hey lovlies! if you're reading this from chapter one (first time or not) I'm gonna give you a heads up that part of the story was cut due to mature content. If you want to read it uncut the full version is over on Archiveofourown under Teakany there too. I won't be uploading anything else here once this story is done sadly... the rules are a little too strict for me and I'd rather be able to write anywhere from K-E without worrying about people wanting to report me.
anyway! I hope you enjoy the story no matter which site you read it on!
Matthew was shaking. September second had finally come around and this was a nerve-wracking day. An important one… but still nerve wracking.
At only eight years old, he sat in a room surrounded by other children his age. Some, like him, seemed to be on edge. Others chatted excitedly, ready to find out what was to become of their future.
Matthew had been obsessing over this day, counting it down on the calendar. "This is the day I'm going to officially be a Beta!" He declared when his Papa had asked coming in to see the small child viciously circling the date in purple marker.
When an Alpha is born it's apparent fairly quickly, an easily visible knotting glad developing within the first year of life. However, when a child does not develop this gland it is made obvious that they are a Beta, or more ideally, an Omega.
Omega's were rare. Treasured and protected, coveted and precious in the same way a jewel is. If you are found to be an Omega, you are seen as little more than property. A prize to be bought and sold. To be locked away and used.
That wasn't the tagline, of course, but anyone could see through the pictures or movies with Omega's being showered in love and caring, and into the reality of it.
Sure, Omega's did tend to live very pampered lives, not needing to worry about work, bills, or chores; but they lived in gilded cages. They were not free to do anything that wasn't pre-approved and once they hit legal age, they were bred whether they wanted it or not.
One reason Omegas are so prized is the ease of pregnancy. Betas are able to carry young, but it's usually very hard for them, sometimes taking years only to lose the child within the first five months. A pregnant Omega how ever rarely lost children. They were easily impregnated and were known for birthing multiples. This made them not only valuable but necessary.
Omegas hadn't always been so close to extinction as they were now. At one point the three different classes had been fairly evenly spread. It wasn't until about two hundred years ago that their numbers started to dwindle. It wasn't even like it was a natural decline. It had been the result of Alphas not wanting Omegas, pushing to have all Alphas. A lot of babies who never developed the knotting gland were left to starve if not outright killed. If they made it to the point where they would exhibit their status, and that was found to be Omega, they were seen as a burden. There was no power for the family to have an Omega... That was power given to another family.
It had taken far too long for their race to notice.
When it had become glaringly obvious the government stepped in. All Omegas were protected by law. Harsh punishments came to anyone who caused harm to one, and to kill an Omega? Even by accident, you were guaranteed a slow and painful death...
There weren't only laws protecting Omegas, however, there were also laws restricting them. If an omega were to put itself in harm's way, it would be considered a risk and there was a good chance it would find itself in a "Safe Haven". These were basically houses where an Omega would stay to be kept safe, they're parents deemed unfit to protect such a rarity.
Once they were securely in these institutions, some caring citizen would come along, boasting enough security and stability, and claimed them. They would pay a sum to the family and the government, then have a hand in what the Omega learned at the haven before they got to take them home at the age of eighteen.
They would be monitored, taught essentials and hobbies to waste time in their final placements. Their diets and exercise would be strict with frequent check-ups. Some would have special procedures or training depending on what the family buying them wanted.
Most were also doted on, receiving visits and presents from their… Well, lets call a spade a spade, their owners.
Children of course weren't always taken by force. A lot were outright sold to these houses. It wasn't uncommon or frowned upon in the least, if anything it was encouraged. Omegas were expensive with all the extra needs of nutrition and safety. There weren't many lower or middle class families that could afford them, and the money you got for selling one? Well… It was substantial, especially if they were still young and therefore easy to train.
Once they did reach legal age and were bought, they were required to be bred. Omega's usually were born to Omegas, so they were 'encouraged' to keep having children until their bodies could no longer handle it. At that point, if they had a good 'family' they would live out their days in comfort. If they didn't, it was either the streets, or retirement homes. Neither option any better than the other.
It should go without saying, today Matthew was hoping he would be told he was a Beta. He could still go to school with the other children, have a job, fall in love…Be normal. He was lost in thoughts of both possibilities, as much as someone so small could be, when He suddenly tensed. A voice rang out once more through the room "Matthew Bonnefoy" Stiffly, but obediently Matthew stood and crossed the room.
He was ushered into the examination area maybe a bit too hastily. He caught site of a girl crying as she was swept through a side door.
An Omega… If you were Beta, you went back out into that room and waited to be let back out to your parents. If you were Omega, you were instantly put into a protective area so you could be transported more securely.
"Right over here Matthew," said the nurse sweetly as she motioned to an examination table that was just finished getting wiped down. Matthew took a deep breath before walking to it. The nurse reached forward and eased off the house coat he was wearing for modesty. Underneath was a simple backless paper gown.
She helped him up to sit on the tall examine table gently, "On your knees with your chest against the rest please" she said sweetly as she adjusted the back, allowing a padded bar to come up for Matthew to lean against and hold onto.
"I-is it gonna hurt?" He asked nervously eyeing the bed. Really, as it had been described by older kids in school It didn't exactly sound... Comfortable.
The nurse smiled apologetically. "It'll just be a little pressure. The doctor will be very quick sweetie, and I'll be right here okay?"
Matthew took a deep breath and nodded, tears still gathering in anxiety. He turned to the table and got into the indicated position, closing his eyes and trying to block everything during the exam out.
To find out if you were an Omega was simple really. Once you hit eight you were guaranteed to have developed a slicking gland if you were. If there was no gland found, you were Beta. Basically, the longer and more uncomfortable the probing fingers were there the better. They had to be sure the gland wasn't hiding after all...
Matthew's exam, unfortunately, was quick. He barely had time to let out a whimper of discomfort as the doctor searched with an intrusive finger before he pulled his hand away. "Definitely Omega," He said dryly, the snap of rubber gloves being removed echoing in Matthew's ears.
His stomach dropped and he whimpered.
"Hey, it's okay honey. Up you get…" The nurse was urging him to move. Matthew did so shakily, allowing her to lift him down.
He turned to the doctor "Y-you're sure?" Matthew squeaked as he let the nurse help him put the house coat back on.
The doctor sighed apparently not enjoying this particular day of the year… "Yes. In fact, yours is the biggest gland of the day so far, however, we are only into the M's… "
Matthews eyes shot open and his face burned. His hands went to hide his embarrassment. The nurse put an arm around the small Omegas shoulders as she urged him towards the door he'd seen the crying girl go into, "Now now Matthew… That's nothing to be ashamed of! It's completely natural!" she nurse cooed soothingly "Besides, most Alphas will find that an attractive trait. It could help you land yourself in an ideal placement!" Matthew nodded numbly. He knew the Beta nurse was only trying to make him feel better… However, That was the last thing Matthew wanted to hear.
Matthew was curled up in a corner of the well lit room. Currently there were four other Omega's in the space. They ranged in size and shape. A tall blonde paced the room back and forth, running hands through his hair every few minutes muttering to himself . The girl he'd seen go in before him, a small blonde, sat similarly to him, curled in on herself and staring blankly at the floor. there were a set of twins snuggled up with each other against the wall. One was shaking violently and crying, while the other glared off at nothing..
He had been the last one in. They had been there for a while and he was starting to wonder if anyone else would be as unlucky as they were when the door opened once more. A small, but loud black haired Omega was guided in
"Don't touch me so roughly! I have you all charged! I bruise easily aru!"
The doctor followed him in, on his heels was an obvious alpha. He was wearing a suit, blonde hair slicked back harshly. His piercing blue eyes looked over the room at the six Omegas sitting there. "That's all? Out of eighty children, only six were Omega?"
"I'm afraid so." said the dark-haired doctor looking over the chart. He sounded rather bored with this whole ordeal.
"I suppose we'll just have to hope the other centers brought in more. What are the names?" The harsh looking man turned to the children. "Raise your hand when you hear yours!"
The doctor didn't look up."Berwald Oxnard" The pacing Omega, who had halted raised his hand.
"Erika Vogel" The tiny girl raised her hand.
" Feliciano Vargas" One of the twins lifted a shaking hand next.
" Lovino Vargas" The other twin.
"Matthew bonnefoy" Matthew Raised his hand shakily, dropping his head down as he curled closer in on himself.
" yoa Wang " The huffy black haired Omega raised one hand, his house coat far too long, hiding his hands.
"Well… Send one of the nurses to collect their parents and give them the good news"
Matthew sobbed loudly at the statement. Good news… Matthew's father had been dreading this. Hoping and praying his oldest would be told he was Beta, just take him home and not have to worry about the looming decision of what to do with his son, try and keep him or sell him off now so he had a better chance.
Matthew could already Imagine Papa's face as his name was read off the short list of Omegas in the waiting room full of parents…
Matthew had predicted correctly. When Francis has come to the back entrance to collect his son, the red, swollen eyes and the barely contained tears were a dead give away
The small family, including his younger, Alpha sister Michelle sat together that night in their living room curled on the couch. Tears coursed down their faces as his two family members held him tight.
Matthew wish for his mother for the first time in years.
His mother had been beautiful. Matthew was her spitting image according to his father. She had been a Beta, and they had tried very hard to conceive him. After four long years of using every avenue Matthew had arrived, healthy and whole. The pair had decided four years later, after giving up on trying for a second of their own, to adopt little Michelle. Sadly only two months after bouncy little fourteen month old girl had joined their household, there had been an accident. They're mother being taken from them.
His heart ached and he nuzzled further into his father's shirt, his pain and fear spilling out of his eyes as he prepared himself for the possibility of losing another parent.
The following weeks would change Matthew's life dramatically.
his father announced upon arriving home, he would take a week to make the painful decision. During this time, Matthew would return to school in an Omega class room. There would be twenty of them in his age class, They had different schedules from the Alphas and the Betas so they would be kept safe from the rough housing set. Seeing no point in teaching Omegas things like math or science, the class would spend its days painting or learning music. Simple things to keep them amused and safe. It was more like daycare then school now.
Even his family had changed over the hours and days following. When he was at home his every move was now watched. Careful not to bump into him, checking how he was feeling every few minutes… It was distressing and irritating
"Don't treat me like I'm glass!" he shouted over dinner on the second day of their hovering, as he noticed all his food cut up like a three-year-old's. "I'm not going to hurt myself eating!"
"Matthew…" His papa started, a sad look on his face.
"Non! I don't want to hear it!" He stormed out of the dining room with tears in his eyes, dinner untouched, as he headed into his bedroom.
The bedroom that was now devoid of anything he could hurt himself on.
He hated them… He hated them all. He hated Alphas for running his orientation into the ground and then having the nerve to treat them this way… He hated Betas for being able to live normal lives and not being stuck like him. He hated Papa for treating him just like the rest of them, but most of all he hated himself for being born an Omega.
That night Matthew sat in his room crying into his knees, refusing to eat, refusing to talk.
They could force him to spend his life in a cage… But they couldn't force him to be happy about it.