When Yuri finally wakes he feels warm and comfortable. While most would associate warmth and comfort with safety, it is the complete opposite for this little omega who is used to living on the street, sleeping in trees or in alleys and almost constantly cold. He sits up quickly, cringing at the horrible ache that fills his head.
He squints around his unfamiliar surroundings in concern, a bandaged hand holding his head as he struggles with his own mind to become more aware and alert. The first things he notices is the changes on himself. His scraped knees and hands have been bandaged. His damp hair tells him that he was bathed as well during his time unconscious. His shoulder length locks have been braided back to keep it out of his face. He also finds the clothes he had previously been living in are gone. Instead he wears a simple light grey t-shirt with matching shorts.
When he finally has the strength, Yuri pulls himself to his feet, taking note of the bars on the windows that make that particular escape route impossible. He'll have no choice but to go out the door. He can't stay here. He won't be sold off to some alpha that wants him just for breeding and pleasure. The alpha's pleasure specifically. He remembers learning in the few years he went to school that omega's should find their pleasure in serving their alpha.
Yuri feels that it goes to say how badly omegas are treated if that's what they are supposed to gain pleasure from. That they are told to put up with beatings and rape and be happy that their alpha is enjoying themselves.
It makes him feel sick to his stomach realizing how close he is to that if he doesn't escape from this shit hole soon. He walks to the door quickly, grabbing the door handle and quickly, though quietly, pulling the door open. He looks down the hallway quietly, wrinkling his nose at the harsh alpha scent that fills his nose. He knows well enough that this was probably done on purpose. To keep the frightened omegas in their room.
He presses on, walking down the hallway silently and looking around for a possible escape. He doesn't make it far though before he's spotted by a tall rather muscular alpha that had been patrolling the hall.
Yuri's flight instinct kicks in rather quickly and he takes off at full speed in the opposite direction. The omega house seems rather maze like, and Yuri is not familiar with the surroundings. It's only a few moments before the alpha catches up and grabs his arm, yanking him back to his chest. Yuri grunts, struggling desperately against the tight hold. "Let go! Don't touch me!"
The alpha only chuckles softly in return, letting his scent surround the frightened omega in his arms, trying to use it to comfort him. Yuri has never found comfort in an alpha's scent, so it doesn't do much to calm him down. The alpha doesn't care much though, easily keeping the omega pinned down in his arms. "It's good to see you're up, little omega. We had begun to worry you had been giving too high of a dose. Those foolish hunters don't care much for your safety. You're safe now."
Yuri simply glares up at him icily. "This isn't safe. This is captivity. Get off of me!"
The alpha simply sighs softly. "I see. We'll have to give your alpha a warning that you'll need heavy training and discipline. This is the problem with omegas like you. When you run off before your collection you don't get the chance to learn what you need to. Omega's like you don't get comfy lives. You're going to get hurt if you don't find a way to obey and calm down."
Somehow Yuri doesn't doubt it. He continues to struggle as the alpha picks up easily and begins caring him down the hallway. They don't stop at the room Yuri had been in originally, instead stopping in a rather large gathering room filled with several other omegas. The oldest one in the room ends up making his way over, looking at the alpha that hold Yuri cautiously. "I can take him to meet the others, Christophe."
Christophe sets Yuri down, winking at the black haired omega who had spoken. "Don't let him bite you, little one. He's rather spirited." He pats Yuri's ass, nudging him closer to the other omega, who adjusts the black frames of his glasses before reaching over to take the blonde's hand. "I'm Katsuki Yuuri. You can just call me Yuuri of course. It can be a bit intimidating coming here for the first time. I can help you though. It's going to be alright. Most of us don't get picked on our first day, so you can relax."
Yuri frowns in irritation to hear that he and this dumb old omega shares a name with him. It's rather odd to hear him say most don't get picked on the first day, when he clearly hadn't been picked for months if not years. It didn't make Yuri feel any more comforted though. It just meant there was potential he may have more time to escape. He snaps out of his trance as Yuuri begins speaking again.
"The alpha of this house is Yakov. He's stern but he doesn't touch us and he doesn't let the other alphas touch us either."
Yuri rolls his eyes at this. "That alpha Christophe was rather handsy with me."
Yuuri frowns. "I don't mean it in that way. He doesn't let them claim us. They aren't allowed to mark us or touch us at all when we're in our heats. It's better than other omega houses. You're lucky you were brought here."
The blonde crosses his arms angrily. "There's nothing lucky about being here. I should feel lucky that I won't be raped while confined in these walls? That's not lucky. It shouldn't be seen as lucky. Alphas shouldn't have this claim to us in the first place."
Yuuri purses his lips, frowning at the younger omega. "It is lucky. This is the law. We should be grateful to have it better than most. I am."
Yuri huffs, looking away. "You can feel that way. I will not. I'm going to leave the first chance I get."
The black haired omega forces a smile. "I wouldn't recommend that. They're still allowed to punish us if we misbehave. Just try and calm down. It won't be that bad. The alphas that come in to look at us here have to pass a background check and are typically wealthy. While you might not see it as ideal, it's better than it could be. You're safer here than out in the streets."
"I felt safer in the streets." Yuri crosses his arms unhappily, looking to the barred window. He can't help but flinch when the door to the room opens and a balding man with a harsh face walks in.
"Time for line up. The first alphas of the day will be by in a few minutes." He barks out in a thick and authoritative voice.
Yuuri promptly takes Yuri's hand and leads him over to the wall. "Just stand still and keep as quiet as you can. It'll be over soon." He continues to hold Yuri's hand, hoping to comfort the younger omega.
Yuri hopes this will be the case. He thought he had more time to get out of here. He didn't realize that his omega status was catching up to him so quickly and the chance at freedom was slipping from his fingers. He stands next to the Japanese omega beside him. His body feels stiff and he feels like he could vomit. Perhaps if he did he could get out of this meat market and escape slavery another day.
Unfortunately, Yuri hasn't had a proper meal in days, so there isn't anything to vomit in the first place. He still feels the acidity of bile in his throat as the balding man, who he assumes must be Yakov, inspects the line before nodding in satisfaction and walking out to retrieve the wealthy alphas waiting in the lobby.
Yuuri squeezes the small omega's hand one last reassuring time before he lets go. Yuri looks down, hiding his anxiety with an icy glare directed at the carpet. Most omegas don't get chosen on the first day, he thinks to himself, clinging to this thought like a drowning man would cling to a piece of driftwood. He prays he's not an exception to this. He's not ready to submit to a life of servitude. He clenches his teeth and keeps his eyes down, refusing to consider that these might be his final moments before an alpha chooses him as a mate. In reality they are though. When he looks back on this months down the road, he'll know these were the last moments before his life of freedom came to an end.
