Welcome! This is Guide to Omegaverse PART 2. If you're here, then it means you have grasped the differences in A/B/O but still have some questions.
Fear not, for I am here!
Fair warning though, from here on out, it'll be less about people/plot and more about world-building. If you're not interested, please stop here.
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You sure?
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Okay.
Here we go.
First things first, setting:
As some of you may know, this story shares a universe with my other A/B/O story. That story is being re-written, but the background remains the same. This means that this world is spiritual, and Gods are very much real.
At the current time period in the story, the world is about two decades in its post-war era. This war lasted for a long period, wherein various countries competed for land and resources, but most importantly, people.
Yes, that's right! There was a prolonged war due to the dwindling population. This war was akin to the end of the world. A lot of people, knowledge, and resources were lost.
There weren't always alphas and omegas. It wasn't until the now-called betas had a harder and harder time reproducing (some couldn't keep the baby while some couldn't conceive at all) that people evolved and sub-genders appeared. Naturally, the unknown is feared.
Alphas and omegas were off to a rough start, hence their smaller ratio.
(I can go on and on about the history of A/B/O and how it cycled from fear, suppression, violence, to acceptance, but I'll save that for later.)
However, it didn't take long for omega's high fertility to be discovered. There was a peak in omega "demand" and so the world turned into chaos.
In the midst of that chaos came the new world order.
A/B/O and pack dynamics:
Pack: what is it and how is it formed?
A pack is a group of 3 or more people who are deeply bonded with each other. Before, pack members shared resources such as food, clothing, and shelter. In the modern post-war era, having a pack means having a sense of belonging. Pack members can sense each other's pheromones better, allowing them to respond to their needs, and basically just have each other's backs. Before and now, having a pack ensures a higher rate of survival.
A disadvantage of a pack is that they tend to be very exclusive. They only like to share or take care of those within their circles, because during an era of limited resources, sharing with outsiders means giving less to their own. This mindset has somewhat eased post-war, but it still persists in some forms.
There are different types of packs. One person can have different packs, typically starting from their family and changing as they grow up. Most lifelong packs are formed in the formative years, so it is not uncommon for a group of childhood friends to cycle through life in the same path (same community, same school, same city). However, it is possible for a mated pair to be in separate packs.
As said above, a pack is typically formed over the years. As it is natural bonding, there is no ritual or steps to go through, although some do celebrate. However, a temporary pack can be instantly formed if a group of people is in a dangerous situation. This is because their instincts go into overdrive, and they all have one goal: to survive. Military packs are the most common example of such packs. Whether or not such packs can become permanent depends on the situation. How a pack fares after they leave the dangerous situation varies.
Another natural way for a pack to form is when they have a "center," the person to be protected. This is because a pack has one single goal, to protect the center, that is paramount among all goals. During the war era, a pack with an omega as a center is more cohesive than one without. The common belief is that if the omega survives, the pack survives, but if the omega dies, the pack will cease sooner or later.
In the post-war era, most centers are children, so a natural pack is formed within the family. If there was already a center, then the children become the pack's "pup"—someone they nurture and protect until the pup grows up to find or form a pack of their own.
The least common way for a pack to form is when they come together during recovery. This happens when the packs lose their center, or when someone loses their mate. They join together out of necessity or camaraderie, sharing hardships between them and supporting each other. One downside to this is that packs formed this way tend to disband easily once the members of the pack fully recover, because the pack no longer has any reason to exist. However, there are also rare instances that a pack formed this way is stronger than naturally formed packs.
Is it possible for a person to be in different packs? Yes.
A person can have a family pack with their parents, a separate pack with their friends, and a temporary pack. The order of priorities of these packs depends on the individual. But it is not uncommon for packs to merge, especially if there is more than one member sharing the same two packs. For example, if your child forms a pack with another kid, then your pack may merge with that kid's parents. Another example is when a pair bonds/becomes mated, their two packs may merge over time, or the two packs inter-marry.
(This caused a lot of tension and problems during the war era, when pack rivalries were taken very seriously.)
Forming or belonging in a pack is no longer seen as necessary as it was during the war era. Some people can go their whole lives without forming a single pack, although rare. However, there is a clear difference between having one and not having one, just like the difference between being an orphan with zero friends, and having a big, loving family and supportive friends.
Because of this, being kicked out of a pack can be very painful.
Pack dynamics:
Alphas - as the 'protector,' they use their great strength to defend the pack from outside harm. They can also "hunt" for resources and protect their territory. Due to their natural instincts, they are typically the leader, and the pack depends on them to make decisions. However, this is not always the case, as sometimes betas or omegas can lead.
Betas - as the 'mediator,' their ability to remain calm and level-headed allows them to intercede in tense situations. They are also often the second-in-command. They take charge when the alpha leader is incapacitated or preoccupied. Because it is difficult for betas to reproduce, it is very rare for a pure beta (a person with no alpha or omega in their ancestors) to be born in the modern world. Most, if not all, have alphas or omegas somewhere in their ancestral line. So, although they are 'normal,' they still have pheromones and sub-gender instincts, albeit weaker than the other two sub-genders.
Omegas - the 'nurturer,' they are the ones who generally take care of the members' well-being. Omegas are the most sensitive among the three sub-genders, so they're the ones who can easily sniff out if something is wrong with their pack members, may it be a hidden injury or a disease. Their pheromones can also soothe or calm any negative emotions of their pack. Because of this, alphas have an easier time surviving if there's an omega in the pack. Other members are also safer since the omega can calm a restless alpha who is likely to injure another pack member whenever they're agitated.
Pack roles: Is it necessary?
In every pack, there is always a leader. It doesn't matter how big or small a pack is. The leader is the one responsible for the whole group.
A mediator, although not a necessity, can ensure the longevity of the pack. Especially in bigger packs with a lot of members, there can be multiple beta mediators to diffuse and deescalate conflicts within the group. A pack without a beta mediator tends to have a lot of infighting.
A nurturer, or a "pack omega," is not a necessity for a pack to form. Again, it's because they're small in numbers so having just one omega in the pack is already a luxury. A pack without sufficient strength is also more likely to have its omega stolen or killed.
"Pack omega" versus "an omega in the pack": Why do packs with "pack omegas" do better?
An omega in the pack is just that—someone who happens to belong in the pack. They do not have a specific role and can only sense their bonded pair.
A "pack omega" however, is responsible for all members of the pack. Because it is their role, they possess similar sense-sharing abilities with the whole pack as if they're bonded with the whole pack. This means they can sense the pack's emotions, as well as their thoughts, if the omega wanted to. In turn, the pack also takes care of them, or takes care of them.
Pheromones: Can pheromones be used as a communication tool?
Yes! Since pheromones can change depending on the person's mood, sometimes two people can communicate a lot without speaking. It's also why betas, who have weaker pheromones, are generally considered to be better (oral and written) communicators than alphas and omegas.
(Yes, most poets and writers are betas and omegas.)
Pheromones are harder to fake than words, expressions, and body language. It's why some people think it's offensive if their partner wears scent patches with them, since they think they have something to hide; while other people think it's offensive NOT to wear scent patches, since it's the equivalent of talking right to someone's face.
In the first part of the guide, someone asked: can a person going into rut or heat, while wearing scent patches, affect others with their unscented pheromones?
Short answer: Depends.
If the person who is going into rut or heat completely blocks their pheromones, others won't be affected since there's no contact. It's similar to the way a person won't be affected by what they read if it's written in invisible ink.
But that's only under the assumption that they're wearing scent patches that totally block their scents, and that they don't "share" bodily fluids with others. That's why in this universe, there are different grades of scent patches. There are also separate ones to be used specifically for ruts or heats, as the pheromone concentrations during those times are higher.
The exception to this is between a bonded pair, who can feel each other's senses no matter what due to the bond mark.
Then, is it still there if you can't smell it? Typically, no. A neutralizer removes the component in pheromones that arouses other people's emotions. Currently in the story, there is no legal way for pheromones to be used on an unsuspecting person.
Feral state:
Alpha state - Alphas in their feral state become extremely aggressive and single-minded. Physical changes include the appearance of sharp claws and lengthening of fangs. They possess tremendous strength and senses in this state.
Omega state - Physical changes are similar to that of alphas, except that their claws and fangs may be shorter and smaller. The omega feral state is recognized to have the most explosive combat power among the feral states, but it is also the most difficult to trigger. Unlike alphas and betas, omegas would only go feral under certain conditions, such as when their offspring is threatened. When they do, they possess heightened strength and senses more powerful than that of alphas. The downside is that unlike alphas, they are not easily soothed—even by their packmates or their bonded pair. In this state, they consider everyone a threat and their aim is to exterminate these threats. Without outsider intervention, the only way for an omega state to end is when the omega is exhausted or dead. So even though omegas are the most powerful in this state, few people purposely trigger it.
Beta state - Betas have a unique feral state, wherein they become extremely focused and immune to all pheromones. There is no change in their physical traits. In this state, they possess the single-mindedness of the alpha state but without the aggression. If trained, a beta can enter and exit a feral state on their own, unlike alphas and omegas who are triggered by external stimuli. This is why betas are most populous in professional fields that require intense and prolonged concentration, like medical and technical fields with limited room for errors. The betas' unique feral state makes their addition in a pack indispensable, as they often are the only ones who remain sober when the rest of the pack aren't.
Question:
Why are there less omegas?
Theoretically speaking, there should be a 1:1:3 ratio of omega, alpha, and beta. However, omegas were persecuted (hunted) for a long period in history. Up to the beginning of this story, their population has not yet recovered.
When does a drop happen?
1) Death (sudden): A person can have a sudden drop when their partner unexpectedly dies. This is because the body is not prepared for the separation and the loss. The process is extremely painful and needs medical intervention.
The bond marks inform the pair if something is wrong, so often than not, they know when their partner is about to die. Seeing the other sick, especially for a long period of time, also "eases" the process as the body is preparing for the bond to break even before the mind is ready to let go.
If the sick person recovers, they have to renew the bond to strengthen it.
2) Rejection (of mate): This happens when one half of a pair already identified the other as a mate, but the other person did not. This is because one's body has already started changing in preparation for a bond, but then the bond does not happen. So, the body must clear or "wash away" all the changes it made.
(Think of it as building something while waiting for that one single piece to hold everything up. Everything is ready, but that essential piece doesn't arrive. Now, the building will collapse.)
Pair bond and bond breaking (legal and medical):
Forming a bond is never an instant thing. A couple typically goes through courtship, wherein their inner alphas or omegas assess each other's compatibility. Only after a period of time would it be possible for their bond to form. This is because a bond is a link that allows a couple to share emotions and senses with each other. As such, non-consensual bonding does not exist in this universe.
The courtship process, which typically involves sharing pheromones with each other, also prepares the body to accept the bond mark. If the bond mark is a foreign substance, then the courtship process is the introductory phase so that the bond is not rejected by the body's immune system.
Forming a bond is considered similar to marriage legally. Even if a couple does not formally register their marriage, as long as the bond is verified through the bond marks, all rights and responsibilities reserved for legal spouses are the same. However, most modern couples still register their marriage for the sake of ceremony.
The bond mark is often a sign of how compatible two people are: the larger and more intricate it is, the higher their compatibility.
Breaking a bond is done through two avenues: legal and medical.
First, a couple must go through mandatory counseling to ensure that they are aware of the risks of bond breaking. This process is more cumbersome than divorce since forcibly breaking a bond is detrimental to one's health. Afterwards, both parties will have to use medical means to remove their bond, which is also a long process. First, there is a period of separation, then the surgery, and lastly, the recovery.
If a couple doesn't want to medically remove their bond, they will have to be physically separated until the bond mark fades and disappears naturally.