Chapter Text
It took almost three years for things to finally settle down. It wasn’t until Mike and the rest of the party were juniors in high school did everything seem to fall into place. Of course, it couldn’t stay settled for long. That just wasn’t how things played out in the small group of friends.
Mike presented as an alpha when he turned fifteen. It wasn’t that big of surprise. His friends had expected him to after all. His father had been an alpha, his mother a beta. His older sister Nancy was an alpha and it just made sense that he’d be one too.
When Jane presented as an alpha, that was the real surprise. Nobody had been expecting that outcome. It didn’t make a difference to the party though, stranger things had happened after all. Her and Mike’s relationship hadn’t gone past middle school. But that didn’t mean they didn’t love each other, they were just better friends. That’s how they worked the best.
Next to present was Max and while people had assumed she’d also be an alpha like her brother, her biology was omega. It didn’t change her personality or outlook in the slightest. She might have been an omega but she was still Mad Max, after all.
It was the start of the junior year when everyone else realized they were betas. Generally if someone didn’t present by the age of sixteen they were a beta. Which was always a welcomed outcome. They were more logical, more reasonable, they had no heats to worry about, no overpowering instincts. Nothing could hold a beta back.
Mike had been sure Will would be an omega. Jonathan had been a beta but Joyce was an omega. But Will's sixteenth summer passed and he didn’t present. Neither did Lucas or Dusin. Mike didn’t know why he felt a pang of disappointment, especially when Will seemed happy about it.
Finally, things were normal for Will Byers. His mother married Hopper, an alpha. And him and Jane, or El as Mike still called her from time to time, moved in with them. Jonathan was able to attend NYU on a scholarship. He was doing great and he’d call his family every couple of days and he’d visit every few months. Things finally felt good.
If only things could have stayed that way.
Mike hated dragging himself to school in the mornings. While he’d gotten Nancy’s old car for a birthday present last year, the high school was only a few blocks away. Not nearly far enough to bother with driving. Still, biking in the cold early mornings wasn’t great either.
Mike drove up to the familiar bike rack, kicking the stand up, and chaining it up afterwards. Usually he’d notice Will and Dustin’s bike there too. That day only Dustin’s was present. Mike frowned before adjusting his bag, it was cold and there was a good chance Hopper had dropped him off instead. Or he could have gotten a ride with Lucas, that wasn’t unheard of either.
He shrugged off the thought and headed inside. Whenever somebody would be missing class they would call or text and let someone know. With the exception of Jane. She was currently working on a homeschool program. Will would help her everyday when he got in from school and Joyce and Hopper took over on the weekends.
Mike was sure he’d see Will inside, huddled up and sipping a hot chocolate or maybe an orange juice for breakfast. When he got to their usually spot in the hall, everyone was there expect Will. Mike’s frown deepened as he approached his friends. “Will isn’t here?”
“No, we thought you would know,” Dustin said, giving the alpha a thoughtful look. “I guess we can text him and see where he is. He could be running late or something,” the beta shrugged and pulled out his phone.
Mike could have just left the texting up to Dustin but he was compelled to pull out his own phone and send will a quick message.
/you aren’t here. Everything okay?/
Will would always text him or call to let them know he wouldn’t be there. He would specifically call Mike. Which was what made the alpha worry.
The group continued to chat, discussing homework and video games. Eventually the first bell rung and Mike still hadn’t heard anything. “Did he message you?” He asked Dustin. Dustin only gave him a look before shaking his head.
“I’m sure he’s fine, Mike. Maybe he’s got a cold or something. Check with Jane or we can stop by after class if he doesn’t get back with you.”
Mike knew Jane had gotten better at using technology but texting was still a challenge. She preferred to use simple yes or no words. Even the occasional emoji was acceptable. He sighed, watching the students start to head to class before sending another message. This time to Jane.
/Is Will with you today? He’s not here./
That would have to do. Afterwards Mike went to his locker and started the day. He shoved his phone in his pocket before walking to his fist hour.
The day passed unbelievably slowly. Neither Will nor Jane had text him back. It officially felt like a crisis situation by the time the final bell rung. Mike stuffed everything back into his bag before darting out of his last class. He didn’t get it, they always texted him back. Everything that had happened made Mike serious about staying in contact with each other. Even three years later.
He knew he had his own issues, he didn’t like going more than a few hours without knowing where each one of his friends were. The party just sort of accepted that new fact about Mike and they would do their best to reassure him that they weren’t far. It was sort of like pack rules. That was why the lack of communication between him and Will and Jane was so unusual.
“I’m sure they’re fine Wheeler,” Max said as Mike approached the bike rack. Her, Dustin, and Lucas were already there. Mike must have a worried look on his face.
“Yeah I know, I’m just going to go check on them. Are you guys coming?” He asked as he slung his bag over his shoulder and pulled his bike out.
“Nah, I’ve gotta get home early today. My mom is making me go through all my stuff for her garage sale next week. Last one of the season, you know, and then I’m hanging out with Steve,” Dustin said, not seeming to unhappy about having to leave. The yard sale might not have been exciting but the beta loved spending time with Steve.
“Lucas, Max?” Mike asked, starting to feel somewhat exasperated. Why was he the only one who was worried?
“I can’t, I promised my sister I’d take her to the mall later. Or-well I promised my mom that I would take my sister to the mall or else I’d go with you,” Lucas sighed.
“Yeah, I’m out too, sorry Mike,” Max added. The group paused for a moment and waited to hear her reason.
“Why not, what do you have going on?” Dustin asked when a few long seconds had passed.
“Nothing I just wanna go home and watch television. Besides, I’m sure they’re both fine and if they aren’t you can call us and we’ll come do whatever we need to,” Max said like it was the most obvious thing in the world. At least they could appreciate her honesty.
“Fine, I’ll fill you in as soon as I know something,” MIke mumbled before getting on his bike and taking off. She was probably right, Mike was overreacting. For all he knew Will had a cold and Jane had forgotten to check her phone. He couldn’t fault them for that.
While it was cold out, Mike didn’t notice it with his sweater and heavy jacket. The crisp fall air whipped against his face as he rode towards Will’s house. While he was still worried he couldn’t deny how petty it looked outside. Hawkins always did have beautiful autumns.
The air was filled with the scent of leaves and earth and someone burning firewood not too far away. It was the kind of afternoon Mike loved but he couldn’t shake the uneasiness he felt. It was like something was pulling at him, urging him to hurry. It wasn’t necessarily a fear like it was when Will went missing or when Jane had closed the gate. It wasn't an urgency though,more of a concern.
When he pulled up to house nothing looked out of the ordinary. Neither Hopper’s truck or Joyce’s car was there. But they both worked during the any so the alpha didn’t think anything of it. The only way he could be sure was if he knocked.
At first nobody came to the door. So Mike knocked again and took a step back while he waited. If worse came to worse he knew where they kept the spare key. He hoped it wouldn’t come to that though, he didn’t want to think about something being terribly wrong. Eventually though somebody from the inside pulled the window curtin’s aside.
“Jane?” Mike asked, stepping over to get a better look. “Is that you?”
“What are you doing here, Mike?” Jane called out. Her voice was muffled but Mike could still make it out.
“I’ve been texting and calling all day, nobody’s answered me. I thought something was wrong,” Mike explained, feeling suddenly very awkward as he tried to have a conversation through the closed front door. “Can I come in?”
“No! Both Jim and Joyce said nobody comes inside today,” Jane said quickly.
“Why not? Where is Will? Is he here, is everything okay?” Mike asked, moving closer to the door. The whole situation was odd, he’d never been told he couldn’t come in before.
“Will’s okay just...hang on,” Jane said.
Slowly the front door opened and like that Jane was stepping outside onto the front porch but she didn’t waste any time in shutting it again. She stepped in front of it almost like she was guarding it, making sure that nobody could enter. She looked like she always did. Curly hair, shorts and a plain t-shirt on. But something was very different, there was a scent on her. Not hers but not one Mike could recognize right off the bat. It was an omega scent.
“Why do you smell like that,” Mike mumbled, tilting his head at the other alpha. The scent was sugary and sweet but he knew it wasn’t hers. “Is there someone else inside?” He asked, trying to glance around her. It wouldn’t have mattered though, she had made sure to shut the door.
“No, it’s just Will and I. Jim and Joyce are at work but you can’t be here today, Mike. You should leave,” Jane said, giving the other a firm look.
“El, where is Will?” Mike asked, ignoring her first statement as he stepped closer. He only used her old nickname when he wanted honesty from her. “You smell like you’ve been around an omega. I don’t care if you have or anything, it’s none of my business, but I’d like to see Will. He wasn’t at school today and nobody texted me back. I was getting worried.”
For a while she didn’t say anything, she just stared at Mike. Like she was judging him on something. Whatever it was, Mike couldn’t grasp it. Even though the two alphas were close and knew each other well, there were still some things about Jane even Mike couldn’t understand.
A few seconds later he watched as she seemed to deflate some. Like he’d passed her strange test., “Joyce said that sometimes an omega can present late,” she replied softly. “There isn’t anything wrong with Will...he was just slow.”
“What?” Mike asked, not following. She wasn’t exactly making perfect sense. A lot of times you had to take Jane literally, she was still working on figures of speech. “I don’t understand.”
Jane ran a hand over her face, clearly frustrated. “I smell like an omega because Will is an omega. His biology was slow, he presented last night. That’s why nobody can come inside, I’m meant to be looking after him.”
Mike could feel his jaw going slack as he stared back at her. Was she serious? Of course Mike had always felt like Will would be an omega but he was sure that he would have presented, could he really just be a late bloomer? “Will is an omega?” He asked hardly above a whisper.
“Mike, Will should be the one who explains. He wouldn’t like me talking to you about all this before he could himself. When his heat is over, you can come back and see him. Not until.”
It was pure shock, that was the only way Mike could describe it. He even felt a bit dizzy from the information. It made sense, or at least it was the outcome he’d always expected. But He-they-all of them had been sure Will was a beta. They had learned early in school that people would present at different times. Everyone was different. But to be almost two years behind? It wasn’t unheard of, it just didn’t happen often.
“Mike, if Jim comes home early and sees you here, he’ll be upset. You’ll get us both in trouble,” Jane said gently. Mike could hear the sympathy in her voice. He knew she was right. The only reason she was able to be in the same house as Will was because of their sibling bond. Any other alpha presence, one who wasn’t family, wouldn’t be welcomed.
“Is he okay? He must be so scared,” Mike sighed as he started to shift further from the door. “Do you promise you’ll text me every few hours to let me know how he is? Does he have any suppressants? He probably shouldn’t take those though, I hear they’re bad for you. Is he drinking water?” Mike rambled on, filled with a hundred questions.
“I promise I’ll text you and I’ll call you tonight. He’s pretty far in his heat so...it’s hard to talk to him but he took a few sips today. Joyce already told him no on the suppressants. Will is very safe,” Jane said with a knowing smile. “Maybe tomorrow or the day after he’ll be able to call you himself. Please don’t worry,” Jane said, grabbing ahold of the door knob but not yet opening it.
Of course she was right, how could she not be? A relentless mother, chief of police father, sister with psychic powers. Will was probably the safest omega out there. But still he felt a pang of hurt knowing that there wasn’t anything more he could do. Will was on his own suffering.
Suddenly though an idea popped into his head. “Wait hang on, I know what might help,” he said, dropping his bag to the ground so that he could pull off his jacket. Jane stared at him in confusion but let him go on. Mike eventually got to his second layer. One of his favorite sweaters. He quickly pulled it over his head, leaving him in his plain undershirt, before handing it off to the other alpha. “Uh...alpha scents help,” he added as he hurried to throw his jacket back on. “It’s meant to be calming and familiar for them.”
Jane didn’t say anything more as she took the sweater from Mike. “Promise you’ll call tonight?” The alpha asked again hesitant as Jane opened the front door just a tad.
“I promise, now go home,” she said, offering him a short smile before stepping inside and locking the door behind her.
The ride home seemed to take twice as long. Mike’s thoughts were all over the place. What made him nervous was the fact that they weren’t bad thoughts at all. Realistically he should feel bad for his friend.He wasn’t a beta, he’d have to deal with alphas and heats and everything that came along with it. It was probably awful for Will when he’d gone so long thinking that he was a beta. Everything had suddenly changed
But Mike could feel the small smile tugging at the corner of his lips as he peddled home. There was a warm sensation filling up his chest as he thought about Will. He’d be the perfect omega. Always sweet but could think for himself. Gentle and soft but secretly fierce. Mike couldn’t help but think that this was /good news./ Again everything felt like it was falling into place. It was a fleeting thought but Mike knew that he could be a great alpha for Will. They’d be great for each other.