Biga walked with his Head Alpha.

Some time had passed, and the first snow had already dropped. Most of the pack had taken to getting around in their wolf forms since it kept them protected from the colder elements. Only Ji'Heiv had a fur tunic, made of a bear the four of them had taken down in the past, to cover her human skin. Biga was as hot blooded as one could get, so the chill of winter didn't bother him as much as others.

He could tell Ji'Heiv was deep in thought. The closer her mating ceremony got, the more thoughtful she appeared. To him, she was his Head, his leader who he'd do anything for, but she was also like a younger sister whom he wanted to protect even from weaker emotions. They all had to face that Ji'Heiv would be open to an emotional situation that they will not be able to help her with. Only her mate would be able to provide comfort in those settings, but he didn't want the Omega to also be the cause for some of her turmoil.

He, nor would Lau and Hiru, would be able to help her in the future intimate situations to come. Though he was her number one supporter for settling down and finding a mate, the importance of doing such, wasn't to be treated as a game.

"Your Omega mate," he started, immediately catching her attention. She looked up to him, eyes focusing intently on his own, eager to hear what he had to say. "I think he is a good choice."

Her head was still raised to face him, though her eyes shifted, taking in what he had just told her.

"Why do you believe so?" Snow flakes were falling steadily, dampening her cropped hair, and chilling Biga's own bald head. He watched the heat of her breath curl around , infusing with the cold air, before he answered her.

"He can learn exactly how to be of service to you, Head Alpha. He comes from nothing, though that hasn't hindered him from being useful. The bond you two may share after mating may not stem from affection, but at least it can grow from respect."

Ji'Heiv continued to listen, knowing he wasn't done yet with his explanation, "He will no doubt respect you. And, I'm assuming, it won't be hard for you to respect him. Not if you have been watching him work. You would know how capable he is."

"Do you respect him, Biga?" she questioned. "If I replaced you with him, would you say he was worthy?"

"Once he mates you, he will replace me anyway," he answered, a contemplative look coming over his face. "Through necessity alone, he will be second most important. And I have always known that your mate would do so, yet I have encouraged you to settle down anyway. However, the Omega I agree with in choice, so yes, to replace me he is worthy."

His answer was a good one, seeing that it made plenty of sense. Ji'Heiv didn't know why she was even pretending to disagree in such small ways. She had already chosen the Omega, she already knew that he was a capable and talented wolf. With sure instruction, he could be the most powerful Beta, able to even spar on the same level as some Alpha's.

Maybe that was the problem for her. His potential was daunting, it brought an uncomfortable prick to her skin to know that he was held back from reaching it. Yet, it satisfied her so much to see him warring with himself, fighting that instinct to call on his potential and to hold it at bay. She wanted him to find a balance within himself. She needed him to know how far he could go and what was too much.

Biga, Lau, and Hiru knew their limits with her. They knew she cared for them, that she was comfortable around them and trusted them. She was hoping that Lau was able to teach Jongdae these things, to help her help him.

She let out a sigh, eyes drifting back up to look into Biga's face, "well spoken, Biga. Well spoken."

"It's why I am your second, Head Alpha," he smiled soothingly at her.

She couldn't help but agree. When Biga challenged her so many senescenes ago, he was not only strong but wise. He didn't just rely on his brawns to get him what he wanted. Though it took Ji'Heiv using special finesse to bring him down, once that was done, she had wanted him to stay around. He was the first to impress her, the first to entice her to even build a circle of strong and worthy Alpha's.

She needed him to accomplish all that she had, and even now, she needed him to help her settle.

Currently, they were walking the perimeter, and marking the increased territory. Any wolves from other conquered packs needed to know when they were encroaching on Ederra Territory, and Ji'Heiv's new home. Especially now that snow was falling and covering old markers.

She had given the command for the Homemakers to start digging underground ovens. They had never heard of such a thing, but a few of them had an idea. They just needed to dig holes deep enough in the earth to burn a fire in, so the wind won't blow it out so easily. They would have to constantly add wood, but it would keep the surrounding village warm enough until the storms came.

The Hunters were out gathering last minute provisions, making sure their food stock was as full as possible. The last thing anyone wanted, was for the village as full as theirs, to run low on food in the middle of winter.

She knew that other's were reinforcing their homes, and she was sure that Jongdae was moving out of his. Even if he didn't listen to her suggestion, she had commanded Lau to help persuade the Omega.

~~~

"I don't understand why you are here. I just need you to explain to me-,"

"You're moving into Ji'Heiv's sleeping quarters. Today," Lau interrupted Jongdae, going back into the Omega's hut and removing his furs. "This should be all you need."

"But, I don't want to move earlier than I have too. We aren't mating today, and it'll be uncomfortable to sleep in the same space with someone-,"

"That's all fine and dandy, Omega. But you have to move, and like I said, you're doing it today. As in now. So let's move it."

The tall Alpha turned to walk away, Jongdae following behind with his head low. Lau wasn't even allowing him to try and argue, so he was compelled to listened to him. He shuffled behind, feet moving through the worn trail, while he held on to some of his personal possessions. He wasn't at all comfortable with moving into the Head Alpha's sleeping quarters this early. Granted, they were to be mated in a matter of suns - three to be exact - but he always held the fantasy that after he was mated, he would spend the day moving. If he was able to do that, then that was less time he could spend alone with Ji'Heiv.

They shuffled quickly pass the Homemakers digging through the first snow and into the ground. Jongdae had an idea of what an oven in the ground was, but he had never seen one before. Instead, he spent his time reinforcing his pack member's homes, and gathering wood to burn for the indoor furnaces they kept in their huts. A lot of members was saying that it would be a harsh winter. He supposed it was true, considering the fact that it was already snowing.

"Here," Lau spoke, dropping Jongdae's furs into a corner of the spacious hut.

The Head Alpha's hut, was located behind the Alpha's Den, a place he had never been in before. It smelled strongly of Ji'Heiv, intense. There was no other smell about the place and it almost made Jongdae's knees buckle. Not from fear or intimidation, for which he was thankful, but for homage to someone so powerful.

"You'll get used to the smell," Lau laughed. "I used to bow every time I came near her sleeping quarters when we were on the move."

He only nodded his head in return, looking around at the empty shelves in the hut, the table in the corner, two wooden chest, the burning furnace only emitting embers now, and the wide stack of furs that made up her bed.

The only things being used were the bed, the chest, and the furnace, it seemed. There wasn't any extra personal touches despite the length of time Ji'Heiv had occupied the space.

Thankfully, the things he carried were jars of preserved fruit and berries, dried fruit and berries, and the last of the season fruit and berries that he hasn't had enough time to do anything with. At least, the jars could decorate the shelves.

"You can sleep in the corner over here until you two mate, unless she tells you different of course. Though I doubt she will."

"Lau," Jongdae muttered, turning to the Alpha with an apprehensive smile on his face. "Thanks for everything."

Lau only laughed in return, clasping his hands together, "don't sound like you're going off into the slaughter. I will be doing much more for you that you can thank me for, trust me on that little Omega."

Jongdae didn't doubt it for a second because Lau was a constant. His presence and scent was always around, if not mingling with Jongdae, the Alpha could be seen mingling with other members of the pack. High ranked members, or not, it didn't matter to him.

"Now," the Alpha slapped his hands together. "I have to get going. I never feel comfortable lingering in Ji'Heiv's personal space. So you get settled and I'll get going."

Jongdae couldn't help but think that was the point. He didn't feel comfortable lingering in her space either, let alone permanently doing so. Yet, he didn't have a choice. The importance of accepting his situation was paramount though. Thoughts of knowing that he was encroaching made him uncomfortable, but that would be his new life, so he had to get used to it. Or at least try his best too.

Once Lau was gone, he sighed, setting down the jars he was carrying in his wooden cart. He could at least organize them on the shelves, and then situate his furs for sleeping. It got darker outside faster now that winter was settling in, which meant pack dinners were earlier. Something he didn't like.

Suho hadn't been able to sneak him any meat, which forced him to have to attend the dinners. Though he couldn't complain too much, seeing that some pack members respected the fact that he would soon be the Alpha's mate, and left him more than gristle to chew on.

At least he was already getting used to the scent surrounding his body. He knew, as someone who was soon to be mated, that he was supposed to feel an overwhelming sense of safety and love at the smell of his mate. He should feel warmth, knowing that who was going to be with for the rest of his life, was surrounding him even though they were not physically present.

But he didn't.

There were no ties connecting him to the Head Alpha other than necessity.

She needed to mate and she chose him.

That's it.

Quickly, he set up the jars of preservatives in particular order, and then lined them up on the shelves. All in all, he had twelve jars, all different colors that added a little bit of personality to the otherwise bland sleeping quarters.

Afterwards, he shuffled his furs, making them tight and small - as close to the corner of the wall as possible. He didn't want to seem like he was obviously taking up space.

Though he had gotten used to her presence to an extent, the simple truth was that he didn't know her. He wasn't comfortable around her. And she preferred their relationship, to be just the way it was - compulsory at best.

Jongdae sat on his furs, knees bent while resting his forearms on them. He wasn't sure how he should act once the Head Alpha returned to her space. That bothered him so much, knowing that he would no longer be comfortable, even in his supposedly "own" home.

~~~

The pack dinner was a fast affair, being that it was cold outside and most of the pack were in their wolf forms, it didn't take them nearly as long to eat. Jongdae himself was wrapped in the natural fur of his dark wolf, chewing nervously on a thin piece of meat. He filled up mostly on some dried fruit before leaving his new sleeping quarters, so he wasn't desperately hungry. Or maybe he was, yet he was too full of embarrassment to feel it.

As soon as he arrived to the dinner, almost all heads turned to look at him before looking back at their Head Alpha and repeating because he smelled so strongly of her. There were some highly inappropriate leers, and a disturbing look of disgust that came over Sehun's face in particular.

It was all very discomfiting.

Jongdae swallowed his last bite before rising to his paws to leave. Everyone had finished eating, and were automatically allowed to leave once the Head Alpha finished eating and exited the pack dinner. He took slow steps towards his new home, not actually wanting to go and face the awkwardness that was sure to come about once he showed his face.

"Jongdae," someone whispered his name, feet crunching in the light snowfall as the person approached.

The Omega turned his head to see who it was that was calling him, eyes settling on a cold Sehun who had a black tunic in his hand, "Change so we talk. You can wear this."

Jongdae quickly followed suit, his curiosity beckoning him. He stayed crouched low after coming back into his human frame, the cold immediately assaulting his sensitive flesh, causing him to shiver violently.

"What could this be about?" Jongdae quickly asked, sliding the tunic around his body and tying it in the middle. It was slightly too big for him, and smelled heavily like Sehun, but it aided in helping him fight the cold.

"I just wanted to confirm. You're staying with the Head Alpha now, right?" the young Alpha had heat radiating from him, a warmth that was reminding Jongdae that he was freezing.

"Why do you need to know that? You smelled me the same way everyone else did-,"

"She is not forcing you? Is she? I just don't want you to end up hurt," Sehun interrupted. "I feel that, now that I am an Alpha, I should protect you from anyone that is trying to abuse you just cause you are an Omega. And I know she is the Head, and she is even kind to me and the rest of the pack. But she shouldn't force you either just because you are an Omega. And-,"

"Sehun, take a deep breath," the Omega quickly held up his hands, shushing the rambling boy. "It's great that you care about me so much, really, I am thankful that you helped feed me all this time and that you were even going to use your Alpha status to protect me. I'm honored. But I am also soon to be mated. She has a right to me, the same way I have a right to her. She will protect me now, and I will protect her."

Jongdae was hoping his explanation would be easy for Sehun to accept, and even easier for himself to believe.

Sehun didn't say anything in return, only nodding his head and stepping to the side to let Jongdae pass. He could tell that Jongdae was trying to seem strong in front of him, even though it was being diminished by the cold blowing wind and the shivers racking through his body.

"Go on inside, I understand," Sehun smiled, the full force didn't reach his eyes, but it was as genuine as it could be.

"You go ahead first," Jongdae smiled in return, bowing his head in a show of submission.

Sehun said his goodbyes before turning to walk away, looking behind himself to wave every now and again. Meanwhile, Jongdae was fighting the racking shivers that were crawling up and down his skin. Once Sehun was a good distance away, he hurriedly scurried towards his sleeping quarters, the thought of seeing Ji'Heiv so soon, not even crossing his mind.

Swiftly, he opened the well made, wooden door, shuffling inside and shutting it behind him. The warmth and light from the fire place assaulting his back and causing one final shiver to course through his limbs.

The smell caught up to him first, freezing him initially before he realized that, yes, he was now rooming with the most powerful Alpha he had ever met.

Slowly he turned around, eyes searching out the form of Ji'Heiv. She was standing in front of the shelves, looking at the colorful jars that now lined them. She didn't' t make a move to acknowledge Jongdae's entrance, signifying that Jongdae would have to be the one to greet her.

"Head Alpha," he spoke, voice clear.

She nodded her head, waving for him to come closer, without taking her eyes off of the jars, "I have been staring at these since I left dinner."

Jongdae looked over to the shorter lady, her skin glowing against the firelight. Her posture was relaxed, though he wasn't sure if that was an invitation for him to be relaxed as well.

"What do they taste like?"

That question caught him off guard. Did she want him to open a jar so she could taste? Or was it rhetorical, a thought she had been wondering out loud?

"Um, they are sweet," he started. "Some of them I jarred without adding sweeteners cause they were already sweet, like the mangoes. Others, I added flavor too."

"Is that a hobby of yours?" she finally took her eyes off the jars to look directly at him. Noting the tunic and the smell that was wafting off of it, she continued to look at his eyes. He had shifted closer, looking at the jars and making a light humming noise in his throat.

"I wouldn't call it a hobby, moreso necessity," he spoke, eyes quickly darting to her then returning to the jars.

"You eat them?" she questioned.

He didn't reply initially, only humming his acknowledgement as she started to walk away, shuffling towards her furs. He seemed just as interested in the jars as she was, but now it was time to rest. She was tired from making changes to the village all day, trying to prepare for winter, and working with the pack to teach them new ways to stay warm.

"You want to tell me a bed time story?" Her eyes stayed focused on Jongdae, as his eyes seemed to get stuck on the glass jars. She could see he was processing thoughts that she was curious to know.

"I'm an Omega," he started, shrugging his shoulders as if that answered all questions that could be asked.

She snorted in return, prompting him to continue.

"I don't know, I guess, I - before I manifested, I used to run around the village helping everyone with everything. I was with the Gatherers, the Homemakers, the Hunters, and the Warriors. Then all of a sudden, I manifested without a strong scent and...I guess, like you said, that made me a threat," he chuckled, the lack of amusement strong in the sound. "I was a fighter too, still am. I knew when I manifested that I had the potential to be the strongest Beta in this pack. I could literally feel it. I still can."

His fist balled, shoulders hunching with the action while his eyes continued to focus on the glass jars before him, "And yet, when the Head Alpha at that time said that I was going to be the pack's Omega, I didn't accept it. I wasn't an Omega and I had this incessant urge to prove to everyone that I was stronger, faster, intelligent, useful. So I fought until physically I couldn't keep it up. Pack dinner after pack dinner, left me weaker and weaker. No food, only bones. That's around the time I stopped fighting so much with my fist and paws, and started to fight with my mind. It took years, honestly. I still wanted to be useful, so I put my all into gathering and feeding myself what I could scavenge. It's how these jars came into existence."

Ji'Heiv took in the story, seeing in her mind's eye exactly how his younger years played out. If anything, she knew pack dynamics and she understood hierarchy better than anyone. She, too, would have made him pack Omega until he proved himself to her as someone trustworthy. Now, she didn't have much time to wait and see if he was. She was now Head Alpha, and if anything, the indomitable qualities that were suppressed in him, were traits she admired.

"Plus, I seem to still have friends in this pack. Two members in particular kept me well fed."

That caught her attention, "Really? How did they do this?"

A smile formed his lips, "They snuck me meat after it was prepared. I'd have to cook it, but I would eat at my hut instead of suffer the shame and starvation at pack dinners."

"Who are they? These nice wolves?" she questioned, narrowing her eyes. Jongdae didn't seem to catch her tone, and answered her honestly.

"Suho and Sehun, I'm so thankful to them."

She knew it was strange when she first saw him that he looked so healthy. His hair was shiny, his teeth were strong, and his body was in great physical condition. Now it made sense as to why.

"Suho, our Lead Hunter, was breaking rules and stealing food? And Sehun, the newly manifested Alpha, whose smell of over protectiveness when it comes to you, fills every space of fresh air, and might I add, whose garment you are wearing at the moment, also aided in this thievery?"

Jongdae didn't bother to look at her, instead, burying his head deep in his chest, realizing his mistake far too late. He kept his breathing steady, though his heart stuttered in nervousness. The trapped scent of Sehun in his garment, which he was previously ignoring, wafted up into his nose and put him on edge.

"I'm thankful to them too."

That statement caught Jongdae off guard completely, eyes widening comically, before he lifted his head to look back at the jars. He blinked in succession a few times, mouth slightly parted, as he processed her statement.

"I need you strong. It's better this way, so I guess I shouldn't complain."

Jongdae seemed to leave his trance, her statements shocking him further and further, eventually turning his head left and right before spotting Ji'Heiv settling under her furs. It felt like his eyes got stuck on that sight next, seeing her physically about to lower all of her guards to sleep, it seemed impossible. Almost as if, in his mind, she didn't do things like sleep.

"Your furs are over there," she laughed. "You can join me in mine, after we are mated."

The salacious wink she sent him after that statement, almost made him laugh, helping rid him of his nerves. She wasn't angry at his admission and that smile looked so out of place on her usually serious face. He could tell that she was joking with him, even though the subject matter was a real one to come in the near future. He ducked his head, turning his body to shuffle toward his own furs far into the corner. After sliding under, he slid Sehun's tunic off of his body, folding it neatly and laying it to the side.

Ji'Heiv was still sitting up on her furs, watching Jongdae's movement. Even once he turned over, back now facing her, she watched a few moments longer.

The Jongdae she knew since taking over the Ederra pack, seemed like he would have been a completely different wolf had he not be made Omega. She wasn't sure if she would have been as willing to mate that Jongdae. She couldn't be sure why she felt that way though.

Eventually, she settled down under her own furs, turning onto her side and closing her eyes.

Sleep taking the both of them quickly.

A/N: And we are just moving along, aren't we? I can't wait to read you all thoughts below!