Chapter Text
For months now, news about a new virus far more deadly than COVID had been spreading like wildfire. But this time, it felt different. The world was in utter chaos. Real chaos. Aegon recalled laughing his ass off just last month, joking that this was finally the long-awaited zombie apocalypse. After all, the symptoms were strikingly similar (eating your fellow humans etc.) Except that unlike the traditional zombie lore, the infected actually died within three weeks, rather than wandering around as mindless, brain-dead corpses forever. In a twisted way, the white-haired omega had even felt relieved. With the entire world crumbling, his mother couldn’t possibly keep on about how he had once again screwed up a job interview. With the apocalypse looming, Alicent had much bigger things to focus on than her perpetually disappointing omega son.
Aegon was lost in a peaceful sleep, drooling on his pillow, when his brother Aemond shook him awake with force. The taller alpha yanked the bedsheets off with a frustrated grunt.
“Aegon, wake up. I don’t want to come back for a third time. Rhaenyra and her brood have arrived, and mom wants you downstairs in the living room.”
With an exaggerated eye roll, Aegon muttered, “Like it matters whether I’m there. They can pick the lonely island we’re evacuating to just fine without me.” He raised his eyes to the glaring alpha, scrunching up his nose. “By the way, your alpha pheromones are stinking up the entire room. Chill out a bit, bro. We’re loaded, so we’ll be fine, right? We've got fucking helicopters…"
He couldn’t understand what all the fuss was about. If anyone was going to make it through, it would be his dysfunctional family. They were rich, and that alone ensured they’d survive. After all, it was always the bad guys who came out on top, wasn’t it? The Targaryens might be horrible people, but that was precisely why they’d make it. While others struggled, his family would just buy their way out of trouble, as they always did.
Aemond took a deep breath, desperately trying to restrain himself from throttling his insufferable brother. He’d never been good with omegas, especially when they talked back and Aegon had a way of pushing his buttons like no one else. It didn’t help that Aegon had tormented him mercilessly as a child, and now, with the rest of his childhood bullies in the house, his nerves were frayed. He was tempted to give Aegon a few swats on his plump little bum, but then he would start whining and protest that he wasn’t allowed to discipline him. Alpha or not, he wasn’t allowed to. It would only cause a ruckus and the one getting stressed out in the end, would be their poor mother.
Aegon, oblivious to Aemond’s inner turmoil, arched an eyebrow and made an impatient shooing motion with his hand toward the door. It was infuriating. The stupid thing seemed completely indifferent to the fact that their society was on the brink of collapse, and their government was falling apart.
“Shower, get dressed, and come downstairs. You really don’t want me to have to come back up here. Don’t push me, not now. I’m not in the mood.” His voice was calm, but the small, dangerous smile he flashed was a clear warning to the omega. Aemond turned on his heel and stalked out, making his way downstairs to see if he could assist with anything.
Aegon let out a shaky breath. His brother could be downright terrifying at times. Fucking twat. He yawned, tempted to crawl back into bed, but then a thought struck him like a bolt of lightning. Rhaenyra was here, meaning Jace was here too. His stomach flipped. He’d had a crush on the younger alpha since the longest time now, what had been pure platonic affection turned into something lustful when the teen presented as alpha. They’d been playing video games with the gang when that irresistible scent hit him. Within seconds, he’d been soaking wet. If it weren’t for Helaena whimpering in fear and Baela growling nearby, he would’ve stripped right then and there and presented himself. (Un)Fortunately, Daemon, the most dominant and intimidating alpha in their pack, had been around, and the situation was quickly brought under control. Aegon and Helaena were sent back home, and their three-day stay was abruptly cut short.
That had been before... well, before everything changed. Shortly before the incident. The incident that had torn their family apart. If Luke hadn’t been such a vicious bastard, maybe he’d be mated to Jace now. Aegon had always wanted someone to like him, someone who would want him. Maybe Jace could’ve been that person. But as it was, they’d only seen each other at the mandatory Christmas family dinner over the past five years. Aegon, now 21, had kinda lost touch with Jace. He’d been sleeping around a lot trying to fill that void within him, and one Christmas, in a drunken fit of jealousy over Baela (why did that beta bitch get all of Jace’s attention?), he’d whispered some crude things into Jace’s ear that were anything but omega-like. Later, Jace had shoved him hard against a wall, telling him to keep his filthy mouth shut and stay away from him and the girls.
Maybe, just maybe, the apocalypse would give Aegon a shot at winning back Jace’s favor. Go Zombies! A wide grin spread across his face as excitement bubbled up inside him. Without wasting a second, he dashed toward his bathroom. After showering he did his best to look presentable, smoothing down his hair and picking an outfit that was just right, jeans that fit perfectly and accentuated his ass. After making sure he looked pretty enough, he headed downstairs.
It wasn’t until Rhaenyra showed up on her doorstep that Alicent fully realized how much she had been drowning in her own panic. Her mind had been constantly racing, overwhelmed with fear for her children, herself, and especially for Viserys, whose health had been rapidly deteriorating. The cancer had eaten away at him for ten years, and now, the old alpha was in no state to protect her, or their family. Meanwhile, her father, Otto, had fled to Europe just before the borders closed, with the hope of getting them all to a safe bunker in Finland. But when he stopped taking her calls, and the news painted a grim picture of Europe’s inability to control the pandemic, Alicent was left with no one to turn to. She hadn’t wanted to admit how vulnerable she was, but they needed help.
Swallowing her pride, she’d reached out to her former lover and best friend. The female alpha had tried calling her before, but at that time, Alicent hadn’t taken any of her calls, with Otto claiming there wouldn’t be enough space for Rhaenyra and her bastard children anyway. Upon hearing how dire things had become, Rhaenyra had assured her that her family would leave immediately to join them at their mansion. They would figure out things together, as a pack.
The mansion was secluded, and the neighborhood was gated, but Alicent knew it wasn’t enough and her bodyguard, Criston, could only do so much. They hadn’t received any supplies for days now, and she was starting to feel like they were trapped. But now, with Rhaenyra here, she felt a sense of hope. Her and Daemon would surely take charge of things, find them a safehouse somewhere faraway, while Alicent could finally let go of some of the weight. She’d never admit it, but she needed someone to care for her, too. Aemond as her only alpha son shouldn’t have to be her only anchor. He had enough on his hands by looking after his siblings for her. Daeron was a good boy, a responsible beta who always did what was asked of him, but he was still a teen and Helaena, though also a beta, required as much attention as an omega. Her fragile mental state often left her lost in her own thoughts. Then there was Aegon. Just thinking about how to get her lazy, spoiled, and often drunken omega son to survive through this made her shudder. He had no sense of self-preservation. But now his reckless behavior could very well get him killed, and Alicent knew she wouldn’t be able to protect him.
She needed help.
So, with a strained, wobbly smile, Alicent asked the family, and that little devil, who had once maimed her dear, sweet Aemond, to come in.
After a few awkward greetings and hesitant hugs, the Targaryen pack gathered in the living room, with the exception of Viserys, who was bedridden, and Aegon, who was still upstairs. They found various places to sit, trying to make themselves comfortable in the tense atmosphere. Rhaenyra gently placed a calming hand on Alicent’s neck, using her pheromones and the pressure to soothe the omega’s frayed nerves. Daemon, who had originally planned to head straight to the military base where his family had a room waiting, was visibly irritated at having to adjust his plans to accommodate the green side of the family. Baela and Rhaena, the beta sisters, nestled up with omega Luke and the unpresented pup Joffrey on one of the couches, their chatter a soft, comforting noise amidst the tension. Helaena sat quietly beside Daeron, their presence barely noticeable in the corner of the room. While Aemond leaned against the edge of the dining table, his posture attempting to exude a nonchalant confidence, though his eyes never left the other dominant alpha pacing around the room, as if fearing that Daemon would attack any moment now.
In the meantime, Jace sat on a lone settee in the center of the room. His intense gaze fixed on the empty stairs leading upstairs, as if waiting for something—or someone.