Chapter Text
The world is divided into three classes, beyond alpha, omega and beta. It is divided into the poor, the rich and the top 1%. The poor are of all designations, whether workers at the train station, bank clerks or managers. The alphas in positions of leadership, omegas in customer relations, if lucky, and betas are the rest. In the world of the rich, alphas are in positions of leadership, omegas are trophy wives or husbands and betas are the rest.
Amongst the 1%, there were special kind of families. In the top 1% you also find dominants. Dominant alphas and dominant omegas. Families with lineages that go back centuries, that are well known and untouchable. The rules change for them in the sense that they have rules of their own that they follow, often times completely different from the rest of the world.
The Hwang family was one of them. Lineage going back to the beginnings of the Joseon dynasty. A family based around a first gisaeng dominant omega that took pride in knowing everything and anything about anyone, with access to the royal court. The Hwang extended family could be whatever but the main, the heir, was always a dominant omega. A Hwang omega did not mate, only enjoying their heats with alphas. A Hwang used alphas only for their seeds, as a means to have a child.
Hwang Hyunjin. He became head of his family after an accident in which his mother, the previous head, died two years ago. He had been adhering to the rules of his family and lineage all of his life, being taught how to take over when time would come. Now, still so young, he was head of the biggest and most extensive information network.
A heaven for omegas. Unless part of the rich or top 1%, the stigma surrounding omegas was still too strong. Plenty of omegas were still considered only meat to knot, for alphas to simply enjoy. The Hwang family provided assistance, help and education for all omegas that became part of their network. If they were going to be used for sex, why not have it on their terms, while safe and healthy, obeying rules, being paid greatly and with the prospect of a bright future ahead?
Brothels, adult entertainment establishments, whatever you called them, in truth they were places only those in power visited to have fun. Everything and anything said or heard there would always be reported back to the head of the family but the people crossing the threshold and enjoying themselves knew that. The only place where the omegas got a pick on who to sleep with, the only place where alphas had to wait and hope and dote on omegas for the hope of good sex.
All of them, even those already married, actually hoping Hwang Hyunjin would pick them. Hwang Hyunjin, the one omega that never slept with any of them. The one omega, dominant by designation, more stunning that any other omega, smarter, more cunning than many others. All of them hoping that one day, the Hwang omega, would chose any of them to spend his heats with or to father his child.
A silly desire. A stupid one as he never planned to mate or have their children. As taught by his family, in his lineage, he was going to choose someone that was most fitting to be the father and once the knot would take, he would discard the alpha without blinking. His child was to be another dominant omega, taking over the business as head of the Hwang family and thus follow in the footsteps of all those before him or her.
It was not risk free though. When you run a business with omega workers that provide sex and fun and pleasure and companionship and you get to know classified, confidential, top secret information, you need a backing to ensure your safety is never endangered. For this, an arrangement had been made centuries back, tying two families together in a business relationship that remained strong even today. So there was no danger. Not once since its beginning, a few centuries back, and not now. Not when your backing was the Lee Family.
The Lee family had just as much history as the Hwang family. They had been advisors to kings, generals, the power behind the power and remained as such. A family where the heir was always born alpha, always dominant by designation. A family that omegas wished to join even if just to give birth to the heir. Much like the Hwang family used alphas only for their seed, the Lee family used omegas only to carry their child.
They had no need for omegas. Why would they when they had access to any and all omegas under the Hwang house name? Well, almost all. A Lee could just call and in a matter of minutes an omega would be sent. A Lee would be the first to taste any omega joining the Hwang family. A Lee had the right to pick any of the omegas to claim, to mate, to have their child. A Lee had access to all information that was shared in Hwang businesses. A Lee could ask the Hwang omega to bring him any information the Lee alpha needed.
It was well known among the top 1% that the Lee family provided the Hwang family with all and everything needed in exchange of access to the information and their omegas. If you didn’t cross the Lee’s or the Hwang’s, you might just be lucky enough to be gifted some of their knowledge and power. A perfect balance, a perfect team. Both families having joined their forces centuries back, dominating from the shadows. One had the people and the information, the other the power and the money.
Money laundering, loan sharks, investors, whatever you wished to call the Lee Family, they had people in all the right places, knew everyone and anyone, and did not hold back from exercising their rights and power if needed. If they wanted you gone, you were already gone just not yet aware of it. Anyone that owned money, ultimately owned the Lee family. The Lee Family did not hesitate to blackmail, kill or take. They had rules they abided by, a sort of moral code of their own. The trick to a peaceful existence was to be useful to them and mind your own business while they mind their own. They too had a young family head now.
Lee Minho. His father had passed away in the same accident that took Hyunjin mother’s life. A silly accident that put the 23 years old omega as head of the Hwang Family and the then 25 year old alpha as head of the Lee Family. Much like their parents before them, Minho abided by all the rules established between the two families. All the rituals, all the demands, all the codes that had been put in place.
A handsome, intimidating young man desired by many omegas. A dominant alpha that was one day going to pick an omega to carry his child and maybe if they were deemed worthy enough they would be kept around to raise it too. Cunning, smart, but gentle when needed, Lee Minho was both the opposite of Hwang Hyunjin as well as the extension of him. The same could be said the other way around.
They first met when Hyunjin was 10 and Minho 12. They went to the same school in their teenage days. They were taught side by side at times how to handle their respective roles as they were both equally essential parts of the Lee-Hwang centuries long arrangement. They both knew their history, their legacy, their power. Both aware of the rules they had to follow and both following them… tiptoeing on the red line established by their ancestors. Neither going beyond it, neither crossing said line.
Still….
What happens if Lee Minho does desire an omega that the rules say he cannot have? What happens if Hwang Hyunjin does want an alpha that the rules says he cannot have? The rules were there for a reason, to keep both families safe and thriving. The rules were there to ensure no unnecessary feelings stood in their way. The rules clearly stated that between the families there was comradery, a strong business partnership, maybe friendship but never love. Not even desire was allowed.
So what happens when the biggest rule of them all gets broken?