The sun outside was bright as Eira ran around the yard, trying to keep up with his brothers. Their laughter echoed across the estate, filling the air with the joy of childhood. The Duke and Duchess sat nearby at a table, sipping refreshments as they watched their children play. Although both parents appeared happy, the Duke's gaze lingered on Eira, observing the feverish flush to his face. There was an unspoken awareness in his eyes, as if he sensed that something significant was about to change.
To Eira, those days were marked by happiness. He remembered Evren running over, presenting him with a flower he had found on the ground. "For our prettiest brother," Evren said, his smile warm and full of affection. The gesture spoke of the close bond between them. When Aldrich approached, he took the flower and tucked it into Eira's hair, the blue petals perfectly matching Eira's eyes. Aldrich grinned playfully and seized Eira's hand, pulling him along to run together once more.
Their parents eventually called the children in for tutoring. Though disappointed that playtime was ending, the brothers didn't mind too much since they would remain together. As Eira trailed behind his siblings, a small smile played on his lips, already wondering what games they might invent after their lesson.
But as Eira neared his parents, his steps faltered. His body felt unusually hot, a sensation he attributed to staying up late to read his favorite book. The heat soon became unbearable, and his breathing grew short. His brothers turned to him, concern etched in their eyes.
Suddenly, pheromones began to emanate from Eira, betraying no emotion as he had no control over them. The air filled with the sweet scent of honey and wildflowers—his scent, signaling his manifestation. Panic set in when he realized that none of his family members smelled sweet; their scents were musk, trees, and warmth. Alphas didn't smell sweet.
Tears streamed down Eira's face as he looked to his family for comfort. He reached out to his father, pleading, "Father, please. What's wrong? I'm so hot. Please make it stop." The Duke responded coldly and instantly, his only reply a stinging slap across Eira's cheek.
"Useless thing. No son of mine is an omega. You're a disgrace." With these words, Duke Emmerson turned away, his eyes devoid of love or compassion—only filled with disgust and annoyance. Eira's brothers, still too young to understand, stared at him in confusion as servants ushered them away. Eira's last hope was his mother.
His mother looked at him with pity and something Eira could not identify. "Mother," he sobbed, but she simply directed a servant to take him back to his room.
After that day, every time Eira awoke, it was to Lilia tending to him. He was no longer in his old room in the west wing, but in a much smaller one. "Where am I?" he would ask softly, still a child. Lilia always smiled gently, assuring him that everything would be alright and that he wasn't alone. Her presence was a true comfort.
Eira soon learned what his manifestation meant. His father ignored him unless it was to punish him physically. His brothers stopped inviting him to play or study. There were no more secrets or shared hiding spots. His mother's eyes, once full of pity, now held a grudge for the reputation marred by having birthed an omega.
One day, while Lilia was teaching him to read, Eira asked if she was also an omega, since he had never sensed her pheromones. She simply smiled, running her hand gently over his head. By then, he was around eleven, four years since his manifestation.
"No, little one. I'm a beta, and I don't pity you for being an omega. I pity you because you're a child who deserves your parents' love. You shouldn't be treated differently for something you can't control. You are enough and perfect just as you are."
Still, Eira worried. "But I've read the books. Omegas are meant to birth children for people. They aren't allowed any freedom. I can't even work when I get older, Lilia. Doesn't that mean I'll always be weak? Just a useless burden?"
Lilia's smile faded. "I grew up in a rougher place, Eira—the slums at the bottom of the capital. I did jobs many wouldn't be proud of. I've worked where omegas were seen as commodities, used as toys. Their lives were hard, but they were the strongest people I've ever known. You are, too. Stronger than you or anyone else in this kingdom will admit." Her tone was serious, conveying deep emotion. Eira didn't fully agree, but let the conversation go.
Days passed with just Lilia and Eira. He ate with the servants, spent most of his time secluded in his room, and stayed out of sight for safety. When he turned twelve, he was assigned a guard after a guest of his father's tried to take him away. A knight intervened before tragedy struck. This was how he met Able, an alpha. Though initially fearful, Eira grew comfortable with her. She would carry him back to his room on days when discipline left him unable to walk, and comfort him with soothing pheromones when he couldn't stop crying. Able was quiet but steady, her compassion evident in her gentle touch and kind eyes.
Over time, Eira learned that Able was not from their kingdom—her features gave her away. Eventually, she shared that she came from Therone, where she and her wife, an omega, had been traveling merchants. During a trip to Assinia, her wife was killed. Able didn't speak of it much, but the pain was clear. When Eira asked why she stayed, she would only smile and tell him not to worry.
The three of them—Eira, Lilia, and Able—became closer as time passed. Able eventually accomplished her goal, though she never said what it was. Lilia often said her only attachment to the estate was Eira. He was grateful to have two people who would protect and care for him, helping him survive the cruelty of his family and childhood.
Around Eira's fourteenth birthday, the three decided they would run away before he turned eighteen. This resolve crystalized after another instance of his father's violence—Eira was left with two cracked ribs and a swollen eye. Able's rage was unforgettable that night, and Lilia's gentle care helped soothe his pain.
They promised that, wherever they went, they would go together.
Eira awoke with a start. In the month since the incident in the training grounds, it seemed all he did was sleep, the medicine keeping him drowsy and his dreams full of memories. His body was nearly healed, and his mind clearer about what he needed to do. He was grateful that Aldrich had not told their father about the bags, since the consequences would have been far worse.
He slowly sat up in bed, stretching out the lingering fatigue, just as a knock came at the door. Lilia entered, carrying soup and bread.
"Good, you're up. You need food and a bath." She set the food on the table and opened the curtains to let in the light.
"Able would come in, but there are too many guards near your room now, so she's staying by the door," Lilia explained.
Eira nodded, making his way to the table. "Did she learn anything on her last trip out of the estate?" he asked, sipping the hot soup. Though bland, it was comforting to his empty stomach.
"She did. Not many know much about Lavasea. Many venture there, but not many return. As dreadful as that sounds, omegas are said to be treated better there—from a commoner's standpoint, at least. I can't speak for the nobles, and neither can Able's contacts." Lilia tidied the room as she spoke, glancing at Eira to gauge his mood.
Eira had asked Able to investigate Lavasea after he first woke following the events at the training grounds. None of them really knew anything about the place beyond what books said about the kingdoms' histories.
He nodded, thoughtful as he finished his meal. He knew they wouldn't get another chance to leave; too many eyes were on them now. Aldrich had kept his distance since being scolded, and Eira's confinement due to his injuries had shielded him from the rest of his family.
"When will the tutors start coming?" he asked as he stood to go to the bathroom.
"Next week," Lilia replied, following him with fresh clothes in hand.
Eira hummed softly in acknowledgment.
"Then I guess I am to study how to be a stand-in duchess. We'll go to Lavasea. If it's too bad there, we can try to run again. We'll look for a proper opportunity. As long as we are together…" He looked at Lilia as he said this.
Though surprised by his resolve, Lilia only nodded and gently patted his cheek. "Together always. We won't leave you. Now go bathe. I can smell you from a mile away."
Eira let out his first genuine laugh in a long time. "Yes, I shall bathe."
"Good. I'll tell Able we're set on leaving for Lavasea. You have a little less than two months to prepare." With that, Lilia left him to his thoughts.
Eira undressed and stepped into the bath, uncertain if this was the right choice but knowing it was the best—and perhaps only—option available.
He was afraid of what the future held, but he knew it couldn't be worse than the present. As long as Lilia and Able were with him, he believed he could manage anywhere.
This conviction carried him through the endless lessons on etiquette and appearances. Even if the tutors were from Assinia, his father insisted it was better than what the Lavasea "mutts" could provide.
His family largely left him alone during this time, for which he was grateful. They wouldn't risk damaging the "goods" intended to secure a treaty.
When he did cross paths with his mother, she glared at him; his father criticized every perceived shortcoming. Aldrich kept his distance, never approaching him again.
On the rare occasions he saw Evren, his brother asked him not to forget to write. Evren was curious about Lavasea and wanted Eira to describe it in detail—though Eira suspected his brother wanted a spy, and was determined not to become even more a target. He wasn't stupid enough to take Evren's words seriously. He could see strategy brewing in his eyes and realistically they wouldn't even be able to touch him when he left this estate. So whether he wrote or not didn't matter which gave him a sliver of comfort.
The weeks passed quickly between tutoring sessions and Able's reports on her findings. Lilia's preparations for the journey were a great help, ensuring everything was in order, no matter how small their possessions. "Better to prepare more than less," Lilia would say as she bustled around.
Before he knew it, the night before their departure arrived. Tomorrow would be Eira's eighteenth birthday, marking the beginning of their adventure into the unknown.