Ch. 8

*Austin's POV*

I've dream of one day that soon I'll find happiness with the one I love. That they will see me for who I am. Not what I am. An Omega? No. A lover? Yes.

Growing up as an Omega with two Beta parents isn't easy. It's terrifying. Especially when they expect you to marry a wealthy Alpha and expect you to share the wealth with your family. The ones your supposed to love and care for. Not mine. We have no money. And we were living in harsh times. When I was born, they thought of it as a sign that something good was going to happen to us...us....or should I say them. But it all changed when I turn 6. It was never the same since.

"What do you mean he's a different kind of an Omega?"

"Hon, stop. Let the doctor finish."

"It's hard to explain. We've never seen nothing like this since 50 years ago. It's rare and very unpredictable. He might be or is a recessive Omega."

No parent wants to hear that. Not when they have plans for me in the future that of which includes wealth. I ruined their plans. And they didn't need me anymore.

"Daddy! Mommy!! Don't go!!"

"Go away. Your useless to us."

"I'll try hard. I will find an Alpha. I can do it."

"Dumbass. Alphas can tell. Their not stupid. I thought we could finally live a better life when we got an Omega. I really thought luck was finally on our side. And yet again it  just-"

"We took this chance because it was laid out before us, hon. We were fools to believe it could last. Let's go."

"No!! Don't leave me here!! Please!! Mommy!!" And they left me. They left me on the side of the road where no civilization doesn't reach...they expect me to die in the woods. I remember what they said to me on that day. A recessive Omega is better off dead.

I wondered around the road they abandoned me on. I kept coming back to it. I thought that one day they will come back and take me home. That they were wrong. That they were sorry. Embrace me with their love and tears.....but they never did....I waited and waited. Took hours....two days...four, five....They never came. But I did. I was so naive.

"I..I have to be- be their. Or I'mma miss them." I grasp for air. "Their waiting.... I've got to...be their." My body didn't have the strength to walk back to the road. But my will was so strong that I made it. My small body gave out, however, and I collapsed on the road. I remember being happy that I made it. Happy that when they come back they'll see me. Take me home. "Their coming....I know it....their coming...."

"OH MY GOD!! CHARLES CALL AN AMBULANCE!! ITS A CHILD!!!"

I was saved by hikers who miraculously got lost and found the road that leads to an nearby village that they were staying. If it weren't for them. I would've been dead by now.

I stayed in the small hospital in the village for a week. I wanted to leave so I could go back to the road again. But the authorities didn't let me. They wanted to know why I was there. And who I was with last. I only told them that my parents are coming for me and I have to be on that road. Just by their look they were pretty sure what that meant. I was abandoned.

"How you feeling, Austin? Better?"

"Yes. Can I go now? Their waiting for me."

"Son, that's-"

"Their waiting for me! I know it! Their waiting for me."

"My boy....their not coming back." Tears run down my face. I knew the truth. Deep down I knew they weren't coming back for me. I just wanted to believe they are. After a few months I was being cared for in the village orphanage and I was sent to school afterwards.

"Ew! An Omega! Run!!" I was teased by my peers. I was basically the only Omega in the tiny school. Or in some cases, in the entire village.

"That's enough, George. In this class we are all equal. Doesn't matter who we are." Miss Flora. I remember her well. She was my teacher for my entire elementary school. And on most parts, my mentor. She watched over me and challenge me to do better. She'd come by the orphanage and played with me. I kept wondering why. I asked her that question.

"Miss Flora?"

"Yes, Austin?"

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why are you so nice to me? Is it because I'm an omega?"

"Why would you-"

"Omegas are the key to money. They make money. You want money? My mommy daddy said so to me and-"

"Enough." I turn to her and saw she was angry. I've never seen her so angry before. It scared me. "That's enough out of you." When I saw her angry I thought she wasn't going to be nice to be anymore. I panicked. I didn't want that. I like miss Flora.

"Miss Flora I-"

"Why do you think I come here and play with you. Challenge you to do better in school. To work hard, Austin. You want to know why I'm being nice to you?" Tears run down my face. I don't want to hear the words of hate from her. "Austin. It's because we're friends." I quickly look up to her and I noticed tears running down her face. "I care about you. I do. And whatever your parents said before is absolutely wrong. You hear me. Wrong. No parent should ever say that. No one. You are more than a Omega. Your you. And one day when you get older you'll find someone who will see you. And you know what's that called?"

"What?"

"Love." Miss Flora soon later became my guardian. And my closest friend. I believe when I was with her I imagine if that's what a mother is like.

As I grew up, the village started to notice something off about me. I didn't look much like an omega to them. They even thought that I could be an alpha in disguise. I supposed they expected something more omega like. It bothered me, but I kept it to myself. After finishing up highschool I try and applied to collage. I didn't get accepted... because I was an omega.

"Unbelievable! What kind of society do we live in!" Miss Flora wasn't happy about that. She would fight back society but society still wins. Doesn't mean that she'd given up.

The peers I grew up with stayed in the village and got married, and some went to collage and lived out their lives in the city. Oh and got married. I, with little choice I have, became a farmhand. Then an opportunity came.

"What?"

"We could find your parents."

"How?" I said eagered.

"Well with a little detective work and going back some files, we could do it."

"I don't believe. Miss Flora, do you know what that means? I could....I...." I was lost with words. But they came back together. "I could finally see my parents."

"Austin why? They left you behind. They abandoned you and left you to die. Why?"

"Their my parents! I thought you'd be happy too?"

"Austin-"

I turned to the investigator. "How do we do it?"

"Well first we need the money. That's the start."

"How much?"

"Austin?"

"How much?" I said.

He signed. "About a grand." I became dumbfounded. "It's much but seeing that they didn't leave a trace behind, we're gonna need help."

I signed and then I became determined. "Ok. I'll get you the money."

I was determined. So determined. Their was no time to rest. No time to be distracted. I've worked harder then I ever could. Even decided to go off to the city to sell apples to markets.

"You sure you'll be ok? I should've let Tim come with you."

"Don't worry. Just a few rounds then I'm off. And why Tim?"

"*Sigh* I'm just worried. You've never been to the city... I'll call Tim and have him sent to you."

"No. No. None of that thank you. I'll be fine. I'm almost done. I'll call you back when I'm heading home. Ok?"

"*Sigh* Alright. I love you, Austin. Please be careful."

"I will. Bye."

But I wasn't careful. I became reckless. So reckless that I've been swept away by a force I couldn't control. Cause by a man that I couldn't kept my eyes away. Which his name still ached on my chest. Chris~

"Hello?"

"Julie *sniff* It's me."

"Austin? What's wrong? What Happened? Is Stanley ok?"

"Haha he's fine. But I'm not *sniff* I'm not."

"Austin what happened?"

"I messed up. I messed so bad. I don't know what to do *sniff* I'm so lost. I-"

"I'm coming for you, ok."

Tears run down my face and my head started to hurt bad. I'd messed up. Or maybe it was just not meant to be. Miss Flora came and picked us up. I couldn't tell her what happened or what I've done. I just couldn't say it.

"Here's the money. It's not much close to a grand but that's all I could get."

He signed. "Alright. I'll see what I can do with this. It will take long but it will still get the job done." He looked at me closely. "You look different somehow?"

"Age? I am still a growing boy." I joked. He laughed awkwardly and left to do his job.

"I hope it will work." Miss Flora said. I sighed.

"Yeah. Me too." I began to walk out of the house.

"Austin? You sure your ok?"

I turned and gave her a smile. "I'll be fine. I'mma be back. Gonna take a walk."

"That boy. He sure is mysterious. But I'm glad he'd changed. When I first saw him he was but a scared confused little boy."

"That's not true, Aunty." She said. "He hasn't changed. He's still that scared confused child. I would know that."

"Why would you say that?"

"Every moment I've been with him, he goes off walking. Walking to the place he knows it's pointless. Aunty. He's going back. He's still waiting for them."

As I've walked a great distance to the place where I was drawn to, I've waited in the hot sun. The sounds of the insects surrounded the area. And the wind that softly blows on my face with every step I take. I'd waited. I can't remember why I kept doing this. Waiting on the exact same spot where I was left behind and almost died. All I know is that when ever in the time of day it is, I walked back here and waited. I suppose maybe a part of me deep down is waiting for them to take me home.