Note: What is this? What is this terrible thing?! I wanted Alfred to be forced to mate with his brother for some reason. Like, to portray a dark side of royalty but, whatever... I really wanted the last part of Matthew's story and I like how it came out.
I own nothing!
Alpha Kind of Spades, Alfred Jones, was just twenty when he took the throne. His aging father, David Jones, and his wife, Allison, were getting along in years and needed their eldest son to take his place as the rightful heir to the kingdom.
With his coronation, Alfred was expected to wed a bride. She or he would need to be Omega in Nature. Petite and of child-bearing age. She or he would need to be pure, having no previous children to any other Alphas.
The week before he would be officially named as King, all invitations to the other palaces came back. Not a single one had an age-appropriate Omega to wed to the new king.
With his coronation on the horizon, the old King made the next best decision. Alfred would wed his little Omega brother and keep the royal line pure.
At eighteen years of age, Matthew was both mature as an Omega and a dead weight that had yet to be married of for foreign relations.
When the two brothers were given the news, Matthew could not object. As an Omega, he had no say in such affairs. He was only an object to be bartered with. Alfred, as an Alpha, thought nothing of it. It was his duty to marry an Omega of pure and royal blood and to produce an heir quickly.
The Spades Kingdom celebrated Alfred's crowning. Matthew was sat in the Queens chair, though no crown was placed on his head and no good tidings were given to him.
The poor Omega's heart beat furiously in his chest as the simple townsfolk cheered and applauded his brother, their new King. His breathing was ragged and came in quiet pants. His anxiety was becoming too much and he hoped for a quick end to the parties.
That night, in the King's chambers, Matthew was sat in a chair off to the side. Alfred was changing into pajamas by his servants. Matthew watched on, still feeling his anxiety building in his chest. His chest heaved heavily, though no-one took notice.
When the servants were ordered out, Alfred lay in bed, looking expectantly to Matthew to come and do his duty. The two brothers did their acts. And by the next month, Matthew was pronounced by the royal physician to be pregnant.
Two months after he was diagnosed, Alfred married another Omega. This one was of the same royal standing as Matthew had been. The youngest in the family. His name was Arthur and Alfred treated him better than he ever had with Matthew.
Matthew the Omega cried at night in his own chambers away from his brother the King. He could not understand how his own father and brother could do this to him. Could they not see that it was wrong for two brothers to commit such acts? Was there not any sanctity of the family?
The old Queen held her youngest child as his stomach grew over the months. The blond Omega never spoke after the crowning of his brother. His eyes lost their innocent shine and became glossy in his depression.
The birth of Alfred's heir was just on the horizon and Matthew was expected to stay at the King's side during parties and hearings.
During the day, under the eyes of both royalty and common folk alike, Matthew was quiet and as an Omega was expected to behave. He did not speak his opinions; he ate little, and kept his gaze down. He sat beside Arthur's left while Alfred sat to the right of his newest Omega bride. Both of their stomachs were large and showed off Alfred's success in breeding.
The large swell of his stomach was sickening to look at. The thought that Alfred's child was inside of him made his physically ill. He hoped it would turn out deformed and sentenced to death. He hoped it died before even being born. He hated the child inside him and he hated his brother for putting it there.
He hoped Arthur's child died as well. He could come up with no other reason that just to spite his brother for forcing him into such a situation.
If the child died, then Matthew would be sentenced to death. If an Omega could not ensure the survival of the child, then he or she was not suited for the life of a child-bearer. He welcomed that end if it meant never having to touch the child inside of him. Having to listen to its cries for milk and attention.
He was silent in his wishes. Should he be found out of his thoughts of rebellion, he would not be sentenced to death, but held in the dungeon until the child was born and old enough to fend for itself. Only then would he be sentenced by the King for further punishment.
The birth of Alfred's fist child came on a cold winter night. The old Queen sat in the room as he child gave birth, directing the nursemaids, though they knew what to do.
Matthew didn't touch the child after it began to cry. The nursemaids were forced to feed it themselves and the old Queen took the child for herself, dismissing the maids after their hard work.
"He looks just like you, dear heart," his mother said. "He has purple eyes, just like lavender. And shining yellow hair like the corn."
Matthew kept his back turned to her and said nothing.
"He's an Omega, Matthew dear," she said quietly. "Alfred will not take him as his heir, even though he will be eldest."
Matthew tilted his head halfway toward his mother. "Omega?" he said quietly, his face scrunched up.
"Yes, dear heart. Alfred will want nothing to do with him. He will focus on Arthur's child now. And if that one turns to be Omega, he will try again for an Alpha until he is satisfied."
"If Omegas are so useless," Matthew whispered, "then why did Father try for another child. Alfred was firstborn. He had his heir."
Matthew's mother shuffled closer, the child still clutched to her breast. "It was not the King who desired another child. Alfred was a lovely little boy, but I always wanted many children since I was a little girl." She pet Matthew's hair and he flinched, pulling the blankets over himself, hiding from her.
"I wish you hadn't," he said brokenly. "I hate this."
The old Queen pressed a kiss to the blankets, over her son's head. "Oh, but if I had not had another child, I don't think I could have survived as long as I have. You have always been my shining star, Matthew. The beacon of light that guided me through tough times. Alfred was a strong child by Nature, but you were always shy and hesitant. You made me want to live to protect you and raise you into a good boy."
"But I ended up nothing. And no one will want a used Omega now that I've had child."
"Oh, but Matthew, my dear baby, I have seen many miracles happen during my time. Not every Alpha is as strong-willed as the King.
"Did you know? It is common practice for the common folk to love. They marry not for status, but to feel safe in another's arms. Omegas are not used for barter and trade, but seen as martyrs to be cherished."
Matthew peeked from under the blankets. He kept his gaze on his mother's face, not yet daring to look at the quiet child in her arms.
"Truly? Love? Like… The love between a mother and child?"
"Only better," his mother said with a smile. "I hear it is one of the best feelings a person can have."
With that, Matthew sat up in bed and finally took a glance at the little baby boy in his mother's arm. He indeed looked just like Matthew. He held no resemblance to Alfred and for that, Matthew thanked the heavens.
Alfred burst into the room then, just as Matthew held the boy for the first time. He demanded to see his child. But, when he caught sight of the small thing in Matthew's arms and could smell nothing but the gentle, sweet smell of Omegas, he turned to his brother with an angry face.
"You," he said, his finger pointed dangerously. "Why couldn't you make an Alpha?! This child is useless!" He looked at the bundle in Matthew's arms and sneered. "Just like you." He left his brother and child and mother in the birthing room.
Matthew looked at his mother. "Could I do that?"
"Find love?"
"Yes." He held the child to his chest, looking at the identical face in wonderment.
"If you can get Alfred to agree with you that banishment is the best option after your so-called failure. If he orders your banishment, we can never see each other again, but you will be free to leave the palace and find your own life."
"How do you know it's so different outside the palace? How can you be so sure?"
"Because I was born outside of the palace. I lived until I was of breeding age in a middle class home outside of the royal city."
"So you've seen people in love?"
"My own parents were in love, Matthew."
"Have I met them?"
The old Queen shook her head sadly. "No. They died many years ago. They were never allowed into the palace even after I was married to your father."
Matthew frowned at his mother and kissed her cheek. "I'm sorry."
"Thank you, dear heart, but it's been some times since I've seen them and it won't be long until I see them next."
"I will miss you when you leave for them."
"I will miss you when I leave too. But if I can see you happy before I go, then I will be the happiest."
Arthur's child was an Alpha and Alfred bathed it in glory, showing it off to the public. Arthur was shown off as well, hanging off Alfred's arm like a trophy. Matthew was forgotten about and Matthew's child – it wasn't Alfred's anymore – was forgotten as well.
Matthew named the baby boy after himself. Not out of conceit, but because they were alike. He named the baby Matthias.
Alfred banished Matthew when the Omega brought up the option. He thought nothing of it, having a guard escort his brother and first born off the palace property and sent with nothing but the clothes on their backs and a few gold coins to sustain them for a while as they traveled.
Matthew, with a different mindset, wished Arthur a healthy life, hoping his baby would turn out to be a better Alpha than his father or brother. Maybe he would turn out to be an Alpha to respect not just Omegas, but other people.
Matthew's mother watched him leave from one of the tall towers until he was nothing but a dot on the horizon. That was the last time she saw her baby before she died a few years later.
The common folks were very welcoming to a lonely Omega with a child. After a week of traveling, hitching rides on wagons and carts, Matthew was welcomed into the home of an elderly couple. They recognized him as the brother of the King. This upset Matthew at first, but the old woman, a Beta in Nature, eyed him with pity and then gave him a warm meal and a room that he and Matthias could sleep in.
The woman's husband, also a Beta, told him he'd been angry when he'd heard the King had forced his brother into birthing an heir. "A family should hold their Omegas in the highest honour. The King is a pig and I apologize on his behalf for forcing you into breeding outside of your comfort."
Matthew thanked the old man, smiling as he held Matthias while the baby slept. "Thank you, but you don't have to apologize for Alfred. He is an Alpha and he knows nothing else than that everything, including Omegas, belong to him. The only thing we can do is hope that the heir will become a good model for other Alphas."
The woman held Matthias while Matthew ate at their small table. The couple and the banished Omega chatted over a warm meal and Matthias cooed quietly, behaving wonderfully.
"I cannot stay forever," Matthew said a few days later. "I thank you very much for your hospitality, but I can't take advantage of it. I have to leave soon."
"We can't stop you, Matthew," the woman told him with a sweet smile, "but if you ever need help, we would gladly give you a room and food. You're a lovely young man."
"Thank you."
Matthew left the next day; Matthias swathed in a warm blanket and held tight in Matthew's arms. He had a small bag of food to get him through a day or two and he set out after many goodbyes with the elderly couple.
A few towns over, Matthew stopped at a hotel and ate a warm meal once more. He only stayed the one night and the next morning he was on the road again.
Nearly two months after being banished from the palace, Matthew found a lovely town that he decided he would want to call his new home. He thought his mother would think it absolutely lovely.
With the gold coins that he'd carefully saved, Matthew bought a house. It was small and only had two rooms, but it was a lovely change from the large, cold palace he'd grown up in.
The townsfolk welcomed him, most not recognizing him so far from the royal city. When he was looking for a job, Matthew figured he had no special skills that could afford him a healthy wage. He'd learned only what an Omega should know when they were in royalty. He knew not even how to spell his own name.
He began struggling with earning money to buy food for himself so he could produce enough milk for Matthias. His worries that he would soon not be able to afford the food he needed for both of them to survive. But that was all forgotten when he ran into a white-haired man at the market.
Matthew and Matthias were browsing for the cheapest food they could find when Matthew was knocked into and fell back. He clutched Matthias out of instinct, hoping his baby wouldn't get hurt much.
"Oh God, I'm sorry!" Matthew then felt hands on him, dragging him up and righting himself.
"I-It's fine. I should have been looking where I was going. I'm sorry."
"Well, I'm Gilbert," the man said with a large smile. "And what's your name, cutie?"
"M-Matthew," he squeaked. Matthias cooed and reached his hands out to Gilbert, looking at the oddly coloured man.
Gilbert laughed nasally. "Well, Matthew, what's a cutie like you doing at this dump?"
"I-I could ask you the same thing. I don't think this is the best market in town."
The man laughed again. "Well, not all of us can afford the best, Birdie." He let Matthias hold one of his fingers, wiggling it in front of the baby after Matthew said it was okay.
"W-Well, that's true. Matthias and I have been on a tight budget lately."
"And why's that? Someone as cute as you could hire easy."
Matthew blushed. "W-Well, I must admit I'm not the most educated person around," he said with self-consciousness.
"Did you not go to school? Did you have to help on the family farm?"
"W-Well, no. I was just not allowed."
Gilbert frowned at that. "Well that's not right. Where'd you grow up, the Hearts Kingdom?"
Matthew smiled shyly. "No, I was born and raised in Spades."
"Well, Matthew, no offense to your family, but they were fucked to not let an Omega get an education." The two talked for a while more and Gilbert, before Matthew was going to bid him adieu, told him, "I could teach you some stuff. If you want. I'm not… like, a master, but I could teach you simple stuff."
"That would be nice, but I couldn't pay you for that. I'm not able to keep jobs for very long and I have to be careful with the money I earn."
"I wouldn't charge. Just talking with you is enough," Gilbert said with a shy smirk. "How about we meet up here tomorrow and I can take you to a noodle shop. I could teach a few things there."
"Well," Matthew said after contemplating for a moment. "I think I'd be honoured to take up your offer. No one has ever asked to teach me before. Thank you, Gilbert."
The next day, and every second day after that, Matthew met Gilbert who taught him how to recognize the alphabet and after much struggling, how to write his and Matthias's name. He learned to count properly and add and subtract. He even, much to his great pleasure, learned to read.
With his new knowledge, Matthew was able to get better jobs. He still struggled, but not as much. He was able to buy food every day and he bought books to read to Matthias as he got older every single day.
Soon, Matthias was walking and Matthew began teaching him to talk. When he was old enough, Matthew taught Matthias to hold a pencil and taught him to write and read like he never had been.
Gilbert came to their two-roomed home and many times made Matthew and Matthias meals with the ingredients the Omegas had bought. He was personable, sweet, and very nice to be around.
When Matthew was hit by his first fall heat, Gilbert stayed away, respectful and proper, not coming around every night, lusting after the smell of a ready Omega. During his months of travel, many a stray Alpha had crept to the window of the room Matthew inhabitated during his heats.
Afterwards, when Matthew was undernourished and all but starving, Gilbert fed him good food made in his own kitchen. "My brother is married to an Omega and the little guy's taught me a lot about how to take care of them after a heat," he'd explained. "Omegas can become severely undernourished since they have no appetite." He gave Matthew a bowl of broth soup and held Matthias while the Omega ate hungrily.
"You're very kind to take care of an Omega like this," Matthew told him. "Even if he's not in your family. My mother was the only one who would comfort me while I had my heats when I was younger."
"What happened to her?"
"Who?"
"Your mother. What happened to her? Did she die? Is that why you are on your own?"
"No, she's not dead. Or, at least, I hope she is not. I am not allowed back to my home and I am happy about that. I hated my life before I left. Right now is the happiest I have ever been."
"What could a family do to an Omega to make them resent them so much?" Gilbert asked, confused.
"You see," Matthew said hesitantly. "I'm the King's brother," he said softly, not looking up from the half-empty bowl.
"Oh."
"And… Matthias is Alfred's first born."
"Oh."
Matthew nodded. He felt terrible. Not in a long time had the thought that Alfred had done that to him crossed his mind in a long time.
"There were no other Omegas ready to breed when Alfred was being crowned. Our father, the old King decided it would be best that I give myself to Alfred to keep the royalty line pure. It didn't matter anyway. Alfred mated with another Omega and Matthias was born an Omega while the second child was an Alpha."
Gilbert kept frowning at Matthew.
"I wanted Matthias to die so badly while I was pregnant," he confessed. "I'd hoped he would die in my womb so that I would be punished and killed as well."
"Why? Is that not a little extreme? To wish death upon yourself?"
"Alfred was my brother, Gilbert. He bred me without a second thought. My father ordered it!" He said harshly, rage at his family bubbling up. "I was nothing but a thing that could produce an heir and when I failed to give them an Alpha I was still nothing to them.
"I hated everyone when I was in bed with Matthias in my stomach. I even wished that Arthur would die just to make Alfred hurt. It was my mother how got me to actually look at my baby after he was born."
"What did she do?"
"She told me he looked nothing like Alfred, that he looked like me. And… that here, outside the palace and the royal city, people married for love and Omegas were not just a thing to Alphas. That we are something to be loved and cared for. Actual people and not things."
Gilbert finally smiled once again. "Your mother is a smart lady. Omegas are special. They're the ones who can keep our species alive. Without Omegas Betas and Alphas would have died long ago. You are the most important of the three Natures."
Matthew blushed, feeling his heart swell with pride. "Y-You're very kind to say that, Gilbert."
Months went by still and Matthias grew into a babbling toddler who liked to climb things and chase after dragonflies. Gilbert helped Matthew watch Matthias when he became too much for the tired Omega.
One evening, when Gilbert was watching Matthias while Matthew worked a shift at the post office, sorting mail and filing documents, he asked a few questions to the small child as he bounced him up in the air. The two made dinner for Matthew and when the Omega was home, Gilbert sat him down, a giddy smile on his lips and a bounce in his step that Matthias had begun to copy.
"Whats all this?" Matthew asked with a laugh. Watching Matthias hop around Gilbert as the Alpha tried to keep his excitement in control. "It looks as if you've made a feast. But it's just us."
"It is a feast. A celebration. Well… if everything goes right," Gilbert said with shocking shyness. He took a deep breath as Matthew gazed at him with confused eyes. "Matthew? I've known you for a while now and you're the best person I've ever met. You are nice and sweet and adorable and—I want to know if you would do me the honors of allowing me to court you?" Gilbert knelt down and opened his palm to show Matthew a silver band of metal.
"C-Court? A-As as in… T-To pursue?" Matthew asked breathlessly. His heart hammered and his felt faint. Gilbert stood back up, taking the ring back. He looked on, worried as Matthew panted lightly, as if trying to catch his breath.
"Are you alright? Do you need some water? Matthew?"
Matthias went up to his mother and tugged on his sleeve. "Are you alright, Mama? Gilly just wanted to ask you a question."
Matthew took a few more deep breaths to calm himself. "I-I'm sorry. I… Gilbert, I would love if you would court me, but… I-I don't think I could do anything with you." He started panting a bit more. "I-I couldn't…"
Gilbert shook his head. "I'm not after that, Birdie," he said quickly. "I just want you. To come home to see you there and have conversations with and to say you love me as much as I love you. I don't care about the sex or your heats or any of that," he assured hurriedly, trying to calm Matthew further. "I just want to raise Matthias with you and have him call me Vati."
Matthew broke out in tears, his Nature taking over in his anxiety. Matthias clung to him and he clung to Matthias and the two Omegas began to cry with each other.
"I-I'd love that, Gilbert," Matthew blubbered. "I want Matthias to call you Papa too."
The next week, Matthew told Gilbert he had two people he needed to tell about their official partnership. "They took me in for a while when I first started traveling. They live a few towns away. I would love to tell them how well I have come since leaving them."
Gilbert agreed and he accompanied Matthew and Matthias by cart to the elderly couple's home.
The woman answered the door, a large smile blooming across her ancient face at the sight of the bright blonde heads of Matthew and Matthias. She welcomed them and Gilbert into her home, calling for her husband to hurry and see their guests.
"We are going to be married in July," Gilbert said proudly as he bounced Matthias as the toddler nibbled at a candy. "Matthew would be a pretty summer bride, don't you think?"
The old woman laughed sweetly, agreeing as she pats Matthew's hands. "I am very happy to see you have found a nice man, Matthew," she told him. "Not all Alphas are bad," she reminded and Matthew agreed with her.
Matthew invited the two to their wedding and the couple accepted graciously. And by mid-July, Matthew was being walked down the aisle by the elderly man as his wife watched from the front row of seats, a handkerchief wrung in her hands.
Matthias stood by Gilbert's side, holding the rings they would be wearing by the end of the ceremony and Gilbert, he looked wonderful. Matthew tried not to cry as he stood in front of the elderly couple and Gilbert's family.
They kissed, their first ever, after exchanging vows and they both, including Matthias, went home that night very content in life.
Matthew dearly loved Gilbert and that night, after the wedding ceremony, so much more lovely than the hideous things that had occurred in the palace, as he lay in a bed with Matthias on his right and Gilbert on his left, held tight in the Alpha's arms, he finally understood that his mother was right.
Love was a wonderful thing and he was very happy he had found it in both Matthias and Gilbert.