Archive of Our Own ^beta

The sun barely peeked over the horizon when Shiro woke in his den. As the leading alpha of the Atlas pack it wasn't unusual for him to be up with the first dawning lights of sunshine way before the rest of his pack. It was his duty after all.

So with the utmost care he gently pried off his mate's iron grip and extracted himself ruefully from the warmth of their nest. Careful not to step on a black luscious tail on the way out of the cave they called their den.

Feet padding across the moist forest floor as the wolf silently walked past dens of all shapes and sizes. Ears swiveling this way and that. Noting with content that everything was calm among his pack. 

Passing by their fire place he noted the stack of firewood running low. With a swivel of his tail he decided to collect a few pieces on his perimeter check.

Hunk, one of his subordinate alphas, would be happy if he didn't have to go look for firewood on top of doing most of the work for preparing the pack's meals. Which the other alpha greatly enjoyed but it was still a lot for a pack their size and everyone tried to help as much as they could. Or as much as the brown wolf would let them.

With a fond smile on his lips, Shiro left the center of their den site, heading deeper into the surrounding forest. First the Atlas pack leader was headed towards the stream weaving through their vast territory. 

The wolf's ears flicked, listening to the birds already singing and chatting busily this early in the day. Squirrels rustling in the underbrush before chasing each other up the large trees.

Shiro breathed in the crisp morning air, laced with fresh, flowing water as he neared the stream. A school of small fish scattering away with urgency as the alpha kneeled in the moist patches of mossy grass that lined to streams edge. Splashing his face with cool, crystalline water. Washing away the last remains of sleep from his eyes.

With a big yawn and a stretch the wolf got up again, having finished his little morning cleansing.Shaking the remaining water out of his hair, Shiro headed towards the eastern viewpoint. A vital checkpoint in spotting trouble way before it had the chance to reach the pack's den site.

Nowadays, however, it was mostly quiet up on the hill. Danger having left the lands. Despite that the alpha always stayed vigilant on his scouting. The pack's safety was his responsibility after all.

Still, the wolf enjoyed these slow mornings. They still had leftovers from yesterday's hunt so there was no need for them to head out again just yet. No need to rush.

Shiro took the opportunity to linger for a moment. Letting his gaze wander over the landscape before him. Slowly illuminated by the rising sun, tree and mountain tops dyed in soft hues of color. From his spot he could overlook most of the forest all the way to the edges of the Marmora pride territory. His mate's birth pride.

Now that the threat of the Daibazaal pack and their leader Zarkon were defeated, Shiro was able to overlook the woods sprawling out in front of him with a sense of ease. Former tension and fear of spotting attackers hidden among the trees a thing of the past.

Peace had spread across the lands. This was also thanks to the alliances with the Altean and Marmoran prides. The latter being strengthened by Shiro's bond with one of Marmora's omegas. It was their custom to bring both tribes together in unison in form of a mating bond.

Shiro at first hadn't felt comfortable to take on a mate without courting, who he'd only meet once before bonding and who had little to say about the whole matter as well. But the Marmorans were stubborn in their traditions. So eventually he had no choice but to agree.

Shiro had never believed in true mates, connected through a bond of souls. Had only ever considered them to be tales from the elders. But when he had first laid eyes on Keith, devastating in his beauty and his strength. Dark eyes glistening like the night skies, pulling him in with a force the alpha had never felt before. It was then that Shiro thought that just maybe soul bonds were real. Almost wished them to be. Hoped with every fiber of his being that Keith would feel even just an inkling of the same.

It felt like sheer luck, a miracle almost that Keith had accepted him as his mate. Accepting the alpha's mark without hesitation. Happily even, even though the choice to bond at all had been neither of theirs.

Nothing could have ever prepared Shiro for the feeling when his teeth sank into Keith's scent gland and the omega's into his in turn. It was electric and blinding. Accompanied by an almost contradictory sense of calm washing over him. A sense of belonging. Of home. Nothing had ever felt this right. Maybe their bond hadn't come to be under ideal conditions but in the end it all fell into place perfectly. 

Despite being lost in in his reminiscing, pointed ears flicked, picking up rustling in the underbrush behind him.

But the footsteps were familiar. Ingrained into his very core. Mottled tail rising with a wag even before his mate announced his presence.

"Going on patrol without me? Why didn't you wake me up?" Keith asked, sleep still evident in his voice. Shiro turned to look at his omega, bringing him into his arms. "You were still sleeping so soundly I didn't want to wake you. You need your energy after all."

The panther huffed out a little laugh at that, nuzzling his head under his alpha's chin. "You know it's still going to take a while until I give birth." Keith stated. Then after a moment added "but… I guess our morning routine will be pretty different once the pups arrive." Keith looked up at his mate. Deep purple meeting soft grey and a fond smile.

"Yeah… I can't wait to meet them." Shiro whispered fondly, words full of adoration as he gently smoothed a hand over his omega's ever growing bump. Ears perking up in silent bewilderment at feeling their pups' kicks and movements right beneath the palm of his hand.

Keith placed his hand on top of his alpha's before looking out at the scenery unfolding below. "I never realized you could see all the way to Marmora from here." The panther marveled in awe. Shiro hummed, tail wagging in a steady rhythm behind him. "I still remember standing here, waiting for your arrival to join our pack as if it had only been a moon ago."

In response the omega playfully elbowed his mate in the side. "You sap!" He chuckled good heartedly. A slight blush blooming across his cheeks. After all he remembered that day just as vividly.

It had been scary to leave his mother and pride but there was something about Shiro that had Keith trust him from the first moment they had met. Knew the alpha would treat him right and with respect.

"Do you come here alone every morning because of that?" Sure, they often patrolled the territory together but Keith wouldn't put it past his alpha to get up even earlier just for this.

A hopeless sap.

Shiro smiled at that, looking out into the distance. "No." He said, "sometimes my mate comes with me."

Every morning Shiro patrolled his pack's territory, as the leading alpha it was his duty. On most days his mate accompanied him. But maybe. Maybe in the future he could put some of that responsibility on the other members of the pack.