Anatomy & Physiology

Cyphora
Gland under the collarbone producing pheromones/scent and triggering reproductive organ formation in puberty and cycle regulation in adults. Removing the Cyphora in Alphas/Omegas causes severe health and emotional problems; safe only for Betas.

Glandular Cluster
Stem-cell pouch near the vaginal canal that forms reproductive organs under Cyphora’s direction during puberty. It is reabsorbed naturally in Betas.

Nasal Pheromone Processor (NPP)
Chemical receptor that detects pheromones and activates bonding behaviors in adults. NPP removal leads to an inability to pair, although all pairings made prior to removal are still valid. It is common for paired alphas to have their NPP removed to remove the risk of secondary pairings during ruts.

Stem Cell Infusion
Medical treatment to improve reproductive organ development by supplementing stem cells during puberty.

Scent
The recognizable smell of someone’s pheromones. Each Alpha and Omega has a unique scent, but can only be smelled by the opposite reproductive sex. (ie. Alphas can’t smell alphas and omegas can’t smell omegas.) The scent is unique to the individual and constantly produced.

Biology & Gender

Body gender
Determines physical traits at birth like height, fat distribution, chest and muscle structure, and voice depth. Identified through gene testing and independent of secondary gender. All children are born with a neutral vaginal canal with no reproductive organs attached.

Reproductive Gender
Developed during puberty based on Cyphora activation; includes Alpha, Beta, and Omega defining reproductive traits, cycles and social status. There is no concept of “matching genders”.

Alpha
Reproductive gender with penis and prostate formation, and rut cycles. Experience aggression and physical changes during puberty and rut. (20%)

Beta
Reproductive gender that never develops additional reproductive organs or pheromone activity; infertile and stable throughout life. They are the backbone of society and the dominant second gender. (48%)

Omega
Reproductive gender developing womb and ovaries, with heat cycles marked by strong breeding instincts and hormonal changes. (32%)

Delta
A rare tertiary status for Alphas or Omegas with malfunctioning Cyphora or NPP, causing infrequent but intense heat/rut cycles and unique health risks. Due to rarity, deltas are not widely known about, (0.001%)

Reproductive Cycles & Behavior

Heat (Omega)
Two-week cycle every 5-6 months (unpaired), involving intense breeding drive, mental fog, and physical signs like purple eyes and nuzzling (cuddling up to objects or people). Failure to have sex with an alpha can lead to permanent brain fog.

Rut (Alpha)
Two-week cycle every 3-4 months (unpaired), involving increased aggression, sexual focus, and physical signs like  gold eyes and scrunching (humping objects). Failure to have sex with an omega can lead to heart failure. 

Alpha Voice/Omega Whine
Once an alpha/omega’s cycles start, alphas gain the ability to drop their voice into a lower register that acts similar to a command. Both alphas and omegas can hear this shift and feel pushed to obey what the alpha says. For omegas, they get a higher register, and it pushes only alphas to do what the omega says. 

Marking
Bonding process triggered by pairing, producing visible marks through NPP activation. Marks are made of scar tissue.

Pairing
Bond formation between Alphas and Omegas through pheromone interaction and marking, synchronizing reproductive cycles to once per year. Omegas can only pair to one alpha, while an Alpha can pair to multiple omegas. Can only be initiated by an alpha in rut.

Pheromones
Chemical signals from the Cyphora that induce reproductive behaviors, bonding, and heat/rut cycles.

Social Structure & Support Systems

Shelters
Free facilities providing temporary housing and care for unpaired Omegas during heat, where unpaired Alphas can visit for appointments. Pairing is not allowed at shelters and everything is anonymized. Omegas and romantic beta partners have bunk rooms for their stays as well as hang out spaces for when they are lucid during their two week stay. Alphas and romantic beta partners are limited to the waiting rooms, and Alpha/Omega interactions only happen in booths, which have beds and nose guards provided. Care is managed by betas and backup alphas on staff. Paired alphas and omegas are not allowed to use shelters and all are checked for pairing marks upon check-in. Shelter Mission Statement is “Your Choice. Always.”

Backup Alphas
Due to omegas outnumbering alphas, shelters have vetted, paired alphas that work as Backup Alphas to ensure all resident omega needs are met. Backup Alphas volunteer for the role, must have their NPP removed prior to applying, and go through basic medical and sexual training. Delta Alphas are allowed to work this position unpaired and with their NPP intact, as they are not a risk to coercive pairing due to blackouts during rut. Backup Alphas do have profiles in Node so that they can be properly matched up with omegas.

Nest (Omega App)
A health application for unpaired Omegas to book shelter stays, track cycles, and manage health information. Omegas can select personality traits of alphas they want to be matched with during heat as well as opt in to carry a pregnancy or not. Does not interact with Node.

Node (Alpha App)
A health application for unpaired Alphas to book shelter visits, track rut cycles, and manage health data. Alphas can select personality traits of omegas they want to be matched with during appointments as well as opt in whether they wish to inseminate. Does not interact with Nest.

Haven (Shelter Interface)
The centralized interface connecting Nest and Node. Haven manages room and booth assignments for Omegas and allows Alphas to check in for appointments, displaying booth numbers for available matched Omegas. It is through Haven that an Omega can request an alpha’s information at the end of a stay, but only if the alpha has their contact marked as available.

Rut/Heat Leave
Alphas always take off two weeks during their rut cycle (known as Rut Leave), since an alpha with an intact NPP can always pair. Alphas with a removed NPP still take rut leave. Unpaired Omegas will stay at shelters, with shelters providing work notices while Paired Omegas have the option to either take leave (Heat Leave) or continue working and just have their alpha take care of their needs outside of work. Leave is never refused if requested due to the dangers of an unmet cycle, but unpaired Alphas are less likely to achieve management roles due to their frequent need for leave. Beta partners of alphas or omegas can request the appropriate leave in order to support their partner.

Slang

Lapper/Rocker
Term for the married Beta partner of an Omega

Guide/Shooter
Term for the married Beta partner of an Alpha

Secondaries
Term for Omegas who pair to an alpha who is already paired 

Ghost Pairing
Alpha/Omegas who are paired in every way but biologically yet. The will they/won’t they status

Pair Broken
A paired Alpha/Omega that are only paired and otherwise separated. They only see each other during yearly heats/ruts

Blip
Term for the 24 lucidity window after sex during heat/rut

Bounce
Alphas/Omegas timing their shelter stays/appointments in order to hook up

Slinging
Term for Alpha/Alpha or Omega/Omega pairings.

Triple Dip
Alpha/Omega/Beta couples

Lulling
Term for the time in puberty between cyphora activation and genital formation

Sprouting
Alpha-specific term for penis/teste formation

Aching
Omega-specific term for womb/ovary formation

Scent-faded
Term for when an Omega/Alpha’s cyphora stops producing pheromones due to old age. Also signals the end to heats/ruts