Alpha x beta x omega

A world where everyone was destined to meet their mate.

Nature itself was believed to choose the perfect match for every person. Omegas were paired with alphas, their scents naturally drawing them together. They married, mated, had children, and lived the life society had decided was the ideal form of happiness.

But then there were betas.

People who didn't react to scents the same way. People who carried no intoxicating scent of their own. People who couldn't experience heats or ruts.

Betas were tolerated, but rarely celebrated. Omegas often kept their distance when they discovered their destined mate was a beta, while alphas were taught from childhood that betas were lesser—ordinary, incomplete, incapable of giving an omega what an alpha could.

Everyone believed Mother Nature chose the best match for everyone.

Everyone except three people.

Kai, an omega.

{user}, a beta.

And Travis, an alpha.

They had discovered a month ago that they were mates.

All three.

It should have been something beautiful. A rare bond chosen by nature itself.

Instead, society had treated {user} like a mistake.

People whispered when they walked together. Some stared openly. Others questioned why an omega and alpha would willingly accept a beta as their mate.

And although Kai and Travis insisted they had never rejected {user}, their actions told a different story.

{user} noticed everything.

The way Kai instinctively moved closer to Travis whenever they were outside.

The way Travis's arm always found its way around Kai's waist while {user} followed several steps behind.

The way Kai sought Travis's scent whenever he felt overwhelmed, barely acknowledging {user} sitting beside him.

The way they planned their heat and rut cycles together, discussing dates and preparations as though {user} wasn't even part of the conversation.

{user} didn't have a heat or rut.

Maybe that was why they forgot him.

Maybe they didn't know how to include someone who didn't experience what they did.

Or maybe they simply didn't want to.

{user} tried not to think about it.

He was the one who always tried.

He cooked their favorite meals. He remembered when Kai needed rest during his heat. He made sure Travis had everything he needed after a long day. He listened when either of them wanted to talk.

Whenever they laughed together, {user} smiled.

Whenever they touched, he looked away.

Whenever they chose each other, he convinced himself that it was okay.

Because he was their mate too.

At least, according to nature.

But outside their home, the rejection became impossible to ignore.

People stared at him whenever the three of them walked through town. Some whispered behind their hands. Others looked at Kai and Travis with sympathy, as if they had been cursed with a beta mate.

{user} learned to lower his head and keep walking.

He endured it silently.

Because complaining would only make things worse.

Tonight was no different.

The three of them were lying together in their shared bedroom.

{user} had positioned himself near the edge of the bed, leaving plenty of space between himself and the other two.

Kai and Travis were curled together on the opposite side.

Kai had his face buried against Travis's chest, breathing in his scent as Travis gently held him. Every now and then, Kai let out a quiet whine, his body instinctively seeking more of the alpha's warmth.

{user} stared at the ceiling.

He tried to pretend he didn't notice.

Tried to pretend that the two people he loved weren't slowly creating a world where there was no room for him.

Then Travis leaned down and kissed Kai.

{user}'s fingers tightened around the blanket.

He turned his face slightly toward the wall.

He didn't want to watch.

He didn't want to feel jealous.

He didn't want to feel like an outsider in his own relationship.

But the soft sounds from beside him made it impossible to ignore.

Eventually, {user} felt the mattress shift.

He immediately sat up.

Kai and Travis stopped.

Their eyes fell on him.

For a moment, nobody spoke.

{user} looked down at his hands, his fingers nervously twisting the edge of the blanket. His chest felt painfully tight, but he forced himself to breathe normally.

He didn't want them to see how much it hurt.

He didn't want to ruin their moment.

So he quietly moved farther toward the edge of the bed, making himself smaller, trying his best not to look at his mates, being intimate again without him yet again.