p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Adopted by his uncle at the age of ten, Aaron Fitzpatrick has been raised in an environment that has forced him to be tough both mentally and physically, as well as independent. His Omega status ,hidden from his Beta Uncle, causing him to live in a constant state of worry. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"br / As his plane begins its descent to the runway Aaron recalls the events that led him to this flight; he was ten and it was the warmest of days that summer, the sky was the brightest of blues, set against the pale, calm gray waters of the ocean. The sun shone brightly in the sky, alone save for a few fluffy white clouds lazily drifting by with the light summer breeze. Aaron enjoyed the silence of his family's private beach as he lay floating in the shallow water. His permanently bronzed skin gleaming in the water with his shoulder length mahogany hair creating a halo around his head and his light brown ears twitching in the water above his head. His light, forest green eyes were closed against the brightness of the sun ,while his light brown tail swished in the water beneath him, keeping him from going under the surface. He had been in the water for almost an hour, using his magic to propel him around the small cove when he heard the explosion, and felt the blast ripple along the surface of the water. His eyes popped open, ears twitching towards the sound and when he turned towards his home he saw black smoke billowing up over the trees, with a scream he splashed out of the water and ran towards his home, now engulfed in flames. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"br / He reached the door and pushed it open, feeling a wave of heat and smoke slam into him, causing his eyes to tear up, and smoke to fill his lungs. He hoarsely screamed for his parents, hoping desperately that they were still alive and could hear him, but before he could get very far in the house the support beams for the ceiling collapsed and flames spread out before him, blocking the only clear path into the house. The falling beams, and the sudden spread of flames sends Aaron falling backwards into a splintered table, impaling his side before he can even think to use his magic to stop his fall. Another scream rips from his smoke laden lungs as he feels the wood pierce his skin. After a few moments he is able to pull himself off of the wood and drag himself towards the door, but was unable to make it completely to the door. When he looks up he sees that someone is moving towards him from outside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The man, because it was clearly a man, roughly kicked him onto his back, studying him;tail swishing angrily behind him, though he couldn't see his face as it was hidden by the glare of sunlight behind him, before leaving the house with an angry growl. He could hear the crackling of flames as they ate away at his childhood home around him, the chattering of animals and the clicking of insects in the woods outside and in the distance he could hear the wailing of sirens. Just as unconsciousness was claiming him, he heard car tires spin out on the gravel driveway, leaving a trail of dust behind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Aaron woke up eight days later in the hospital, bruised and bandaged, wondering what had happened. Doctors told him he would be fine in a few weeks, his lungs would get better and his wound would heal. Police arrived to notify him of his parent's death, the loss of his home, and the loss of his safe haven by the ocean. A few days later his uncle arrived from his ship, come to take him away from everything he'd known. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"When he was better his uncle placed him in military school. Up at six am every morning, and into formation by six thirty am, the events and activities of his life became part of a schedule. Watching tv and playing games were rights that had to be earned, his life was a strict regime he had no control over. Aaron graduated from school at age fourteen, one of the hardest things he's ever done, his intelligence well ahead of his peers naturally, as Omegas learn, remember and use knowledge at a faster and advanced level than Betas. Those four years were spent hiding his Omega status from the other Beta students, fighting his submissive behaviour and willing himself not to nurture and care for the others. Constantly on the look out for his mate, the one that would make him whole, and erase the loneliness that had taken over after his parents' death. Luckily his heats wouldn't start for another four years or he wouldn't have been able to hide being an Omega. By fifteen he had undergone advanced Military and Naval training, and by sixteen he had begun his degree in Marine Biology and become a member of his uncle's crew aboard the submarine Seawolf. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Aaron's magic had always posed somewhat of a problem for his uncle and the other Betas of the world, and was another thing that he was forced to hide from people. Aaron had both fighting magic and elemental magic, something that had rarely been heard of. His fighting magic gave him great ability and skill in wielding any form of knife, as well as great talent with a bow. He had only a limited ability with other weapons and hand to hand combat. His elemental magic gave him control over the elements: water, earth, wind, fire, and spirit. The combination of these gifts, along with his intelligence and despite is Omega tendencies, have helped propel him through his education and training/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"His sixteenth birthday had only passed a week ago when he had gotten a call from his uncle, whom he had not seen in over two years, telling him that he was now part of the Seawolf crew. He had to put his degree on hold while he worked, Aaron remembered the feeling of dread at having to work for his uncle, his father is his uncle's brother in law, having to work extra hard at hiding his Omega tendencies and magic, all the while stuck in a submarine for who knows how long. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The plane touches down jolting Aaron out of his memories, and before long he has left the airport and on his way to the Naval docks. As he makes his way towards the man in uniform, obviously waiting for him, he catches the scent of pineapple and vanilla, and as he got closer a hint brine. All smells of which reminded Aaron of his home by the ocean, instantly giving him comfort and filling the void of loneliness in his heart. Aaron's heart sped up, he knew what that scent meant: he had found his mate here on the Naval docks. As he stopped a foot from the man in uniform he realized that he was in fact not a man, but a teenager a couple of years older than himself, and whispered /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Alpha" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The teenager who had, until Aaron stopped in front of him, been smelling the air with his eye closed, now opened them. The six foot three inch tall Alpha , five inches taller than the Omega, has short, close cropped jet black hair, a hairstyle similar to the one that Aaron has sported since military school, and dark gray ears on his head. He has mulatto skin and sparkling azure eyes, and Aaron can see a dark gray tail swishing behind him in contentment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"He flashes Aaron a gentle smile, showing off brilliantly white teeth, canines sharp and pointed, before himself whispering /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Omega.." and moves forward until there are only inches separating them, one had resting on Aaron's cheek gently, before leaning forward until his nose is pressed to Aaron's neck, inhaling deeply the scent of his mate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""You smell like home, of melon and cucumber with a hint of strawberry." the Alpha says, face still pressed into his mate's neck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeaning forward until he too has pressed his nose against his mates neck, inhaling the scent there, replies "and you, my Alpha, smell like pineapple and vanilla with a trace of brine, my comfort." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"And then there arms are wrapped around one another, taking and giving comfort to one another, feeling that lonely place inside of them filled with the presence and bond of the other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat is your name, my Omega ?" asks the Alpha, gently extracting himself from the arms of his Omega until only their hands are connected, aware that there could be other people around and they could be seen. Aaron Fitzpatrick, and yours my Alpha ?" asks Aaron, gripping the Alpha's hands like a lifeline, which would be near enough the truth once they were fully bonded, as an Omega cannot live without their Alpha and the opposite is true as well. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The Alpha's eyes widen slightly in shock at hearing that his mate is in fact the captain's nephew, though he'd been in charge of meeting him and bringing him onto the ship, he had not expected to find his bond mate, before replying Ben Krieger, Lieutenant in charge of security and emergency response on the ship." looking around to make sure that no one is looking, he brings his hand back up to stroke Aaron's cheek before continuing with a loving and happy smile and you, my beautiful Omega, will be working with me as Lieutenant junior grade. Aaron, who had been leaning into the hand gently caressing his cheek with his eyes closed in contentment, tail gently swaying behind him, once again feels his heart speed up with excitement: he will not have to be separated from his mate while working on the ship. He feels a wide grin spread on his face as he opens his eyes and sees the loving smile on his mate's face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Though they are not fully bonded and will not be until his first heat and the mating mark can be placed, Aaron can already feel the bond growing and solidifying inside him until he can feel Ben's emotions spilling into him and he is engulfed in feelings of happiness, love, comfort and most of all home, of finally findings his other half, his missing piece. And Aaron sends his similar feelings through the link back to Ben, seeing the look on his face when he receives them. Aaron himself searches the area to see if anyone is around before once again stepping closer to his Alpha and places his hands on his hips, while Ben places his hands on either side of Aaron's face and then they are kissing. A deep, passionate, desperate kiss as though they are suffocating and only the other can give them the air they so desperately need. And they do not separate until they truly do need air, both gasping for breath, still within inches of each other as grins are plastered on their faces. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Together at last." whispers the Omega laying his forehead against his Alpha's neck, arms wrapped around his waist. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Ben looks around once more as he places his arms protectively around his Omega's shoulders before he whispers /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Together forever" in the Omega's ear, causing him to tighten his arms around Ben's waist with a contended sigh/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"It took only months to move beyond discovering their bond mate, until they were well and truly in love: working out together in the mornings, working together during the day, and at night, in either of their rooms, they shared their life and love and stories. They shared everything, every one of their memories whether happy or sad, they shared their gifts and magic, and found comfort in one another. They hid their bond and their relationship from the crew, knowing that Alpha's and Omegas were not allowed in the crew and that same sex relationships among Betas was uncommon. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Ben, like Aaron, had magic. He had fighting magic, giving him great strength and speed, as well as skill with knives only matched by Aaron. He also had great skill with all forms of firearms and bullet types. Ben also had minor elemental magic, giving him control over water and air. Together they developed their skills and control of their magic, their bond growing. They kept both their bond and their magic a secret from every member of the crew save for one: Commander Ford, second in command of the ship, and their friend, a sympathetic Beta, who had lost his Omega wife to illness. Ben and Aaron worked as the heads of security and emergency response on the ship, as well as sharing the responsibility of training new members of the crew, and occasionally trainees on some of the Naval army bases./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis routine continued for a year and a half before things went very, very right and then very, very wrong./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"br / As his plane begins its descent to the runway Aaron recalls the events that led him to this flight; he was ten and it was the warmest of days that summer, the sky was the brightest of blues, set against the pale, calm gray waters of the ocean. The sun shone brightly in the sky, alone save for a few fluffy white clouds lazily drifting by with the light summer breeze. Aaron enjoyed the silence of his family's private beach as he lay floating in the shallow water. His permanently bronzed skin gleaming in the water with his shoulder length mahogany hair creating a halo around his head and his light brown ears twitching in the water above his head. His light, forest green eyes were closed against the brightness of the sun ,while his light brown tail swished in the water beneath him, keeping him from going under the surface. He had been in the water for almost an hour, using his magic to propel him around the small cove when he heard the explosion, and felt the blast ripple along the surface of the water. His eyes popped open, ears twitching towards the sound and when he turned towards his home he saw black smoke billowing up over the trees, with a scream he splashed out of the water and ran towards his home, now engulfed in flames. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"br / He reached the door and pushed it open, feeling a wave of heat and smoke slam into him, causing his eyes to tear up, and smoke to fill his lungs. He hoarsely screamed for his parents, hoping desperately that they were still alive and could hear him, but before he could get very far in the house the support beams for the ceiling collapsed and flames spread out before him, blocking the only clear path into the house. The falling beams, and the sudden spread of flames sends Aaron falling backwards into a splintered table, impaling his side before he can even think to use his magic to stop his fall. Another scream rips from his smoke laden lungs as he feels the wood pierce his skin. After a few moments he is able to pull himself off of the wood and drag himself towards the door, but was unable to make it completely to the door. When he looks up he sees that someone is moving towards him from outside./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The man, because it was clearly a man, roughly kicked him onto his back, studying him;tail swishing angrily behind him, though he couldn't see his face as it was hidden by the glare of sunlight behind him, before leaving the house with an angry growl. He could hear the crackling of flames as they ate away at his childhood home around him, the chattering of animals and the clicking of insects in the woods outside and in the distance he could hear the wailing of sirens. Just as unconsciousness was claiming him, he heard car tires spin out on the gravel driveway, leaving a trail of dust behind. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Aaron woke up eight days later in the hospital, bruised and bandaged, wondering what had happened. Doctors told him he would be fine in a few weeks, his lungs would get better and his wound would heal. Police arrived to notify him of his parent's death, the loss of his home, and the loss of his safe haven by the ocean. A few days later his uncle arrived from his ship, come to take him away from everything he'd known. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"When he was better his uncle placed him in military school. Up at six am every morning, and into formation by six thirty am, the events and activities of his life became part of a schedule. Watching tv and playing games were rights that had to be earned, his life was a strict regime he had no control over. Aaron graduated from school at age fourteen, one of the hardest things he's ever done, his intelligence well ahead of his peers naturally, as Omegas learn, remember and use knowledge at a faster and advanced level than Betas. Those four years were spent hiding his Omega status from the other Beta students, fighting his submissive behaviour and willing himself not to nurture and care for the others. Constantly on the look out for his mate, the one that would make him whole, and erase the loneliness that had taken over after his parents' death. Luckily his heats wouldn't start for another four years or he wouldn't have been able to hide being an Omega. By fifteen he had undergone advanced Military and Naval training, and by sixteen he had begun his degree in Marine Biology and become a member of his uncle's crew aboard the submarine Seawolf. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Aaron's magic had always posed somewhat of a problem for his uncle and the other Betas of the world, and was another thing that he was forced to hide from people. Aaron had both fighting magic and elemental magic, something that had rarely been heard of. His fighting magic gave him great ability and skill in wielding any form of knife, as well as great talent with a bow. He had only a limited ability with other weapons and hand to hand combat. His elemental magic gave him control over the elements: water, earth, wind, fire, and spirit. The combination of these gifts, along with his intelligence and despite is Omega tendencies, have helped propel him through his education and training/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"His sixteenth birthday had only passed a week ago when he had gotten a call from his uncle, whom he had not seen in over two years, telling him that he was now part of the Seawolf crew. He had to put his degree on hold while he worked, Aaron remembered the feeling of dread at having to work for his uncle, his father is his uncle's brother in law, having to work extra hard at hiding his Omega tendencies and magic, all the while stuck in a submarine for who knows how long. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The plane touches down jolting Aaron out of his memories, and before long he has left the airport and on his way to the Naval docks. As he makes his way towards the man in uniform, obviously waiting for him, he catches the scent of pineapple and vanilla, and as he got closer a hint brine. All smells of which reminded Aaron of his home by the ocean, instantly giving him comfort and filling the void of loneliness in his heart. Aaron's heart sped up, he knew what that scent meant: he had found his mate here on the Naval docks. As he stopped a foot from the man in uniform he realized that he was in fact not a man, but a teenager a couple of years older than himself, and whispered /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Alpha" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The teenager who had, until Aaron stopped in front of him, been smelling the air with his eye closed, now opened them. The six foot three inch tall Alpha , five inches taller than the Omega, has short, close cropped jet black hair, a hairstyle similar to the one that Aaron has sported since military school, and dark gray ears on his head. He has mulatto skin and sparkling azure eyes, and Aaron can see a dark gray tail swishing behind him in contentment. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"He flashes Aaron a gentle smile, showing off brilliantly white teeth, canines sharp and pointed, before himself whispering /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Omega.." and moves forward until there are only inches separating them, one had resting on Aaron's cheek gently, before leaning forward until his nose is pressed to Aaron's neck, inhaling deeply the scent of his mate. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""You smell like home, of melon and cucumber with a hint of strawberry." the Alpha says, face still pressed into his mate's neck./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanLeaning forward until he too has pressed his nose against his mates neck, inhaling the scent there, replies "and you, my Alpha, smell like pineapple and vanilla with a trace of brine, my comfort." /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"And then there arms are wrapped around one another, taking and giving comfort to one another, feeling that lonely place inside of them filled with the presence and bond of the other./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanWhat is your name, my Omega ?" asks the Alpha, gently extracting himself from the arms of his Omega until only their hands are connected, aware that there could be other people around and they could be seen. Aaron Fitzpatrick, and yours my Alpha ?" asks Aaron, gripping the Alpha's hands like a lifeline, which would be near enough the truth once they were fully bonded, as an Omega cannot live without their Alpha and the opposite is true as well. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"The Alpha's eyes widen slightly in shock at hearing that his mate is in fact the captain's nephew, though he'd been in charge of meeting him and bringing him onto the ship, he had not expected to find his bond mate, before replying Ben Krieger, Lieutenant in charge of security and emergency response on the ship." looking around to make sure that no one is looking, he brings his hand back up to stroke Aaron's cheek before continuing with a loving and happy smile and you, my beautiful Omega, will be working with me as Lieutenant junior grade. Aaron, who had been leaning into the hand gently caressing his cheek with his eyes closed in contentment, tail gently swaying behind him, once again feels his heart speed up with excitement: he will not have to be separated from his mate while working on the ship. He feels a wide grin spread on his face as he opens his eyes and sees the loving smile on his mate's face. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Though they are not fully bonded and will not be until his first heat and the mating mark can be placed, Aaron can already feel the bond growing and solidifying inside him until he can feel Ben's emotions spilling into him and he is engulfed in feelings of happiness, love, comfort and most of all home, of finally findings his other half, his missing piece. And Aaron sends his similar feelings through the link back to Ben, seeing the look on his face when he receives them. Aaron himself searches the area to see if anyone is around before once again stepping closer to his Alpha and places his hands on his hips, while Ben places his hands on either side of Aaron's face and then they are kissing. A deep, passionate, desperate kiss as though they are suffocating and only the other can give them the air they so desperately need. And they do not separate until they truly do need air, both gasping for breath, still within inches of each other as grins are plastered on their faces. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Together at last." whispers the Omega laying his forehead against his Alpha's neck, arms wrapped around his waist. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Ben looks around once more as he places his arms protectively around his Omega's shoulders before he whispers /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;""Together forever" in the Omega's ear, causing him to tighten his arms around Ben's waist with a contended sigh/span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"It took only months to move beyond discovering their bond mate, until they were well and truly in love: working out together in the mornings, working together during the day, and at night, in either of their rooms, they shared their life and love and stories. They shared everything, every one of their memories whether happy or sad, they shared their gifts and magic, and found comfort in one another. They hid their bond and their relationship from the crew, knowing that Alpha's and Omegas were not allowed in the crew and that same sex relationships among Betas was uncommon. /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"Ben, like Aaron, had magic. He had fighting magic, giving him great strength and speed, as well as skill with knives only matched by Aaron. He also had great skill with all forms of firearms and bullet types. Ben also had minor elemental magic, giving him control over water and air. Together they developed their skills and control of their magic, their bond growing. They kept both their bond and their magic a secret from every member of the crew save for one: Commander Ford, second in command of the ship, and their friend, a sympathetic Beta, who had lost his Omega wife to illness. Ben and Aaron worked as the heads of security and emergency response on the ship, as well as sharing the responsibility of training new members of the crew, and occasionally trainees on some of the Naval army bases./span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;" /span/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; line-height: normal; background: white;"span style="font-size: 10.0pt; font-family: 'Verdana',sans-serif; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-bidi-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; color: black; mso-fareast-language: EN-CA;"span style="mso-spacerun: yes;" /spanThis routine continued for a year and a half before things went very, very right and then very, very wrong./span/p
