Life.
The one that had once been promised but never received. The one he was forced into acting out each and every single day. As if he just took enough medication, just pumped enough artificial hormones into his body, it would change his genetic make up and transform him into what they wanted.
Life.
The one that was currently being offered. Where he would be forced into the deepest shadows, withdrawn from the light. Where he would never have to pretend to be something he wasn't. Where he wouldn't have to be ashamed. Where he wasn't an embarrassment. Where someone actually wanted him.
So he made a choice.
And that choice changed everything.
...
"What are you doing?" Waking up without the other beside him had caused a wave of panic so thick he had almost choked on it. Memories of the previous time flowing freely through his mind as he scrambled out of the bed they had shared, practically tripping over his own feet to get down the stairs.
Only to find the alpha packing. Folding up clothes obviously taken from the closet upstairs and placing them neatly into that emptied out duffel.
"What does it look like I'm doing?" There was a smaller bag laying open upon the near by coffee table, and he realized it was intended for the medical supplies they were going to need to take along. "Go upstairs and change. We're leaving as soon as this is done."
"But -" His mouth opened to protest, despite knowing how futile it was going to be.
"What was our one rule, Omega?" Omega. Not his name. Not one of the dozens of cute little pet names the other seemed so fond of using. But his status. His sub-gender. And he realized belated that it was one of the ways that an alpha's power and dominance could be exerted over him. By reminding him that he was the weaker of the two. The one who was meant to listen and obey.
It was how his father had initially convinced him to start the suppressants. And the scent blockers. Only one he started he was too frightened of what happened if he stopped to not continue on with it.
Only it was different with JK. Because there had been distinct times in the past where he had liked it. Enjoyed that edge of dominance being used against him. Maybe it came from hearing the truth. That he was an omega and not the beta he was forced to respond as.
But now he stood his ground. For once he didn't just wither down into a weakened state, ready to do whatever his alpha said.
"You can't travel like this. You literally just woke up yesterday. You'll tire yourself out and your body needs that strength to heal." On average, alpha's tended to heal much faster than anyone else. It wasn't that beta's and omega's took longer. It was just their biology that allowed their wounds to mend and their illnesses to fade more quickly.
Alpha's could also help omega's heal. The thought came to him suddenly and for reasons he couldn't understand. But there had been an entire section about it in their text book. On how alpha's could use their saliva - and in extreme cases blood - to help an omega heal more quickly. An interesting little fact that he had tucked away and never really paid anymore attention to.
So why was he now? There was no sudden sense of impending doom. Like he might need that little fact sooner than he ever thought. So he tucked it back away, instead choosing to focus on the battle he was currently fighting.
"What -" There was an irritation laced within that tone that he had never heard before. And it was enough to make him flinch. "- was my one rule, Omega?"
