47. Dominic
Dominic
My whole life, I have been surrounded by liars and sycophants who will show their necks and make promises they have no intention of keeping just to gain favor with my family.
Even the professors at the Institute have tried to kiss my ass from the moment I walked through the door in hopes of gaining proximity to my father.
I love my beast, but he made everything worse. My father was thrilled when I shifted on that stage in my sabertooth form. He's a lion, dangerous and respectable, but nothing compared to my beast. I could see the gears in his mind turning as he thought about the best way to utilize me.
He told me my whole life that he'd love me no matter what I shifted into, but I knew it wasn't true.
I also knew the subtext was that he wouldn't love me if I weren't Blessed as an Alpha. It was my biggest fear growing up. No Bradly man had been anything but an Alpha for generations, and if I was the one to break that streak, I don't think I would've lived to enroll in the Institute.
I can picture it, sometimes, the way my father would have gotten rid of me if I stayed a Beta, or worse, received an Omega Blessing. He would have used my death to further public perception of him.
Over the years, I grew accustomed to interpreting lies that, if overheard, would seem like nothing. I don't know what happened to my mother, but I can guess that the story told to me about her death is just another one more lie in a life full of them.
The train ride to Raeldell is just long enough to trap me with my thoughts. Stuck in my mind is not my favorite place to be. The voice I hear when I think is not my own, but his.
"Come now, Dominic, is that how you're going to represent our family?"
"You're meant for so much more than this."
"I will not have my own son embarrassing me."
Children see their parents as larger-than-life. They are heroes in your mind as you stare up at them, all wide-eyed and impressionable. I thought my father was the most amazing man in the realm for years. How could he not be, when he's the Archon?
It's not a monarchy in Kestia, but somehow my family has held the position of Archon for centuries. It's curious that Bradly Alphas keep getting voted in by the Primes, isn't it?
I have spent my whole life being trained to one day take the title, and I cannot think of a worse fate.
But Fate has never looked out for me before.
I thought that, for the first time in my life, I had found something wonderful. A dream I never allowed myself to have was coming true.
The first time I saw Zoe, my beast roared in pleasure at her scent, subtle but mouthwatering. It grabbed me, pulling me close, and I knew then that I was a goner.
It broke my heart when she denied what she is. Over and over, she pretended like she didn't know what she was, who she was, to me. I knew we were scent-sensitive and she wouldn't even admit to being an Omega. It did my head in.
I didn't want Zoe to be another liar in the long line that has filled my life. What was the point of her denial?
For a while, I assumed that my father sent her to test my loyalty to him. I thought if I pushed her hard enough, she'd break, tell me that she was an Omega hired by him to pretend, and see if I was willing to throw my life away for a Beta.
A Bradly does not bond with a Beta.
I thought I was going crazy. To everyone else, she was a Beta, but I knew what she was.
And she lied.
And lied.
And lied.
All I wanted was for her to tell me the truth. I even floated the idea to my father, trying to figure out if it was possible for an Omega to conceal their designation.
"I think there may be an Omega pretending to be a Beta here."
"Impossible. How would they manage to stop a shift at the ceremony? And why would they choose the worthless life of a Beta when they could live the charmed existence of an Omega?"
Shortly after that call, I went on a run in my sabertooth form, and a scent, so heady and beautiful, stopped me in my tracks. I had no idea how far away I was from whoever it belonged to, but I had to find them.
I was not expecting to find a dragon. A beautiful, terrifying beast that I had no idea existed, and yet, there she was, my everything, waiting for me.
An Omega Blessed by Ilota.
How had she gone undetected? If there was an Omega dragon on record, my father would already have her in his clutches.
If Fate were kind, my Omega would be one my father wouldn't covet.
But Fate has never looked out for me before.
I tried to convince myself that my Omega was anyone but Zoe Ansell, but the dragon became the woman, and I felt my chest crack open. The pain of her lies was so extreme that it was a fight to stay standing.
She knew who I was. She knew the whole time what I was to her, and she still lied. She kept it from me, and she made me think I was crazy.
And the worst part is, I know why she did. If my father wants to use me, what would he do if he knew my scent match was an Omega Blessed by the dormant Goddess, and has the potential to be more powerful than any Alpha existing in the realm?
My father won't let someone be more powerful than him. He worried I would be, so he made sure to cow me my entire childhood.
As much as it infuriates my tiger, I've had to keep her away. I can't risk growing close to the beautiful Omega for fear of placing her in my father's sights.
Every time I've snapped at her, every nasty word has chipped away at what was left of my bitter heart.
But she is so sweet that I worry my words weren't enough. Hopefully, treating her as little more than furniture will convince her that, no matter what, we cannot be together.
The train pulls into the station, and my father is waiting for me on the platform.
He could have arranged private transportation for me, but he insists that I be seen as one of the people, not someone taking advantage of his station in life. He says it's important so I can convince the Primes and subprimes to vote for me and take the role when he is ready to retire.
"My boy." His voice is deep and resonates with the weight that comes with knowing how beneath you everyone else is. "I'm so glad you can be here today."
"Of course, Father. I wouldn't dream of missing it."
Today there's a special-interest meeting of the council that he'd like me to attend. I've sat in on a few before, but this one, my father was particularly insistent on.
At the council headquarters, he stops and introduces me to people whom I have known my whole life.
"Rebecca, you remember my son, Dominic, right?"
"Good to see you again, Ryder! Have you met Dominic?"
"Patrick, I wanted to introduce you to my son, Dominic. He's Blessed with a sabertooth form."
I'm exhausted before we even reach the meeting chamber.
All the Primes and subprimes have already gathered, as have the Arcanist and high priests. The only leader missing is the Hierophant, but he's a known hermit, and my father hates him. I've never seen him outside of the one chapel service I attend a year for the Summer Solstice.
With fifteen people in the room, including my father and me, it's crowded, but there is a seat for everyone around the table. Of course, Father sits at the head.
He clears his throat to call the meeting to order. "Thank you all for coming in on such short notice. I hope you don't mind that I brought my son, Dominic, to listen in?"
They never do. They're all his lapdogs. Why would they go against him?
"Our Omega situation is growing dire. With none Blessed this year, we are facing the unfortunate truth that a population of Alphas will go feral, having never known the pleasure of an Omega's company."
It's telling that there isn't a single Omega in this room, and the only Betas are the subprimes.
"As you may know, I pulled all of the Omegas from the Institute, with approval from the Director, of course, to place them into a conscription program designed to keep our Alpha population as healthy as possible."
The Beta subprime from Pyxis raises his hand. "What does that program look like?"
The subprimes are supposed to be seen, not heard. It's a position meant to make the populace think they can have a say in our government one day, but none of them would dare vote against their Prime.
My father hates it when they interrupt him, but he won't say that out loud. He's too strategic for that.
"All Omegas will be required to complete five years after Blessing as a community asset. They will be assigned to an Alpha or packs on a rotating basis for those most in need of the stability an Omega would provide."
"Packs?" the subprime interrupts again. "Multiple packs sharing an Omega?"
Father barely hides his disdain for the Beta. "Yes. The goal is for each Omega to be available to a different pack or a single high-risk Alpha every day of the week."
My stomach churns.
He's speaking in very precise terms. I've learned to read between the lines of what he's saying over the course of my life.
These Omegas will be worked to the bone, used by someone new every evening, with no choice in the matter.
Compulsory conscription. They won't be able to say no.
And this is why I cannot let my father find out about Zoe. An Omega of her power has no hope of a regular life. As much as my soul hurts at not having her, keeping her at arm's length is the right call.
"What will happen after the five years of community service?" The Prime Alpha from Krotha, Oren's province, leans on the table, propped on his elbows. He's got a look on his face that makes my skin crawl. "Will they be assigned to a pack?"
"If, at the end of the five years, they are still able to complete their Omega duties, they will be assigned to a pack at my discretion.
" My father folds his hands together and places them on the table.
"There are so many packs seeking an Omega that the only fair thing to do would be to have them apply and assign them to a pack based on need and merit. "
What he means is that he will gift Omegas to those who do what he wants as a reward.
My father turns his attention to the Arcanist. "Any theory on why we weren't Blessed with any Omegas this year?"
The holy man shakes his head. "No, Archon.
The Gods have not spoken their reasons. We can only assume that there were none worthy.
I recommend that the universities introduce a training curriculum to familiarize our citizens with the requirements of being an Omega.
This will be limited to those who are determined to be the most likely to receive a Blessing.
If citizens are trained into being what the Gods want to see in an Omega, I believe the Gods will be more likely to bestow the Blessing. "
Every time I think we cannot stoop any lower, the people in this room prove just how untrue that is. Picking out people they believe to be worthy of a Blessing? Who is to decide that?
"Brilliant idea. Let's start that right now. We do not want to wait for another crop of graduations to go through the ceremony, waiting for Blessings that may not come." He stands from the table and begins to pace, hands clasped behind his back to keep his shoulders rigid.
I know whatever comes out of his mouth next will be bad. This is the same position he'd take when I was about to receive a particularly painful punishment.
"My final order of business, and the main reason I called this meeting today, was because of something my son said to me a few weeks ago.
He stated that he thought there might be an Omega concealing their designation by pretending to be a Beta.
It's an interesting possibility. I'd like to request a repeat ceremony.
Arcanist, high priests, if you are so inclined, I believe we should travel to the Institute and have all Betas undergo the ceremony again. "
Oh, fuck.
Zoe.
He'll find out what she is and either make her a community asset or, more likely, use her for political gain. I can't let that happen. She's my Omega. If she's discovered, I will claim her as my scent match. It is a sacred bond. No one will be able to take her from me, not even my father.
I'd still prefer he not know of her existence at all, but if she shifts, I'll claim her then and there.
Even if she fights me.
The high priest of Ilota's church, an ancient Alpha with white hair and pale eyes, scoffs. "The Gods do not make mistakes."
My father resents that her high priest is here. He believes that because she has withheld her Blessing, she has abandoned us and no longer needs her interests represented.
But now I know that is not the case. She's Blessed at least one person, and it has flown under the radar. How many more are out there? I can feel, in my soul, that it is in everyone's best interest that my father does not find out about any more Blessed by Ilota, if they exist.
"You misunderstand me, high priest Abraham.
I am not implying the Gods make mistakes.
I believe that people do, and some may be concealing their designations to avoid their duty to Kestia.
" He ceases his pacing and smiles magnanimously at the group around the table.
"And maybe the Gods will deign to Bless some anew.
We have to try, for the betterment of our society. "
It's not long before the council agrees to gather the things for a repeat ceremony. They want to hold it tomorrow.
There is barely any time to warn Zoe.
As I try to leave, my father claps me on the shoulder, pride shining in his eyes.
"This is a great thing for our people. I'm glad you brought it to my attention. I couldn't have done this without your insight."