Chapter Text
Seriously, I can not stress enough how you can skip this chapter if you want to.
AU World Building
Alphas
Historically Alphas were larger and stronger in order to be able to defend and command their pack. With changes in society, agriculture and technology this is no longer always the case. Alphas are often likened to the "Mind" of the pack. They are usually strategic, logical and responsible for making sure the pack is safe and happy. Usually address pack issues and settle disputes. It used to be that packs were led by an Alpha Omega bonded pair, but this is not necessary or always the case today due to modernization of agriculture.
Betas
Have more muted scents, but are still affected by Alpha and Omega commands and pheromones, even more so by those in their pack. The "body" of the pack, they help bring balance. They often strive to maintain pack harmony. It is common for Betas to help with distressed Alphas and Omegas. They support pack goals and are just as vital to a healthy pack as any Alphas and Omegas.
Omegas
Historically they were usually smaller but are still fierce with unusually high pain tolerance, they needed this to birth and protect pups and their pack. They are the "heart" of a pack. Omegas have the ability to call on their pack members for help as well as calm and settle. They provide a center for the pack, it is important for pack dynamics to have healthy capable Omegas. Distressed or ill Omegas have a negative impact on everyone, more so by those in a pack.
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BC Implant
The Implant was one of the best scientific inventions in the last several centuries. It was effective for twelve years, and was implanted just under the skin of their inner thigh once a pup presented their secondary gender. It prevented unwanted pregnancies in teenagers and young adults, as well as prevented the spread of sexually transmitted diseases.
This allowed young adults to rut and heat share as their biology still demanded, but without life changing or debilitating consequences. According to the government it reduced instances of rape, unwanted pregnancies, rage induced violence, permanent injuries, and deaths among youth.
And it allowed young adults to decide when they were ready to breed with their mates, reducing the amount of unwanted or self attempted terminations of pregnancy and deaths from complications of such attempts. The invention of the Implant as well as a Stabilized Agriculture allowed the world's population to be more balanced than it ever was before.
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Pack Bonds
Packmates bond several ways.
Mature packs often bond by biting near one of the minor scent glands, usually the ones on the forearms near the wrists or on the legs near the ankles. These bites allow packmates to be in tune with the pack’s wellbeing as a whole and help to satisfy the instinctual need for bonding. Bites usually need to be refreshed once every three to four weeks.
Pre-packs usually bond using scentings. Scentings start to fade over a week or so and must be refreshed more often.
Pack Bonds are refreshed regularly to maintain a healthy relationship with all pack members. A healthy pack will encourage its members to refresh their scentings or bites often.
However, the number of times a pack member wants to be scented or bitten will vary depending on the individual.
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Pack Dynamics
Packs are made up of all kinds of pairs and groups of people. Typically Packs today range anywhere from six or more individuals, not including pups or visiting relatives and friends. Packs are also usually composed of several generations, though early packs are usually made up of just school friends and siblings.
Usually an Alpha and Omega pair are responsible for leading the pack and making important decisions taking the best interest of the pack into consideration when making any changes, settling disputes, comforting, organizing, defending, etc.
The health and emotional state of everyone in the pack affects the pack as a whole.
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Drop
Drops can happen to any secondary gender, though it is far more common among Alphas and Omegas. A Drop can be caused by several events, some of the most common are:
- Rejection from pack
- Forced commanded on them by a challenger
- Refusal from a potential mate
- Extreme emotional distress
- Sickness
Drops can be negated if dealt with quickly enough. Usually within the first 72 hours. A person in a Drop needs to have their mate attend to them immediately, or if they are unmated or unavailable, then the best course would be to bring them to their pack, friends, or family for comfort or to someone who was courting them if they were in the process of being courted.
Treatment is simple, the person suffering from the Drop must be fully supported, cared for emotionally and physically, for as long as it takes for the Drop to wear off. Skin on skin contact is strongly encouraged, as well as scenting. The longer the individual was in the Drop the longer it will take for them to recover which varies from person to person.
However, if an individual has been in a drop for longer than 72 hours medical assistance is necessary to avoid a long term coma and potential death.
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Pre-Packs
Pre-Packs form usually in High School through College, between the ages of 14-24.
Biology determines when this happens, dealing with both hormonal changes and pack dynamics isn’t easy but this is when in life these bonds usually begin to form.
It is more common for membership to fluctuate in Pre-Packs. Often these Pre-Packs become an individual's first and sometimes life long Mature Pack.
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Mature (Adult) Packs
Usually led by a dominant pair, traditionally an Alpha and Omega. That’s not always the case though and it’s becoming more common for packs to be led by whomever is most capable and trusted by the pack members. Packs usually live in one large home and share common spaces such as the kitchen, living room, dining room, yard, etc.
Much like Pre-Packs, Packs share in bonding activities like cooking and eating meals together, cuddling, engaging in hobbies or group get-togethers, etc.
Adult Packs can and do still change throughout their lifetime with members changing ranks, members leaving, and new ones joining as everyone goes through their lives and socializes at work & engaging with their hobbies, etc.
Changes to packs always means there will be a period where all pack members need to adjust.
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Nomadic/Isolate Pairs
Historically when resources were more scarce and the environment would not support a pack nomadic pairing was more common.
Nomadic pairs only have each other for support. This was hard on pairs because if they lost their mate it usually meant death for them as well.
This is much less common now with advances in technology enabling resources needed to live happy and prosperous lives are more readily available. Today the more common term for a pair without a pack is Isolate Paring or Isolate Pairs.
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Isolate Mates
This refers to pack members who prefer their solitude. While they do participate in social events with a pack, they don't typically engage in scenting or cuddling with their pack as frequently. Prefering only to do so with their chosen mates or pack members they are closest to.
It is important to note that Isolate Pairs and Mates can exist in a healthy manner, but it can also be abusive. You must watch for signs of physical and mental abuse. Excessive stress, lack of sleep, frequent illness or injuries. Please report any suspicious activity to the HSPCs Human Relations Committee at XXX-XXX-XXXX.
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Scents & Scenting
Scents vary for every individual. Most people have two primary scents that make up their everyday base scent. These can change based on how individuals are feeling, and unless you practice controlling your scent or wear scent patches everyone will be able to tell how you are feeling which can have a negative effect on your daily life.
Some jobs even require employees to wear scent patches because interference from your scent would have a negative effect on your work.
Outside of Packs and Pack Dynamics, scenting is a social activity that everyone takes part of in some way. Scenting by the wrists is a way for friends and family members outside of packs to renew a closer bond. Scenting can have a calming effect on a friend who is upset and can help bring someone you care about out of a Drop.
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Courting
Includes going out together to get to know each other better, in layman's terms it is dating with the intent to mate.
Couples traditionally meet the parents during courting to receive their approval before mating.
Courting involves thoughtful gifts such as jewelry, flowers, meals, favorite treats and snacks, or items that an Omega or Alpha may add to their Nest/Den. Alphas, Betas and Omegas all give and receive gifts during courting.
Couples who are courting will also begin to scent each other more often. It both strengthens their bond and lets others know they are in the process of courting someone.
In the case of Alphas and Omegas courting, the pair’s ruts and heats usually sync up to facilitate mating during a shared heat/rut period.
For Beta pairs their scents get stronger and more noticeable since they will be scenting each other more frequently.
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Betas and Mock Heats/Ruts
Due to a spike in hormones when preparing to mate it is typical for Betas to experience Mock Heats or Ruts. These are shorter and not as intense as those experienced by Omegas and Alphas but do mimic the experiences.
In a Beta Beta pairing, a Beta of the pair may develop a mock knot or produce some amount of slick depending on which secondary gender their body is more tuned toward.
The same is true for Betas in a pairing with an Alpha or Omega. Betas in a pairing with an Alpha usually produce slick for their potential mate, while Betas in a pairing with an Omega usually produce a mock knot.
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Collars
Collars are often used by younger unmated Omegas in public spaces where they may be alone or where unfamiliar Alphas may be present.
Most unmated Omegas wear a collar when they go out in public alone, but also when they go with company to crowded and unfamiliar areas.
They protect against forced bonding attempts.
Collars are also often worn during heat/rut shares or any time sex is involved to avoid mating marks.
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Mating Bonds
Standard Pairs ~ 60% of pairings
Both individuals in a pair bite. It's not a complete bond without both partners biting each other, and these pairs need to renew these marks as they fade away (heal) in time for a pair's next heat or rut. This does mean that when their marks fade they have the option of letting their pairing dissolve. Mated pairs find they have more settled secondary genders and better control over their instincts.
Alphacentric Pairs ~ 20% of pairings and falling.
Seventy years ago during the Alpha Dominancy movement Alphas pushed the belief that only the Alpha of a pair should bite their mate. It creates a one sided dynamic in the pairing. The dominant Alpha can feel what their mate is feeling, giving them manipulative power over their mate which most often leads to abusive relationships. Thankfully these pairings can be dissolved the most quickly by the Omega both refusing and leaving the Alpha. Dissolving this bond does cause the Alpha distress.
True Pairs ~ 20% and rising
The rate for these highly compatible pairings used to be much lower, around 4% but with society enabling people to communicate over longer distances, for example sending scent samples via mail, and travel being easier these pairings are on the rise. True pairs are a deeper bond. A Standard Pair can become a True Pair if the couple is together long enough and develops a deep meaningful relationship. They can be identified by their bond mark’s bearing a dark black outline from their bite’s venom reacting with their mated pair. When both individuals in a true pair bite, they share a connection that is more than skin deep. Sharing not only their emotions, but also in some cases rudimentary telepathy. Once bitten, their venom leaves a dark black scarred outline over the neck glands that takes much longer to fade over time, usually around a year though True Pairs often renew their bite as it is reportedly a rewarding experience for them both physically and emotionally.
Things that will negatively affect all Mating bonds and can weaken or break them over time include isolation and long distance, refusal to communicate in any way or scent/bond regularly, refusal from their mate, poor care during rut/heat, abuse extreme enough to cause a drop, illness and death.