Being a Beta in an Alpha ruled world wasn't any better than being an Omega. Sure they had their rights and could own property but they could only have a legal marriage among themselves.
Having affairs with Alphas was expected and tolerated but being with an Omega was inexcusable and against the law. It was considered a waste of a fertile Omega if they were with a Beta, since the chance of having children between the two pair was almost nonexistent. And this was Francis's down fall.
He was a strong believer in love, and was in a number of relationships with both Betas and Alphas, but he never really connected with them, which always left him with an unsatisfied feeling in his heart. He could and would be a great lover to his partner, but deep down he knew that it was pointless if his heart wasn't in it. That was true, until he met her.
It was just a regular old Tuesday in boring old England. Francis just gotten off work at a law firm he had an internship at, as he was coming out of the main office doors, he saw her.
A small, slim figure of a girl with long brown hair done up in two pig tails. She was with another girl walking down the street and, as they neared, the petit girl and Francis's gaze locked and he was instantly hocked.
Judging from the widening of her eyes and a playful smile on her lips she felt the same way, or so he hoped. That one moment in time was the greatest Francis ever had, but it was also his worst.
Betas can't smell over 70% of pheromones coming from the Omegas, and the girl was an Omega. Even though the Beta knew this he couldn't keep away and eventually got involved with her.
He should have been more conscience of the fact that he kept seeing her outside the law firm more and more, but being in love didn't make a person rational.
At first they were simple greetings and light conversation whenever the two saw each other. That changed when he spotted her alone on one rare occasion at a café, he took the chance and approached her. They unabashedly flirted, confirming the she felt the same way about him.
After that they started their secret romance, which could rival Romeo and Juliet; stealing away to meet in secret, whispering sweet nothings onto their skin, stolen glances and touches in public.
He truly thought they could pull it off and perhaps ran away to another country, but as it turned out, it didn't last. While both of them didn't die for once another, they might as well have for what followed next was that much worse.
As Francis strolled up to the office one morning, he didn't expect one of the head Alphas to round on him, leaving him half dead on the expensive plush carpeting of the office floor.
The Omega was young and utterly in love with Francis. She thought he could save her from the unfair future her parents had insisted upon her and she wanted to run away with the handsome Beta. But, she failed to tell Francis that she was already promised to an Alpha.
As it turned out, it was the same Alpha who smeared the office floor with Francis's blood that fateful morning. Francis half conscious glared from his spot on the floor at the next head Alpha of the Kirkland law firm and family, whom was to be mated with an Omega from the rich French rival family to smooth over their differences and increase their presence in both counties. Francis never saw Michelle again, but Scott made sure to never let the Beta forget his place.
He was reduced to something of a slave for the Kirkland family, who were practically holding the noose over his head. If word got out that a Beta was involved with an Omega, a promised one at that, he could be looking at life in prison and possibly death right after, Francis had no choice but to obey.
Scott soon made his new mate move to Scotland, permanently, and he never failed to remind Francis each and every time he left the head estate in England to mate during her semi-annual heat. What was even more of a punch to the Beta's pride was that he was made a chaperon to the only Omega in the Kirkland family, Arthur, as a reminder of what he can never have.
Chaperoning a fourteen year old Arthur around was much more bearable than putting up with the ridiculous orders of the rest of the family and ever the other servants in the household.
Francis and Arthur at the beginning were always at odds and fighting with each other. The Omega at the time was the youngest and didn't understand the world around him. None of the Alphas paid much attention to him either, but always kept him at the back of their minds to trade him as a mate to a potential Alpha once his heat started.
Young Arthur practically never saw his mother. She was only constantly with him during his early months in the world, but as she was a traditional Omega for an old rich family, she was only used to produce more Alphas and her time with the youngest was cut short.
Francis didn't think that she didn't care for her children, as he sometimes saw her reading to Arthur in the library, but she was defeated by what the society wanted her to be and willingly accepted her fate.
The lack of parental figures in Arthur's life was instead filled by Francis and some governesses, which changed constantly as neglect made the young Omega spoiled and being in a house full of Alphas made him unusually feisty.
As Arthur got older he began to see the unfairness of the world he was living in. Not being allowed to participate in sports, not being able to walk to the park by himself, or even constantly being told to never look into an Alpha's eyes while speaking with them. The unfair treatment made Arthur very resentful of his life and everything in it.
He rebelled and his misbehavior got Francis in constant trouble, as by then he was the only one responsible for Arthur. As the silly pranks pulled by the young Omega became more and more tedious and frequent Arthur's father announced that as soon as Arthur's heat started he would be mated to a rich businessman in Portugal. Arthur didn't take the news well.
It was during these times that Francis and Arthur grew on one another. They became dependent on each other and established a friendship of sorts. That friendship was strengthened with Arthur's first heat at sixteen or more specifically the lack of Arthur's heat at sixteen.
After that day the Omega never appeared at the Kirkland household and the vivid spark within his eyes died that very night.
"What are you going to do about Scott?"
Arthur scowled as he watched the kettle minutes away from boiling. He needed tea and he needed it now! Dealing with Scott was never easy, but now that it has been four years since he last saw his so called brother, it brought all the resentment and build up hatred for the Alpha, and Arthur just needed to relax and think.
"Nothing, he can't do anything while we are here," slowly said the Omega eyes never leaving the kettle. "He'll just pester us and go home eventually."
"But what if he doesn't? The man is persistent; he can get his way if he really wants to. You know how he is." Francis was worried, coming all the way to America and tracking down the disowned Omega was not something head Alphas did.
The kettle made whistling noise signaling that the water reached a boiling point. Grabbing a box of Earl Gray tea, the Omega scooped a spoonful of leaves dumping them into the cup as he poured the hot water over them.
He waited for the tea to steep, watching the leaves swim to the top before settling down at the bottom of the cup once again. He reflected back on the unexpected visit from his brother, now the head of the family.
Scott informed Arthur, that their father was too old to make rational decisions therefore taking up his rightful place as head. Soon the old Alpha will die and his Omega, Arthur's mother, was expected to go with him whether she wants to or not.
Arthur didn't know how to deal with the news of his parent's inevitable end or the proposition that Scott offered him. Well he knew rationally that he didn't want to do anything with the family that used and then disowned him, but emotionally he was still an unattached Omega that had his family ties severed. That put a major strain on his emotional state.
If he had been bonded that void would have been filled by his Alpha, but with every heat there was no one to help him. Francis tried his best to reassure and comfort him, but still being a Beta he didn't have that smell that was wired into Omegas that they were safe in that vulnerable state, the scent of their mate or the scent of their family nearby.
"I'm not going back, even if what Scott is promising means a lot to an average Omega, we both know that I'm not like most of them and it's something I no longer need in my life." Firmly stated Arthur, he reached for the milk and poured a few drops into the cup.
"We finally managed to get somewhere here without any of our family's help and now to go back to the bottom of the food chain, I don't think so."
The Omega huffed and brought the now steeped and cooler tea to his lips. Taking a tentative sip he let out a breath, feeling his nerves calm. "Besides, despite the odds I may have found a potential Alpha here, one whom I might grow to like of my own will, if Scott thinks I can just put up with any regular old Alpha he throws my way he's very much mistaken."
Francis regarded the short Omega and smirked. That's part of the reason he and Arthur made it out of Europe's clutches. Despite the limited education the Omega got during his childhood, he always knew that he was at the bottom of the social ladder and refused to accept it.
Arthur knew he could do better. With each book on politics or world history he stole from his brothers' rooms at night while studying home economics and child care during his day, the strive to prove himself to others opened up a new world to him. With his persistence and Francis's persuasion, they eventually got themselves to that new world.
"Speaking of the 'potential Alpha, one whom I might grow to like,'" imitating Arthur's accent the Beta sarcastically quoted the younger, "you are reeking with his scent! Was he rutting against you!? God Arthur you are not a teenager anymore and you should know better!"
The Beta crossed his arms and eyes narrowed in anger; the only thing betraying him was a wide grin on his lips. "But I must say, it was amusing watching Scott tense at the smell. He probably didn't expect you to get this far."
The Omega matched the Bata's grin, both content and eager to forget this unexpected incident as soon as possible and let the subject go.
As Arthur was walking to his bedroom to change into his home clothing, the Beta's sudden remark stopped him in his tracks.
"Just remember he might use that against you."
"Achoo!" Alfred run his finger under his nose, "I can't be getting sick…"
Matthew sighed and rolled his eyes, "I told you to wear something more weather appropriate."
His Omega brother may have been soft spoken but he had that authoritative edge in his voice. Years of filling out the role of their mother, that wasn't there anymore, gave Matthew that stern nature.
Alfred just grinned long used to being chided by his brother.
"Yea, yea sure." They were sitting in the living room of their shared apartment. Both were sitting on the floor, legs stretched out under the coffee table doing homework or at least trying to do it.
The small flat consisted of a living room separated by a wall that had a small kitchen on the other side. Two bedrooms and two small bathrooms connected to each room. They lived there ever since they moved to the city three years ago.
Mattie scowled. "Well judging by the fact that you came back from your date way after midnight and reeking of a foreign Omega smell, I say that it serves you right."
Alfred's grin just widened as he remembered his date couple nights ago. He was way too excited and aroused after dropping Arthur off that he ended up doing a few laps around neighborhoods just to calm his raging hormones, which resulted in him being even later. Matthew was less than pleased.
"Are you seeing him again soon?"
Here Alfred frowned. "I don't know…We text each other, but he says he's too busy right now."
Matthew smiled. "Come on now don't mope," he lightly hit his twin's shoulder. "It's only been a few days and he does have a job right."
"Yea but I'm just so excited to see him again. You know. I feel like if I don't see him soon I'm going to die of anxiety." Al flung forward and hit his head against the coffee table, littered with various papers they were working on.
Matthew just continued to smile at his brother's over exaggerated emotions. "Just remember not to overwhelm him; you and I both know you can be way too loud and hyper."
Al groaned from his place on the table. "Thanks Mattie."
"Anytime." The other twin smiled as he picked up his Tim Hortons coffee taking a sip.
A few days passed since the last time Alfred saw the pretty Omega. Sure they texted each other, but it seemed like the other man was just too busy to have an actual conversation. Alfred was pretty moody during those days which annoyed Matthew to no end.
That's why when the young Alpha's phone vibrated as he was walking down the stairs from his math class he hardly gave it any thought. Taking out his iPhone, he glanced down at the screen only to stop in his tracks, effectively causing the people walking behind him to collide into each other.
Muttering an apology he straightened himself out and pushed his way to the edge of the crowed to the nearest wall. Safely out of the ever pushing mass of people, he looked at his phone again giving it his full attention.
From Arthur:
'Hello. Sorry for not seeing you lately, I had some personal business to deal with. I'm free tonight if you are available?'
Grinning like an idiot Al quickly typed out a reply.
'Hiya, YES! I'm free! Do you wanna meet at the park? I have class till 5.'
Detaching himself from the wall the Alpha began pushing his way through the crowd to his next class. The phone vibrated in his hands again.
'How are you in university with that spelling? 5pm is fine, I will see you then love.'
Alfred collided with the person in front of him.
Meeting up at what was quickly becoming their usual place, the two decided to go see a movie and a late dinner afterwards. The theater was a few blocks away and since the weather wasn't too cold both males agreed to walk over there.
"So how was your week?" Questioned Alfred.
"Tolerable, a few annoying instances, but other than that it's same as always." Stated Arthur.
With their short texts, Alfred found out that the Omega worked as an editor for a local newspaper and occasionally took other editing and writing jobs.
"What about you?" Asked Arthur. "How is school going? This is your senior year right?"
"Yea, 'tis fine just...honestly can't wait for it to be over." Al said with a sheepish smile.
The two were leisurely making their way through the crowded streets walking side by side, almost touching, hands bumping against each other every now and then. Alfred was fighting the urge to grab that teasing hand, but after the rutting he unintentionally bestowed on the Omega he felt slightly self-conscious.
"So, what are we seeing?"
"The Conjuring." The Alpha grinned
Arthur gave him an unimpressed look. "Those types of film are not even scary, you know."
"Of course not! That's why they are so fun to watch!" Laughed Alfred.
"I cannot believe you made me sit through almost two hours watching THAT!" Grumbled Arthur, "I couldn't even sleep through it since you kept screaming every other second or clinging to my arm. God I can't even feel it anymore..." The Omega kept muttering insults directed towards a certain Alpha while rubbing his sore arm.
"Hey! I wasn't screaming! I was just…surprised, yea that's all! Besides that movie was awesome and not scary at all! I would definitely see it again." Defended Alfred, while nervously looking around every now and then.
"Please you were on the verge of tears like a little girl."
Both men were slowly moving with the crowd out of the theatre through a narrow hallway. A slight sweet scent drifted through the crowd causing some to turn their heads to catch the delicious smell.
"Don't mention little girls! And I wasn't crying, it was just-" Al was cut off as the scent suddenly intensified around him. Murmurs broken through the crown, but all Alfred could do was stare at the wide eyed Omega before him as realization came crushing down on both of them.
Arthur shifted uncomfortably and let out a half frightened half frustrated whine. This can't be happening! It was way too soon! He still had a few more days till the start of his heat.
And this seems like a good place to stop^^
Good news is that I have most of the next chapter written down. Bad news I won't be posting it till I finish this thing for LJ ( I seriously need to get that done, and I'm soo close!)
Anyways all my work is un-betad (is that a word?) so please let me know if you see any mistakes. That would be appreciated^^
