Chapter Text
Max knows the announcement is coming before anyone else. The FIA president, Mohammed, had warned him beforehand about the rule they would change. It doesn't make it sting any less. Max is going to lose his career because no one in the pack wanted him.
Mohammed approaches Max right after the rule change is announced. omegas without a pack can't race in F1. He squeezes Max’s shoulder. Max doesn't know if it's comforting or not.
“It's for your own health,” Mohammed mutters, “omegas need packs to thrive. You've been running on reserves without a pack all this time.”
Max swallows and has to fight his tears. “I don't have a pack. The driver's pack doesn't want me. Red Bull doesn't have a pack. My family is too scattered to form a pack with them… I have no one. Nothing,” he whispers. He swallows again. “And now I won't even have racing.”
“You have me,” Mohammed says. “My pack would be pleased to take you in.”
Max's eyes widen. “Your pack?”
Mohammed ruffles his hair. “My pack,” he repeats. “As you know tragedy befell us a few years ago and we… We need a young omega in the pack for the continuation of the pack. We can help each other out. You'd be very wanted.”
Max doesn't want to like it, doesn't want to be tempted. But he is. It's nice to be wanted for once, even if it's someone like Mohammed with intentions that aren't clear. The very man that put him into this situation in the first place. But Max wants a pack, he has always wanted a pack and he desperately wants to be wanted. Mohammed is offering him everything he desires on a silver platter. Max will ignore the tarnish.
“I will… I will accept your offer,” Max says. “I do really want a pack and I need to race. Just don't be disappointed when I'm not a perfect omega. I've been told I'm… Difficult.”
Mohammed smiles at him and strokes his cheek, “I enjoy a challenge, sweetheart. And you are not as difficult as you think. I've done my research. You are quite soft and sweet when you aren't driving and yelling on the radio.”
Mohammed grabs a pack bracelet from his pocket, almost as if he knew Max would say yes, and gently puts it around Max’s wrist. He looks pleased.
“We'll announce it right away, tell your team they don't need to look for a lesser driver,” Mohammed says. He presses a kiss to Max’s hand, then links their hands and leads Max to the Red Bull hospitality unit.
Once they enter, Mohammed snaps his fingers together to grab everyone's attention. Laurent rushes up to them and looks at their linked hands, then studies Max’s face.
“Max has so gracefully agreed to join my pack,” Mohammed says, “So he will be allowed to continue to drive. Isn't it wonderful?”
“And he did so willingly?” Laurent raises an eyebrow.
“No other pack will have me, Laurent,” Max says in a small voice, “I need to take what I can get. At least this way I can keep driving and Mohammed's pack will have the omega they need. I can be a good omega.” His scent goes sour.
Laurent looks worried but doesn't press further. He just nods. “Well then we better announce that.”
Mohammed grins. “I have a draft ready,” he says. “I had a feeling Max would see sense about this. It's very beneficial. And he's such a good omega.”
Max knows Mohammed is being kind of weird about this. He does. But it feels so nice to finally be called a good omega. Unlike the driver's pack who always made fun of him and told him he couldn't nest properly and would never be a good omega and wouldn't let him join anything.
Max clings tighter to Mohammed's hand, scared it will all be removed from him. What if it's all a dream and Max wakes up tomorrow without a pack again? The very thought makes his chest hurt.
The statement is published.
It causes chaos in the paddock and every team principal and half the drivers are demanding a meeting. Max doesn't get it. Do they not want him to have any pack? That's… mean. He… He knows he's not allowed in their packs. Sebastian and Lewis and the others had made that very clear and none of the younger drivers gave a fuck about it. But preventing him from joining another pack, being outraged… that's just cruel.
Mohammed scents his neck. “Shh, Maxy, they can whine but they can't keep you from my pack. Fighting against it would require their pack be dismantled too. The rules are very fascinating like that. And that means none of their omegas drive.”
“Okay,” Max says, taking a deep breath.
Mohammed is little too prepared for this. Max isn't blind to that. But it's hard to care about that right now.
They create space for a meeting in a somewhat neutral space in the paddock. Max stands in the corner of the room. Everyone's angry scents make him anxious.
“Max should be in the driver's pack,” Lewis says, “Not the FIA president's pack.”
Max snorts. Everyone turns to look at him. “You mean the driver's pack you never allowed me to join, even though I was a rookie and freshly presented. You and Sebastian and the others made fun of me. Mocked me. Banned me. And you never apologized for it, never invited me into your pack afterwards. Everyone else was allowed to join except me. And now you say I suddenly belong in your pack?!”
Lewis looks chastised. Several other, younger, drivers protest.
“Lewis told us you didn't want to join the pack,” Charles says, “That you just weren't into packs. And that Mohammed is forcing you to be in his.”
“Lewis is a little creative with the truth,” Max says. “He banned me. It should be in your pack archive. They wrote a very fancy letter to cover their asses.” He sighs. “And Mohammed didn't really force me. Much. He proposed a deal that is beneficial to us both and… it's nice to be finally wanted by a pack.”
Mohammed smirks while Charles makes a choking noise.
“Max is very smart,” Mohammed says, “and such a good omega.” He winks at Max.
Charles growls. “I wanted him in the pack. I want him. And you've taken him from me because Lewis is apparently a fucking idiot.”
Max shivers. He doesn't know what to do. He committed himself to a pack. But Charles… He has always had a soft spot for Charles.
Mohammed growls back at Charles. “Max is my omega. It's neither of our faults that none of you knew how to communicate and let an omega know he's desired and loved. You've allowed him to suffer all these years and now that he is finally in a pack where he will get the very best care and adoration, you think you can suddenly claim him. I will not allow it.”
Mohammed is right. They had let him suffer all this time.
“It's bad for omegas to not have a pack,” Max says, echoing what Mohammed had told him earlier.
“You've been fine,” George says, “You literally won four titles without a pack.”
“While making myself sick with suppressants and always being lonely,” Max says. “Please don't take this away from me.” He starts to cry. “I've waited so long to have a pack to serve. Mohammed will be good to me.”
“You just want more favoritism,” Lewis says bitterly. George, Lando and Zak agree with him.
Mohammed looks ready to murder someone and Charles looks ready to join him.
“I want a pack!” Max yells. “I have always just wanted a fucking pack! Fuck you, you are a joke of a pack Alpha.”
Mohammed moves closer to Max and wraps his arms around Max and whispers encouraging words. Almost paternal. It's confusing.
Charles gives them a calculating look. “I want to join your pack, if you'll allow it.”
Mohammed looks intrigued. “You'll have to accept me as your pack alpha and you'll have no guarantee to be with our new pack omega. Do you understand?”
“I understand,” Charles says. “It's worth it, if I can finally share a pack with Max.”
“Very well,” Mohammed says. “You can join.” He looks around the room. “Anyone else?”
Isack, Liam, Arvid, Kimi, Franco, Pierre, Ollie, Gabi, Oscar and Laurent all raise their hands.
“Omega, Maxy, will you have them in our pack?” Mohammed asks.
Max nods and smiles, overwhelmed and shy. “Yes, Alpha.”
“Then they shall join,” Mohammed says.
Lewis looks furious. “You can't just take half my fucking pack.”
“Do you want to keep them against their will? A good leader, a good alpha, offers better things than force,” Mohammed says calmly.
“This isn't fucking over,” Lewis yells, “I will fight this.”
“Try me,” Mohammed challenges. Not looking impressed at all. “I will win. The way you treated Max as a rookie and freshly presented omega, constitutes as omega abuse. I will ensure the world knows about this if you try me. You have shamed a good omega by abandoning him and pushing him away, by not owning him the way you should.”
Max cuddles into Mohammed's side. It feels so good to finally have an alpha who stands up for him. People who want to be in a pack with him, even if it causes problems with others.
“Good omega,” Mohammed praises. “Boys, help me find a good temporary nesting space for our omega. He needs cuddles. This meeting is over.”
“I have nice sheets for nesting in my motorhome,” Max offers shyly. “We can use those for a good nest.”
Mohammed ruffles his hair and smiles. He leads Max out of the room, to his motorhome. The others eagerly follow them.
The pack politics aren't over but Max doesn't care, not right now. He will serve his pack and his pack will keep him safe. He's sure of it.
“I can actually make nice nests,” Max says, “They lied and said I couldn't. But they are good. I work very hard on them. You… you should all come cuddle in my nest.”
“We will be honored, Max,” Charles says.
Max preens. He is finally owned. He belongs. He is a good omega.