Burning Gold

Chapter 1

Chapter 1

Regina is solemnly quiet as she fixes the sash on Ven's waist.

Today wasn't a normal day, so Ven could understand why she acted the way she did. Today was his Claiming, a day for an omega to be claimed by one alpha out of numerous contenders, a day he had loathed rather than anticipated. In other words, fuck that shit.

He knew what they had thought of him-he was a striking omega, with a wonderful scent and a face and body meant for an alpha of high status. He should've been proud of it, should've been happy he'd been gifted by the goddess with beauty and grace, but it angered him to hear people direct his good qualities to the benefit of an alpha. It couldn't be helped, the world was simple-minded and revolved around the people they deemed strong, and in this case, the alphas. Betas? Extras, unnecessary, not needed. Omegas? Submissive, slaves, weak.

If anything, Ven wanted to run away and eat mashed potatoes for the rest of his life.

Ven had sworn to himself to never acknowledge the labels given to him by shallow minded people. But today, he was to be presented at a morning banquet where alphas from all over were to attend and vie for his affections. He would not smile, he decided, he would not show them that he accepted this barbaric tradition of treating omegas like pieces of meat. Normally though, Claimings were small, but Ven was born to a noble family, the son of the right hand man of the King of Histolia, and his looks added to the price.

In this era, most people also had Gifts-powers that their people believed were given by the gods. And Ven had one, he was a telepath, to be precise. That was how he knew what people thought about him and of his kind. Why he despised them so much. Only his family and Regina knew that he was telepathic, but it was common knowledge to many that he had some sort of Gift.

He knew that he was valuable, and for that, he was not going to let this Claiming go down so easily.

Claimings were set in a large forest, and the winner would have to carry him out of the forest. He would be given five minutes to run and hide (like game, like an animal) and then the alphas would be sent out to find him. It would have been easy like that, but of course, the alphas would have to fight each other off-no killing, only disarming and paralyzing. Murder of another alpha meant instant rejection from the right to Claim. Paralyzing was the best solution, as they would not be able to fight nor be able to carry him out of the forest. All in all, Ven planned to climb high up a tree and plant himself there, and watch as the pathetic alphas destroy each other over him.

He did not know whether he would get an alpha that was kind, or the kind of alpha he disliked. Heavens forbid he land in the arms of an egoistic one. It would only be a matter of hours before Ven would be arrested for murder.

Ven could only hope for the best, and he hated it.

He hated not being able to change things with his own hand.

Regina tightens his sash and looks him in the eye. "Are you ready for this, Ven?"

"No. But I will do it, anyways." He answers, smoothing out his hair and straightening his back.

"That's my brave Venven." Regina smiles lightly at him, tucking a stray curl behind his ear and giving him a short hug, careful not to mess his clothes.

"Thank you, Regina. For everything." He whispers at his caretaker. Regina was five years older than him, born to take care of him. A mother he'd never had. He wanted her to live her life as she should, not be bound to him forever. It was one of the good things of his Claiming-Regina would finally be free to do what she wants. And Ven would be in the care of his new alpha. After all she's done, he wanted to give her at least that much.