Chapter Text
Being an omega is challenging. Being an omega in hiding, is almost impossible.
You once heard that omegas only make up around 10% of life throughout the universe. On most planets and species, omegas are highly valued. Some places, omegas are in positions of power, ruling over lands; in other places they are traded, like rare gemstones. Once you remember travelling to a planet that kept omegas completely separate from other secondary genders until they came of age to mate.
Growing up your birth pack travelled a lot. We travelled far and wide seeing many unique places and cultures. Your parents were merchants, selling goods at different planets we traveled to. Sometimes to buyers, other times at bustling markets. Some of your best childhood memories are of exploring exotic markets, so many scents, trying new foods, seeing people and creatures from far and wide. To see so many places was a gift.
It was only when you were older did you find out the real reason you never stayed in one place for too long. Why you weren’t allowed to get too close to anyone or stay in contact with them once we moved. Why when officials passed you and your mother were hidden from sight.
You were different. A dominant gene passed from your mother.
You are Volo-desiderium. A species hunted throughout the galaxies for our unique biology.
Those with Volo genes are blessed with strength, strong self healing abilities, and quick reflexes; nothing completely out of the ordinary in some species throughout the galaxies.
Volos have uncommonly strong scents.
While yes, everyone has unique scents. Scents you’re born with that change as you grow, impacted with environmental scents and can shift with emotions.
Most have their own preference when it comes to scents and what they find attractive, however other than their uncommonly strong scents, Volo’s scents are strangely inclusive and alluring to all. An unusual trait in their DNA, but not the reason they are pursued.
No the reason we are hunted is due to what happens when we mate.
Like all species when a mate bond is formed it happens on a genetic level, spiritual even; however those with Volo blood something unique happens. We are blessed to be able to share our abilities with our mates.
The way your mum explained it was: when she mated with father, he developed enhanced reflexes; while mum, she developed a stronger sense of smell and a tolerance to heat. Her tolerance to heat wasn’t as strong as fathers (him coming from a planet known for its boiling seas) however she could now touch boiling kettle without getting burnt.
With this potentially powerful genetic ability, the Volo’s were hunted down and either sold off to be mated to rich and powerful or slaughtered for the danger they may become.
For eons, it was decreed that Volos where to be hunted and killed for rewards. This law made by ruining factions throughout the universe was upheld until a couple of centuries ago. With so few volo left, we were no longer a threat, just a near extinct species.
A new law was written, Volos were now a ‘protected species’ and that we are to be rescued and taken in my officials to keep safe, to be free of persecution.
All bullshit according to mother. The truth is more likely to be taken captive to mate with those in power so they themselves can gain more power.
So despite the new law of possible safety and protection, mum stayed on the run. Never allowing herself to be caught just like her father taught her, and his mum before him. Choosing the danger of freedom over a cage- no matter how nice that cage may be.
She was a strong stubborn woman that loved to be spontaneous. You remember how much she loved her music. She would dance around with bells worn on her ankles and always humming a tune wherever she went. Like you she was an omega. Never one to be stereotypical, she was incredibly stubborn; you don’t think you ever saw her submit to anyone she didn’t choose to.
She taught you that being an omega is not weak, that their is a strength in choosing giving yourself to another. That your omega instincts are not just to submit and calm but also to protect and defend.
The rest of your birth pack was small only 6 of us. While some packs are made up of just 3 or 4, packs with an omega usually are at least made up of 8 or more mates.
It’s very unusual for an omega to only have 4 mates, but then again being on the run doesn’t leave many opportunities to form meaningful bonds with potential partners.
There was Pops, a strong thrifty alpha with always a smirk on their face. While they never outright admitted it to you, they definitely used to be a thief. You used to marvel at their slight-of-hand tricks and quickness. They taught you many tips on how to be silent and stealthy.
Ba, your kindhearted beta mother who was so, so gentle. She was always quiet and understanding. You remember her beautiful red skin that was so soft and how she always gave the best hugs.
Papa, your biological father and a beta human that the pack met when they stopped on earth for a time. He was so extroverted and loved travelling, and when it was time for the pack to move on from earth he didn’t hesitate to join them.
And Dad. He was the last surviving of them. He took you to earth before passing. The strongest man you ever knew. An alpha, raised as a warrior on his home planet. He wasn’t just strong physically but mentally too. He was a good father and took care of you till the end.
Another thing that was unusual with your childhood was being an only child. For an omega to only have one child was extremely rare, however after an injury mum struggled conceiving. Due to the risk towards mums health and to minimise the chances to being discovered, they decided to not have anymore children.
Around 5 they decided it was best you learnt to fight. They wanted you to be able to defend yourself if anything were to happen.
Dad, being born into a warrior family, was in charge of your training. Pops would also step in and help, teaching you to be swift and light on your feet.
Despite the brawling hard work it was, you enjoyed it.
When you presented at 17 as an omega was stressful. With stronger pheromones and a lot more potential danger both Dad and Pops became more intense in training, as did the lessons with mum learning how to control your scent.
Between training and travelling to exotic planets, your childhood was good. Despite the close calls and challenges it was a happy time of your life.
Those happy times ended with your childhood when the pack was killed.
Working it out you were around 23 human years then, still considered a youngling as Volo age much slower from what humans do. We recently had a close call due to mum going into an unexpected heat while on a planet. While she safely had the rest of the heat in the ship it cause rumours to spread of a Volo sighting.
Due to the heavy suspicions around the area and some ships being stopped and inspected, they decided to go to a nearby planet to lay low until the attention died down.
That was a mistake. We should have never have stayed on that planet. Shortly after we were discovered by a convoy and they tried to take mum. During the fight mum, Ba, Pops and Pa were all killed. Only Dad and you managed to survive.
Afterwards is a blur, you remember running and stealing a ship but mostly just the all consuming grief. Due to the contingency plans they had already made it wasn’t too difficult and we safely headed towards the earth. Due to the low grade technology and no ties to other organisations it was our best bet to stay hidden.
After landing and hiding the ship, we travelled for a number of years. With dad having being there before and the stories you had heard from Pa, we did have some knowledge of the planet.
While travelling dad got you scent blockers and suppressants to keep your omega status secret as much as possible. However due to being Volo, your scent is enhanced and apparently enticing, so even with the medication and your practiced scent control, it wasn’t enough to keep your scent completely covered.
To minimise the risk of being discovered, wearing fully covering clothes to cover your scent glands anytime you were outside became the new normal.
You mostly stayed inside or alone. The only person you would spend any prolonged amount of time with was dad. However after losing the pack he was slowly getting weaker and more sick, the toll of losing his mates was too much.
After loosing all of your mates, especially an omega bond, most don’t live long, it’s almost as if their bodies just shut down. Despite getting slowly weaker and more sick dad continued to live for years after.
He continued for your sake, ensuring your safety and future on the planet.
During that time of grief and sadness training became a distraction, a relief, a coping mechanism for you. After being on earth for a couple years your dad met a man named Nick Fury and you both started doing missions with him.
This continued until your dad’s death. After his passing you stopped doing the missions at his request. You stayed safe and lived a quiet unassuming life on earth.
That was until the call came.