Archive of Our Own

Vix is small. It’s not unusual for an Omega to be small, but after his last run-in with the law - where the guards had mocked him for it - he’d been rather self-conscious of his height ever since.

That was seven months ago - give or take.

Despite his stature, it’s never stopped him. He’s headstrong, he’s aware. And can be rather brash too. They’re not exactly desirable traits in his subgender, but Vix can’t say he gives a cahoot.

The guards had been oddly sympathetic toward Vix’s Alpha when the leader of the pack had come to retrieve him from his holding cell that time. Troublesome omegas were exasperating.

Vix couldn’t help it. He was bored. Omegas were supposed to sit pretty and get pats on the head and Vix couldn’t think of anything more mind-numbingly dull.

Worse, probably, was that Omegas were so rare, even the troublesome ones like Vix were coveted and squirrelled away - lest some other pack think to claim him.

Vix had never met another Omega, that’s how rare they were.

With a heavy sigh, Vix lowers himself back down onto the cot. The holding cell is draughty and cold. He hopes Veer will be along to collect him soon.

The guards at the door talk in hushed voices and there’s an owl in the tree outside.

He thinks he must doze off. Because when Vix awakes, it’s to the tune of the holding cell door being unlocked with a handful of jumbly old keys.

It is, however, the large and intimidating shadow falling over him that wakes him right up.

“Vix.”

Minutely, Vix feels himself relax.

“Hi Veer,” he grins sheepishly, giving a little wave.

Pinching the bridge of his nose, the Alpha steps inside the holding cell, looking all too large in the tiny space.

“This is the third time this year, Vix,” he huffs, but doesn’t wait for a reply. “Come on then.”

Gleefully, Vix jumps to his feet. Hell yes. He is so done with this place.

“Vel is waiting out the front with the car,” Veer says - and, oh. Yeah, Veer’s mad.

The heavy palm that lands on Vix’s shoulder feels like an iron manacle as it steers him out of the station.

The guards step aside to let them through - and Veer swipes Vix’s personal belongings from the front desk on their way out.

The cool night air is refreshing. It hits Vix square in the face and he sucks in a thirsty inhale.

Freedom doesn’t last very long though. Veer steers him toward the waiting car and Veronica opens the door stoically. Vix grins at her as he passes, but she very much does not smile back.

Veer climbs in after him. 

Vix almost chokes on the scents of worry and tightly controlled anger that permeate the small space of the car.

Vel doesn’t turn his head from where he sits in the driver's seat, and once Veer and Veronica are in the back and passenger seats respectively, they pull away from the curb.

The car ride is silent.

Vix tries his best not to breathe. The car smells sour with the mix of emotions and really, Vix doesn’t deserve this. It was just a little midnight snack run - save nothing to say of his lack of coin.

It doesn’t take long for them to pull into the compound.

There are still a few people milling around. He can see a couple of Beta’s laughing as they do their laundry together by the laundromat. There’s a few Alpha’s on patrol too.

There are no Omegas. Save for him.

The car pulls up to the main house and Vix gets out meekly before Veer can order him to.

If anything, the head Alpha smells angrier now after their car-ride, stewing in all that awful negative scent.

Vix follows Veer up the stone steps to the main house, with Veronica not all that far behind - possibly to prevent Vix from running.

Vix won’t run. Not now. Veer is mad. And running away from the punishment he’s going to get will only make things worse. He’s made that mistake before.

They step through the front door and down the hall. Even the house smells a little sour. Vix wrinkles his nose.

“Thank you, Veronica,” Veer says tightly, finally, as they reach the open door to the sitting room.

“Alpha,” she acknowledges with a short bow, and then disappears.

Veer rounds on him now.

“Vix.”

Vix slinks into the room and Veer closes the doors behind him.

There are both couches and cushions on the floor. Designed for comfort and status.

Ordinarily, Vix wouldn’t hesitate to jump straight onto the couch. But he thinks that, right now, that would only make Veer more annoyed with him.

He sinks down onto one of the cushions instead.

It feels… right. And that annoys him. Because he’s not some pet. Even if his instincts tell him to submit to the Dominant Alpha of his pack.

Veer takes the couch and falls into it with a tired sigh.

Silence follows them around the room for a good minute or so. Vix drops his eyes to the floor, the weight of Veer’s anger sitting heavy on his shoulders.

…maybe leaving the compound alone wasn’t the brightest idea after all.

“What am I going to do with you?” Veer starts, and Vix jumps with surprise.

“Alpha?”

“It’s like clockwork with you, Vix,” he continues, visibly annoyed. “The second I turn my back on you for one minute, you’re off doing something you’re not supposed to.”

Vix can’t help the pout.

“Don’t you pull that face at me, Omega,” Veer goes on with a roll of his eyes. “You should not have left the compound on your own. This is a rule. And you know it. And you tried to rob a convenience store, for reasons - I have no idea!”

Vix fiddles with the edge of the cushion.

“I just wanted some time on my own,” he admits quietly. This is to say nothing of the grocery store he nearly scored a five-finger discount from. But he doesn’t mention that.

Veer sighs, but there’s no heat in it this time.

“You’re going to very well be the death of me, Vix,” he says, but reaches down for Vix’s palm anyway.

Vix doesn’t fight the pull as he is yanked toward Veer’s knee.

Veer is careful with him too.

Maybe if Vix just apologises, this will all blow over sooner rather than later.

Slowly, he lowers his cheek onto Veer’s thigh, and he starts to purr when Veer massages the space at the bottom of his skull, just above his nape. It’s more to butter Veer up than anything. Maybe he’ll get off light.

They sit like that for a while.

Until Veer breaks the silence with words that send a frigid shudder down Vix’s spine.

“We love you, Omega,” he starts, referring both to himself and the entire pack. “But it’s clear to me now that some things are going to have to change around here - for your safety and well-being, and for the cohesiveness of this pack.”

And Vix doesn’t even get a chance to panic, because Veer’s thumb and forefinger pinch the nape of his neck so swiftly and brutally, he’s scruffed all the way into nothing.

Vix wakes, groggily.

The scents surrounding him are familiar, but he’s cold and disorientated.

It’s enough to send him shooting upright.

Oh, this is his room, he realises, looking around. It’s spacious and…

… empty.

The confusion sets in well before the anxiety does.

Where are the blankets for his nest? Where are his books? Why are all his clothes drawers open and empty?

Vix clutches at his shirt, only to meet a soft, satin material that feels familiar.

Why is he in his pyjamas? And where are his bedsheets?

His bed is barren. Just the plain mattress.

Shaken, Vix crawls to the edge of it and climbs off. He’s quick to hurry to the door.

But when he tries the handle, it’s locked.

“Hey! Hey! Veer? Let me out! Where are my things? Alpha?!”

The door opens quicker than expected.

Vix stumbles backward and nearly lands on his ass.

“Veronica?” he says as the tall Alpha woman steps inside and closes the door behind her. Her blazing red hair curls around her shoulders and she looks every bit annoyed at Vix, still.

“Veronica,” he starts anew, although this time he can’t quite help the pleading note in his tone. “Please, where are my things? Where is Veer?”

Veronica’s voice is direct and clear when she speaks, her blue eyes sharp as glass.

“Alpha ordered them taken away,” she says, calmly. “As part of your punishment.”

Punishment?

Oh.

Right.

Of course there would be a punishment. Vix wasn’t a fool. He knew there were penalties for disobeying Alpha, it was just. Veer had never locked him in his room before; never cleared out his room before.

Vix chews on his lower lip. “When will I get them back?”

Veronica shrugs. “That depends, I suppose,” she says. “On your behaviour.”

“I’ll be good,” he promises swiftly. “I will. Please.”

But Veronica just shakes her head. 

She’s softer this time, when she replies. 

“That’s not up to me to decide, Omega.” She says it lovingly, but it’s clear she nonetheless approves of Veer’s decision.

She turns then, and leaves his room with a soft ‘goodnight,’ and Vix can hear the turning of a key in the lock as she leaves.

Vix sinks to the floor, a little dazed. It’s cold. He misses his nest already.

In protest, he curls up on the cold, hard floor - but he doesn’t last very long before slinking back onto his mattress.

He’s still cold, but he dozes fitfully until he finally falls asleep.

At dawn, Venar, a Beta man, one of Vix’s caretakers, wakes him and brings him breakfast.

Vix groans.

“The sun isn’t even up yet, Venar,” he grumbles, and turns away.

The Beta man, who is usually so sympathetic to Vix’s early morning grouchiness, is all business today.

“Alpha’s orders,” he says. “Here, clothes.”

Vix whines, but takes the clothes and puts them on. Venar takes his pyjamas in return.

Veronica meets them at the door after he’s eaten.

Silently, Vix follows where she leads.

Which, turns out to be, Veer’s study.

Veer doesn’t even look up when Veronica enters with Vix in tow and announces their presence.

Veer points at the cushion without raising his head.

“Sit,” he orders, and Vix meekly trots in.

Veronica leaves and all of a sudden, it’s just the two of them.

In silence. Silence that drags.

“So, um, Veer—?” Vix begins.

“Quiet,” Veer orders sharply, pen scratching against paper. Vix’s jaw snaps shut with a click. It’s the Alpha in his voice, something untamed, with an almost supernatural force in it that makes Vix want to - not only obey, but listen. Try. Be good, for Veer. 

No talking. Got it.

They spend all morning like this. And Vix gets bored.

By lunchtime, he’s counted every book on Veer’s shelf twice, played several kinds of games with himself, and dozed a little against Veer’s leg.

Valma, the cook, brings them lunch. Tiny sandwiches.

They’re delightful. And Vix opens his mouth to say so - compliment her on her cooking - when Veer pins him with a glare.

Vix deflates unhappily.

So, what. His punishment is no talking? No nest? For how long?

They finish the sandwiches and Valma takes away their plates. Vix isn’t allowed to speak with her, but it doesn’t stop him from giving her a big thumbs up and a smile.

Valma smiles back, and Vix feels his heart lift.

But then the Beta woman leaves, and it’s just the two of them once again.

The clock on the wall is Vix’s own personal hell. It barely moves, he swears.

By the time five o’clock rolls around and Veronica picks him up, Vix is sure he’s all but lost his mind. Veer doesn’t say anything as he leaves - which hurts more than Vix can say.

Veronica leads him back to his room and Vix goes through all the same motions as this morning, but in reverse - with the added bonus of a shower thrown in.

Dinner is semi-cold cabbage soup that Venar leaves him.

Vix only eats three spoonfuls before curling up on his empty mattress.

He won’t cry, he thinks firmly as he scrubs at his eyes. He’ll make it through this and everything will go back to normal.

The next few days run much the same. Though, Vix hardly sleeps at night and finds himself exhausted every morning. He ends up dozing against Veer’s thigh a lot.

It’s the lack of scents, he reasons. Every blanket in his nest has a unique scent, one belonging to every 104 members of the pack. Vix knows them all; it’s an Omega thing, he was once told.

Without them, he feels anxious and alone.

At least in Veer’s study, he can catch a whiff of Veronica and Valma, and most of all, the room smells strongly of Veer. He feels less alone there, even if he is bored out of his brain. He feels safe surrounded by their scents.

By the time the third day rolls around, Vix swears his skin itches all over. He wants to crawl right out of it.

Deprived. That’s how he feels. But, he supposes, that’s probably the point. Veer has taken away his luxuries and it’s leaving the instinctual, Omega side of him rather dazed, battered and confused.

Veer doesn’t speak to him, per usual, but he does raise a rather surprised eyebrow - as does Veronica - when Vix all but runs into the room and dives for his cushion, and by extension, Veer’s thigh.

When Veronica is gone, Vix turns his face into the scent and inhales. He doesn’t weep, nothing so dramatic as that, but he does sag with relief when Veer’s hand absently finds his hair.

He sleeps most of the day.

And only wakes when he feels a voice, not his own, rumble through him.

“—rather clingy?”

“But doesn’t that just mean it’s working?” says a second voice, over his head.

Vix is in a weird position. He’s… on Veer’s lap? Everything smells so strongly of Veer. When he opens his eyes, he discovers his nose buried in Veer’s scent gland, the hollow between his neck and collarbone.

“Oh, Alpha. He’s waking up.”

Vix blinks.

And, slowly, lifts his head.

“What’re you—” he starts, before remembering himself and clamping his mouth closed.

This close to Veer, he’s quick to smell how swiftly the Alpha’s scent changes - a touch of concern turning to faint relief.

Veer’s hand rubs soothing circles on his back.

“Good morning, sleepyhead,” Veer says, his first words to Vix in nearly three days. “Or should I say, good afternoon—I was beginning to wonder if you’d ever wake up.”

Dumbstruck, Vix blinks back. And then slams his face into Veer’s neck again. Does this mean it’s over — ? Will they give him back his blankets? Let him make his nest? Let him visit his family outside his bedroom door?

The Alpha chuckles, but doesn’t push him away. On the contrary, his arms tighten around Vix.

“Alpha,” he whispers, finally, into the crook of Veer’s neck.

For a moment, he forgets the third person in the room—at least until they speak.

“—should I…?” wonders Veronica out loud.

Vix feels, rather than sees Veer shake his head.

“No,” he replies. “He can come with me.”

Veronica gives a short, sharp bow, and then turns on heel.

Veer gets up. With Vix still in his arms. Maybe it’s a good thing he’s small after all, he really doesn’t want Veer to put him down. Not even for a second. It’s lucky Veer is so big and strong too. But then again, he wouldn’t be the head Alpha of the pack if he wasn’t.

Vix finds himself in a bridal carry to the door. And then the fantasy ends, and Veer sets him on his feet.

Vix doesn’t mean to sound so desperate—but the whine that leaves the back of his throat is all Omega. Needy and anxious.

Even Veer stops for a moment, hesitates with his hand on the doorknob, as he looks over his shoulder with his eyebrows rising. He doesn’t say anything, though, and soon enough he turns back to the door, his eyebrows knitting together.

Vix can read his scent like the back of his own hand.

Veer’s worried about him. Just a little. He wonders if Veer can smell his slight desperation. 

Vix is learning that he doesn’t do so well in solitary confinement. He misses talking to the Beta men at lunch time, working with the Alpha women on their craftwork in the afternoons.

They’ve only been together two years now, Veer and he. And before that, the Alpha in charge was Vix’s father. The whole pack got a shake up when Veer, a lone Alpha, had wandered in and conquered the pack for his own.

It was common practice - all Alpha’s left their own homes at some point, either to take over a pack or else become part of a new one. 

Not every Alpha became head of a pack.

But every Omega was cherished.

Despite his mother having several litters of her own, Vix had been the only and last Omega she had ever given birth to.

Vix had been a gift to the pack - without an Omega a pack could not have children. Without an Omega, packs fell apart. Omega’s played an important role in balancing and directing group emotions. According to to kinsmen he’d asked, Vix apparently smelled like honey and sugar. 

Vix’s scent alone is enough to stop grown Alpha men from brawling, his presence in a room a balm to those in it. Omega’s soothe rough edges and calm aggressive pack members. 

Veer walks ahead of him and Vix peers up at his back through his eyelashes.

He supposes that’s why Veer worries. Vix has just as much responsibility to this pack as Veer does, but he doesn’t take it half as seriously.

At first, he thinks Veer is leading them to their mating chamber — one they haven’t actually used yet. Vix is only just twenty-two, after all. He hasn’t even had his first heat yet. And Veer has never had a rut, given that they’re only triggered when an Omega goes into heat.

But Veer just keeps walking, leading them toward his own bedroom.

When they reach it, he lets Vix inside, and the whole room smells like Veer. It’s cozy.

Vix itches to grab at the blankets on Veer’s bed, but that would be rude, so he clutches his fingers together and tries very hard not to think about how delightful it would be to bury his fingers in all that soft material.

“Sit down please, Omega,” Veer says, closing the door behind him and gesturing to the little sitting area in the corner of the room.

There aren’t any cushions on the floor, however, so Vix snags one from a chair and plops it on the ground. It’s a little small though. Rather uncomfortable.

Veer snickers.

Or, at least, that’s what Vix thinks that noise must be.

“I meant on the chair,” he says behind the back of his hand, stifling the laugh.

Oh.

Vix looks at the chair and suddenly can’t think of anywhere else he would rather not be. It’s his instincts running haywire, he thinks belatedly, as Veer settles into the other chair.

The needle of anxiety has been sewing him up for three days now—and all he wants is to unpick his stitches, and for things to go back to normal.

“Alright, Vix,” Veer starts anew, more serious now. His hand reaches out and cups Vix’s cheek. “You’ve been very good these past few days. And I want to reward that.”

Vix glows. Yes, this is it. Punishment is over!

“However,” Veer continues, drawing back his hand. “Things cannot go back to the way they were — not with you running off every four months to play some - some risky game .”

Vix deflates rapidly.

Veer gets up and heads toward a chest of draws on the other side of the room. He opens it, and pulls out something large and fluffy.

Vix knows what it is even before Veer places it in his palms.

“My blanket,” he whispers reverently, and clutches it to his chest.

Veer smiles fondly.

“As I was saying,” he says. “Things cannot go back to the way they were. So, instead of us remaining in our separate rooms until your heat, as is traditional, I thought we might try something new.”

Vix eyes him warily.

“Something… new?”

“Don’t sound so worried,” he says. “I am simply suggesting a new arrangement. That we… move in together, so to speak. That we move into the mating chambers now, rather than later, after we have consummated your first heat.”

It’s not an order, Vix can tell. It’s a suggestion. If Vix says no, Veer will respect that.

But.

Vix looks down at the blanket in his hands.

He wants to be a good Omega for this pack. And… Well, he knows he hasn’t been.

“Will I get all my blankets back?” he asks, looking up at Veer again.

Veer nods. “I’ll make sure of it.”

Vix swallows. “A-alright then, Alpha,” he agrees. “Then, let’s move in together.”

The house staff set up the bedroom for them in exactly no time at all. Veer moves in some of his own sentimental items and Vix gets all his blankets and things back.

The rest of the compound will be gossiping about this in no time at all, Vix thinks with an internal groan, then pats down the blankets in the centre of the bed and smooths out the edges of his nest.

Veer… hovers.

Clearly, he’s read up on Omega nesting behaviours - and doesn’t want to get in the way. Which is good, Vix supposes, because he relegates Veer to Blanket-Holding-Guy in no time at all while he sorts out his nest.

When, finally, it’s done, Vix sits back on his haunches with a huff, satisfied.

Veer looks like he suddenly doesn’t know what to do with himself — but Vix does.

Settling into the nest, he pushes out the little whine from the back of his throat and bares his neck invitingly, teasingly. Okay, maybe he’s not so far gone that he doesn’t know exactly how to push Veer’s buttons, still.

Veer, apparently, doesn’t need to be told twice. He climbs into the centre of the nest, kicking off his house shoes as he goes - and boldly tugs Vix into his side.

Vix goes easily, melting into the Alpha.

Once, maybe even only three days ago, he would have protested the action. He could take care of himself after all, he wasn’t a weak and pathetic Omega, just there for kind words and gentle touches.

But the last three days have been challenging, and he finds he can’t put up a fight.

He noses the scent gland on Veer’s neck hungrily, drinking in the Alpha’s scent.

What he isn’t expecting is for said Alpha to crane his neck and brush his lips along the claiming bite on Vix’s neck.

It’s so surprising, he nearly pushes the other man away.

The spike in his scent clearly alarms Veer, who pulls away immediately.

“Omega?” he says, pulling back just far enough to meet Vix’s eyes. His brow is furrowed and his scent is beginning to turn. “I’m sorry, was that too much?”

Vix dwells on that for a moment - but then ultimately, haltingly shakes his head.

“N-no,” he mumbles and drops his gaze to the neckline of Veer’s shirt. “I was… just surprised.”

“Oh.” Veer settles. He doesn’t, however, do it again. Which Vix suddenly finds incredibly disappointing.

They lay together like that for a while, content, with Vix’s nose buried in Veer’s neck and Veer’s chin resting atop his head, arms gathering him into his chest.

They both smell rather satisfied. And Vix falls asleep like that until Venar comes to find them.

The knock wakes him, but he barely registers the Beta’s voice as it washes over him.

“It is dinner time, Alpha,” the man says with a short bow as he addresses Veer. “Will you be having it in your room or will you be joining the pack this evening?”

Vix’s fingers tighten in Veer’s shirt.

He doesn’t want to eat alone again. He longs for the scents of the pack.

Veer, thankfully, grants his wish. “We’ll both join the pack tonight, Venar, thank you.”

Something hopeful uncurls in Vix’s chest.

Venar bows again and leaves.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Vix finds himself whispering.

Veer runs a hand along his arm. “I can see the last few days have really affected you,” he says, a little worry sneaking into his voice. “I didn’t realise the punishment would cause you such distress. I’m sorry, Vix. It was too much, I can see that now.”

He doesn’t reply, but instead buries his face in Veer’s shirt again and inhales deeply. Veer’s hand comes up and curls around the back of Vix’s neck. He doesn’t scruff him though, like Vix is worried he will do for a beat. The fingers there just massage the base of his skull, and Vix goes boneless embarrassingly quick.

It doesn’t last. Vix’s stomach rumbles, and that seems to be enough for Veer.

Veer helps him off the bed when his legs are almost too shaky to hold him. And his arm curls around Vix’s waist to guide him down the hall to the main eatery.

Under normal circumstances, Vix might feel ashamed of looking so… possessed, so owned by Veer. But he finds it rather difficult to feel so when they emerge into the dinning hall and each member of the pack turns to face them.

The room smells so content, so full of joy; Vix nearly chokes on it. Everyone looks so damn happy. They smell so… fond. 

Vix feels a pang of guilt.

The whole pack was worried about him. Maybe Veer was right about… about some things. Vix is headstrong, maybe even reckless. And it seems his recklessness has worried more than just the Dominant Alpha of the pack.

Several of his kinsmen, a group of Alpha women, collect him from Veer’s side - ushering him away to their table in the dining hall.

When Vix looks back over his shoulder, he feels a little sad about leaving Veer alone - especially with that flash of upset that crosses over his features, before Veer can school it into something more neutral.

Vix goes, though. He bathes in his pack’s scents, and the Alpha women fawn over him, as older sisters would fawn over their youngest brother.

It can be a little overbearing at times - part of the reason as to why he’d snuck out of the compound in the first place - but right now, Vix doesn’t mind it. Having been separated from their scents for the past three days, he’s quite content to have his kinsmen surreptitiously try to smuggle more green vegetables onto his plate and to be just a tad mothered.

He wonders if it makes him weak, his inability to be separated from the pack. The Alphas and Betas do not seem to have such a clawing need for familial scents and soft things.

From there, Vix is passed around from table to table, like an offertory bowl. The Alpha women mother him a little and the Beta men play board games with him after the meal. The Alpha men hover a little, standing over him like he’ll spring the house again if they stop watching, and the Beta women encourage him to come dance when the evening band starts up.

Veer keeps watch over Vix the whole time, and in return he keeps the head of the clan in sight up at the high-table. Veer is flanked by Veronica on one side and Vel on the other.

When the eating and board-games are done, and when Vix is breathless and too tired to dance anymore, he slinks his way up to the high-table, a little light-headed and giddy.

There’s no chair for him here, of course. Historically, meal-time is for the pack Omega to check in on all the residents, and that means mingling among them.

But Vix doesn’t really notice how quiet the room goes at first, when he navigates his way around Veronica and tentatively smiles at Veer, his hand curling around the back of the chair.

Vix feels a little scent-drunk. Tonight has been… a little overwhelming, if he’s honest. He’s gone from no scents, to all the scents.

Veer looks a little like a deer caught in head-lights, and he smells a little panicked, if Vix reads it right, when the Omega slides onto his lap with no resistance.

Vix brings his arms up around Veer’s neck and goes for his favourite place - burying his nose in the Alpha’s scent gland. Arms come up around his frame tentatively, and it’s only then that Vix realises — it’s so quiet, he can hear himself purring.

Veer clears his throat. “Alright, alright,” he says to the onlooking crowd. “Give the Omega some privacy, yeah?”

Vix turns his head and squints up.

Why is Veer beet red?

The band starts up again, one instrument at a time, and slowly each member of the pack resumes their activities.

Veer leans down.

“Everything alright, little Omega?” he whispers into Vix’s ear.

Vix hums.

“I think I’m a little scent-drunk, Alpha,” he admits easily, and closes his eyes.

Veer laughs, awkwardly. “Oh,” he says, his arms tightening further. “This was a bit much, huh? How do you feel?”

Vix pulls back with a loopy little smile.

“I feel weird ,” he grins, but his nose feels kind of stuffy - like he’s sniffed one too many bottles of perfume.

Next to them, Veronica laughs. “I’m sure you do,” she titters, and Vel shoots her a look .

Veer’s hand comes up and begins to massage the back of Vix’s neck, in the same way as earlier. Distantly, Vix is aware that the pack are watching him - occasionally glancing over between conversations. Relaxed and pleasantly punch-drunk as he is, he doesn’t really mind.

When the pressure on the back of his neck teeters toward too much though, Vix squeaks and pulls away, his eyes shooting open.

He doesn’t want to be put under.

“Shhh, Omega,” Veer coos, still gently stroking his nape with his thumb. “It’s alright. You’re safe.”

Vix tries to relax again, he does. And the gentle massage is nice, but.

“I don’t wanna go under, Alpha,” he whines and pouts at the same time.

Veer doesn’t stop stroking his neck, but he also leans in and presses a gentle kiss to the middle of Vix’s forehead.

“You’re tired Omega,” he says, changing tac. “And this will help you sleep.”

Vix doesn’t protest again, but he does go rigid and stiff on Veer’s lap.

The Alpha just sighs.

It’s embarrassing to go under, too. No Alpha or Beta has such a weakness. It’s just him.

Vix has heard stories. Of horrible pack leaders, abusive in the way they rule their packs with iron fists. They hold no such compunction as to listen to their Omegas. They scruff without thought.

It’s not that Vix has anything against being scruffed, per se. Sometimes it even helps - especially when he’s so caught up in his own emotions that he can’t think straight. It’s nice to have a built in biological way to overrule that, a way to cut through the noise.

He trusts Veer - he does. It’s just… Well. Recently, he’s only been scruffed when he’s been badly behaved. And he’s started waking up with a bitter taste in his mouth and a pounding in the back of his head because of it.

He used to like being scruffed by his mother - these days, he… 

An Omega is completely defenceless when they’re scruffed.

And Vix hates being defenceless. He’s surrounded by a sturdy pack who would all die before they let him get hurt, and yet… somehow, he still feels scared at the thought of being rendered unconscious.

It’s natural, he tries to reason with himself. But it’s also terrifying.

“I can see you overthinking,” Veer chuckles breathlessly in his ear, thumb still brushing gentle circles over the skin on his nape.

“It’s scary,” he whispers back, turning his face into Veer’s shirt.

“Scary?”

The surprise in Veer’s tone is palpable; his scent changes abruptly, from content, to something halfway between alarm and confusion.

Beside them, from the corner of Vix’s eye, he sees Veronica stiffen at the smell as she glances over. She always was heightened to Veer’s moods, second in command and all. Of course, she’s far more aware of Vix.

Vix nods.

Veer adjusts him on his lap. And Vix blushes a little at their… contact . Even if it is through their trousers.

“There’s no need to be scared, Omega,” Veer says softly, embracing him with such gentle care. “But we’ll work on it, okay?”

Vix nods into his neck, hesitant. “O-okay,” he agrees, barely above a whisper.

“How about we just sit here for a while,” Veer continues, aware that Vix isn’t all the way convinced just yet. “And I want you to relax. I won’t put you all the way under, alright, but I’m going to add a bit more pressure. Is that acceptable?”

Haltingly, Vix nods.

“Trust you, Alpha,” he breathes against Veer’s exposed collarbone.

The movement of Veer’s thumb is suddenly all he can think about. It’s comfortable and relaxing at first, and Vix melts at the touch, slowly growing more and more boneless.

But then the pressure changes, and it’s like a masseuse working the knotted muscles out of his back. Quietly, he whimpers, and Veer hushes him gently again.

“It’s alright,” Veer repeats again and again. “You’re safe. It’s okay.”

Eventually, Veer hits at the pressure point with too precise precision, and suddenly, Vix can’t move any of his limbs.

Veer lifts his hand away, then, and cups Vix’s cheek ever-so-gently.

Vix is awake and conscious, even though everything is hazy, but he cannot move a muscle. He feels like a ragdoll on Veer’s lap. He wants to tell the man not to drop him, but he can’t even work out how to use his jaw.

Valma approaches them with a smile then.

“Cute,” she mutters to herself, hanging her arm off the side of Vel’s chair.

Veronica huffs on his other side. “He’s only cute when he’s like this,” she harrumphs. “He wasn’t so cute when we had to collect him from the county jail.”

“Give the boy a break, Ver,” Valma snorts, clearly amused. And then she reaches over and ruffles his hair, and Vix can’t even lift a hand to bat her away. His body betrays him anyway, when he chuffs out a contented purr. “He’s just too damn loveable. That’s why you let him get away with so much.”

Veer chuckles, and the noise rumbles through him.

“Isn’t that the truth,” he huffs, and cards his fingers through Vix’s hair, once Valma removes her hand.

They’re quiet for a moment, all just watching him, and Vix is sure he’ll be embarrassed about this later.

But then Veer moves to stand, and he takes Vix with him easily - head lolling on the broad Alpha’s shoulder.

“We might retire for the night,” he says anew, adjusting Vix’s weight so that he’s comfortable to carry. If Vix didn’t know better, he’d assume the Alpha was jealous of other people getting to see him like this.

Valma, Vel, and Veronica all bow, and Veer strides from the room with Vix in arm - one hundred gazes following them out.

Vix notices when the temperature drops. The hallway is much colder than the dining hall. 

He zones in and out - up until Veer lays him on the bed, carefully brushing the bangs from his eyes.

Veer changes into his nightclothes first, before turning to Vix.

It’s intimate, in a strange, non-sexual way. Veer peels away every layer and replaces it again with fresh pyjamas. And then he too climbs into bed and settles alongside Vix.

The numbness in his limbs is slowly beginning to wear off now, but Vix is tired. He falls asleep just as Veer is kissing his forehead and telling him goodnight.

Morning rolls around, lazy in the way Saturdays tend to be.

Vix wakes up in Veer’s loose embrace and feels quite content to doze until Venar intrudes to hustle them out of bed.

It’s strange, Vix thinks as he peeks over his shoulder and watches Veer’s broad shoulders slip through his shirt-sleeves - he doesn’t think he’s spent so much time with Veer before. Observing, but also just enjoying .

That’s his mate. Strong and powerful. Veer had earned the right to lead the pack. And that tickles something in Vix he’d rather not address this early in the morning.

They head out into the dining hall where there are other groggy members of the pack milling about. Several of the more awake ones brighten as Vix enters the room, and he gives them all smiles as he passes.

Vix heads over to the nearest group of Beta men and slides between their ranks. They all take turns feeding him bits of their meals and the conversation turns joking and light-hearted as they eat.

Up at the high table, Veer eats alone. But as far as Vix can tell from this distance, he doesn’t seem to mind it at all.

When the Beta men leave to start on their morning duties, Vix seeks out Veronica.

He finds her going over her schedule by the door.

“Morning, Ver,” he grins happily. “What’s on the agenda today?”

Veronica raises an eyebrow at the moniker, but doesn’t admonish him for it, like she would most others. Instead, she turns over the page on her clipboard.

“You have homework,” she states with a cool stare.

Vix deflates.

Ah, crap. After the last three days, he’d totally forgotten Vel’s overly-precise study schedule.

“Ugh, really?” he protests with a groan. “Exactly why am I learning all that stuff anyway? It’s not like I’m ever going to meet another Omega.”

Veronica sniffs. “It’s not just formal greetings between packs,” she says, lowering the page between her fingers. “Vel picked out a variety of books. Including a few on parenting and several on what you should expect come your first heat.”

Vix flushes.

“It’s weird that everyone’s keeping tabs on my virginity,” he grumbles, red up to his ears.

Veronica rolls her eyes and points her pen at him. “It’s not ‘weird,’ as you put it. It’s part of our jobs.”

He’d almost rather go rob another grocery store.

“Oh, Alpha has suggested that you study in his office,” Veronica finishes primly.

Vix’s head snaps up. “What?” he asks. “Why?”

Veronica waves her pen about in little circles. “Oh, I don’t know,” she starts, accusingly. “Something about little Omega’s needing to be watched twenty-four-seven, lest they manage to get themselves arrested or kidnapped.”

Vix maybe shouldn’t feel proud about that, but he silently preens a little.

Veronica flicks his forehead with the pen.

“If you’re going to act that way about it,” she says, firmly. “Then you clearly don’t regret it. Hm. Maybe I should ask Alpha to extend your punishment for a couple more days.”

Vix pouts. “You wouldn’t.”

Veronica raises an eyebrow. “Try me,” she says. And then returns her attention to her clipboard. “Run along now. Vel will deliver your books to Veer’s study and if you’re not there when he arrives then I’m getting Valma to give you a double dose of vitamins at lunch.”

Vix doesn’t hang around long enough for her to make good on her threat.

When he reaches Veer’s study, the Alpha is already there, buried in paperwork in much the same way as he has been for the past three days.

Vix softly closes the door behind him and smiles sheepishly when Veer looks up. Is he… allowed to talk, now? The punishment is over, right?

“I’m here to study, Alpha,” he preemptively explains, even though he’s sure Veer already knows this, having given Veronica the suggestion and all.

Veer nods. “You can use the couch,” he says, with a nod toward the loveseat and armchairs by the window.

Vix acknowledges with a hum and pads over, kicking off his shoes and curling his feet under his shins as he climbs into one of the chairs.

It’s… a little warm by the window. The sun’s heat streams in. Vix doesn’t mind it, for a time, stretching languidly like a cat.

Vel delivers his books from the library wordlessly and departs just the same. Veer is completely lost in his paperwork.

With a sigh, Vix picks up the first book in the pile.

Ugh, pack etiquette.

He opens to the first page.

It’s not all completely useless, he acquiesces, three chapters in. He’s learned some stuff; like how Beta submission around a pregnant Omega can mean the next generation of Omega’s is in the womb. Or that non-mated Alpha’s who try to put a mating claim on a mated Omega are not protected by law.

He also learns some things about his own scent.

Vix runs his thumb over the chapter title: Omega Scents and How to Use Them.

He wonders if this book was written by an Omega, like him.

Vix already knows he’s heightened to everyone’s scent in the pack. What he didn’t know was that it worked similarly in reverse. Everyone in the pack is acutely aware of his scent every time he leaves and enters a room. Every emotion he has is basically broadcasted through his scent.

… but, learning how to control one’s scent can be beneficial, reads the book. Preventing others from reading your scent not only helps balance pack emotions, but can prevent other packs from taking advantage.

Oho. Interesting, Vix thinks.

Step by step instructions are laid out, and Vix visualises them, practising holding back his scent. It’s not easy, but he imagines it rather like dabbing up spilled watercolours with a paper towel - only the faintest image remaining.

He’ll have to experiment around the compound to truly see if it works.

He sets that book down and picks up another - Mating Behaviour. Hm. Maybe not.

Vix slides that one to the bottom of the pile as a blush crawls up his neck.

He makes his way through most of Interpack Relations before he’s startled from his studies by a knock at the door.

It’s Valma, bringing them lunch. Vix looks up at the clock with a frown. Funny, somehow his time spent in this room either races or crawls - with nothing in between.

Lunch is pumpkin soup, appropriate for the warm fall weather.

“Ah, Valma, thank you,” acknowledges Veer as he stands to stretch. “You can set those down on the coffee table over by the windows.”

Vix clears his books off the table to make room and scoots forward eagerly at the delicious smell as Valma sets it before him.

“Thanks Valma,” he says, adding his own gratitude to the mix. “It really does smell wonderful.”

Valma smiles. “You’re very welcome, sweetheart.”

She serves up the room as Veer joins him and then she departs the room with a little bow.

The loveseat is somehow the perfect size for them. Veer is just a little too big for one half of the sofa and Vix is just a little too small. Together, they fit perfectly.

Veer pats his knee absentmindedly.

Vix tries very hard to not remember those deft fingers on the back of his neck last night. What does it even say about him that he protests being scruffed, yet flushes with an aching need for it? God, he’s so embarrassing.

“Everything alright, Omega?” Veer asks, nose twitching.

“Fine!” he squeaks, diving for his soup spoon. “Just fine, Alpha!”

The hand on his knee snakes all the way up to his thigh - entirely innocently, based on the way Veer doesn’t even seem to comprehend the possessive nature of it.

“If you’re sure,” he says with a frown, before finally removing his hand to retrieve his own spoon. “But please, Vix, if there is anything troubling you, tell me, alright?” 

Vix nods, but Veer goes on.

“I’m your Alpha,” he continues, frowning down at his soup, not making a move to eat it. “And that means it’s my job to make sure you’re happy and safe. But if you don’t tell me what’s bothering you, I… I can’t do that, Vix.”

Oh.

“Veer…” he starts, then pauses. “Veer I… You’re a wonderful Alpha. You take such good care of this pack - such good care of me. And I… I’m sorry I’ve been making things so difficult for you. I don’t mean to be such a handful.”

Veer turns his head to smile back, though the expression he manages is still a little sad. Slowly, he cups Vix’s cheek, and Vix leans into the warmth.

“We’ll figure it out, Omega. Together, I promise.”