“Look at him. That’s the Alpha I told you about.”

“The one that turned down an opening in the Wolf training program?”

“That’s the one. They even told him he didn’t have to take the test! What’s he trying to prove by doing that and taking the Hawk test instead? We all know he’s going to end up a Wolf anyway.”

Michael Andrew sighed and tried to tune out the mad whispering around him. He expected that he'd stand out with his 6’3 burly frame, marking him as an Alpha in the sea of lean and shorter Betas. And his long wavy dark blond hair and pale blue eyes only made him seem more ‘precious and preppy’ as someone whispered sarcastically. He also knew when he turned down the special appointment to the Wolf program, no exam needed for ‘precious’ Michael, it would raise eyebrows. But it was his choice to join the mass testing for the Hawk program that escalated the talk from confusion to derision. 

And this was just the beginning. It’ll get worse once he actually starts training and if, no, when, he becomes an official Hawk and goes on missions. Although Alphas are technically allowed to enter the Hawk team, most are from Beta dominant families, those odd Alphas that popped up due to the randomness of genetics every once in a while. Not someone like him.

No, someone from an Alpha-Omega family like him naturally becomes a Wolf. They’re the ones who take on the most difficult crimes when the police reach their limit, are trusted to investigate corruption and given free reign to dig into everyone’s secrets. Everyone. They’re the ones who demand how their Hawks train, plan the missions and send the Hawks out to fight at the risk of their lives. Wolves are the ones who get the credit, their names at the top of the reports, in the press, and get the promotions and rise up the ranks until they gain the coveted General position, where they become one of the chosen few who can set out the rules for the entire military. Being a Wolf is one of the most powerful positions in Heracles society, and therefore, was reserved for Alphas only.

Betas could never aspire to become Wolves, could never achieve that much power, status and responsibility. Their role was to make their Alphas look good and put their bodies through hell and risk it on the word of their leader. 

That’s how it’s supposed to be. How it’s always been. Until now. Until Michael…and Colt. 

Michael’s eyes flitted around, taking in all the other cadets around him and sighed again. Just his luck. No other Alphas this year, so of course he stood out even more. If he knew he would be the only Alpha, he would have waited another year to sign up. There had been one last year and two the year before!

It’s all his father’s fault. His father was the one who let it leak that Michael had turned down the Wolf offer. If his father hadn’t said anything then Michael could have just slipped under the radar and taken the test like the other Alphas. Instead, he was labelled as a weirdo before he even arrived, not the best way to start a lifelong working relationship with his brothers in arms.

 When he’d confronted his father about it, all he'd gotten was, “You wanted to challenge yourself in the real world. This is a challenge.”

“Look at that one. Pretty short for a Beta. What is he? 5’5 or 5’6?”

“Barely. I overheard the instructors talking. Apparently he’s originally from Corna. They make them short there apparently.”

Michael struggled with himself for several seconds before he gave in to his curiosity. Carefully, his eyes searched for the Beta they were discussing and felt his heart plunge into his stomach. He was the most beautiful Beta Michael had ever seen! His skin was a warm brown, coupled with bright brown eyes and vibrant black curls that glinted with brown highlights under the sun. Of course, Michael knew there were beautiful Betas. He’d met and slept with a few of them. But usually it was only Omegas and Alphas who looked that gorgeous.

 He looked away, chastising himself for thinking like everyone else, that beauty was exclusive to Omegas and Alphas. He knew better than to let his mind be tainted by those sexist biases. It was why he was here, an Alpha, wanting nothing but to work alongside Betas and be out in the field, rather than behind a desk as society, and most of the other cadets here, believed was his proper place. 

If he wanted to shatter their biases, he had to keep himself in check so he doesn’t mentally fall into the same toxic way of thinking. 

“All right cadets,” Sergeant Warner called out, making everyone straighten and snap to attention in their single line. “Step on up to the line, grab a gun from the table and fire as many shots as you can at the targets at the end of the field until the buzzer sounds. You have thirty seconds. And of course, aim for the head or the heart. I hope I don’t have to tell you where that is.”

Taking a deep breath and rubbing his sweaty palms on his pants, Michael stepped up to the line, grabbed his gun and waited for the buzzer. As soon as it sounded he took several careful and well aimed shots at the rubber figure in the distance. He could hear the faint sound of the lasers as they issued from the barrel. It wasn’t as quiet as the one he practiced with at home so it distracted him a bit. Suddenly, the buzzer sounded again and Michael looked at his target with a smug grin. The screen beside his target displayed an image of the body with his precise five shots to the head and five to the heart highlighted and written out. Ten shots wasn’t bad. His best record was twelve. He was mentally congratulating himself when he heard the instructor call out.

“Eighteen shots in thirty seconds all through the heart. Great job, Kelly.”

Everyone turned around to stare as the short Beta simply gazed at the instructor and nodded once. Michael picked up on the wave of irritation that suddenly went through the entire group. There were fifty Betas, including Michael, who came to this year’s round of testing and passed the written test this morning. After two days of practical exams, only twenty will be selected to undergo the one year training program to become an official Hawk and hit the streets.

It was only the first test but tensions were already high and suddenly, this beautiful Beta had become the target of everyone’s envy and ire. It wouldn’t be long before someone tried to take him out of the running.

Michael felt a rush of pity. With so many people targeting him, this Beta won’t stand a chance. 

Good luck, Beta.

Kit stared straight ahead, trying to ignore the glares aimed at him from the forty-nine other candidates. It wasn’t the first time he’d been hated and ridiculed. As an Omega growing up in Heracles, Kit had heard his whole life that his only purpose was to marry an Alpha and be a broodmare. Or a sex slave as some of his more ‘eloquent’ classmates had told him.

“Why are you going to join the military? No Alpha will want an Omega who can shoot a gun or kill someone with his hands,” his mother had wailed when he stood at the front door with his packed bag. Meanwhile, his siblings alternated between calling him a freak and laughing gleefully about how he’ll get his ass kicked so he can be put back in his place.

Kit had only stared back stonily, irritated by his mother’s smeared make-up as she cried piteously and his father glared and his siblings heckled him. Kit had simply stated what he had told his parents since he could first talk and understand the expectations placed on him as an Omega. His grandpa always jokingly stated Kit’s first word was “No” for a reason. 

Which is why he firmly said, “No way am I going to spread my legs and wave my ass around for some deadbeat Alpha who wants to plant his precious knot so he can feel like a big man.” 

His mother had screamed, his father turned red and Kit simply picked up his bag and walked out, refusing to remain as their meal ticket to a rich Alpha.

His father said that no one would even give him a chance since he’s an Omega. And he was right. No one will give a chance…to an Omega. 

But Beta Kit Kelly, as his forged documents stated, will not only have his chance, but will rise to the top of the Hawk program. Be the most sought after soldier that the Wolves will salivate to have on their team to boost their own precious reputations. 

From today on, he wasn’t an Omega and nothing was going to hold him back. He made sure of it. 

Ten years ago, he heard the first rumblings about Scent Suppressing pills. It was designed to help Omegas conceal their scents, if they couldn’t learn how, so they didn’t bother anyone with their overwhelming emotions. Because heaven forbid they dare to irritate any Alphas around and make their presence known. 

While part of Kit was furious that even more ways were being found to silence Omegas, a larger part of him saw a tool to help him achieve his dream. When the pills entered the market six months ago, he knew this was it. His chance. 

At twenty years-old, he had years of secretly training in self-defense, target practice, and survival. Years of money saved up from his allowance and part-time jobs. Years of relentless hard work was worth it because as soon as the expensive new pills hit the shelves, he was ready. First came the Scent Suppressants, dozens of bottles so he could take one a day. The forged documents came next, along with a year’s supply of Heat Suppressants. And just like that, Omega Kit Kelly vanished and Beta Kit Kelly was born. And he was determined to kick ass during these tests and prove to everyone that he belonged here.

And no sensitive and jealous Betas were going to rattle him. 

“Kelly, you’re up,” Sergeant Warner called out.

Kit clenched his fists, took a deep breath, took off his shoes and stepped into the center of the sandy fighting ring in the middle of the field. He could hear the Betas around him snicker and his lips curled up slightly. Stupid arrogant Betas. He couldn’t wait to hand their asses to them.

“Morgan, you’re up against Kelly.”

The crowd hollered and their triumphant tone put Kit on his guard. Slowly, he looked up and saw the biggest Beta he had ever seen. He had to be an Alpha. Kit blinked, recalling that only one Alpha was in attendance and he had already ended his match twenty minutes ago. He supposed since he’d breezed through the shooting, obstacle courses, and stealth portion of the tests the instructors wanted to really challenge him. 

Kit smirked as he cracked his toe knuckles on the ground. They wanted a show. Well, he was the one to give it to them.

“Look at them down there. Pathetic Betas trying to scramble for whatever scraps they can get,” Nick scoffed, 

He was standing with several other Wolf cadets in the observation room facing the testing grounds, watching the new batch of Betas fight it out to become part of the Hawk team.

 Losers.

“There’s a rumor there’s an Alpha this year,” Colin said from his place next to Nick.

Nick snorted, his dark blue eyes narrowing as he glared down at the field. “Yeah, I heard. He’ll probably pass. He’s too much of a wimp to join the Wolves, but he’s still an Alpha. No Alpha is pathetic enough to fail a stinking Beta test.”

“Looks like Warner is trying to test out that short one,” Aaron commented form Nick’s other side.

Nick squinted down at the field, noticing the tiny Beta standing in front of another Beta twice his size and chuckled. “Either that or he’s trying to get that kid killed. No way he can beat that monster.”

“Wanna bet?” a soft voice spoke from Nick’s right. 

Nick’s neck muscles tightened at the voice of the olive skinned Beta standing alone facing one of the windows a couple of feet away. He always stood out with his wavy brown hair and shorter stature, so different from the shorter haired and tall Alphas. No matter how much he tried to ignore the Beta, he was always there. Annoyingly hard to ignore.

“You sure you can spare that measly allowance you Betas get?” Nick asked harshly.

The arrogant Beta smirked, “What’s the matter Chambers? Scared to lose to a Beta? Didn’t realize your Alpha pride was so weak.”

Nick glared, “Ten sar.”

The Beta nodded and looked out the window again, a confident smile on his face. Nick’s skin prickled and he forced himself to stare back at the field. Given the Wolf training program is two years, he’s had the misfortune of Colt Saunders’ irritating presence for a year now. And he still wasn’t used to having the Beta in their all elite Alpha dominant Wolf training program. Since the day they met, he’d tried his best to make the arrogant Beta leave on his own, but the damn prick was too stubborn.

“Wow, did you see that?” Colin exclaimed.

Nick quickly looked out the window, his jaw dropping in dismay as he saw the little Beta jump back, his opponent crouched on the ground clutching his stomach.

“It’s because he took off his shoes,” Colt observed casually, his smile widening. “It gave him more leverage on the sand. The other guy’s probably used to a gym floor and didn’t realize the change of terrain can affect his movements.” 

Nick’s lips tightened as he silently urged the big ass Beta to get up. Finally, the mountain of muscle staggered to his feet, and swung his arms up in a boxing stance . Everyone held their breath, waiting to see who would break first. The bigger Beta’s pride was too injured to wait and he charged. At the last second, the small Beta sprinted forward then leaped through the air, twisting his body and wrapping his legs around his opponent's neck. Everyone gasped as the big Beta froze with the tiny Beta wrapped around his head. A lean brown arm reached down to the guy’s neck while the Beta thrashed, trying to throw him off. Suddenly, the biggest Beta anyone saw on the base that year dropped his arms to his side and fell face forward to the ground. As he fell the other Beta lightly let go and leapt down, putting his hands in his pockets as he casually walked out of the ring.

Everyone stared at the field in silence, trying to comprehend what just happened. Suddenly, someone began to laugh loudly and Nick turned around, realizing it was Colt. 

“No matter how big and scary they look, everyone’s human with the same weak spots.” Colt turned around to face Nick and held two fingers to the side of his neck. Nick’s eyes widened in comprehension, causing Colt to laugh even harder.

Colt sauntered over, his eyes full of mirth and stretched out his hand, “Ten sars!”

Nick glared, thrust his hand into his pocket, pulled out a wad of bills and shoved them into Colt’s hand. “Keep the change. Don’t want you calling Daddy and asking for money this weekend.”

Colt calmly smoothed out the bills, peeled off a ten and shoved the rest against Nick’s chest. Instinctively, Nick grabbed the money, wincing at his involuntary movement.

“Nah, you keep it. Wouldn’t want you calling Daddy and telling him you lost to a Beta this weekend.” With one final smirk, Colt walked off.

Nick’s hands clenched around the money, wishing he could strangle the uppity Beta and put him back in his place, where all Betas belonged.

TBC CH 1.5