"I wish I had never given birth to you."
I don't know where it came from, but those words escaped my lips before I could stop them. The moment they did, I knew—they were the words I'd regret for the rest of my life.
But to understand how we got here, we need to go back. Ten years ago. Before everything fell apart.
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Ever since I was a kid, I've always heard the same thing: "You're just an Omega. Weak, frail, destined to bow to an Alpha." In our society, people are divided into three categories: Alphas, Betas, and Omegas.
Omegas are at the bottom of the food chain, the so-called "baby factories" and "cum dumpsters" of society. We're not supposed to be seen or heard. Meanwhile, Alphas sit on their golden thrones at the top, admired and revered.
When kids reach a certain age, they go through secondary tests to determine their designation. Every parent prays their child turns out to be an Alpha—or at the very least, a Beta. Anything but an Omega. The shame of having an Omega in the family is unbearable for some, so much so that they abandon their own flesh and blood.
I would know.
My name's Rion, and I'm a male Omega. I grew up in an orphanage after being left there at the doorstep as a baby—like a piece of trash nobody wanted.
I was lucky enough to land a scholarship to an elite school, the kind only rich, powerful Alphas and Betas usually attend. Right now, I'm sitting in math class, but I'm not paying attention. My eyes are glued to the window—or, more specifically, to him.
Jaekyung Choi
One of the school's elite Alphas. The kind of guy everyone either wants to be or wants to be with.
He's standing in the courtyard with his friends, the other elite Alphas: Stephane, Henry, Zion, and Ryan. Together, they're like gods walking among mortals. Rumor has it Jeakyung's family is filthy rich, with ties to the mafia. And apparently, he and his crew aren't just Alphas—they're rare dominant Alphas.
Right now, they're picking on another Alpha student. It's nothing new; stuff like this happens all the time here. Teachers and admins? They don't lift a finger. Jaekyung's family has too much power. Even the principal wouldn't dare step in.
I know I shouldn't stare for too long, but I can't help it. He's tall, muscular, and has this commanding presence that screams dangerous. But there's something magnetic about him, even with that cold, stoic expression he always wears.
But then it happens.
Jeakyung looks up—right at me.
My heart skips a beat.
Before I can think, I whip my head back toward the board, my face burning red. Out of the corner of my eye, I swear I see him grin at me.
Please tell me I imagined that. I thought
The thing is, Jeakyung hates Omegas. Like, really hates them. There was this one time an Omega in his class forgot to take his suppressants. His scent leaked out, and Jeakyung went ballistic.
He grabbed the omega by the throat and slammed him against the wall like he weighed nothing.
"Lowly Omegas should learn to keep their filthy scent to themselves," he spat before dropping the kid to the ground.
And then? He beat him until he was unconscious.
Nobody stepped in. Not the teacher. Not the students. It wasn't until Stephane pulled Teakyun back and said, "Don't waste your energy on trash. He's not worth that much attention," that it finally stopped.
The ambulance was called and the omega was rushed to the hospital. His face was completely unrecognisable.
He never came back to school after that.
I should be terrified of Jeakyung. Any sane person would be.
So why can't I stop thinking about him?