Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

Magnus Hawthorne awoke a few minutes before the bell, blinking back sleepiness in the dark room. He sat up, his white covers pooling around his legs on the narrow bed. He glanced down the room, where the thirteen Hawthornes from class 1 slept, based on their numbers. As 001 Hawthorne, Magnus slept right by the wall, at the start of one of the two rows of single beds that ran the length of the room in parallel lines. The windows were shuttered, for the safety of the omegas who slept inside. Magnus clicked the little lamp on his bedside cabinet. The adorable moon shape of it glowed a soft yellow. It was another reminder of what Magnus was supposed to be – sweet, adorable, obedient, trusting.

Magnus hated that fucking light.

‘’I’m gonna kill you...’’ Aramis – 002 Hawthorne – said softly from the bed next to Magnus’. He was still mostly asleep and the threat was a force of habit. It was the only time Aramis didn’t watch his diction, pronunciation and perfectly polite language. The pale-haired omega rolled over, away from the invasive light of the lamp, catching his last precious minutes of sleep.

Magnus got out of bed, his bare feet hitting the soft carpet. He found his slippers with his toes and nudged them on, standing. He walked down the row of beds and bedside closets to the other end of the room. He sat at his station in the dark. He hated this station, too. It was a small, pastel blue table with a large mirror and a puffy stool. Atop the mirror was a carved 001. Not his name, but his number. He was the first Hawthorne. In the darkness of the room, penetrated only by his lamplight from a distance, he was barely visible in the mirror but Magnus knew exactly what he looked like. He’d been forced to stare at his reflection for most of his life. He sighed, running his hand through his pink hair. He wished he could shave it off so it wouldn’t be such a nuisance. It was like having a sign above his head reading: ‘HEY! ALPHAS, LOOK AT ME! I’M AN OMEGA!’. All omegas were beautiful, rare and their strange, exotic hair colours made them all the more desirable. Everybody knew the Hawthorne Academy omegas were the most beautiful, their hair the nicest to look at, their faces perfect. Magnus grabbed his cheek, pinching it to get it to go from its usual pristine, porcelain pale colour to something more real. Something less practiced.

The lights in the room all turned on as one and Magnus cringed, blinking his violet eyes rapidly. The shutters lifted with a magnetic hum, letting in morning sunlight. The bell went off. It was called a bell, but it sounded like a siren. The shrill, wailing sound of it was sure to wake a dead man. Magnus felt sorry for the three omega babies that were too little to be put in any class yet. The loud sound made them cry every time. As the thirteen omegas, aged sixteen to nineteen, got up, grumbling and rubbing their colourful hair, Magnus looked back at himself in the mirror. Every morning for the past nineteen years he’d woken up hoping he’d look different – that he’d have dull brown hair and an ordinary face. But, no. As every morning, he was breath-takingly beautiful. His skin was so white he was often compared to a doll and the reddened cheek he’d pinched only added to his charm. His eyebrows were rounded and pink, a paler pink than his rosy hair, barely visible. His sharp, slanted eyes were a deep, mysterious violet. The shape of his lips, the curve of his neck, each finger on his hands...it was all so beautiful. Magnus smacked his hands under his eyes, tugging down and pulling a face at himself, his tongue stuck out. The siren cut off.

‘’Have you finally gone mad, Magny?’’ Elwyn cackled, coming over. The pristine white pyjamas they all wore were messy on him, some of his buttons popped open during the night. The navy-haired omega had been sold to the academy at the age of thirteen. He’d only been in Hawthorne Academy for five years and he was much less refined than some of the other ones, especially since he didn’t really try.  

There was a loud skid and a bang as two of the omegas – Nadya, 010 Hawthorne, and Broderick, 004 Hawthorne – tripped over themselves as they fought to get to the doors, and to the showers beyond, first, ‘’animals!’’ Aramis snapped at them in disgust as they skidded past. He was by far the most proper of all the omegas. His hair was silky and baby blue, his face regal as a prince’s. He also had a foul personality which Magnus knew about best – they had grown up together in the Academy when it had still been an orphanage and Aramis’ bed was right next to his, as he was 002, ‘’would anyone blame me?’’ Magnus sighed, dropping his hands.

‘’Our baby Brodie is lively today,’’ Lys came over, too, smiling fondly. Magnus had no idea how his best friend was so chipper every morning. His long, violet purple hair was tied in a braid that contrasted with his white pyjamas.

‘’There was no warm water let yesterday evening,’’ Elwyn said.

The doors to the class 1 dormitory opened and Miss Valesca, one of the carers for the oldest class, came in. She looked appalled, clapping her hands. The omegas who weren’t yet by their stations or in the showers rushed to line up in front of their mirrors, ‘’honestly,’’ the beta put her hands on her hips, ‘’you know how this goes. We don’t have all day! Get yourselves ready.’’

‘’Yes, miss Valesca,’’ the omegas chorused obediently, sitting down.

Magnus looked down at the products laid out neatly in front of him on his table. Moisturiser, face cream, eyelash serum, lip products, body mists and sprays...there were an endless supply of all things Magnus was expected to stick on himself to make sure he looked as beautiful as possible. Most days, he couldn’t be bothered but Valesca was in the room so he took his moisturising cream and rubbed it into his face. He glanced to the left. Under mirror 002 Aramis was doing his skin-care routine while looking as stuck up as always. Magnus rolled his eyes and looked further. Lys was humming to himself as he undid his violet braid, running his hands through the gentle waves. Elwyn looked like he was going to fall asleep as he ran a brush through his navy curls, over and over again. Greer, 006 Hawthorne, got herself ready in the same zombie-like, dejected fashion as always. Next to her Morpheus, 007 Hawthorne, didn’t look much letter. Magnus had never been able to crack him. In the sea of beautiful omegas at the Academy, he ranked up there with Magnus – his body was soft in all the right places, his fingers were long and elegant and his eyes were a startling green. His hair was a light purple but it seemed to shimmer silver in certain lights, like a pastel oil spill. He’d been brought to the academy six years prior, when he’d been only eleven and the war had just ended, but he’d never adjusted to his life as a pretty bird in a beautiful cage. His eyes were always downcast. He barely said a word.

‘’Faster, Magnus,’’ Miss Valesca snapped, walking past, ‘’you have many lessons to get through today and headmistress Hawthorne has a special announcement for all of you.’’

This got the omegas chatting excitedly in hushed tones until the carer quietened them again. As those who hadn’t showered the evening before emerged from the bathroom, Magnus got up from his stool. Valesca left, reminding them not to be late to breakfast. Magnus went back to his bed and crouched by his bedside closet, opening it. Inside, hanging from the top to the bottom of the space on three hangers were three identical striped blue blazers. On the top shelves were three pristinely folded white shirts, a length of silk purple ribbon and three sets of pale blue trousers. The lowest shelf held a tray of clean underwear and another tray of clean socks. By his bed were his black school shoes. Magnus got dressed quickly. It was second nature to all the omegas in class 1 by now. They’ve been dressing in the same thing for years. Magnus didn’t recall wearing anything different after he turned five and the orphanage got taken over by Hawthorne. It became an academy and Magnus got permanently stuck with two outfits – his white pyjamas and his uniform.

The trousers came just below his knee, like the skirts of the girls, and the gap was compensated for with white knee-high socks. Magnus felt a little like a child in the uniform, especially once he tied the purple ribbon into a loose bow around his neck, but he knew the uniform was supposed to make the students look innocent and pure. He folded his pyjamas and tucked them under his pillow. Opposite him, Elwyn threw his under his covers unfolded. He’d have dinner privileges taken away for that if there was inspection but lately, as graduation approached, he seemed more and more determined to be as bad an omega as you could be in this place. The impending date made Magnus, too. As if reading his thoughts, his friends – Elwyn, Lys and Brodie – all looked towards him, their faces grave. The thought of what they would try to pull off made Magnus’ heart pound even now.

*~*~*

‘’Good morning, my dear Hawthornes,’’ Miss Hawthorne greeted them in the dining hall, standing over the teacher’s table with a benevolent smile, ‘’I hope you have all slept well and are ready for a day of learning and training to be the best omega that you can be.’’

It was a Saturday so instead of either cereal or porridge, breakfast was omelettes. Magnus, Brodie, Lys and Elwyn could barely control themselves as they sat down at the class 1 table and dug into their breakfast as soon as Hawthorne was done saying her daily greeting. They had to mind proper table etiquette and they tried to eat as fast as they could without breaking it. Even Elwyn wasn’t stupid enough to give up such a good breakfast for the sake of rebellion. Polite, muted conversation filled the room. The teachers all sat at the head table. The classes all had their own table in the dining room. Class 1 was on the far left and class 4, with omegas aged two to six, on the far right, with carers bustling around to help feed the children. Class 3, with kids aged seven to ten, was concentrating on getting their manners right. Mishaps were still accepted from that table but class 2, aged eleven to fifteen, was supposed to be as perfect at the table as class 1. There were thirteen omegas in class 1, ten in class 2, twenty-two in class 3, eight in class four and three babies without a class yet.

Fifty six children nobody wanted after the war in total.

Elwyn finished his omelette at the same time as Magnus and he reached for his milk, taking a healthy gulp. Just then, Miss Hawthorne stood up. That was unusual. She rarely interrupted breakfast. Elwyn remembered what miss Valesca had said – there was an announcement. All heads turned to the headmistress as she clicked her spoon against her glass, ‘’girls and boys, as you know, the choosing day for class 1 is approaching,’’ the students clapped politely, all dressed in the same striped uniforms. Miss Hawthorne smiled kindly, ‘’I know many of you are waiting eagerly for that day, especially class 2. Since we opened this academy fourteen years ago, we have been working towards this – our first ever choosing day,’’ Hawthorne put her hand against her chest, emotional, ‘’there will be alphas from all over Hamnel coming to see my darlings from class 1, who have blossomed into beautiful Hawthornes. I’m sure they will make me proud.’’

‘’As you all know, the choosing day is very important. It’s your time to shine and show yourself off to a prospective alpha who will then likely desire to claim you and make you theirs,’’ Hawthorne continued. As she spoke, some of the students bristled while others, like Aramis, sat up straighter with a smug smile. Aramis was one of the most desirable omegas in class 1, ‘’after that, for the first time, you will finally leave your home, the academy, behind and begin a new life with your alpha, providing them with a wonderful home life and a beautiful family. You, my dears,’’ she gestured to them all, ‘’are the most wanted brides of the world. Alphas will do anything for you. They will give you the world,’’ the younger kids grinned. The prospect of that sounded wonderful to them, ‘’which is why you must all study well,’’ Hawthorne added before turning to the class 1 table, ‘’now, I have a special announcement for you. The choosing day is exciting in itself. The ball that follows the week after, in which you will find out which alphas have bid the highest for you, is even more so. But there is more,’’ she beamed at them, pausing for dramatic effect, ‘’I was just informed yesterday evening that the Queen’s son himself, the young, handsome Prince Leopold, will attend and choose an omega bride for himself out of you lucky thirteen!’’

The room exploded in excited gossip and gasps. For once, Hawthorne didn’t quiet them. The class 1 table was in an uproar. Prince Leopold Valerie was known for many things. For one, he was rumoured to be stunningly handsome. None of the omegas knew what he looked like, because there was no TV or newspapers at the academy, but many day-dreamed about him. He was often spoken about by the teachers as one of the most eligible alphas. The carers gossiped, though, and some of the students overheard. Apparently the Prince was also so capricious and spoiled that he could not hold down any omega. None wanted him despite his status and beauty. It was no surprise that in the end, he chose to attend the true opening of the mysterious Hawthorne Academy – the first choosing ceremony of many to follow. Class 1 was Miss Hawthorne’s guinea pigs and this would be the greatest experiment of them all. If it succeeded, it would bring fame and glory to the Academy.

But not everybody was happy with the news.

‘’Fuck the prince and fuck you!’’

The room fell silent as if someone had flipped a switch. Magnus sucked in a breath. Elwyn gasped. Lys and Brodie whipped around to the class 2 table, where a young green-haired boy stood, trembling with anger. He could be twelve at most and Elwyn vaguely recognised him. He’d only been in the academy a year, which was unusual. They hadn’t had a new arrival since the babies. Most of the omegas had been taken to the orphanage as young children. Those that came later came a year or two after the war that claimed the lives of many families, leaving many omegas without anyone in the world. Hawthorne had swept in and ‘adopted’ the children as her own, creating this academy. She had been praised for it, called a martyr and a saint. But as the omegas inside the academy grew up they realised what they all were – cattle to be sold off to the highest bidder. The Academy trained them to be perfect prisoners. They groomed and taught and scared them into it. They punished them into it.

This boy didn’t understand that yet.

‘’Oh, dear,’’ Miss Hawthorne said, her smile disappearing as she looked down on the boy, who trembled with anger. She waved a hand, ‘’I think this one needs a little time out to cool his head.’’

From the corners, where they had nearly blended with the walls, the enforcers came. They were betas but they had been trained for this. They were huge, their muscles bulging. They had gear on them that could shock and hit and hurt. Next to Elwyn, 008 Hawthorne, red-haired Yota, slumped, trying to make himself unseen. He was trembling, his eyes glassy with terrified tears. Many of the omegas around the room cowered. Down the table Hawthorne 009, Dirk, clenched his teeth, his hands forming fists under the table. Elwyn remembered him growing up – he was explosive and angry and he hadn’t ever been afraid to kick, bite and punch his way out of lessons and lectures on how to be the perfect omega. Elwyn had initiated a friendship with him, once. His defiance had attracted the curly-haired omega. But then Dirk got punished one too many times. Now his neon-green hair hung in his eyes as he ducked his head, his whole body tense. He wanted to lash out. Elwyn knew he did. He wanted to himself, many times. But he was too afraid. He’d been punished before. And Dirk...he’d been punished one too many times.

They had broken him.

The boy that had shouted obscenities reminded Elwyn of himself, or Dirk, when they hadn’t understood the consequences of their actions yet. When they had been rebellious when they first came. To his credit, he refused to back down or look afraid as the enforces marched up to him and grabbed his arms, dragging the struggling child away. He’d spend all of Saturday, or the next few days, in a small, dark room with no source of light, afraid of monsters that lurked inside the darkness, alone with his thoughts. If he fought he’d soon taste the sharp bite of the taser against his side. If he continued to act out of line, he’d be held out of the highest window by his collar until he apologised and promised to be good. The headmistress and her enforcers would stop at nothing short of bodily harm to make their omega the most perfect for the world.

And for what? For the enjoyment of alphas, Elwyn thought bitterly. His hand clenched near his fork. He imagined stabbing it into Hawthorne’s eye socket. He remembered his life before. It hadn’t been great. During the war, he had to take care of his younger siblings. There had been ten of them to feed. They were always hungry. They barely had a roof over their heads. Then father had come back from the war with his leg blown off. He would drink and hit them. It was hardly a surprise when, in a back-alley deal that the press wasn’t notified about, the man sold his only omega son to the Hawthorne Academy. Elwyn hadn’t thought there could be a life worse than the one in that crowded house with his drunk father. But there was.

Hawthorne Academy was worse.

*~*~*

‘’Would you like some more tea?’’ Lys asked, holding the teapot poised.

Brodie glanced at his teacup uncertainly, ‘’I...I don’t know...are you supposed to ask?’’

Lys looked away from the tea set placed between them on the table in the etiquette lesson and double-checked his notes. Mr Cardona, who was walking past, inspecting the duo and their conduct during the mock tea party, slammed Lys’ notebook shut, ‘’you should know this,’’ he said coldly, his eyes zeroing on the violet-haired omega, ‘’the choosing ceremony is in five days.’’

Lys gulped and turned back to Brodie, who kept his head down. His hair was the most unusual out of class 1; it was cut to his chin and the strands were different shades of red, orange and gold, making it look like his hair was made of pure flame, shimmering in the light. Paired with his brown skin, the effect was mesmerising. Now Brodie’s hair hung in his face as he tried to hide from the teacher. Mr Cardona was as scary as the enforcers, ‘’tea?’’ Lys asked, as lightly as he could, his pretty voice lilting.

‘’Y-yes please,’’ Brodie said.

Lys poured his tea. Cardona walked off. Brodie exhaled. He wished he was as brave as Magnus and Elwyn or even strong enough to protect his friends, like Lys. But out of the four of them he was the weakest. He was painfully shy and everything scared him. He glanced up at Lys with thankful, gorgeous gold-green eyes, ‘thanks’, he mouthed.

Lys gave him a gentle smile. He was like a big brother to Brodie and most of the omegas in class 1. Brodie didn’t know what he’d do without him, ‘’what do you think of the prince?’’ Lys asked quietly as they sipped their tea, their posture rigid, their hands delicate and graceful on their tea-cups, their sips controlled and quiet, just as they’ve been taught.

‘’I think its bad news,’’ Brodie admitted, ‘’I think that it’s all becoming too real. I think that whoever gets picked by him won’t be happy.’’

Lys smile grew a little sad, ‘’don’t you think that at least some of what they say is true? That there will be alphas who will want to cherish us? Who will want to give us the world?’’

Lys was strong, but he was naive. Brodie, at least, wasn’t stupid, ‘’I don’t think there’s good alphas out there at all,’’ he admitted.

‘’Still,’’ Lys sipped his tea, ‘’there are worse people to worry about than Prince Leopold,’’ he leaned in closer to whisper, ‘’I heard that Lord Gleiter is coming.’’

Brodie stiffened. Of course nobility would be coming. The first choosing ceremony and the ball of Hawthorne Academy had been advertised through all of Hamnel, from Perrylowe to the North to Ellane in the south. Stormview, the capital, was buzzing with news of it for the last year. When the orphanage for omegas had been converted into an academy, everyone became fascinated with the beautiful building with its high, impenetrable walls. They all wanted to know what kind of beauties grew up within. Omegas were rare and cherished. To think there was a whole Academy of them...and then Hawthorne began advertising them. Once they came of age, the omegas would be given to happy homes where they would make perfect little brides for their alphas. All she wanted for years of feeding, clothing and teaching them with love and patience was a small dowry, as she called it. To the world, she was benevolent. But she was spurred by the same thing that everyone was – by the same thing that had started the war. By money. There were only thirteen omegas graduating that year and there were plenty of alphas wanting one. She’d make a fortune out of giving them off to the highest bidder, whether that was a kind alpha of Lys’ fantasy or someone as sleazy as Lord Cepheus Gleiter. 

‘’He’s been married three times already,’’ Lys continued in a quiet whisper, ‘’once to an omega. All his spouses died.’’

Brodie felt a little sick, ‘’how did they die? How do you know?’’

Lys shrugged, then gave Brodie an apologetic smile. He reached out and squeezed his hand, ‘’I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you. I’m sure it will be fine.’’

Mr Cardona was back by them, slamming his hand against the table near theirs. They jumped apart, ‘’follow the etiquette protocol,’’ he snapped as if they had been caught betraying their country, ‘’no touching!’’

*~*~*

After a light lunch it was time for one of the special ‘lesson’ that only happened on Saturday – cleaning. As in, cleaning the whole bloody academy. Class 1, 2 and 3 was equipped with dusters, cloths and hovers and set free like a particularly chatty herd of sheep. Except today, class 2 wasn’t chatty at all since one of them got dragged off to isolation. With the impending doom that was the choosing ceremony, class 1 wasn’t in the mood to act cheerful, either.

‘’Princes,’’ Nadya, 010 Hawthorne, grumbled under her breath, running her duster over the windowsill of one of the large windows on the third floor as if she was wielding a sword, ‘’Kings. Queens. What difference does it make who they sell us to?’’ her limp grey hair was pulled back in a loose ponytail. Out of all the beauties of class 1 she was deemed the ugliest, which still made her prettier than most betas. When the teachers were around she looked meek. When the omegas were alone, she looked like she wanted to stab someone. You had to feel sorry for Elwyn, 011 Hawthorne, and Dirk, 009 Hawthorne, who slept on either side of her in the dorms. Then again, if she tried anything the three would probably end up in some sort of deadly melee.

‘’Stay positive,’’ Estienne, 005 Hawthorne, said firmly from where she was helping Lys dust the massive, heavy curtains. Estienne was the tallest omega out of the thirteen and a leader of the girls, ‘’a prince is probably the best you could do. A palace, luxuries...no matter how he treats you, you will have things to comfort you,’’ unlike a lot of the younger classes, many from class 1 had lives in the outside world or in the academy when it had been an orphanage. They knew a little about the world. They knew alphas weren’t knights in shining armour, no matter what the academy said or how well they indoctrinated the younger kids into believing it.

Aramis walked by, giving a snobbish snort as he carried a basket of fresh table cloths, ‘’dream on, Estienne. As if the prince would choose any of you.’’

Lys raised an eyebrow, ‘’I take it you’re going to tribe to nab him, then?’’

Aramis gave a self satisfied smirk, his pale blue eyes twinkling, ‘’of course! And none of you stand a chance next to me.’’

That wasn’t strictly true. Aramis was one of the prettiest amongst class 1, but there was also Magnus with his rosy pink hair and china-white skin, Morpheus with his pastel oil-spill locks and stuck up, aquamarine haired Willow who was just as competitive as Aramis. Lys shrugged, ‘’sure, whatever. You can have him, Aramis.’’

Aramis kissed his teeth at them and pranced off. Lys watched him go. If Aramis desired so, he could have the prince. He could have all the alphas.

Lys and his friends wouldn’t stick around long enough for that.

*~*~*

‘’The prince, huh?’’ Keira, 003 Hawthorne, said during the evening dance class. Elwyn was leading her neatly around the room to the tune of the music, neatly swirling around the other couples under Miss Hawthorne’s watchful eye.

Elwyn smirked down at her, ‘’you can’t seriously be excited about that?’’ he asked one of his oldest friends in the academy. When Elwyn had first come, Keira had been charged with showing him around and settling him in. She did so efficiently and kindly enough that Elwyn forever retained a soft spot for her.

‘’What else is there?’’ Keira asked as Elwyn spun her. Her pure white hair spun with her, pretty as a snow storm. She returned to her friend’s arms, ‘’what else can we hope for?’’

‘’Anyone else. You know the rumours,’’ Elwyn rolled his eyes, ‘’he’s probably one entitled prick.’’

Keira gasped, pulling him closer, ‘’shhh! Don’t let them hear you or they will toss you into isolation!’’

Elwyn bit his lip. Keira always looked out for him, ‘’Kei...’’

‘’Yes?’’ Keira asked, adjusting her hand on Elwyn’s shoulder and paying more attention to her feet as the dance became a little harder.

Elwyn opened his mouth but stopped himself. What was he going to ask? Do you want to run away with us? The plan was hard enough with four of them. He shook his head and grinned, ‘’don’t stare at your feet. You’re too pretty for that.’’

Keira sent him a beaming smile, ‘’do you think I’ll get a nice alpha?’’

‘’Lys doesn’t think those exist.’’

‘’Do you?’’ Keira asked. She sounded a little vulnerable.

Elwyn knew he should reassure her but he couldn’t lie, not to her, ‘’I’m sure there are,’’ he sighed, ‘’but good alphas won’t be coming to buy war orphans.’’

The music stopped and the couples drew apart, clapping for each other politely. Headmistress Hawthorne turned to them with a smile, ‘’marvellous,’’ she said, ‘’I remember when you were all so little and stumbling over your feet. Look at you now! Such graceful Hawthornes. You make me proud,’’ her voice was dripping with sweetness but there was a razor sharp back-bite to it as she added, ‘’I hope you do not disappoint me during the choosing ceremony.’’

‘’Yes, Headmistress,’’ they chorused.

She beamed at them, clapping her hands twice, ‘’wonderful1 Now, go get ready for our weekly walk.’’

*~*~*

The weekly omega walk was a bigger advertisement than any newspaper or television could muster. Each Saturday evening, the headmistress, decked out in her best clothes, led a line of beautiful, quiet, perfect omegas through the streets of Stormview for all to see. People came out just to see them, taking pictures and pointing excitedly. They were beautiful, ethereal. They were untouchable. They were envied by betas and desires by alphas. They were captured by all. Each week, a different class was taken out, from heart-shatteringly adorable little omegas to the grown students about to graduate. During their only taste of freedom, the omegas felt suffocated and on display. Magnus tried not to mind as he walked, right behind Hawthorne. Behind him was Aramis. They were not allowed to talk. They were just supposed to walk, looking aloof and graceful, like they didn’t know there were a hundred alphas on the streets, alphas who could never have them, undressing them with their eyes. Like there wasn’t pity swimming in the eyes of mothers who cradled their children to their sides, hoping to never see them paraded like prized cattle.

The war had destroyed most cities but Stormview had rebuilt quickly. Lys concentrated on that as they walked. On the old, stone buildings with their picturesque window-frames and vintage bricks. He admired flower boxes by front doors, the colourful clothing of the citizens, the rush of traffic. It was all things he’d seen on a thousand walks but it was all still new, all still wondrous. He wished he could step out of the line of obedient omegas and mingle with the crowds. He wished he could disappear in this city, find his own nook, unbothered by anyone. But he did not dare. Not yet, anyway.

Elwyn walked with his head lowered, his navy curls falling into his eyes. He counted the cracks in the pavement that he stepped on to stop himself from looking up and meeting the eyes of some horny alpha. He had a temper and though he knew how to keep it in check to not get punished, he didn’t know if he could control himself out here. He hated being gawked at. He hoped he wouldn’t end up punching anybody’s face during the choosing ceremony.

Brodie tried not to fidget with his hands as they were paraded through the streets. He knew he was supposed to be still and beautiful but it was nerve-wracking, being the centre of attention. He almost preferred being inside the academy, where their own beauty and the beauty of each other was boring. Where ugliness or average faces were what was beautiful. Where the omegas lay in bed at night, touching their smooth cheeks and colourful hair while wishing they’d been born as something else. For some, the choosing ceremony would be a ticket to freedom. One or two of them would be struck with luck. They’d get a good alpha, maybe. If not, they’d at least get a house which wouldn’t be a second prison. Brodie doubted he’d be so lucky.

That’s why he had to make his own luck.

*~*~*

All omegas in the Academy collectively agreed that 22:30 was the best time of the day. After a healthy dinner, they had half an hour of free time in the common room. The common room was made to look as cosy as possible, with armchairs, fake fireplaces, games on tables and hot cocoa being distributed – a rare, sweet treat. Outside of the weekends, it was herbal tea that they got. Lys, Magnus, Brodie and Elwyn sat in a tight circle on bean bag chairs in the corner, cradling their cups between their fingers. To everyone, they looked like they were gossiping – a charming pastime if done in moderation. But they weren’t gossiping. They were plotting.

‘’If we want to go,’’ Magnus, who had come up with the plan, said in a low voice, ‘’then we have to set off the fire alarm. That’s the only thing that unlocks the doors.’’

‘’Do you really think the choosing ceremony is the right time to do it?’’ Brodie asked worriedly, ‘’the thirteen of us will be so important...’’

Magnus nodded, ‘’there will be commotion.’’

‘’Exactly,’’ Elwyn added in an excited whisper, ‘’when the alarm goes off, Hawthorne and the enforcers will worry about making sure the omegas aren’t threatened by the fire. They will want to get all their important guests out. Don’t worry,’’ he clapped Magnus between the shoulders, ‘’our Magnomeister never goes wrong.’’  

‘’And that’s when we sneak away,’’ Lys added reassuringly, squeezing Brodie’s hand, ‘’all we have to do is get out onto the street. We aren’t the only omegas in Stormview by a long shot. We’ll shuck off our uniforms and we’ll be free.’’

They hadn’t thought of logistics, like where they would get new clothes from or where they would go. All that mattered was getting out before they were chosen by alphas and marked as theirs. Their plan was based on the theory that Hawthorne wouldn’t be able to get anyone but her handful of enforcers to chase after them, because what would she say? That omegas had ran away? To the rest of the world, she was a maternal figure to her students and the wall around the academy was to protect them. Nobody suspected the omegas were like prisoners, too afraid or too indebted to escape. There had been a few who tried. None succeeded.

But they would.

‘’This brings us to plan B,’’ Magnus said seriously, ‘’if, by some chance, the alarm doesn’t go off long enough for us to escape, someone will have to pull the alarm lever manually.’’

Lys’ eyes widened, ‘’but...that means someone would have to be left behind.’’

‘’No way,’’ Elwyn said, ‘’we’re not doing that.’’

‘’It’s just a plan B,’’ Magnus said firmly, ‘’but we need a back-up. Its fine as long as one of us gets out.’’

‘’It’s better if even one of us gets out,’’ Brodie agreed, chewing his lip nervously.

Lys sighed but nodded, ‘’I’ll do it.’’

‘’No,’’ Elwyn said instantly, ‘’we’ll decide on the spot if we have to.’’

Magnus nodded, ‘’this is just a possibility. Plan A should work fine,’’ he grinned at his friends, ‘’in five days time, we’ll be free.’’

They clinked their cocoa cups in a toast.

*~*~*

Morpheus lay awake that night, staring at the ceiling. He couldn’t see it, not with the shutters down and the lights out. He contemplated turning his lamp on, since he couldn’t sleep, but he didn’t want to risk the wrath of Greer, 006 Hawthorne, who slept next to him. Though, really, Greer was so resigned to her fate she didn’t seem to care much. She was like a zombie during the day. She breathed evenly on the bed next to Morph’s, her hair – dark purple on top and getting lighter to the bottom – splayed on her pillow. Morph listened to her breathe, thinking. It was past midnight, which meant there were four days until the choosing ceremony. Morph was under no illusion that that was the end of the line for him. He was quiet and people didn’t pay attention to him. He heard things. Today, there had been two that stuck with him.

I don’t think there’s good alphas out there, Lys had said from the table next to his during etiquette.

Good alphas won’t come to buy war orphans, he’d heard Elwyn said as he whisked Keira by him during dance practice.

It sounded true. Morph had believed it. Both of his parents had been alpha soldiers and they’d died in the war. They’d been good. But Morpheus hadn’t met a good alpha since then and he doubted he would. But still, he could hope. No matter what the others said, he could hope that he was chosen by someone kind. What else was there left to do while they waited for their futures to unfold?

*~*~*

Lady Loren’s hair was lime and so very light that, in the sunlight falling through the window, it looked blonde. That wasn’t interesting at all. Lots of people had blonde hair. Leo himself had a wavy golden mop atop his head. The young prince leaned on his hand while lounging in his armchair. The omega in front of him was chattering in a pleasant voice but what she was saying was boring and bland. As if she had practiced. Leo had tuned her out and, when she finally closed her mouth, he was relieved. Her head was tilted a little, her hands folded in the lap of her pretty dress and the alpha realised she had asked a question. He didn’t bother answering it. 

‘’You are an omega, aren’t you, Lady Loren?’’ he asked. Where was she from again? He couldn’t remember.

Loren laughed prettily, ‘’of course, your highness.’’

Leo gave her an unimpressed look, ‘’then why is your hair such a bland colour?’’

Loren’s laughter cut off abruptly and she stared at Leo, her mouth a perfect ‘O’ of shock at his insolence, ‘’I...what...pardon?’’ she managed to choke out.

‘’Well, I’m just saying,’’ he said, putting one leg over the other and sinking further into his armchair. He was tired. This encounter was draining, ‘’you’re the lady of...?’’

‘’Ennis,’’ she said tightly.

‘’Which is where, remind me?’’ he waved a dismissive hand in the air.

‘’Felton, highness,’’ Loren said. She looked angry now. Her expression was more interesting but not enough to capture the prince’s attention.

‘’Right, so you’re a small time noble from the middle of nowhere,’ he drawled, peering at her from under golden lashes, ‘’with an average face for an omega and hair that’s not very unusual. Why should I marry you?’’ Loren’s mouth opened and closed in shock as she searched for something to say. She had been tip-toeing around marriage talk in the most polite manner. She had practiced expressions of joy and surprise in her mirror for when he proposed to her. She hadn’t expected the prince to be so blunt. No one ever did. Leo sighed. He just needed someone to be blunt back. Why couldn’t people just say what they actually thought? ‘’well?’’

Loren stood abruptly, her hands fisted. She looked down on Leo and he braced himself with anticipation for the curse word or insult she’d fling at him. No one had insulted him in such a long while. No one dared. He desired someone fearless. But then Loren simply said, ‘’good day, highness,’’ and stormed out.

Leo groaned and sunk into his armchair. What a waste of time. All these noble omegas were all the same. Only a moment after Lady Loren of Ennis stormed out, his mother stormed in. Marija Valerie was the Queen of Hamnel as well as mother to four children. Leo was youngest and discarded. His mother wouldn’t be personally visiting him had the issue of his marriage not been so pressing, ‘’Leopold, really!’’ she exclaimed, coming to a stop in front of his armchair. He played with his ring, not looking at her. How convenient for her to remember he existed, ‘’that was the third omega this month! Do you think there’s an endless supply!?’’

‘’Maybe try a beta next,’’ Leo said dismissively.

‘’Don’t take that tone with me, young man,’’ Queen Marija snapped, ‘’you don’t have the luxury to choose! I gave you chances, over and over again, but other than Lady Loren no other omega will have you at this point!’’

‘’Shame,’’ Leo said sarcastically, rising from his armchair, ‘’I suppose I’ll just have to do without.’’

His mother crossed her arms over her chest, ‘’no. We do this on my terms now. The Hawthorne Academy is opening in a few days.’’

Leo rolled his brown eyes, ‘’so what?’’

‘’So,’’ his mother smirked, ‘’I have told them you will be coming to take one of their omegas as yours.’’

For a moment, Leo was rarely speechless. He felt like Lady Loren had just moment before. Finally, he stomped his foot down, glaring at his mother, ‘’that’s not fair! You can’t make me!’’

‘’I don’t have a choice,’’ Marija said coldly, ‘’like I said, no other omega will have you and you must marry. You are twenty two years old now. You are a man and a prince. You must start a family.’’

‘’I don’t want to!’’ Leo yelled. This was just another ploy. His mother wanted an excuse to shove him in a corner with the first omega she could and concentrate on teaching his eldest sister on how to be Queen. Helena was the apple of her eye. Katelyn was almost as important as the spare in case something happened to the Crown Princess. Nina was a comfortable and cherished back-up. But Leopold...he was just useless.

‘’I don’t care what you want,’’ Queen Marija snapped.

Leo felt a pang of hurt and he hated it. He thought he’d managed to put up walls so his mother, and anybody else, wouldn’t be able to hurt him again and yet just a few words from his mother had him feeling like a child again, ‘’clearly,’’ he whispered and turned to go.

Marija sighed, ‘’Leo, you know I didn’t mean-‘’

‘’No, you did,’’ he whirled back towards her, picking anger over sadness, ‘’fine, I’ll do what you want, mother. I’ll pick a stupid omega and I’ll bring them here and then we’ll both be miserable while you train your queens. I hope that makes you happy!’’

He stomped out of the livingroom of his apartments and into his bedroom, slamming the ornate white doors shut behind him. He knew he was acting like a child but he didn’t care. He didn’t want an omega. He didn’t want anyone. He was fine by himself. The prince stormed over to his bed and dumped himself on it, face-first in the pillows, ‘’this is all so stupid...’’ he grumbled to himself.

*~*~*

‘’My lord!’’ the staff of the mansion Kalei was staying at temporarily curtsied for him.

He laughed, a little troubled, ‘’please, please, I’m not a prince...’’

‘’We are so happy to be able to host you in Stormview, my lord,’’ the head butler said, bowing again.

‘’Thank you for having me,’’ Kalei smiled, surprising the butler by extending a hand out. The butler shook it with a broad grin. The footmen began carrying in his luggage. Kalei rushed to grab the nearest suitcase, ‘’please, I can get it myself,’’ he assured.

The maids giggled, watching the alpha lift his suitcase easily. He was easy on the eye, with the typical Mireyan beauty – light brown skin, sharp brown eyes, pierced ears and luscious black hair which he kept in a long ponytail reaching the small of his back, ‘’you have quite a few things, my lord,’’ the butler observed, picking up two hefty bags and falling in step with the Duke as they walked up the stairs of the grand mansion just outside the main bulk of the city.

‘’I plan to stay a while,’’ Kalei said with a dreamy smile, ‘’whatever omega I pick, I want them to get used to me first before I take them to Mireya with me.’’

‘’I see,’’ the butler said, ‘’you will be picking from the Hawthorne Academy graduates, then?’’

‘’Yes.’’

‘’I’ve seen them on their Saturday walks,’’ the butler said knowingly as they reached the top of the stairs, ‘’they are all very beautiful. I think you shall be pleased.’’

Kalei chuckled, ‘’I hope they will be pleased with me.’’

He was a gentle alpha. He was not the strongest, the most dominating or the most commanding of any alpha he’d ever met. He cared deeply for his family, he loved poetry and he kept his hair long. It wasn’t what most omegas expected. He hoped he wouldn’t be a disappointment, ‘’if you don’t mind me asking,’’ the butler said, ‘’you seem quite young, my lord. Did you fight in the war?’’

‘’I did,’’ Kalei said, ‘’for two years. It ended when I was eighteen.’’

The continent that had invaded them had taken a massive loss but their Kings, Generals and Presidents had still stolen many lives themselves. The losses in the countries had been huge. Many soldiers, pilots, naval sailors and medics had lost their lives. Many had been the parents of the omegas who had studied in Hawthorne Academy. Like most alphas, Kalei had experienced war first hand. He hoped to shelter whatever omega he picked from any hardship, loss or unhappiness for as long as he lived.

*~*~*

Siegfried Hjart entered his apartment, flicked the light on and sighed, relieved to be home, finally. A soft patter followed by a ‘caw’ came from the kitchen as his parrot woke, ‘’sorry, Snorri,’’ Sig said, trailing into the kitchen, not bothering to take off his jacket. The parrot jumped around in her cage, tilting her head curiously, ‘’did I wake you?’’ he got her food and filled up her bowl, ‘’I was hoping you’d wait for me. How mean,’’ he said with a tired smile. The parrot cawed again. Siegfried stroked her colourful head through the bars, then went to the livingroom attached to the kitchen and dumped himself on the couch. He exhaled slowly, feeling his muscles ache. He ran his hand through his dark auburn hair, tilting his head back against the couch. Fatigue weighed heavy on him. He could fall asleep right there and then.

His phone beeped. Sig forced himself to open his blue eyes and check the caller ID. When he saw who it was, he picked up quickly, ‘’Jov? What is it?’’

Jovan Avalon, Sig’s friend from when they had been war doctors together, said quickly, ‘’sorry to call you so soon after you just left but we have an emergency. A man fell under a train. He’s alive but in critical condition. Lots of internal bleeding. We’re not sure about the full extent of his injuries yet, but...well, you are the head surgeon and I know your shift just ended and I’m kind of freaking out but-‘’

Sig stood. He wobbled a little but he forced himself to push the fatigue away. He could be tired another time, ‘’I’ll be right there,’’ he told his friend. They may have worked together on soldier wounds, but Jov really wasn’t great when it came to open wounds. He worked as a nurse with the kids at the Stormview hospital.

‘’I’m so sorry,’’ Jovan gushed, ‘’nobody wanted to call you but its so serious they really want you here-‘’

‘’I’ll be there, Jov,’’ Sig reassured, glad he hadn’t taken any of his clothes or even his shoes off yet, ‘’hold on till I get there.’’

‘’You’re the greatest. See you in a bit, doc!’’

Siegfried disconnected and put his phone in his pocket, rushing out of the doors. His hand hovered over the light switch as he stood in the threshold, looking over his pristinely clean apartment. The cleaning lady had come in. It was a nice apartment but was empty save for Snorri and him. His stomach gurgled. He was hungry but there was no time to eat. He caught himself yearning for someone else’s presence here. A lover who could fix him up a sandwich to go and kiss him on the cheek, wishing him a good night. Someone to come home to. Something else than the promise of sleep and the need to feed his bird to motivate him not to crash on the couch in the staff room at the hospital. But there was no one.

Well, not yet, anyway, Sig thought with a smile. But in a few days, that would change.

He flicked the light off and rushed out.

*~*~*

...the omegas of Miss Hawthorne’s Academy are beyond excited about the upcoming choosing ceremony, we’re told. In a short interview, the headmistress herself commented on the readiness of her omega students to spread their wings and leave the academy to find new homes with alphas. And what an opportunity this is! I think we can all agree that the chance to meet wealthy, rich and – dare we say – handsome alphas is rare for omegas impacted so terribly by war and loss. Miss Hawthorne, a true angel to these lost children, says-

‘’Bullshit!’’ Dorian threw the newspaper onto his kitchen counter and dug out his packet of cigarettes. He lit one, nearly tripping over dirty laundry on the floor of his small bedroom as he made his way to the window. He pulled open the window, slamming his hand against it twice when it got stuck. Outside, far below and all around, was the rush of Stormview. Even at night the city centre was loud and bright. The neon sign of the night club opposite which Dorian rented an apartment on the eighth floor blazed with colour. Far below a group of drunken teenagers were singing a home as they stumbled home. The honking of traffic reached Dorian all the way up by his window.

He took a deep drag of his cigarette and blew it out into the night, glancing back at the newspaper. Such bullshit. How could they write such bullshit and call it journalism? Hawthorne was blatantly lying. How could people look at an academy bordered by a huge wall, sponsored by Duke Gleiter of all people, where the omegas emerged only once a week to be paraded around the streets and think everything was fine? It was such a blatant prison, through and through. Dorian shuddered to think about what went on inside. He may have been a young lawyer without much experience, fallen from favour after taking on the wrong cases, but he’d be damned if he let this fly. In a few days would be the choosing ceremony after which the omegas would go with alphas that chose them. Alphas that had money. That would be the deciding factor of the transaction – not whether the alphas were decent people or could provide good homes for the omegas.

They were still people, damn it.

Dorian took another drag of his cigarette. It calmed him. He cleared his thoughts. A cool wind picked up, pulling a few brown strands of hair from his messy bun. Dorian watched the smoke disperse into the night.

He’d take down that academy if it was the last thing he did.

A/N: want to read chapter 2 where the choosing ceremony plays out RIGHT NOW? Check out the end notes!