15 Years Ago

Everything was too much. She hated this. She hated this so much that she just wished that the ground would open up and swallow her. She didn’t want to be here. She hated the feeling of everything.

“You’ll love Korea Lili. I promise!”

Lisa whirled around to glare at Jennie, her supposed companion smiling cheerily at her as she touched Lisa’s hand on the car seat with her own. Lisa ripped her hand away from her.

“I don’t want to go to some stupid Korea. I want to go home!”

“You want to go home to that shed orphanage along with those other omegas who have been dumped by their parents? Why didn’t you say so? We can turn this car around and head back there.”

Lisa whipped her head around to glare at the dark-haired girl who was sitting on the opposite end of the car they were driving in. Jisoo was only thirteen years old and yet she looked as much as an adult as her parents. Or maybe that was just in Lisa’s mind since she knew the girl was older than her and Jennie. Jennie whipped her head in Jisoo’s direction and growled.

“We are not taking Lili back! She belongs to us!”

Jisoo scoffed and raised an eyebrow at Jennie as she crossed her arms.

“More like she belongs to you, not to me. If I had it my way, we wouldn’t even be taking her to Korea with us. We can just leave her in a box and-“

Jisoo didn’t even get to finish her sentence when Jennie suddenly launched herself across the seats into Jisoo, diving into Jisoo’s stomach and causing a grappling session between them!

“Lili isn’t going anywhere! She is coming with us! She-“

“Jisoo, Jennie, stop fighting this instant.”

All three children froze when they heard the authoritative voice of Mrs Kim, or better known as Kim Tae-hee. She was a beautiful woman with very sharp features, dark eyes that just urged one to obey her and a stance which just screamed confidence. While she was dressed in simple long pants and a blouse, her alpha status was made very clear as the scent of pheromones began to fill the car.

Lisa couldn’t help but whine, the sudden pressure on her head despite the lightness of the pheromones making her duck her head submissively, just like any omega does when they are in the presence of a strong alpha. Lisa’s whine didn’t go unnoticed as suddenly Jennie was back on her side of the car and she was wrapping her arms tightly around Lisa, her back.

“Its okay Lisa. It’s okay. Are you hurt? Do you feel sick?”

Lisa did not want this girl to be touching her. For the whole while she has been in the presence of Jennie, she has all but clung to her. She never gave her any space, not even when she was told to get her things from the room she slept in the orphanage to get her belongings. The young alpha just followed her and didn’t give a single glance to the other omegas who all but stared at the scene. A strange girl following one of the youngest omegas. It was bizarre. Just how on earth is Lisa connected to the girl?

Lisa was beyond embarrassed from the staring and just wished the girl would disappear. But her wish didn’t come true. Instead she was dragged away from the orphanage in the strong arms of the girl, an excited screech in her ear as she began fire off questions at the young omega in a sudden need to know about her. Lisa didn’t answer any of them. All she wanted was the girl to leave her alone.

“Pathetic.” Lisa heard Jisoo scoff at the sight of her whimpering at Mrs Kim’s pheromones and at the sound of it the pheromones suddenly increased even more.

“Jisoo, we have told you more than enough times, leave Lisa alone.”

Tae-hee’s gaze was on her eldest daughter and Jisoo grimaced at the intense stare she was receiving from her mother. While the inner alpha wanted to defy the older alpha, it was near impossible because of Taehee’s status between them as her mother.

“I would if I could. But she-“

“Jisoo.”

Mr Kim’s voice suddenly filled the air and even Lisa lifted her head to see Jisoo flinch at the sound of her father’s voice. It was sort of satisfying. Ji-hoon looked at Jisoo, his dark eyes which Jisoo inherited fixed on her while his handsome features were furrowed disapprovingly.

“This is a big change for Lisa. Have some patience. This is all very new for her.”

Jisoo looked like she wanted to argue but the slight increase of Tae-hee’s pheromones told her otherwise. She nodded and sighed, sparing one glance at Lisa in Jennie’s arms before looking away. And finally the pressure on Lisa’s head was lifted and the omega could finally relax.

“I’m sorry about that Lisa. I hope I didn’t frighten you.”

Hearing Mrs Kim say her name made Lisa pull out of Jennie’s arms, much to the brunette’s dismay, to look at Mrs Kim. She had a small smile on her face as she looked at the young omega, her own hand entwined with Mr Kim’s they both gazed at her. Feeling a sudden flush in her body, Lisa clenched her fists and looked at the adults.

“I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to go to some stupid Korea.”

Mr and Mrs Kim both glanced at each other before looking back, Mr Kim sighing before he leaned forward slightly on the seat, looking at Lisa with kind eyes.

“I know it is scary to be leaving someplace you have grown used to, but we promise Lisa that you will like Korea. There will be so many things to see, new people to meet. Korea is our home Lisa, and it will become yours too.”

Lisa stubbornly shook her head, a sudden sting in her eyes as her bottom lip began to wobble, her nails digging into her palms as she began to cry.

“I have a home. My home is with my parents.”

“Who abandoned you because you’re an omega.” Jisoo suddenly quipped and just being reminded of that fact made her tears fall and a sob rip out of .

That’s right. Her parents abandoned her…because she was an omega.

“Jisoo!”

Both Mr and Mrs Kim yelled, and Mrs Kim’s pheromones came back full force, making Lisa fold over the seat to the ground in complete submission. A pained whine left Lisa’s lips from the intensity.

“Mommy stop it! You’re hurting her!”

Arms were suddenly wrapped around her and she felt a warmth pressed against her body. A faint smell of vanilla reached Lisa’s nostrils and the omega couldn’t help but find it slightly more comforting than the intense smell of cocoa and wood. Mrs Kim’s pheromones immediately lifted from Jennie’s yell and Lisa heaved a breath of relief from the release of pressure. She felt the arms around her hug her even tighter and the smell of vanilla was still in the air as she felt Jennie nuzzle her face in Lisa’s shoulder.

“Don’t worry Lili. I will protect you from anything in Korea. I promise. You’ll love it.”

While Lisa was certain that she wouldn’t like anything about the place, she just didn’t have the energy to argue back. She subconsciously leaned back into Jennie’s hold, soaking in the comforting touch that the brunette was giving her as they made their way to the airport.

When they finally arrived and got out the car, so many smells and sounds invaded Lisa’s senses immediately and the omega couldn’t help but quickly become overwhelmed by everything. Too many people, too many things happening at once.

It was too much. Way too much.

But then she felt a warm hand in hers and she turned to see Jennie smiling at her, squeezing the omega’s hands.

“Don’t worry Lili. I’ll protect you.”

///

Present time

Lisa covered as she let out a yawn as she and her friends left the classroom, the first morning class now done and dusted. She suddenly felt a push on her shoulder and turned around to see Chaeyoung smirking at her.

“I see you’re still slow this morning.”

Lisa glared and immediately responded with a shove of her own, nearly making Chaeyoung crash into Chungha.

“I’m not slow. I’m just tired. Last night took a lot out of me.”

“Oh? And just what were you doing last night hmm? A late-night rendezvous with a certain Kim?”

Lisa face immediately heated at the short omega’s words even though it was the furthest thing from the truth. She shoved Chaeyoung harder this time while she tried to get her blush under control.

“What the hell?! No! I was just working on my dance last night and I lost track of time! Get your mind out of the gutter you ert!”

“Geez who said anything about being in the gutter? I was just asking if you and Jennie-“

“Jennie and I did nothing! No-thing! Get that through your short-banged head!”

“Oh you did not just go for my bangs! That’s it, put em up!”

Chaeyoung lunged for the taller omega, but Lisa easily dodged. Now they were currently dodging and lunging at each other like siblings while the others just shook their head at their antics. Rose had pulled out the bag of crisps which she was eating in class earlier and started munching on them as she watched the two omegas fighting out their arguments.

“So Rose, how is your demo going? Making progress?” Chungha asked, snagging a crisp out of the packet which earned her a slight glare from the Australian. But she nodded.

“Yeah I am. Though I am struggling a little bit with the bridge. But hopefully I will work it out.”

Chungha nodded and dodged a Chaeyoung leaping in her way to dodge another lunge from Lisa. She bit her lips slightly before looking back at Rose.

“If you want, I can ask Somi to help you. She is young but she can really help you with-“

“Let me stop you right there Chung. I appreciate it really, but I want to do it on my own. I don’t want to rely on an alpha’s help to get me through an assignment.”

Lisa paused in her mini fight with Chaeyoung to pick up what Rose and Chungha were talking about. And quite honestly, she agreed with Rose. Rose and Lisa agreed on many things and the one thing they agreed most on was their reliance on alphas. Rose didn’t like the idea of relying on an omega to get through life, the same as Lisa, hence why she gets along with the Australian omega so well.

They both didn’t like being omegas. They wanted to rely on themselves to succeed and not on the alphas that are so highly demanded in society.

“I get that Rosie, I do, but Somi is really talented-“

“I know that she is Chungha, but I want to do it on my own. I am talented myself too you know.”

“I-I know that Rosie. I didn’t mean-“

“It’s okay Chungha, really. You want your alpha to help and I appreciate that. But I want to do it on my own.”

It was still strange for Lisa to hear about Chungha having an alpha in her life. Their group was near strictly omegas since omegas are stronger in numbers and due to all of them having the same status. But last year Chungha had bumped into and is currently shacked up with a young alpha who also happened to be majoring in Music. Albeit she was two years younger than the omega, the two were very much in love and it was near sickening when Somi and Chungha were together on group outings.

Its not that Somi was a bad person, it was just the fact that she was an alpha that bothered her. But it did help a little bit that she was a recessive, so the group didn’t have to deal with an overbearing alpha who wanted to exert their dominance. Lisa yelped when she felt a sudden pain in her arm and saw that Chaeyoung was grinning victoriously as she pulled her fists up like a boxer.

“Got ya!”

“Oh you little-“

Lisa lunged for the shorter omega again, starting another round of wrestling while other students avoided the two when suddenly a voice caught their attention.

“Chaeyoung, are you picking fights again?”

A black-haired girl was heading towards them, a backpack hanging off her shoulder while she was dressed in jeans and a shirt, simple and yet it made her beauty stand out even more. Chaeyoung’s attention immediately snapped away from Lisa and a wide smile crawled along her face.

“Mina!”

The group watched Chaeyoung hurry towards Mina with a bright smile before crashing into her chest, wrapping her arms around her waist. Mina immediately returned the hug with a slight smile, her hand through Chaeyoung’s hair and slightly tousling her bangs.

“I’ll ask again, are you picking fights again?” Chaeyoung pulled her face away from Mina’s neck and glared at her.”

“Yah, why do you always think it’s me starting fights?”

“Because it usually is.” Everyone said simultaneously, making the shorter omega look around and give them each a respective glare.

“Traitors. All of you.”

Everyone laughed and Chaeyoung turned around to be met with Mina’s lips pressing against hers. Lisa looked at the sight and couldn’t help but furrow her eyebrows slightly. Lisa always had a strange feeling within her each time she saw a mated couple, Mina and Chaeyoung being mates with one another. Mina was a beta and did not have to go through the things which alphas and omegas went through, which was probably a good thing given the extra spice Chaeyoung brings to the relationship with being an omega.

Mina was really nice too. She hasn’t been anything but pleasant with Lisa and the others, often joining Chaeyoung on the group outings they all had together. Lisa definitely believed that she was good for Chaeyoung, being an anchor for the others eccentric omega. Mina had a good head on her shoulders, along with a good grip on her mate to keep her out of trouble.

It was just strange for Lisa to see them so…natural. She was happy for them, she truly was, but she couldn’t help but compare their situation to…her own.

Ugh I’m being ridiculous.

Lisa shook her head and smiled at the Beta before reaching out to ruffle Chaeyoung’s hair, flashing her a victorious smirk when she whirled around to glare at the blonde.

“Last strike, I win.”

“You do not you absolute-“

“Chaeyoung don’t get angry, Lisa is just being playful.” Mina said, keeping her mate securely in her arms as Chaeyoung moved to try lunge at Lisa again. Chaeyoung pouted.

“So am I though.”

“Your playful is different from everyone else’s playful.”

“It is not! I am on par with everyone!”

“Sure jagi.”

Chaeyoung immediately began to whine at Mina, but the beta just smiled before pressing a kiss to the bang-covered forehead of her omega. Lisa shook her head at her friend’s antics before she felt her phone vibrate, indicating that she had gotten a message. Curious, Lisa dug it out her pocket and saw who it was.

-Jungkook-

Please my friend, I beg of you to help me with our theory work. I cannot afford to be sent to prison by the dreaded dragon professor. I am in the dreaded library, being taunted by the solid knowledge of books.

Lisa laughed before sending him her answer before pocketing it again and turning around to look at the others.

“Hey, Jungkook is asking me to help him out with our dance theory homework in the library. I’ll catch up with you guys later?”

The others all looked at her and gave their answer, nodding before they all broke off into their own directions to head to their classes on their schedules. Rose hurried over to her as Lisa turned to leave.

“Hold on, I’ll walk with you. My next class is on the way.”

Lisa nodded and the two omegas began to walk through the campus to get to their respective destinations. Ashton University was no doubt a beautiful university, near representing a castle but with a modern twist. Its white-faced exterior compared to the modern interior was contrasting but worked. There were multiple buildings split up on the camps for different majors and the grounds was luscious and fresh, almost reminding one of a fancy estate rather than a university.

Lisa could almost compare it to the Kims estate, but rather than just housing people, it was a teaching facility for those who could afford it.

Lisa and Rose chatted along the way, walking through the grounds, and joining the crowd of other students walking to their respective classes in different buildings. The two waved each other off as they parted as Rose heading off towards the Arts building while Lisa walked towards the library.

The library was one of the largest buildings on campus, it near resembling a dome. It had metal panelling with multiple glass windows implemented in the design. It looked super high-tech compared to the university, however it somehow matched the aesthetic of a modern twist in traditional designs. Lisa walked into the library; the outside chatter of the students immediately silenced with the embrace of library silence.

Lisa looked across the room, tryi