Chapter Twenty-Four #2
“What d’ya think?” Ford grabbed a packet of cigarettes off the table. He tapped one out and used his lips to remove the cigarette from the packet, though Chase refused the offer of one and planted his elbow on the sofa.
“No idea, but he sounded serious.”
Lucky returned before he had a chance to say more, and perched on the coffee table.
“Since I first felt this pull towards you both, I’ve been searching for a legal way for us to be together.
” He sat with a pile of papers on his knees.
Clearing his throat, he freed a book from the bottom of the pile.
“This is the book my papa wrote. After digging and reinterpreting the translations, Professor Milliner was right,” he explained, using a bookmark to open to a page halfway through.
“This is a passage about matings and what an omega should expect, written in the old language from centuries ago. Long after Omha. This is the foundation to our current laws.”
As an omega, Omha claimed dominion over all omegas. Only the hand of Omha may guide an omega to their rightful mate, and true mates must never be denied, no matter the family, status or belief of the alpha or omega.
The bond is decided by the will of the Gods. No law, opinion or violence shall undo this union and there will be no tolerance for those linked by a bond to be separated. Those who attempt to will face the wrath of Azrah.
In Omha’s name there shall be no limit or prejudice against true bonds, as proven by the Bonding Guide. As long as a true bond can be detected, a bonding will not be denied, no matter the number of omega or alpha, or the inclusion of betas, in the mating.
Lucky nibbled his bottom lip, removing a slip of paper from the pile on his lap.
Chase accepted the photograph of an ancient wall mural. “There are four women in this picture.”
“Omha’s first born, an omega daughter Lera, was the first to feel the bond with more than one person.
The Bonding Guide proved that all four shared the same bond, and they were legally united.
” Lucky blushed and his fingers grazed the flower pendant.
“Our government suppressed this, but couldn’t remove the law even if they did bury it in ambiguous wording and subsections of small print.
” Handing over another piece of paper, he waited patiently as Chase scanned the writing.
“Legally, no one has any right to stop us bonding.”
Omha bless his heart.
Ford turned the paper to read the other side.
Lucky clasped the papers like a lifeline.
“When the bond is split―whether two alphas, two omegas, or more―those outside the true mate bonding feel an echo of the true mate bond. It’s just as real as any other bond.
Two alphas sharing an omega is more common, rather than two omegas to have one alpha, but both are possible.
“In the case of two alphas, they develop an emotional attachment based on their desire to protect the omega, then a strong physical connection, which forms a bond much faster than a true mated alpha-omega pairing.”
Ford studied Lucky intently, a smile painting his lips. Turning his attention to the new piece of paper, Chase frowned at the official government document, most likely a scan, crisp and with a stamp in the top corner. The header stated Registration of AOA.
Chase flipped the page of the stapled document and kept reading multiple addendums and sections, each with small print and fancy wording.
“Didn’t know you could read this much.” Ford tossed his copy onto the coffee table.
Resisting the urge to roll his eyes, he flipped to the last page and used his free hand to give Ford the finger.
“This says we can legally get bonded, mated and recognised as an AOA partnership. Short for alpha-omega-alpha, which confirms what Ross and the professor said.” Buried within the legalese, he found what he wanted. “Did you read this?”
Ford snorted and took a drag of his cigarette. “I stopped reading when they said ‘legal’.”
Chase twisted to sit side on. “Any child produced by an omega registered as AOA will be legally recognised as the child to both alphas,” he said, paraphrasing the illogical wording to make sure Ford followed.
He held eye contact, barely containing the excitement making his heart beat erratically. “The law won’t differentiate.”
“Why haven’t I been told about this?” Lucky objected, flipping through his papers. “There were so many clauses and subsections. I didn’t have time to read them all, but I’m sure I would have noticed that.”
“You wouldn’t, because a bunch of arrogant alphas class this as alpha territory.” Chase caught Ford’s hand to gain his attention, slipping the cigarette from his fingers. “Did you read Addendum B6?”
“Nope.”
“Read it.”
“Piss off.”
“This is about you and me.” He grabbed the papers from the coffee table and shoved them into his hand.
Ford snatched the papers and let Chase point out the paragraph, because they were the ones legally responsible for whatever happened next, not Lucky.
Addendum B6: Exception to alpha-rule.
In an AOA relationship, two alphas brought together by an omega are legally and medically recognised as equals.
Both alphas can hold equal weight and power. Legally, neither can be asked or forced to answer as to which role they serve in the relationship. Any who breach this law can be prosecuted, as this act is tantamount to harming the omega.
That was his favourite part. Lucky could never be quizzed about their roles. No one had to feel singled out or inferior. No one could use his intimacy with Ford to drive a wedge between them or suggest Lucky wasn’t omega enough to satisfy his mates.
The arch of an eyebrow suggested Ford found the ruling as illuminating as Chase had.
Lucky took the papers and read them thoroughly. The flush to his cheeks said he understood and approved.
“I don’t need no law to tell me you’re mine.” Ford kissed Chase, light and fleeting. “There ain’t nobody on this planet gonna stop me from touching you if I got a mind to.”
Chase licked his own lips, savouring the taste—how perfectly Ford tasted, smelled and felt in his hands, acknowledging that nothing would have stopped him from being with Ford, even if the law hadn’t approved.
No one would ever tell him what he felt was wrong, and if they tried to stop him, he’d burn the world to ash.