Chapter 1- Finding Safety

After that fight with my dad, I decided to leave. I don't know where everything went wrong, we used to be such a happy family. No... That's a lie. I know where everything went wrong, I became a worthless omega. Why did everything have to get so fucked up? I just don't understand. I tried to be the son he wanted me to be, I tried to make him happy. I abandoned everything about myself in order to be who he wanted me to be. But... An arranged marriage? I don't want that at all! 

 After thinking through the events of the evening, I felt secure in my decision to leave. The sounds of laughter and cheers passed between friends and family as they promised each other new beginnings, their excitement finding its' way into this otherwise lifeless room. It helped me stele my resolve, and I began rapidly packing my things. Filling my two dingy and worn-down duffel bags with some clothes, a charger, my tablet, a pair of shoes, and some toiletries, my heartbeat grew faster. Am I making the right decision? Can I really do this? What will happen when I leave? Coming back will never be a choice once I set foot outside the front doors. 

The reality of my situation sank in. This must be what it's like to be abandoned by your family. Shaking out any doubts that managed to work their way in, I grabbed the shoe box situated in the far corner of my closet under the pile of dirty clothes. $3,480.93, that was all the money I was able to save over the last couple of years. Looking at my cell phone I pulled up my messenger app and created a group chat with Jayce and Cal. 

"Jayce, Cal, I think it's for the best that I leave and try to find my own way out in the world. Dad already knows that I will be leaving, and I ask that you give me time and space. I will reach out to you two when the time is right, but right now I just want to get away and try living for myself." 

After I sent it, I turned my phone off and tossed it on my bed. Heading to the dining room, I took out a piece of paper and wrote my dad a note. 

"If I have to spread my legs for someone, I'd rather spread them for someone of my choosing, not yours. Have a nice life." 

I doubt he went to bed actually believing that I would choose to leave. Well, jokes on him. I am not some weak omega who will break at the slightest inconvenience. I grabbed the note and posted it on the fridge. I wish I could see his reaction when he reads it, but I suppose that would defeat the entire purpose. I did one last mental check over my things to make sure nothing was forgotten. 

Shit! My medication. This was the most crucial, yet most looked over aspect of my departure - my inhibitors. Of all the things I am taking with me, this is the one thing that I cannot go without. It also happens to be the one thing that I can't take with me. Unable to leave the house without someone with me, and not having free access to my medication to ensure I could not freely leave. I suppose it was an effective method to keep me locked up, at least until now. 

I'll be damned if I start this new year still oppressed under his thumb. Fuck it, what's the worst that can happen? My heat is not due for around another ten days, and I have enough money to stay in a hotel for a while. There are some hotels exclusively for omegas, so I will just need to find a way there before it arrives. I can do this. At 12:10am on January 1st, 2023, I took my first step out the door without anyone there with me. This is how I will finally find myself, obtain the future I used to freely dream of as a child, and break away from the shackles forced onto me under the pretext of safety and love - and did not look back. 

Walking down the residential streets of Portland as a nineteen year-old runaway had my heart beating so fast, almost like it was trying to explode out of my chest. This is my hometown, filled with bittersweet memories. Broken fragments of the past are scrambled in my mind, from hazy memories of my mother to the almost faded moments of being a genuinely happy family. 

Feeling both nostalgic and excited, the shadows of the night became my only friend, providing me with both comfort and refuge while trying to cover as much ground as possible. Glancing at the time it read 1:47 am. Considering my journey started around an hour and a half ago, one would think I at least covered six to eight miles, but the truth was I barely managed three. Worried that my dad realized I was gone and set out to find me, I frantically found a place to hide with every passing car, and with every corner I came across my pace slowed while holding my breath to peak around it. 

Pulling my tablet out of the duffel bag I quickly looked at the map that was screenshot in my camera roll. Just a couple more miles until the omega only hotel Le Bova. Being a rather pricier hotel, and with father not knowing that there is in fact a decent wad of cash in my possession, the plan is to hide there for a few nights until my next moves get sorted out. After another forty-five minutes or so the bustling city streets of Downtown Portland came into view. 

Finding myself near Tom McCall Waterfront Park, the sounds of drunken laughter, live music, and continuous "Happy New Year's!" cheers filled the air. The lights that decorated the surrounding area danced along the Willamette River and reflected the cloudy night sky above. While standing there and taking in this beautiful scene before me, little white flurries softly floated down from above. The first snow of the year, it's so beautiful. Staring up at the sky, snowflakes landed on my cheeks and lashes. While the cold winter of Portland used to leave a bitter chill that never seemed to go away, in this moment surrounded by laughter and twinkling lights, I couldn't help but feel pure warmth. 

Almost getting lost in the festivities before me, a woman (presumably one who had too much to drink) ran straight into my back, soaking my jacket in some sort of ghastly mixture of alcohol.

"Uh-oh, 'scuse me sssir I'mmm sooo sorry"

Oh yeah, she's absolutely plastered.

"It's alright, I was the one standing in the middle of this walkway to begin with. Enjoy the rest of your night."

With that incident snapping me back to reality I continued walking the outskirts of the park to get to the hotel that was just a block and a half away. 

Unfortunately, avoiding a large group of people while making my way to the hotel turned out to be impossible. My only choice now was to go through them as fast as possible. Since having awakened as an Omega five years ago my social interactions have been greatly limited, which resulted in my lack of experience on dealing with pheromones.

Forced to go to an Omega only school high school until graduation, not being allowed to get a job, being forced to cut off contact from all friends that didn't meet the "standard" father expected, I was not sure what to expect. 

In my high school health class, the instructor mentioned something about how alcohol can cause someone to lose control over their pheromones, and if the slight sense of happiness, arousal, and expectation that wafted through the air was any indicator, most of these people had indulged just enough to lose some control.

The biggest problem right now is that my inhibitors are locked away somewhere in father's room, and not having been around even a large group of people while they were all sober, I truly did not know what to expect. Unfortunately, I found out soon. 

Walking swiftly to try and avoid attracting attention while also getting to the hotel as fast as possible was the only thing that I could think of doing. Making my way further to the park's center, the mixture of pheromones in the air grew heavier and thicker. Couples littered the now snow-dusted grass, sitting on blankets and having a grand time. The pheromones being released between them got carried into the air and made their way to me. 

Getting thicker and thicker as time went on, it soon started to feel like torture. I am going to be sick. Using my scarf to wrap around my nose and mouth was the only thing I could think of doing. I feel dizzy. I feel hot. I am going to be sick. My heart is beating like crazy. Looking around, the walkway leading out of the park was just a hundred feet away. I can do this. I just need to go 100 feet. I just need to get to the walkway, then I will practically be at the hotel. 

My scarf became wet from some unknown source, and it was not until I reached my hand up to my face that I realized tears were streaming down my cheeks. When did I start crying? Taking my scarf off allowed the cool winter air to brush my face. It felt so nice and refreshing, I wanted to feel more of it. When did I become so hot? Unable to handle it any longer, I took off my jacket. Ahhhh, this is nice. It is so cool and crisp.

Feeling the snowflakes and winter air hit my bare skin felt amazing, yet the dizziness and tears did not dissipate. What the fuck do I do?! Mustering up the last bit of strength in my possession, I grabbed my duffel bags tightly and ran. Holding my breath hurt my lungs but breathing made me want to vomit and alternating between the two started to make me panic. I'm almost out of the park, just hold on a little longer. I knew what this feeling was, it was the start of a heat cycle. Why? It's not supposed to be for another ten days. Why?! 

Suddenly everything went still. My heart rate slowed, my breathing became deeper and slower, the dizziness went away and the urge to throw up dissipated. In their place came an unbearable ache that burned deep in my belly. Breaking into a full-blown sprint before all my senses became lost, I made my way to the edge of the park. A block and a half, that is all the distance left. The sidewalks aren't too crowded, and having made it past the insanely dense group of people means that the worst is over. 

Just make it to the hotel before you lose yourself. After catching my breath, I was about to take a step forward to continue. What? A sudden calmness and stillness filled my entire being. Everything suddenly felt like it was going to be okay. The smell of rain filled my senses, but there was only a light snow dusting the ground below. Looking around I started whispering to myself, "where is this coming fr-". My heart skipped a beat, and my breath hitched in my throat. The tears that barely managed to stop began pouring out again.

Before realizing what was even happening, I found myself before this unknown man, but there was only one thing I could think of - safe.