Welcome to the Omegaverse! Below are definitions of words for the unfamiliar or to give you a better understanding of how this universe works. In this universe, people have two genders. Their first gender determines if they are male or female, while the second gender determines if they are alpha, omega, or beta. See below for more information.
Alpha - A male. Typically nobility. They can produce pheromones that attract omegas, mark territory, and can be used in social settings to dictate hierarchy. Pheromones are usually natural smells (i.e., wood scents, grassy scents, etc.) Experiences ruts about once a month unless dominant or recessive. Can only reproduce with omegas. They have better strength and stamina compared to other genders. They can use their larynx to growl. Their growls are used for playful purposes, territorial purposes, and to help dictate hierarchy. Can use magic. Legends state that they hail from demons.
Omega - Typically female, but can be male. Typically, nobility. They can produce pheromones that can attract alphas, create calm, safe spaces for their young, and use their pheromones around other omegas to feel solidarity. Pheromones are usually very sweet or floral-smelling. Experience heats about once a month unless dominant or recessive. Can only reproduce with alphas. Typically very nurturing. They (especially male omegas) have softer, more feminine features than female betas. They can use their larynx to purr. Purring doesn't happen very often; omegas have to feel extremely safe and calm to do it. Purring isn't always controlled, but if practiced, they can learn to do it on command. So few can actually do it that it's thought to be a lost skill. Can use magic. Legends state that they hail from angels.
Beta - Can be male or female. They can not hold ranks of nobility higher than knight. Do not produce pheromones, nor can they smell pheromones produced by alphas and omegas. They do not experience ruts or heats. Reproduction requires a male and a female beta. (They mostly function like normal humans) They make up most of the commoners except for a few recessive alphas and omegas. Cannot purr or growl. Cannot use magic. Legends state that they hail from the ashes of angels and demons.
Pheromones - Are special scents given off by alphas and omegas. Scent glands are found at the top of the head, neck, armpits, wrists, genitals, and feet. While pheromones are used to attract mates between alphas and omegas, not all pheromones are seen as attractive. Incompatible alpha and omega pairs may find each other's scents repulsive. This especially occurs between relatives. Sometimes, no scent or an unpleasant scent can be smelled between siblings or other relatives. Pheromones can be somewhat managed with the usage of suppressants (See suppressants for more information).
Dominant - Alphas and omegas have the chance of being dominant. Usually only occurs when one or both parents are dominant. It is exceptionally rare for dominants to be born to parents who do not carry this trait. Due to selective mating, it's very common for royal families to have this trait. Dominant alphas and omegas have stronger pheromones that are harder to resist. Due to the stronger pheromones, they can induce or trigger regular alphas/omegas to go into rut/heat by overwhelming the individual with their pheromones (See induced or triggered heat/rut for more information). Even marked dominants have been known to attract additional mates. Dominants experience rut and heat cycles less often than regular alphas and omegas, but they have far greater reproductive success rates.
Recessive - Alphas and omegas have the chance of being recessive. Usually, they are only born to regular or recessive alpha and omegas. Typically, nobility that are recessive only have low-ranking titles like lord or knight. A portion of recessive alphas and omegas simply live as commoners because their secondary gender traits are incredibly weak. Recessive alphas and omegas struggle to produce pheromones if they can at all. Recessive alphas and omegas rarely experience ruts and heats, and have very low reproductive success rates due to this.
Rut - The breeding window for alphas, where the chances of successful reproduction increase. Pregnancies can happen out of rut, but it is rather rare. For the average alpha rut, cycles occur about once a month (See dominant and recessive for more details). Causes uncontrolled pheromone production, aggressiveness, territorial behavior, agitation, and extreme desires to mate. Symptoms can usually be managed with inhibitors (See inhibitor information for more details). Alphas that are bonded do not experience ruts when their mate is pregnant or has recently given birth.
Heat - The breeding window for omegas, where the chances of successful reproduction increase. Pregnancies can happen out of heat, but it is rather rare (Even more so if the omega is male). For the average omega, heat cycles occur about once a month (See dominant and recessive for more details). Causes uncontrolled pheromone production, clinginess, emotional fluctuations, increased body temperature, and extreme desires to mate. Symptoms can usually be managed with inhibitors (See inhibitor information for more details). Omegas do not experience heat when pregnant or after recently giving birth.
Induced or Triggered Rut/Heat - When extremely compatible pairs become intimate or a dominant overwhelms another with their pheromones, it can cause a triggered or induced heat/rut. Causes arousal and heat/rut symptoms. Inhibitors and suppressants hardly work on these induced or triggered heat/rut cycles. When a dominant induces or triggers these heat/rut cycles, they may not be interested in pursuing intercourse with the inflicted person, even if they are the cause.
Inhibitors - Inhibitors are drugs that were invented to help ward off the symptoms of rut and heat cycles. It is extremely effective for normal and recessive alphas and omegas. The drugs allow alphas and omegas to go through their rut/heat cycles with minimal disruption to daily life, but it is still recommended to self-isolate during this time. Dominants have a natural resistance to the drugs. Research is actively being conducted, but as of right now, there are no drugs on the market that work well for dominants.
Suppressants - Suppressants are drugs that were invented to help ward off unwanted pheromone production, especially around heat/rut cycles. Alphas and omegas under the effects of the drugs can still smell others' pheromones and even produce some of their own, although it is difficult. Not incredibly effective for dominants, but it does help slightly reduce production.
Bonded Partners / Bonded Mates - An alpha can bond with an omega when they bite the central scent gland of an omega, which is found at the back of the neck. Alpha saliva mixes with omega pheromones, creating almost a natural suppressant for the omega. Omegas that have been bonded can no longer produce pheromones that attract mates (See dominant for additional information). Bonded partners/mates can no longer reproduce with anyone besides each other, and their rut/heat cycles tend to line up with one another to promote successful reproduction. If one of the partners attempts to be unfaithful, they will experience excruciating pain in their genitals during intercourse and possible psychological trauma. Bonding typically only occurs with married couples who are committed to one another because it is permanent and irreversible. Alpha/Omega couples do not have to bond to reproduce or have a relationship. Bonded partners/mates rely on one another for pheromones and companionship, but can get sick when not around one another for long periods of time (See pheromone-lacking syndrome). Bonding tends to go in and out of 'style' with the generations. Dominant omegas are known to wear preventative clothes that protect their necks (ie, metal necklaces, leather shoulder and neck covers, etc) due to their extremely seductive scents. If the alpha dies, then so too does the omega; however, if the omega dies, the alpha can live on (though psychological disturbances are common amongst alphas who lose their omegas). Rare occasions have happened where an omega has outlived their alpha simply to see their child raised to a point of self-sufficiency, but quality of life was exceptionally poor, and the omega died soon afterwards.
Bond Marks - When an alpha bonds with an omega, a mark will appear on both parties to symbolize their bond. Typically, these marks are golden and range in size depending on the couple. Recessives will have tiny marks around the neck, while dominants can have massive golden patterns that cover their bodies in flamboyant ways.
Temporary Marks / Love Bites - Alphas will bite the shoulders and neck of their omega to mark territory. This can occur between couples who are dating to couples who are bonded. Because the bites have saliva on them, omegas can smell of the alpha's pheromones for many days after biting. These bites are considered temporary as long as they do not occur over or around the base of the omega's neck, where their main scent gland is located. It can occur anywhere on the body, but an alpha's natural instinct guides them towards the shoulder/neck region.
Knotting - During intercourse between an alpha and omega, an alpha can end up knotting. A knot is formed when the base of the alpha's genitalia swells, locking him in place. When this happens, the chance of pregnancy is increased. Not all alphas are capable of doing it, and alphas that are capable have to be extremely turned on for a knot to form. Typically, the chances of it happening dramatically increase during ruts. Alphas have to calm down after intercourse in order for the swelling to go down. This can happen rather quickly, or it can take a while.
Imprinting - Can occur between highly compatible alphas and omegas. Not very common at all. The media glorifies it as love at first sight, but it's a bit more complex than that. Imprinting can not be reversed or prevented. Imprinted couples tend to become bonded partners due to the increased dependency on one another. Imprinted bonded partners tend to have heightened senses about one another. Pleromone Lacking Syndrome is the leading cause of death among imprinted pairs.
Pheromone Lacking Syndrome (PLS) - Occurs between bonded partners/mates and especially between imprinted couples. When bonded partners/mates are away from one another for too long, symptoms start to occur. It will clear up the moment the partners' pheromones are present. It can be extremely deadly for imprinted couples who are highly reliant on one another. Symptoms appear far sooner in imprinted partners than in bonded partners. Symptoms include: Loneliness, headaches, dizziness, wheezing, intense pheromone cravings, depression, vomiting, chest pain, disorientation, and shortness of breath.