Lily, his scarred face inches from hers, his breath hot and reeking of raw meat. "You give orders to an Alpha?" he rasped, his voice thick with challenge. "Little Theta thinks she owns the mountain?"Lily didn't move. She felt the cold bite of the night air, the prickle of Daryl's gaze from the watchtower above, and the raw, feral power radiating from the starving alpha. "I own this den," she replied, her voice steady despite the chill. "You want the water? Take it. But remember the cost of crossing my threshold." Silas took a half-step forward, his silent growl vibrating the air between them. The alpha's amber eyes narrowed, flicking from the massive white wolf to Lily's unyielding gaze. He spat on the ground near her feet, a thick glob of blood and saliva. Then, with a jerk of his head, he snarled at his pack. "Drink." The wild werewolves surged forward, grabbing the jugs, gulping the water noisily, splashing it over their blood-smeared faces and hands. " my pack need meat im going to take what we need for tonight but lets make a deal. wild alpha" she said catching his eyes " you help me hunt and i give you half the meat and you can keep coming back at night to eat your fill, only if you hunt with me and not harm my human pack mates"The gaunt alpha wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, eyes calculating. "Half?" he rasped, stepping closer, his gaze sweeping over Lily's naked form with predatory interest. "What else does the little theta offer?" His hand shot out, fingers brushing the curve of her hip. Ash lunged, teeth snapping inches from the alpha's wrist. Lily didn't flinch. he was ask to mate with her wild alpha takes no mates just fuck and impregnant them and move on to the next female in his pack," you going to mate with me and bear my pups" he growls out another hand reach for her pussy lips. she step back and shift into her wolf form and snap at his hand. " no mating, no pups, just meat for meat. take it or leave it. " she said in her wolf form. he laugh and shift back to his wolf and snap at her neck. she dodge and snap back. the wild pack stop eating and watch. the wild alpha stop and shift back. " fine, no mating, but you hunt with me alone tomorrow at dawn. we talk terms then. " he said grabbing a jug and drinking. " now leave us to eat. " she shift back and walk back to the cabin with her wolves. shane open the door and lock it behind her. " what the hell was that? " shane ask. " a deal to keep them from attacking us tonight. " she said grabbing a blanket and wrap it around her. " we need to talk. all of us. " she said sitting by the fire.Shane paced before the crackling hearth, the firelight casting long, dancing shadows across the tense faces of the Atlanta group. Lori sat on the worn rug, Carl's head heavy in her lap as he finally succumbed to exhaustion, the jar of honeyed nuts still clutched in his small hand. Daryl leaned against the spiral staircase, crossbow resting across his knees, his eyes sharp and watchful. Merle slouched in an armchair, polishing his knife with a grimy rag, occasionally sneering at the barred windows. The scent of pine-needle tea and underlying fear hung thick in the air. Shane stopped, facing Lily. "Wild werewolves, Lily? Starving ones at that. You think tossing 'em scraps keeps us safe? They're predators. They see weakness, they take."" me and the wild pack are talk a deal tomorrow while me and the alpha hunts alone for meat, they wont touch you ever, you beable to go outside with out fear of them." lily said.Shane's knuckles whitened on the shotgun stock. "Alone? With that feral bastard? He looked at you like a meal, Lily." His alpha instincts bristled, the scent of his unease sharp in the cabin's close air. "He touches you, tries to force anything...""He won't," Lily cut in, her voice flat. She pulled the blanket tighter, the firelight catching the hard glint in her eyes. "He wants the meat more than anything else. His pack is starving. They're desperate, not stupid. Crossing me means losing the only steady food source they've likely seen in months." She glanced at Daryl. "You saw their ribs."Daryl gave a slow nod, his gaze never leaving the window facing the shed. "Skin an' bone. Movin' like ghosts. But desperate animals bite hardest.he tested you outside, touch your hips and try to finger you, what was that about"" he asked what esle i was offering wanted me to bear his pups, i told him no and shifted and he did to he wont do that gain he saw my size and power"Merle snorted, his knife flashing as he spun it. "Shoulda let 'em try. Seen how fast that feral sumbitch backed down when your teeth came out." He gestured towards the window with the blade. "But lettin' 'em squat out there? Bad idea, Omega. Like leavin' coyotes at the chicken coop.""they will follow the rules or half to leave" lily said " now the second and third floor had bed for all of you"Lori gently lifted Carl, his breathing deep and even. "Come on, sweetheart. Time for bed." She carried him towards the stairs, her movements weary but resolute. Daryl pushed off the staircase railing, his boots quiet on the wooden steps as he followed lily outside, crossbow still ready. Merle lingered, eyeing the dwindling fire and his brother."Second floor, Merle," Lily stated, her tone brooking no argument. "Left room. Blankets are in the chest." She met his skeptical gaze. "Or you can sleep outside with the wild pack. Your choice." Merle grumbled something obscene but stomped up the stairs after Daryl, the wood creaking under his weight. she stood up and made her way to the door and open it and step out side with her wolves. she shift into her wolf and goes for a run, she howl out loud and take off faster the three wolves chase her tail.Lily ran. The cold night air whipped through her thick white fur, a cleansing rush after the suffocating tension of the cabin. Moonlight silvered the snow-dusted pines as she streaked through the forest, a ghost in the gloom. then a grey wolf step out, the wild alpha. he howl and she stop and shift back to human. " you came, i thought you be sleeping" she said. " i dont sleep much, not when i have a omega to hunt with tomorrow" he said shift back to human. " i see you have a scar on your chest, how you get it" she ask. " a bear, i was young and stupid" he said. " you smell nice" he said stepping closer. she step back. " i told you no mating" she said. " i know, i just wanted to see if you would run" he said. " i dont run from anyone" she said. " good, you be a good hunt partner" he said shift back and run off. she shift back and run back to the cabin. she shift back and walk inside. shane was there. " you okay" he ask. " yes, just needed to run" she said. " get some sleep" he said. she nod and walk up to her room on the top floor. she lay down and close her eyes.Dawn bled grey and cold over the mountains. Lily stood just outside the main gate, strapping a hunting knife to her thigh over her worn pants. Silas paced restlessly beside her, his gaze fixed on the tree line where the wild pack emerged, shadows coalescing into gaunt forms. The alpha, in human form, approached, his expression unreadable. He carried only a crude spear. "Ready, Theta?" he rasped.Shane watched from the cabin's top window, shotgun braced on the sill. Lori stood beside him, Carl peering out below. "You trust her with that animal?" Lori whispered, her voice tight. Shane didn't answer, his jaw clenched. Below, Daryl leaned against the porch post, crossbow ready, eyes tracking the wild wolves circling the perimeter fence. Merle spat into the dirt near the woodpile. "Gonna get herself ripped apart playin' pack leader with savages."the two from different pack ran off to hunt