Chapter Text
It was 6:30pm and Colten was passively watching the news when his phone started to ring. Looking down at the caller display, he briefly closed his eyes and clenched his jaw in a flash of annoyance. His mom. Again. Fuck. Almost every evening for the past two weeks they’d had lengthy conversations -if you could call them that- about the upcoming presidential election. Colten had no desire to answer the phone, but he knew if he didn’t… his mom would just keep calling.
He answered less than enthusiastically, “Hi mom.”
Without pause she demanded with near-hysteria, “Are you watching the news?! Channel 17? Trigger News??? It’s important Colten! You need to be watching!”
Her frantic tone had him grinding his molars. “Yes, MOM! Okay??! I’ve been watching every night. You could’ve just texted.”
“You’re right… I could’ve, but I get the feeling you’re not taking this seriously… The election is in 3 days and they’re suddenly pivoting and predicting Davies will win.”
“Yes.” He huffed again rudely. “I’ve heard, and it’s ludicrous, okay?! You’re getting sucked into the fearmongering. There’s no way the National Traditionalist Movement are going to win based on a campaign promise of repealing omega rights. Stop watching Trigger News! of course they’re going to try and spin a story to make it seem like Davies actually has a chance.”
“I think you’re wrong Colten… and it’s dangerous for you to be so laid back and dismissive about this. I’m extremely worried about you. Your dad and I want you to come home until the election is over… just encase.”
Colten frowned at the ridiculousness of her request. “I appreciate your concern. I really do. But I’m not coming home. I can’t afford to miss any classes right now, especially with midterm exams in two weeks. I’m swamped with studying and assignments.”
“But…”
Guessing what his mom was going to say next, Colten tried to pacify her worries by compromising. “How about this?” He proposed, “If Davies somehow wins the election, which he won’t, then I’ll come home for a bit.”
“Thank you Colten. Promise me you’ll drop everything and come straight home. You have no concept of what life was like for omegas before the Omega Rights Act was created. It was awful.”
“I do know!” He exclaimed, both insulted and pissed that his mom would suggest he was ignorant to the type of lowly existence omegas like him used to have. “Why do you think I still hide my true identity even from my friends?”
Just twenty-four years ago omegas were not allowed to be productive members of society. It was both illegal and socially unacceptable. The controversial Omega Rights Act introduced by the Progressive Socialist Party in 2000 awarded omegas the right to go to school and gain a higher education. It also gave them the right to work and legalized the use of hormone treatments and suppressants. Just as importantly, it also outlawed forced bonding and made raping omegas a criminal code offence. It was absurd that Rodney Davies, the presidential candidate for the National Traditionalist Movement, had made it his primary campaign promise to throw out the coveted Omega Rights Act as his first executive order in office. Colten refused to believe that a majority of people in this day and age would support bringing back the archaic sexual slavery and servitude of omegas.
“I’m sorry Colten.” His mom quickly added, backtracking as she clarified, “I know you know. I just don’t understand how you can be so impartial about all of this? So blasé? So much for you is at stake right now. This isn’t the time to be taking anything for granted. A low voter turnout amongst the progressive beta population could easily sway things in the movement’s favor. The alpha segment of society is very eager to see this legislation repealed, and their lobbying efforts have grown massively over the last 10 years. So much so that even betas are being swayed back to traditionalist beliefs.”
He groaned while rolling his eyes dramatically. “Mom, you don’t need to tell me again. I’ve heard it from you and dad a million times.”
“Alright, fine. I won’t say it again… but be careful. And I know you won’t listen to me, but you should distance yourself from those alpha friends you have. Why can’t you find some safe beta friends to hang out with instead?”
“Jesus!” He shouted, exploding as his anger flared and his patience wore out, “don’t try and tell me who I can and can’t be friends with! I’ve known the alphas on the football team for 2 years and Bryce is practically my best friend. Sure, they’re assholes when it comes to their views on omegas, but all alphas are to some degree. They’re otherwise good guys. They don’t have a hot clue I’m an omega and its going to stay that way.”
“Well, it worries me constantly.” She said, her tone becoming defeated and sad. “I’ve hardly gotten any sleep this past week.”
Colten refused to let her change in demeanor make him feel guilty for snapping, but he did reign himself in. “I’m very careful. You have nothing to worry about. I’ve never slipped up before and my meds are working perfectly. I’ll even go to the pharmacy tomorrow and pick up my suppressant refill a couple days early if that makes you feel better.”
“Yes, that would make me feel much better. Thank you Colten. You know I only call everyday to nag because I love you right? I know it makes you mad, but I’m still your mom… even if you are 22 years old and living on your own.”
Colten took a deep breath and released a loud sigh. “I know, mom. I love you too.”