Chapter Text
Alphas and omegas didn’t go to public school.
It was probably the only drawback after the blood work came back—Louis was quite pleased with his omega status otherwise. Most people didn’t present until they were sixteen, but as early presentation was possible, the government mandated testing be done before the start of secondary school in order to separate out the alphas and omegas in advance.
The whole thing was a bit silly, Louis thought. Not only was he being uprooted from his family, he was also being separated from all his friends. And why? To go to an Alpha/Omega specialty school. It was basically a boarding school, with dorms, a cafeteria, and a fancy school building. There were a few other facilities around the small campus, but he’d yet to really get out and explore after his mum dropped him off the previous day. Instead he’d spent his time unpacking, meeting his roommate, and thinking about what a bad idea this was.
On the one hand, it made sense—they’d run through all the standard curriculum, but also have supplementary courses to learn about their statuses. On the other hand, it was stupid—putting only alphas and omegas together, even in a controlled environment with lots of security cameras, seemed potentially disastrous. He’d heard the horror stories about alphas losing control around omegas, and even a few stories about omegas taking advantage of alphas during ruts.
A bunch of hormonal teenagers adjusting to their new statuses seemed most prone to making mistakes, but what did Louis know? Supposedly that’s why it was imperative they learned to interact with one another ‘properly’ at a young age. The school was ‘equipped to handle inappropriate behavior’—whatever that meant. Betas made up the vast majority of the population, so public schools couldn’t spare the funding for strictly Alpha/Omega coursework or the ‘necessary safety measures’.
“Which orientation group do you have?”
Louis uncurled himself from his pillow, sitting up slowly before glancing at his roommate. Zayn, apparently. They’d both been too lost in thought to get much beyond introductions and small talk the previous day, but he seemed nice enough. He was eyeing Louis patiently, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth as Louis snatched the welcome packet from his desk.
“Group B,” Louis read, glancing up at Zayn hopefully. “You?”
“Group D,” his roommate replied, deflated. “What’s the point in rooming us together if they separate us right away?”
“Don’t know. Maybe they want to force us to meet more people,” Louis mused with a shrug. “I’d rather be with you. Be nice to at least know one person.”
“Yeah. I hope we aren’t grouped with any alphas at least.”
Louis nodded in agreement. “Same. Were any of your friends back home alphas?”
“Yeah. One of my best friends, it was like he was a whole new person after his blood work came back,” Zayn said with a deep frown. “Not even presented yet, and he was acting like he was suddenly better than me.”
Louis scowled. “I hate alphas like that. But hey, at least he’s not your soul mate or something.”
Zayn visibly shuddered. “That’d be the worst. I don’t know what I’ll do if I get stuck with an alpha like that.”
“You won’t. That’s the whole point, innit? Your true mate’s meant for you, so you’ll be compatible.”
“Let’s hope so,” Zayn agreed, still skeptical. “Plenty of alphas want their omegas at home, soul mate or not. They’re still catching up to the omega rights laws.”
Louis understood all too well. He was lucky—his mum and stepfather were very supportive of all the new omega rights laws. In fact, his mum was an omega, and she not only had a job, but was one of the hardest working people he’d ever met. That was why he’d been so pleased to hear about his own status. How could he not be proud when his family was so thrilled and accepting?
But he knew not all families were the same. “Suppose that’s why we’re here, right? To make sure everyone knows we’re equals.”
“I guess. I hope I don’t meet my mate until after uni though,” Zayn admitted.
“Most meet during uni, don’t they?”
“Yeah, but I can dream, right? If I’m already working, they probably won’t ask me to stop.”
“Good plan. Can’t say I’d mind meeting mine sooner though,” Louis said with a small smile. “Me mum’s always going on about how she wishes she’d met my stepfather sooner. Not that she regrets having me with my real dad, but still. She makes it sound magical.”
Zayn smiled back fondly. “My parents are the same, but I’m good with waiting.”
“Well, at least you won’t have to worry for the next four years. The odds of finding your mate before you’re 18 are nearly zero,” Louis said, hopping from his bed to snatch a uniform from his wardrobe. It was nearly time to leave for his orientation. He eyed his outfit with distaste—it was so boring. Dark blue slacks, a white button up, a dark blue blazer with the school insignia…He grabbed some red suspenders, not caring that they wouldn’t be visible. At least he’d know they were there. “What time’s your group start?”
“Soon,” Zayn said, eyeing his phone. “Shit, I better go now. See you later?”
“Yeah. Let’s grab dinner together?”
“Sounds good. I’ll meet you here whenever you’re done.”
“Okay. Oh, any idea where room 18B is?”
Zayn considered the question for a moment. “Think it’s in the main building, down the first hall on the right. Should be labelled, but maybe go a few minutes early in case you can’t find it.”
“I’m notoriously late,” Louis revealed with a grin.
He quickly started to get dressed as Zayn chuckled and said goodbye, realizing that he was well on his way to proving his statement true. If he didn’t find it right away, he’d definitely be late. Without another thought, he grabbed his student ID and phone, not needing anything else.
It was just a tour for first year students—they’d explore the small campus, play a few pointless introductory games, maybe have a scavenger hunt or something. Nothing too painful, and with any luck, he’d meet someone as laid back as Zayn to joke around with. Maybe Zayn would meet someone too, and they’d have their own tiny group started on their first real day.
The halls were empty as he left the omega-only dorm building, and he picked up the pace as he made his way to the main building. Definitely late. There were a few people in the courtyard, but he kept to himself, moving with purpose toward his destination. He barely made it two steps inside the building before coming to a grinding halt, straightening in surprise as a shudder ran down his spine.
What the…
There was only one person in sight, and Louis couldn’t look away. Another student, judging by the uniform—but this one was black. Alpha. He would’ve realized that without the color coding, made obvious by the man’s presence. He was so tall, and domineering. Louis wanted to tip toe up and touch his curly brown hair, wanted to examine his face more closely, maybe run a finger along those kissable lips…
But mostly he wanted to look into his eyes. Whoever this alpha was, he was looking anywhere but Louis, almost pointedly so. That just wouldn’t do.
“Shit,” the man cursed, barely a whisper.
Another shudder hit him as he heard the man’s voice, prompting an involuntary whimper.
“What’s happening to me?” Louis asked, mind reeling as the alpha moved forward.
It was getting hard to breathe properly—too hard. And his skin, why was it on fire? The air was pulsing around him, unbearably hot. The only cool points were where the alpha’s hands were, steadying him around the waist as his knees threatened to buckle.
The alpha ignored his question, groaning as he sniffed Louis’ neck. “How old are you, love?”
Louis leaned into the alpha’s hold, startled by how good the contact felt. It wasn’t enough, but he wasn’t exactly sure what enough was. All he knew for sure was, this alpha had asked a question, and he needed to try to answer it. “…14.”
“Shit,” he cursed again, gripping Louis tighter. “Do you have your own room?”
He shook his head quickly. “Roommate.”
“Do you have a heat kit?”
“What?” Louis asked, eyes wide as he looked up. The alpha’s eyes were still elsewhere, focused on anything but his own. “First years don’t need them.”
“Clearly you do,” the alpha told him, and that was the end of that debate. Louis nodded his head helplessly, gasping as the alpha picked him up with ease. The next thing he knew, he was being held bridal style and carried outside of the building. Even the breezy air did nothing to help him, his skin prickling with sweat now. “I’m bringing you to the nurse. You’ll be safe there—they have rooms for this kind of thing.”
Louis nodded again, reaching out to touch the alpha’s hair the way he’d imagined just minutes before. It was so soft…He couldn’t help but breathe in his scent as well, not even embarrassed by the light moan that escaped his lips. There was something encompassing about the effect it had on his body, making his entire body pulse.
“What’s going on? Why’s it so…” Fuck. He couldn’t even get the words out, nuzzling into the alpha’s neck shamelessly. “So good.”
The man chuckled softly at that. “What’s your name, love?”
“Louis.”
“Louis,” the alpha repeated, his voice almost musical compared to Louis’, “You’re in heat.”
His mouth went dry at that. Heat. That wasn’t supposed to happen this year—not even next year. He was supposed to be an ordinary omega, going into heat when he was 16.
“Maybe it’s a panic attack. I have those sometimes.”
His heart was racing fast enough, that was for sure. This alpha’s presence was so unlike anything he’d ever experienced—it was nearly overwhelming. It wasn’t so hard to think it’d triggered some sort of attack.
“You’re in heat,” the alpha said, firmly this time.
Or it had triggered his first heat. He gulped, realization setting in. How long did he have before he lost control of himself? Before the dull ache he felt inside flared into a burning need? What did that even mean? Sure, he knew the basics about omega heats, but he was supposed to learn more here, at school.
Actual panic began to mingle with all the other sensations flooding him. “Will you help me?”
“I am helping you. I’m bringing you to the nurse,” the alpha said, his words strained.
“No, I need…” He couldn’t place it, shaking his head as he inhaled another long breath of that wonderful scent. He clung to the alpha, sure about at least one thing, “I need you.”
“You don’t know what you need. You’re too young—haven’t even had a proper sex ed class yet.”
Louis whined, the noise causing the alpha’s jaw to clench. “Why won’t you look at me?”
“I can’t.”
“Please.”
He was acutely aware he wasn’t just asking for a single glance at this point, desperate to meet this alpha’s dark gaze, but also desperate for so much more. His body was making the demands now, hot and needy in the alpha’s hold.
“Stop asking,” the alpha demanded, and something in his voice wouldn’t let Louis argue.
Before he realized it, they were in a separate building. A woman was nearby, exchanging words with his mystery alpha. Louis didn’t spare her a glance, too focused on the fact that his cock was harder than he could ever remember. He shifted in the alpha’s hold, suddenly desperate for some kind of friction.
“What’s—”
“Shh,” the alpha whispered, warm breath tickling his ear. “I need you to let go, love.” His grip on the alpha let up at the request, but not without a whimper and another long inhale of the man’s soothing scent. And then he was being set down on a mattress, his surroundings unfamiliar. “You’re doing so well, Louis. The nurse is going to take care of you now, okay?”
He reached out for the alpha again, only to have his hands caught by the alpha. “Please stay.”
“I can’t,” the alpha said again, shaking his head like he wasn’t convinced yet.
“It’s so hot…”
“Take your blazer off.”
“Harry, you really need to leave now,” the woman urged, a hand on the alpha’s shoulder. Louis scowled at her, but she didn’t seem to notice.
“In a minute,” the alpha, Harry, responded. His eyes were still on Louis, raking his body while still refusing to make eye contact. Louis blinked a few times, trying to process what was happening. The alpha's words came to his mind, and he shrugged off his blazer without another thought. Harry looked so good with that smirk on his face. “Suspenders?”
“Now, Harry,” the nurse insisted, far more adamantly this time.
Something about the look on his face made Louis tremble, vaguely aware that his bum was getting wet. Had he sat on something? He couldn’t quite bring himself to care as he eyed the obvious bulge in the alpha’s pants, the scent of alpha arousal making it impossible to think clearly. “I need you.”
Harry was frozen where he stood, fists clenched and nostrils flaring as he stared at the omega. And then he turned and walked out of the room, the nurse shutting the door behind him with a relieved sigh.
“You’re lucky. That was some remarkable restraint,” the nurse said, but her words were lost on Louis.
He was on his feet already, hurt and confused when she wouldn’t let him near the door. The next thing he knew, she was setting out a few things on the bed—toys that would’ve made him blush under different circumstances. She was talking and talking still, but all he could do was whimper as he thought about the alpha on the other side of that door.
Something told him Harry hadn’t left yet.