Chapter Text
Omegas, Alphas, and Betas.
Secondary genders that most of the population possessed that were not assigned by choice, but by biology.
And in this world, alphas reigned.
Alphas were born leaders. Dominant in both presence and personality, their physiology alone set them apart—larger frames, stronger builds, undeniable strength. They excelled in intellect and charming society with their pheromones laced with power. They didn't need to try. They simply existed, and the world bent to accommodate them.
Omegas, however, were expected to bend.
Omegas are individuals who are usually overshadowed by both alphas and betas. Seen as delicate. Soft. Submissive. More vulnerable. Easier to overlook and even easier to discard. While they may be beautiful, society couldn’t care less about their successions. Of course, that has changed over the years with political movements about omega rights, but some minds are hard to change, especially in a world meant for alphas to dominate.
But Xu Minghao refused to let society define him.
He would never submit to an alpha and never belong to one either.
He didn't want to be someone’s omega. He wanted to be his own person. And while some omegas found comfort in the traditional roles of bonded pairs and appreciated their alphas greatly, Minghao hated the entire dynamic. Mingaho hated what it stood for. What it had done to his family.
The resentment for being an omega and the hatred for alphas stem back to his father, an alpha. This man thought just because of his alpha status, he had the right to control every little detail of his omega wife. From where she went, who she talked to, and how she lived.
Their marriage was an arranged one. They were both dominants, and dominant versions of omegas and alphas are more likely to have a dominant alpha as a child, creating an heir that would go on to be extremely successful. Their bond was also a forced one, not out of love or respect. It was put in place to control and manipulate. Once bonds are done, they are unable to break, making this action one of the most crucial elements within an omega and alpha relationship.
At first, their relationship wasn’t too bad. They were even somewhat close at some point.
Until the day Minghao’s secondary gender manifested.
“An omega?!” His father shouted, fists clenched around test results like they were a personal betrayal.
The doctor's office became quiet as the scent of an angry alpha began to take over.
“Now, Mr.Xu," the doctor said, trying to sound calm. "These may not have been the results you expected, but please note Minghao is a dominant as well. His children will also have a high chance of being dominant alphas.”
But Mr.Xu did not calm down. Instead, he turned to his wife and grabbed her by her shoulders and started to violently shake her.
“You damn woman!” He shouted.
“YOU DAMN OMEGA! You promised an alpha! Instead, I’m stuck with this useless child! What will an omega like him do for us?! Dominant or not, nobody will ever give him a chance!”
The woman trembled in his grip, tears slipping down her face as her body wilted under his pheromones.
Meanwhile, a small Minghao watched from the small swivel chair, legs swinging, eyes wide. He didn't fully understand what was happening or why his father spat in his mom's face, swearing and calling her all sorts of names, but he understood fear.
Minghao looked over to the doctor who stared at the arguing couple with tired eyes. The doctor then picked up the phone and called security, ordering a code 3 which usually meant, this.
When security came and dragged the raging alpha out, the doctor let out a big sigh before he continued explaining the normal run down of what to expect with a dominant omega as they grow. He explained dominants tend to have more intense heats and how Minghao should get his first around 15. He also mentioned that interactions with a compatible alpha would be passionate and extreme. Then they were sent home.
The car ride was quiet, but Minghao could smell the disappointment and rage in his father's scent and the fear and anxiety in his mother's.
His mother smiled the same after that. She was left to suffer from relentless abuse. All because she birthed a child who became like her. A worthless, insignificant, and incompetent omega.
And his father? He made it known every day that he was a disappointment. A mistake. A burden.
And even when the abuse started to land on him as he got older, Minghao did his best to not let it affect him. Even when the memories of when his father hit him for defending his mother played in his head or when the disturbing mantra of being called a terrible mistake and useless by his father screamed in the back of his mind, Minghao always pushed it back.
He would not let himself cower like his mother.
Instead, he will outshine every alpha he meets because an omega can too. An omega can be just as successful, just as bright, and just as powerful. From then on, Minghao’s mindset was to never let an alpha topple over him and if they did, he would bite back fiercely.
—————
It was the start of seventh grade. Minghao was now 12 and it had been 3 years since manifesting as a dominant omega. While it may have been a rocky couple years, Minghao just became more and more motivated to be on top and even built a name for himself.
He had achieved so much. From winning first place at science fairs, being at the top of his class since elementary, and most importantly doing all that as an omega. It made it twice as hard to achieve any of his accomplishments, but he still did it.
Minghao enjoyed the praise he got from his teachers and peers, even basking in the jealous and hateful stares he got from his alpha classmates. As long as he was able to maintain this high position then he’ll be okay.
But of course, society just had to remind him who the world was meant to revolve around.
A transfer student. Tall. Composed. Charismatic. The room shifted the moment he walked in, every gaze following his confident stride. And beneath that school uniform was a scent Minghao recognized immediately:
Alpha. Dominant. Dangerous.
“Hello, everyone. My name is Wen Junhui. I hope you all take care of me the same way I plan to with you guys.” He spoke, bowing politely to the class right after with a smile on his face.
But Minghao wasn’t swayed like the others. Instead he felt challenged.
“Junhui here had has completed so many things just for 12 years old! He recently crushed it at the STEM youth competition a year ago, coming in first place and receiving a scholarship that is going towards his college fund!” The teacher announced proudly, like she was his mother. She only did it because having an alpha like Junhui in her class was a huge honor. And that honor doubled when it was found out he was a dominant.
Minghao could only roll his eyes. He was just as capable of winning that same competition if it weren’t for his lack of opportunities to sign up for it. What infuriated him was how easily the room handed Junhui the attention Minghao had bled for.
He ignored the alpha as he was directed to the empty seat next to Minghao.
Minghao refused to acknowledge him and feed into his ego. Even when Junhui gave him a kind hello, Minghao didn't reply. He simply glanced at him sharply before turning his head back to the board.
The alpha was taken aback. This was something that never happened to him before so he was left pretty puzzled.
Minghao saw it out of the corner of his eye. The confusion, the slight pout, the hesitation. It made a slight smile form on Minghao’s face.
But what he didn't see was the way Junhui kept glancing at him throughout the lesson, focusing on Minghao's features and the rare scent of a dominant omega.
—————
Minghao was greeted with a trail of empty beer cans that led from the kitchen to the living room when he got home that same evening.
He slipped off his shoes and set his backpack down to the side.
He tried to go upstairs to his room quietly and avoid bringing any attention to himself from his father who sat in one of the recliner chairs by the TV.
"Minghao."
He froze.
“Fuck.” Minghao cursed internally.
As he slowly walked back down the stairs and towards his father, he could already smell the disappointment his scent gave off.
“Yes, father?”
His father stared up at him, eyes narrowing at the way Minghao maintained eye contact with him. He threw a beer can at his head and began to go off.
“LOOK DOWN WHEN AN ALPHA IS TALKING TO YOU!” He started.
Minghao didn’t lower his head. He didn't even flinch. Instead, he kept eye contact with his angry father.
This only enraged the alpha more. His father got up from his seat and grabbed Minghao by the back of his neck, shoving him down.
Minghao yelped in pain.
“You want to act defiantly, huh? Like an alpha?" his father sneered. "You’ll never even achieve the lowest level of success in your life!” He said as he pushed Minghao’s neck down with more force, but this time Minghao kept his cries of pain silent.
“I heard that alpha named Wen Junhui transferred to your class. Now that’s an alpha. He’ll go onto be something big, hell, he’s been the talk of the town since he first manifested. Now him, that’s a son I would’ve loved.”
Minghao continued to stay silent, staring down at his father's brown slippers, fists trembling.
With his free hand, his father took a quick sip of a half-empty beer can left on the coffee table.
“Buttttt…I’m stuck with you. A lowlife omega just like your mother.”
And that’s when Minghao lost it.
He dug his nails into the arm that held him down, earning a pained growl from his father.
He was only free for a second before he was met with a hard slap that made him fall to the ground. Blood began to drip from his nose. Another slap came to his face, blood dripping down his mouth this time.
But he remained as calm as possible, even if he was shaking inside and fighting tears, he would not show submission or weakness to his father.
“Even if an alpha were to want you, you’d only cause them misery and trouble with that big ego of yours. They'll only take you to use and break you." His father growled. "I’m happy that Junhui is in your class now. Maybe an alpha like that can put you in your place and destroy whatever confidence you have. You are not meant to be at the top, a disgusting omega like you doesn’t deserve success.”
From behind them, Minghao could hear a small sob. It was his mother, hands over her mouth as she tried to hide her cries from her husband who always screamed about her being too emotional. She ran off when they made eye contact, locking herself away in another room.
Weak, she was, just like his father described all omegas.
—————
Back at school Minghao’s eyes were filled with fury each time he looked at Junhui.
He could only think about the way his father compared them, his voice ringing in his ears- Junhui is a real alpha.. Junhui is the son I wanted..
It didn’t help that Junhui was also starting to score better than him in everything and took his title of top student, destroying every bit of reputation Minghao built for himself. It all twisted inside Mingho like a knife.
“Of course an alpha like Junhui would get the highest score!”
“It was only a matter of time before that omega Mingaho would be taught who's the boss in this world.”
The gossip his alpha classmates spoke made his blood boil. They were excited about his downfall and the arrival of Junhui as if he was some type of savior.
As he continued to watch the way Junhui got swarmed by his peers, a flame lit up inside him, and it only grew when the alpha glanced over at him. Their eyes met across the classroom, Minghao didn't look away. He stared back, unflinching.
Junhui tilted his head slightly, curious.
The more he stared, the more intense his motivation became to beat Wen Junhui no matter what.
It was the beginning of a war.