Chapter Text
About this A/B/O AU This AU takes place before modern technology. The people use furs to keep themselves warm, and they live in huts or thick tents depending on the pack being nomadic or stationary. There are two common types of packs. Nomadic and Stationary.
Nomadic Packs:
Nomadic packs tend to be comprised mostly of betas and alphas, though one or two omegas isn’t uncommon. Nomadic packs are known to trade goods; animal bones for weapons or jewelry, spices from different areas of the country, gold or other fine luxuries, like silk and obsidian. Each pack always has something different to trade with their allies, and one can never see the same thing twice. Nomadic packs will travel for a time, and if they are especially good terms with their stationary allies, they stay with them for weeks, or sometimes even months, at a time. Such as when winter hits in the north, and it is too dangerous to travel. These packs tend to be on very good terms with many stationary packs, and when times call for it, the nomadic packs will sometimes fight alongside them if the bond between them is strong enough. Unfortunately, more often than not, the nomadic packs, being as they are mostly alphas, are very rough around the edges, and do not take kindly to other nomadic packs in their trading grounds. There is almost always fighting from within the pack for dominance, and most packs do not have a Head Alpha as the stationary packs do. They do not take kindly to most omegas, as they are smaller and bend to an alpha's will more easily, and often they are treated as subhuman, and are only called upon when they are needed to fulfill and alphas “needs”. Seeing a mated pair in a nomad pack is extremely rare.
Stationary Packs:
Stationary packs, or camp packs, tend to have more omegas, as traveling with many omegas becomes tricky due to an omegas biology. They live in huts made mostly of whatever they are surrounded with, be it furs, branches, or mud. These packs tend to stay in one area or territory for an extremely long amount of time. Some have not moved for generations. It is common to see feuds or wars between two territories for more space, though most conflicts end with trading omegas and betas and treaties. They are seen to be the “softer” type of pack. They follow a more traditional pack system, with a Head Alpha and Head Omega at the lead, overseeing their respective gender. They have more rules regarding their mating rituals and most of the people choose to be mated rather than moving from one person to the next. Overall, there is much more respect given to omegas, as they are seen as the most secure way to pass down the family lineage.
Alphas:
Alphas make up only 10% of the total population, and all alphas are male. They carry the scent of the outdoors, like cedar or the rain. They have bigger bodies and they are responsible for protecting their pack, their mate, and any children that they might have. They go hunting in groups along with the betas. Their body temperature run rather high, and wear mainly light leathers and less furs.
Alphas go through something called a rut once a month. They get irritable and more domineering the days leading up to it. They become extremely aggressive and protective of their mate at this time. It presents itself in the way of a fever on the first day. They then get an urge to mate, and to not stop mating, until a pup is conceived, or their rut dies down, which could last up to 9 days if unsatisfied. Ruts are even more intense once the alpha is mated, especially if mated to an omega. If an alpha mates while in rut, the probability of conception is 75% in betas, and 90% in female omegas, even if that omega is not in heat. Alphas, in general, are more territorial with their land and their people. If mated, almost nothing will stop them from protecting their mate if they are in any perceived danger.
Betas:
Betas make up 85% of the total population, and they can be both male and female. The scents they carry are that of earth, flowers, and grass. They do not get affected by heats or ruts. They carry out the menial tasks of the pack, and more often than not, a beta makes up the Head Alphas third in command behind the Head Omega, and they lead the pack when the other two are predisposed, or away from the pack for long periods of time. They go on hunting trips with the alphas, and they take care of omegas. They are not as powerful as alphas, but not as vulnerable as omegas.
Some betas are assigned to watch over the young omegas and alphas, and they help them through their ruts and heats, as they aren’t as affected from the strong scents that pour out of them during such times. It’s not uncommon to see beta and omega or alpha “pairs” in the packs, and more often than not, the beta gives their partner to the others mate when the time comes. (like a father giving away his daughter at a wedding) Sometimes, they are asked for their blessing to court as opposed to the parents of the alpha or omega. These pairs, however, usually end up mating each other, as the bond they share is extremely deep and life long. As such, betas can get very possessive, and fights have been known to break out over their partner.
Omegas:
Omegas only make of 5% of the population. They, too, can be either male or female, but male omegas are extremely and exceedingly rare. To see more than one in a pack is almost unheard of, and as such, they are treated as a precious commodity, and can be traded for riches and quality goods. Female omegas scents have more citrus and berry notes, while males tend to smell of more heavy- sweet substances, like honey or vanilla. They have very low body temperature, outside of heat, and tend to bundle up in more furs and blankets. They normally wear their hair longer to help keep themselves warm, and to protect from unwanted biting. They have small frames with wider hips, especially the females. Their legs can sometimes be even stronger than an alphas, and they have much better hearing than an alpha, where an alpha has a better sense of sight and smell. They also become very protective of their mate.
Omegas go through heat once a month, starting at the age of 12. They are the most fertile at this time. In a male omegas case, it is almost impossible to conceive outside of a heat. They are not in control of their actions or minds, which is why they almost always have a beta with them; to protect them from unwanted alphas and unwanted mating. A strong enough heat can trigger a rut, and vice versa. Male omegas have a harder time conceiving, and an even more difficult time giving birth, with many of them not surviving the stress of childbirth. With the smaller chances of pregnancy, male omegas are extremely popular in the slave trade, as many alphas want to go through an omega heat without the added chance of the omega conceiving.
Scenting:
Scenting is an intimate thing for most mates, and is often times the first step to mating someone. The couple basically fuses their scents, or covers the scent of the other with their own scent, telling others that they are taken. Scenting occurs when one of them nuzzles or licks the others scent gland located at the juncture between the jaw and the neck.
Mating:
Mating is the plain act of having sexual intercourse. Just because member of the pack have intercourse, it does not necessarily mean that they are mated.
Bonded Mates:
A bonded mate is an actual mated pair. In a beta and beta/ omega relationship, they usually bare a deep scar on both of their scent glands, made by biting the area during intercourse. In a bonded alpha and omega pair, only the omega carries the bite mark, as it is very uncommon for an alpha to bear his neck to anyone, even their mates in the most intimate of settings. They most traditionally bond when the omega is in heat, as it is believed that it is good luck for conceiving. If the alpha is bonded to a beta, the beta will carry the mark. Once an omega is bonded with the mark, they cannot get sexual pleasure or release from any other person besides their alpha. The alpha is not necessarily tied down to the omega, and some alphas have more than one mate, though those cases are rare. When a pair is mated, the ones bearing the marks are more in-tuned with their mates emotions and feelings.
Life Bonding:
Only an alpha and omega pair can life bond. It is created when both the alpha and the omega bare a bonding mark. Life mates are extremely rare, as it is almost like giving half of yourself to the other. The alpha and the omega can always feel each others emotions and presence no matter how far away their mate is. It is a massive commitment to each other, as if one life mate dies, the other will most likely follow soon after, as they cannot live without a piece of themselves. If an alpha is life bonded, he is 100% committed to his mate, and he cannot get sexual pleasure or release from another person.
Fading:
In life mates, and some bonded mates, if an alpha leaves their mate for an extreme period of time, the omega can begin to fade. They can get very ill and they find themselves getting fatigued more easily, and in the worst cases, they will die. It takes longer for a bonded omega to start fading than a life bonded omega. Alphas do not fade, but they can get ill from missing their mates for too long, and can get more aggressive the longer they are away from them, and of course, if their life mate dies, they will soon follow after.
Hierarchy:
In most stationary packs, the pack is maintained and ruled over by a Head Alpha. He is in charge of the safety of the entire pack. He is either seconded by a beta or a Head Omega. The Head Omega oversees all of the other omegas, and the organization of the pack, like the chores and the development of the pack. They are oftentimes council for other members. They also watch over and care for the Head Alpha. The Head Omega holds an incredible amount of power over the pack, as their opinion could sway the Head Alpha. T