Suddenly His Alpha: An MPREG Omegaverse Short Read online

  Tulla has spent the last eight years in the Omega Quadrant, trying his damnedest not to get suckered into a mating. He has an independent streak a mile wide, but without many opportunities for omegas, he struggles to forge a path of his own. When his parents put their foot down and demand he attend an Omega Ball and hunt for his alpha, he goes, but under duress.

  While there, he runs into an alpha from his past who just might be his future, too.

  Suddenly His Alpha

  An Omegaverse Short

  A Prequel to

  His Reluctant Omega

  by

  Kelex

  MM, GAY ROMANCE, NON-SHIFTER OMEGAVERSE, MPREG

  Twisted E Publishing, LLC

  www.twistedepublishing.com

  A TWISTED E-PUBLISHING BOOK

  Suddenly His Alpha

  An Omegaverse Short

  Copyright © 2019 by Kelex

  Edited by Marie Medina

  First E-book Publication: January 2019 in the Cupid’s Errors Anthology

  Second E-book Publication: June 2019

  Cover design by Cover by K Designs

  All cover art and logo copyright © 2019, Twisted E-Publishing, LLC.

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  All characters depicted in sexual acts in this work of fiction are 18 years of age or older.

  Author’s Note

  This story was originally available in the Cupid’s Errors Anthology published in January 2019.

  It has been lightly edited before re-release.

  This is an omegaverse story, occurring in a world very similar to our own in many ways, with one major difference.

  There is only one gender—male—and those males are separated into three classes—alpha, beta, and omega. Omegas are capable of pregnancy. A breeding age omega goes into heat with every full moon. Any virile alpha near an omega in heat will go into rut.

  But there is only one alpha that is truly an omega’s fated mate.

  In order to protect omegas from being claimed and impregnated by the wrong alpha, some provinces place their unmated omegas behind guarded walls as a precaution. The province brings them out for carefully monitored events, called Omega Balls. These events are the only way for unmated alphas and omegas to interact with one another and find their mates.

  When an omega meets their alpha for the first time, there’s a risk of them going into a contact heat—their minds and bodies overwhelmed by this initial interaction. It can cause any alpha nearby to go into rut. Heats and ruts are animalistic instincts, where the need to breed is the only thing on their minds, so the Beta Guard is on hand to keep the peace and remove any omegas in heat.

  The longer the omega waits, the more intense this initial reaction seems to be.

  Prologue

  “You’re the skinniest, weirdest looking omega I’ve ever had the misfortune of looking at.”

  Twelve-year-old Amantulla Berringer lifted his stare to the alpha bully standing in his path, preventing him from going home. He opened his mouth to tell Archer Kingsbury where the guy could shove it, but no words would come out of his mouth. Finally, a stuttering expanse of nonsense poured out, shaming him to his very toes.

  His gaze drifted to Beckett Montgomery’s silver stare. The fifteen-year-old alpha was his neighbor and the older brother of his arch nemesis, Titian. The guy was all legs and arms, and so gangly, it was a surprise he was an alpha. He wasn’t anywhere near as thick and powerful as Archer. Beckett’s heated stare quickly turned away, and in that moment, Tulla knew the guy would be no help.

  Tulla was on his own.

  “B-b-b-baaaaa-hahaha!” Archer began to laugh, before knocking Tulla’s books to the ground. “You can’t even talk without st-st-stuttering away. Are you stupid, too?”

  “Well, he is an omega,” one of the others in the group said, snickering. “They’re only made to look pretty.”

  Tulla steamed inside. Fist clenched at his sides, he felt the first sting of tears burning the backs of his eyes. He wasn’t scared. He was frustrated that he couldn’t voice his outrage.

  “Pretty? This one can’t even manage that. Look at those huge ears. He looks like he could fly away with them,” Archer said before cackling at his own joke.

  In that moment, nothing would’ve made Tulla feel better than to be able to fly away. Far away from those assholes. The tears grew in his eyes, but he bit the insides of his cheeks to stop them.

  “Ooohhh, the little baby’s gonna cwy,” Archer announced, seemingly pleased with himself. “Go ahead, baby. Cwybaby. Cry!”

  Instead of crying, Tulla reared back and punched Archer square in the nose.

  Blood poured out from both nostrils before Archer cried out and lifted his hands to cover his nose. “You fucking asshole,” Archer squealed, but the sound was all nasally and only brought a chuckle from Tulla. “You’re gonna pay for that.”

  Just as Archer advanced forward, a hand reached out and stopped the bully.

  “Just leave him alone, Archer,” Beckett said, dragging the bully back.

  Archer shoved Beckett—hard. He landed with an oof and a loud thump.

  “Don’t you ever get in between me and who I’m fighting, Montgomery,” Archer said, fists raised and blood pouring down the front of his face and onto his shirt.

  Tulla stepped between Archer and Beckett, ready to do battle with the big bully.

  Archer tilted his head a moment, an odd mix of confusion and horror on his face.

  Just before he burst out laughing.

  “Beckett’s such a wimp, he needs an ugly little omega to fight his battles for him.”

  Archer and the other boys laughed a moment longer, as Beckett began to rise, his face beet red. He ignored Tulla’s hand and rose to his full height.

  “I don’t need an omega to fight my battles,” Beckett eyed him, rage in his stare. “Least of all him.”

  Beckett stormed off. Archer and his friends followed the gangly alpha, seemingly forgetting Tulla and the fight they’d been having. They had a new person to bully, it seemed. Tulla lowered his clenched fists and felt the shakes give way. He knelt to pick up his books before rushing home to hide in his room.

  Sadly, it wouldn’t be Tulla’s last encounter with a bully, although Archer gave him a wide berth the next few years.

  As did Beckett Montgomery.

  Chapter One

  In the Omega Quadrant…

  “Amantulla? Open this door right now, young man!”

  Tulla lowered his book and jumped from his narrow twin bed, crossed the tiny bedroom in three steps, and whipped open his door—just as his papa was readying to knock again. His papa looked red-faced and breathless, irritation written in the lines of the omega’s still-handsome face. He had no idea what he’d done to incur his papa’s wrath, but he could clearly see clarification was soon at hand. “Yes?”

  “Don’t you sass me, boy,” Harper Berringer said as he stormed into the tiny room Tulla occupied in the boarding house.

  Tulla had resided there since he’d been scarcely sixteen, his family not having the funds to secure their own small family cottage in the Omega Quadrant. He lived in a small room within the house with another dozen or so omegas; all waiting for the glorious day they met and mated their alpha. He almost rolled his eyes at that thought.

  Glorious? Hardly. Tulla closed the door, hoping to prev
ent everyone in the house from hearing the dressing down to come. Not likely. The walls of this place are paper-thin.

  “I just came from the Omega Ball Foundation’s organizational meeting, and I did not see your name on the guest list for the upcoming Ball. Why is that? I sent you the invitation a month ago.”

  “I have no desire to go,” he said as calmly as he could.

  “No. Desire. To go.” Rage filled his papa’s eyes. “You have lived in this boarding house for nearly eight years. We cannot continue to pay for your room and board much longer, Tulla. You must find an alpha, and soon. Your father is threatening to cut you off.”

  Tulla gasped inwardly, his eyes widening.

  “That seems to have gotten your attention. Good.”

  “He can’t just cut me off,” Tulla argued, searching his papa’s face, hoping to find some glimmer of hope.

  “You give us little choice. Your father has already used up half his retirement paying for your care and upkeep here.”

  “I would gladly pay my way, if I could. You know that. I’ve been to every business in the Omega Quadrant, begging for a job. I’d do anything.” Well, just about anything. There were a few establishments he’d avoided—mainly the strip clubs where overeager betas with omega fetishes were said to congregate. He’d also steered clear of the surrogate centers and the dark, dingy offices where omegas could sign over their bodies to one of the sex houses.

  “If you found your alpha, you wouldn’t have to worry about a job,” his papa snarled. “And if you don’t find him soon, you’ll end up ruining yourself for one. And then where will you be?”

  “We should have the right to choose,” Tulla whispered.

  “Unfortunately, we don’t have that right,” his papa said, a sad look on his face. “This world gives us few ways out, Tulla. I understand your need to rebel. Trust me… I was once in your very shoes. I just don’t want you ruining your future with that strong will of yours. Once you meet your alpha… everything will change, my love. You’ll see the world in a whole new light. Love has a way of reshaping everything we see.”

  “Love?” he scoffed. “It’s a chemical reaction. That’s all. It’s not love, but lust. Animal lust.”

  “Maybe,” his papa said. “Regardless, you need that chemical reaction… or I hate to think where you’ll end up.”

  Tulla turned to look out the narrow window that allowed a single shaft of light to enter his room. Silence fell between them for a moment until he nodded. “Fine. I’ll work harder to make myself… available.”

  Unmated alphas and omegas were sequestered—had they not been, any alpha could claim an omega in heat. When young, they were all raised together in the Family Quadrant—alphas, betas, and omegas—but once heats occurred, omegas were moved to the OQ, where they were never allowed to leave until mated. Alphas, being the most powerful group, were still free to go as they damned well pleased.

  Attending a ball was his only chance to find a mate. A ball was like being in a fishbowl… with many eyes watching their every move.

  Most said the balls were a chance to find love.

  It sounded nothing like love in Tulla’s mind.

  If he found his alpha, he’d have to give in. Surrender himself to a man who would control him for the rest of his life. He’d be forced to bear children and then care for those children he didn’t want. And he’d be expected to be happy about it all.

  Love.

  Not hardly.

  “I’ll sign up for the next ball,” Tulla said, his back still to his papa.

  “You’ll go to this one,” his papa corrected.

  Tulla spun. “I didn’t sign up.”

  “I snuck your name onto the list at the meeting. Two nights from now… you’re going. I assume you still have the suit from the last two. Is it clean?”

  Tulla nodded, irritated that he wouldn’t have a few weeks to prepare himself for what was to come. Two days. His mind went to his one good suit. It was still hung up in the bag it had come in. “It is.”

  “Good. Unfortunately, your father and I can’t go as your escort. We’ve been invited to a soiree at the Montgomery mansion that night. Your brother, Bardon, will accompany you.”

  Lovely. I’ll hear nothing but his complaints all night. “Fun.”

  “Don’t snap at me. You got yourself into this predicament and you know it.” His papa let out a long sigh before scanning his small bedroom. “Bardon will meet you in the entry hall at precisely seven. Seven. Don’t be late. Or he might just end up leaving you there alone.”

  Promise? He made a mental note to show up as late as possible in hopes he could avoid his babysitter. “Of course. I’ll be there precisely at seven.” He crossed two fingers behind his back and forced a smile to his face.

  His papa spun slightly, still eyeing his bedroom. “This place is smaller than I imagined. Not much larger than a cell.”

  “Yes, but it has a window and a door—both of which open. It’s all I need.”

  His papa continued to stare at the small space. “One would think you’d want more out of life… yet you want to remain here.”

  Here, I’m free.

  But then again… am I?

  * * * *

  Two nights later…

  Beckett Montgomery stood in the doorway of the Omega Ball, his younger brother, Titian, at his side. He scanned the interior of the ballroom, and his stomach clenched. It was all decked out with gaudy decorations and music played too loudly. Some of the eligible omegas in the room turned and moved closer, their stares hungrily eating him alive as soon as they took note.

  What in the hell am I doing here?

  “Isn’t it lovely?” Titian murmured, smiling widely. “It almost makes me sad that I’ve already found my mate. I loved attending the parties and mixing with my friends. I miss this so much.”

  Beckett had never attended a ball, but his papa had been nagging him more and more to attend. At nearly twenty-eight, he was apparently closing in on the age of no return. Or so his parents seemed to think. He was in no rush to be mated, but perhaps after tonight they’d stop nagging him for a while. “Why don’t you go ahead and mix. You don’t need me getting in the way.”

  Titian’s head tilted his way, one sharp brow rising. “What? So you can disappear? I don’t think so.”

  Beckett rolled his eyes and wished he was at home. His cat was likely lonely, curled up in the spot where he usually read at night. That was where he wanted to be, sipping on a nice red and reading his novel. Instead, he let Titian drag him deeper into the room and stood idly by as he was introduced to a bevy of curious omegas. His brother stared at him, hope lingering—but that faded as it was obvious none of the omegas in that circle caught his attention.

  After a few minutes, Titian dragged him to another cluster and started the round of introductions all over again. Barely listening, he pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose and let out a bored sigh. His stare drifted off to a darkened corner of the room. There sat a man looking as if he was hiding from everyone. A smile played over his lips as he wished he could be the one hiding in the shadows. A faint tremor raced up his spine. He shook it off and heard a question, pulling his focus.

  “So, what is it you do, Beckett?”

  Beckett’s gaze lowered to the omega who’d spoken. What was his name? Tim, Tam, or something like that. “I run a non-profit organization based here in the province. We mainly focus on housing issues for low-income families and building starter homes for those in need, particularly those with omega-based heads of household in the OQ—although my current project is focused on some housing in the Beta Quadrant.”

  “Non-profit? So little to no income, is what you’re trying to say?” Tim or Tam or whatever his name was asked.

  Beckett paused, struck by the question. He’d been born with a silver spoon in his mouth, but unlike most other wealthy alphas he knew, he didn’t enjoy amassing a collection of things nor did he want to join in the company business. Luckily, his
elder alpha brother took care of that role in the family, and even Titian had married well, bringing his mate into the company.

  After getting his current position, Beckett had moved into a small flat in the AQ, where he lived as frugally as possible, making his way on his own. He earned a decent salary. His organization needed as much of the donated funds they raised to go to those in their programs as possible, so he only took what he needed. “I live well enough.”

  The omegas in the group slowly began to wander off, unimpressed, it seemed.

  “He’s getting a sizable trust once he mates,” Titian added quickly.

  A few of the omegas turned back with interest. Not that it mattered. Beckett knew none of them were his.

  “A trust I plan to donate most of to the organization.” He’d keep enough in savings to ensure he and his mate would be okay for the rest of their days, but he didn’t need much more than that. He had a small home, his cat, his books, and a passion for helping others. What more did he need?

  The omegas again turned, leaving him and his brother in their wake.

  Titian spun to Beckett, fire burning in the depths of his eyes. “What are you doing? Are you purposefully trying to make them run from you?”

  If an omega was only interested in getting close to him if he had money, then that wasn’t an omega he was interested in knowing. He pushed his glasses up his nose. “What does it matter? None of them were him.”

  “But if words gets out and omegas shun you… you might never find him.”

  Beckett turned, hiding another eye roll. He didn’t want to be mated. There were more important things he needed to do with his life. Unconsciously, he pushed up his glasses again.