Harley Day stared at the classroom whiteboard, which was currently dominated by a huge, anatomically detailed diagram of an Alpha’s erect penis. Oh yes, just another regular day at the Omega Academy.
“Now class,” chirped Mrs. Faulkner, “who can tell me the main thing that differentiates Alpha male genitalia from Betas or Omegas?”
Hands shot up.
“Miss Adams?”
Ashley tossed her long black hair before answering. “The knot, of course.”
Of course. Everyone knew that.
“Very good, Miss Adams. Yes, the knot is the larger flare at the base of an Alpha’s penis that enlarges upon arousal.” Mrs. Falkner tapped the board emphatically with her yard stick. As if there was anything else to look at besides the six-foot long penis. “At the point of ejaculation, it grows so large it may lock the two partners together for a few minutes to a few hours. We colloquially call this process ‘knotting.’”
Harley felt his cheeks getting warm, and dropped his head studiously over his notebook.
Mrs. Faulkner strolled up and down the aisles as she spoke. “Science speculates that the knot evolved to trap the Alpha’s sperm inside the Omega partner, to allow for the best chance of impregnation. Fortunately for us,” the teacher added with a smile, “it is, for the most part, a very pleasant sensation. Particularly when the Omega is in heat.”
The students of the Omega Academy were too well trained to giggle, but Harley noticed a few knowing smirks pass between friends.
“Speaking of heat,” the teacher continued, “let’s now look at the Omega male’s internal structure.” She clicked the small remote in her hand, and the slide changed to a new diagram. Harley bent over his notebook, making a quick sketch before labeling each part with his careful cursive handwriting. Normal male parts plus a uterus made for a snug fit, but somehow, it all worked. Even though Harley knew he had all of that inside him, it didn’t make it any less odd-looking.
“When does the first heat normally take place, Mr. Day?”
Harley glanced up from his notes. “Between ages sixteen and twenty, ma’am,” he answered. It had been in last night’s reading homework.
“Good. And the second?”
“A month after the first.”
Mrs. Faulkner nodded in approval. “And the third?”
“It varies, ma’am. Some Omegas have one regular heat a month, but some only have a few a year.”
“Very good, Mr. Day, as always,” she answered. “You all might be interested to know that, as far as scientists have been able to determine, there are no health issues associated with irregular heats, nor do we quite know what causes them. However, whenever a heat does happen, the Omega will be irresistibly driven to breed. Fortunately, in our modern age, there are many options for an Omega, either with a partner or without, to make the process easier.” Mrs. Faulkner paused to tap her yardstick on the desk of a male in the second row. “Mr. Salvador, no slouching, please.”
He immediately sat bolt upright, looking embarrassed. “Apologies, Mrs. Faulkner.”
Everyone instinctively sat up a little straighter. Academy students, as their teachers often informed them, were to be mated to the most powerful men and women in the world one day. And mates of the most powerful men and women in the world didn’t slouch, have messy hair, put on lip gloss in public, or say “um.” Harley didn’t mind the corrections, for the most part. What was wrong with wanting to be put together all the time?
The elegant chimes signifying the end of class rang out, triggering a flurry of shuffling papers. “For your homework, please complete the online quiz before Monday,” Mrs. Faulkner called over the noise. “And enjoy your weekend.”
Harley ignored the shuffle and took a moment to add a few more lines to his notes and record the homework assignment in his planner. He carefully capped his pen and tucked it into the loop inside his bag. A shadow darkened his desk.
“Harley Day, you are slow as molasses,” drawled a female voice.
He looked up to see his suite mate standing over him, arms crossed, one eyebrow raised. “Ellie Robbins, it’s called being organized,” he informed her haughtily, but couldn’t resist breaking into a smile.
She tapped her foot with mock impatience. Harley’s eyes were drawn downward to the killer stiletto heels she wore. “Are you ladies still in formalwear training?” The female Omegas of the Academy were required to take supplementary classes on walking gracefully in heels and floor-length gowns, something Harley was glad the males could avoid.
Ellie slid her foot out to one side, admiring the sheen of the patent leather pump under the classroom lights. “No, silly. That was weeks ago. I just felt like wearing these today.”
“Well, they’re definitely hot,” Harley said, flashing her a smile. He slid out of his desk and slung his bag over one shoulder, and the two merged into the stream of students walking down the hallway.
Ellie slid her arm through his as they walked, giving his bicep an affectionate squeeze. “Ooh, I forgot to tell you,” she chirped, leaning close, a sure sign that she had some gossip to share. “I saw Bryan Lassiter and his new bodyguard on the way to class today! A Beta female, really pretty. She had some serious muscles, too.”
Harley shrugged. “So?”
“So! I think it’s romantic,” Ellie sighed wistfully. “I wish my family could afford a bodyguard.”
He glanced down at her, eyebrow raised. “How is that romantic? She’s paid to follow him around like a trained puppy. And you know as well as I do that it’s a status thing. We have school security already. Families just hire extra to show off.”
“But she’d give up her life for him!”
“Because she’s paid to!”
“Oh Harley, you’re such a guy sometimes. Never mind.” She stuck out her tongue at him, and he had to laugh. “Anyway,” she continued, “some Health class today, huh? I swear they think we’re children. As if we didn’t know what an Alpha’s cock looked like.”
Harley shrugged, feeling the heat rise in his cheeks again. “Well, some of the students are saving themselves for their future mates,” he said carefully. “So I guess the school wants to make sure there aren’t any... unpleasant surprises?”
“Well, it’s a waste of time, especially at our age. But speaking of hot Alphas, isn’t your date tomorrow night?”
He nodded, glad for the subject change. “I think Grant said we have reservations at Le Bleu.”
Ellie’s eyebrows shot up. “That fancy new French place? Lucky boy. Maybe he’ll pop the question!”
Harley smiled weakly. “That’s not happening. My father said I have to graduate before he’ll even entertain a marriage offer. You know that, silly girl.”
“Well, graduation is only a few months off. And anyway, it’s not your father that’s marrying the guy, is it?” Ellie poked him in the ribs. “Do you always do what you’re supposed to, Harl?”
“For the most part, yes. What’s wrong with that?”
She shook her head. “Sometimes you have to do what’s right for you, not what someone else tells you to do. You know that, yeah?”
He glanced down at her, unable to suppress a flash of irritation. “Of course I do! And anyway, who says I don’t want to wait, too? We have finals coming up soon, and graduation, and -“
Ellie laughed. “Pfft, like this is some serious academic school. You know as well as I do that they’re training us to be good mates, not rocket scientists.”
“That’s no excuse for laziness,” Harley retorted, still irritated at her previous remark.
She tugged on his arm, looking contrite. “Don’t be mad at me, sweetie. To be honest, I’m jealous of your dedication. I just have trouble taking all this seriously sometimes. I mean, we have classes on flower arranging and organizing a seasonal wardrobe and how to choose competent household staff. Sometimes it’s all so... I dunno, fake? Shallow?” She looked up at him, questioningly. “Don’t you ever feel that way?”
“No,” Harley lied. “Learning how to take care of our future mates is important. And on that note, aren’t you late for cooking class?”
Ellie smirked. “Let’s hope my future mate likes going out to eat. I’ll talk to you later, Harl.” She gave him a quick hug and trotted off down a separate hallway, her heels clicking with every step.
***
Harley flopped down onto his bed and gazed up at the ceiling. Classes were long over, and the sun was beginning to set, painting his room with twilight shadows. He’d done his homework already (including assignments for the next week), read ahead in all his classes, did his evening yoga asanas, and had even done some personal research on this season’s new fashion trends.
And after all that, he couldn’t get Ellie’s stupid remark out of his head: “Sometimes you have to do what’s right for you, not what someone tells you. You know that, yeah?”
What was wrong with doing what his family said? He was their only child, they expected a lot of him, even though he was an Omega and not some high-powered Alpha. Like the school had drilled into their heads since day one, Omegas were important too: they produced children for their mates, ran their households, and raised the next generation. If being able to bring new life into the world wasn’t amazing, Harley didn’t know what was.
He placed his hands on his flat stomach, trailing his fingertips in slow circles. It would be so cool to be a father and carry a pup of his own. Harley had always dreamed about that: a little princess or a rough and tumble boy, someone he could show the world to. Maybe even more than one.
Harley glanced at the vase of pristine roses on his desk, luridly red, even in the fading light. He wondered how many pups Grant would want. Strange to think they’d never talked about it.
In fact, there was a lot he didn’t know about his future husband.
But then, there was a lot his future husband didn’t know about him.
Harley shook his head as if that would banish the thought. Ok, he needed to get out of here. Even with the air conditioner blasting, it felt way too hot and stuffy in his room.
He glanced out the window. Twilight had deepened to the indigo of evening, and the first stars were flickering into view. The Academy rules stated that students were forbidden to be out after dark without an escort, but he didn’t want a school bodyguard spoiling his solitude with annoying questions about where he was going.
Harley sat up. What if... he just went? And didn’t tell anyone? He knew the campus well enough that he could avoid the main walkways. There was a little forest behind the art building; it would be nice to sit under the trees and watch the moon rise. Before he could chicken out, Harley hopped off the bed.
He tucked his keys and phone into his pockets and made his way out into the dorm hallway. It was deserted, but he could hear the sounds of music and chatter coming from behind the closed doors. He sped up, padded quietly down the stairs, and pushed open the door to freedom.
The night air was cool and sweet, and fragrant with night blooming jasmine. He breathed it in, immediately feeling more relaxed. It felt good to be out and moving around. It wouldn’t do to have security spot him and drag him back to the dorm, so he stepped off the sidewalk and cut between two buildings to avoid the streetlights. He felt a little rush of adrenaline as he walked: Harley Day, bad boy rule breaker. He had to stifle a snicker at his own silliness.
It was strange to be alone, but not unpleasant. He crossed the campus on silent feet, savoring the breeze that caressed his face. His skin felt oddly warm. Maybe he was coming down with something? But he’d worry about that later. Harley slipped down the grassy space between the art building and the yoga studio and emerged under the trees.
It was so quiet back here. The only sound was the rustle of leaves and his own soft breathing. He leaned up against a tree, closing his eyes, just enjoying the silence.
The sound of a twig snapping made Harley’s eyes fly open. When he whipped around, a flashlight beam sliced through the dark like a knife through butter, hitting Harley square in the face. He instinctively threw up his arms to shield his eyes. “Hey!”
“Are you a student?”
“Of course I am,” he said, still unable to see the questioner. “And who are you?”
The beam lowered, revealing a burly man in the school’s security uniform. Drat. He was busted. “Sergeant Smith. If you’re a student, you would know better than to be out after dark, mister. I’m going to need to see your ID.”
Harley reached into his pocket where he usually kept his wallet but found it empty. In his haste to sneak out, he must have forgotten it. “It’s back in my dorm,” he said meekly. “I can take you there and get it if you want.”
The security guard stepped closer, sizing up Harley with a skeptical frown. Harley could smell him, old-fashioned aftershave layered over sweat, with something metallic under that. Sergeant Smith paused, and the Omega could see him taking a deep breath, his nostrils flaring. His expression changed: the man’s eyes narrowed, and a distinctly unpleasant smile spread across his pudgy cheeks. “Shit, boy, you smell tasty.”
Harley felt like he’d swallowed a block of ice, but he tilted his chin up, looking the man square in the eye. “That is highly unprofessional, Sergeant. I’m going to need your badge number.” He couldn’t keep the shake out of his voice, and the bigger man laughed contemptuously.
“An Omega in heat out alone at night? You’re going to get more than my badge number, pretty boy.”
In heat? What the heck is he talking about?
Faster than he looked, the Sergeant lunged at Harley, trapping him in a bear hug from behind. Harley’s vocal cords froze in terror as he felt something cold and sharp resting lightly against his windpipe. Fear paralyzed him, and he could only whimper as the big man leaned forward to growl into his ear:
“You and me, we’re going to have some fun tonight.”