Chapter Text
That Straightforward Path
XXX
One
Once upon a time, when Zayn was just a young pup, everything had seemed so simple. He would run outside and play on days that brought good weather and immerse himself in artwork when they skies were grey. His father told him how he would own their humble farm one day, mate with an Omega and produce pups of his own. His doting mother often teased him, claiming he would be a little heartbreaker before he found the right Omega to mate with, but always remained confident that he would make a fine Alpha and father when the time came.
Why yes, those were the days when Zayn’s life had been happy and carefree. Alas, they did not last.
Zayn’s life journey ought to have been an easy one. He was supposed to remain on his family farm, mate with an Omega and have a little of pups, raising the eldest Alpha among them to one day take over the farm so it could continue being handed down from generation to generation. But that straightforward path Zayn was supposed to take was interrupted with twists and turns leading to an ominously dark path Zayn and his family just hadn’t predicted.
The young pup did not grow up to be an Alpha. Zayn presented as an Omega, thus ruining his chances of a happily ever after on his family’s farm. For life and society was not in favour of Omegas. Even Zayn’s Alpha father didn’t truly view Zayn’s mother (his Omega) as his equal. While he was far gentler than the typical Alpha and granted his mate more freedom and leniency than most, he was still strict and never shied away from disciplining his Omega or reminding her of her place.
Many times in his life, Zayn had witnessed his mother’s crying after a spanking from his father (all done in order to correct her behaviour, or in some cases simply maintain it) and seen the marks and bruises that had been left on her skin. Those were the actions of the gentler kind of Alpha. Most other Alpha would offer far more brutal treatment if an Omega simply breathed too loudly or looked them in the eye without express permission.
“I’m sorry, my son,” his father had sighed when Zayn’s Omega status became known. “This is not the life I would have wished for you.”
“Don’t worry your heart over it, child,” his mother soothed. “Every night I shall pray that you be fated to an Alpha as wonderful as mine.”
Being a male Omega was slightly different to being a female Omega. For girls who presented as Omegas, their fate was to be removed from their homes and sold at the market or auction houses to the highest bidder and married off to an Alpha to take his knot and produce a worthy heir (an Alpha). For the boys, their fate could go one of two ways. Only fifty percent of male Omegas were capable of birthing pups. A new male Omega would be examined by a medical professional to determine whether or not they could conceive. For those unable to bear children, they would be sold off as slaves to the rich if they were lucky. If they were not, they would endure a typically short and miserable life in a dirty brothel. If a male Omega was deemed fit for childbirth, he would be removed from his home and mated to an Alpha (usually whoever was prepared to pay the most).
In Zayn’s case, he had a two week wait for a medical professional to be available to examine him. It felt like a gift and a curse simultaneously.
“Prepare the boy as best as you can,” his father had advised his mother. He avoided Zayn for the next couple of weeks while his mother educated him as best as she could for what his future may potentially be.
“How did it feel for you when you were forced to marry father?” Zayn asked.
“I was such a terrified little girl,” she recalled. “The wedding night was by far the worst. So painful and rough. I do wish I’d been better warned for how difficult the first time would be.”
She described in graphic detail how her body had struggled taking her new Alpha’s knot as he made her his own. Zayn truly hoped his future was that of being a slave. It seemed the least frightening of his options. Far better than being thrown in a brothel and probably better than being married to an Alpha.
“Do you love father now?” Zayn questioned.
“I’ve grown very fond of him over the years,” she said. “And I wouldn’t dare take my Alpha for granted. I know how truly fortunate I am to be married to one of the rare gentle creatures. Most Omegas aren’t nearly so lucky.”
“Do you think I might be so fortunate?” Zayn asked quietly.
“I will pray on it,” she insisted taking Zayn’s hands in her own.
Inevitably, the time for Zayn’s medical exam came. He let the Doctor do what was needed before he was dismissed so the Doctor could give the results to the Alpha of the household. Zayn waited in the stables, surrounded by sheep and chickens. He bowed his head respectfully when his father entered, waiting to hear the news of his fate.
“You are to be married and bred with pups, my son,” his father informed him and Zayn’s heart sank. “I wish you all the luck and pray you wed an Alpha of the gentle kind. And I hope your pups grow up to be Alphas.”
“I’m sorry I couldn’t be an Alpha for you, father,” Zayn apologised.
“As am I,” the Alpha sighed. “I never wanted an Omega life for you, son. This world is too cruel and unfair to your sex. It pains me that this is your fate.”
“How long until somebody is sent for me?” Zayn asked.
“We have only hours,” his father answered before turning his back. “Thunder is by far our best horse,” the older man commented.
“Indeed,” Zayn agreed, confused.
“If you tried to run, I would not judge you and I’d deny all knowledge,” his father offered before leaving the stable.
Straddling Thunder and galloping off into the unknown was awfully tempting. The new Omega even closed his eyes and fantasized about running to some foreign land, his hair blowing freely in the wind as he lived a life of his own. But he hadn’t the nerve to make the fantasy a reality.
So when the time came, Zayn put on a brave face as he bid his parents farewell before being escorted off the farm he had grown up on. After nearly two days travel, he arrived at the auction house where he was washed, fed and permitted to get some rest before being presented on stage. He suspected his father must have offered somebody a bribe to ensure he was sold at an auction house rather than just at the market. Only the wealthiest of Alphas could afford to buy Omegas at the auction house. While his father couldn’t guarantee him a kinder-natured Alpha to wed, he could at least guarantee him better living accommodations and food. Rich Alphas were known for keeping their Omegas well fed and groomed so they could show them off as little trophies at parties (and nobody was particularly impressed by dirty underfed Omegas).
Standing on stage, Zayn kept his eyes low, being sure not to make eye-contact with any of the Alphas in the crowd as they called out bids for him. The price continued to increase, the battle to own him turning out to be a ferocious one. Zayn could hardly believe or understand why any Alpha would be so determined to pay such a high fee for him. He supposed he ought to be flattered, but truly he just felt sick.
“The Omega is sold, he is to be wed to his grace, Prince Liam of Payne.”
XXX
So... worth continuing???