Chapter Text
"Did you hear? Potter's an Alpha," Regulus whispers into Severus' ear giddily. "I mean, it was obvious. Just look at him."
In their dark corner of the library near the Restricted Section, Regulus leans an arm against the table, staring dreamily at the Gryffindor sat at another table across the room.
"But there's always a chance..." Regulus trails off, turning his head to face Severus, eyeing him up and down. "Who'd have thought, hmm? You're not exactly the 'Alpha' type."
"Fuck off," Severus spits, burying his face into his Charms text. His face flushes with heat. He doesn't need a reminder. How absurd it is that the scrawny, lanky Severus Snape would present as an Alpha.
"I'm sorry," Regulus relents, leaning against Severus' shoulder. "I shouldn't be complaining." He inhales dramatically, releasing a soft moan. "You smell bloody fantastic."
"Salazar, Reg," Severus hisses, much too loudly, and shrugs the boy off. "Don't be foul."
Madam Pince looks up from her desk, her beady eyes glaring steel daggers at the two Slytherins.
Severus focuses back on his text, while Regulus only laughs, shameless as ever. "Tonight, then?"
Severus' fingers clench his book tightly as a sweet, alluring scent tempts his senses. His body reacts on instinct, and he could just as easily rip out Regulus' throat for his insolence or slam him against the ancient wood at the threat of breaking and have him right then and there.
But by some unimaginable greater power, he resists, and Regulus knows he can, or he wouldn't dare tease an Alpha so publicly. As an Omega, Regulus knows the danger better than anyone, but perhaps that's why he latched onto Severus so tightly, like a leech sucking Severus' pheromones dry.
Regulus has always been one to play with his food...
Severus slams his book shut and starts packing his things. Ink bottles clatter as he roughly stuffs the tome inside the ratty sling of cloth that was a poor excuse for a bag.
"Awww, don't be mad," says Regulus. "I was just having a little fun, is all."
"What is fun for you is a severe inconvenience for me," he snaps back through gritted teeth. Rising to his feet, Severus turns to depart, but Regulus grabs the back of his robes.
"Let me make it up to you." The Omega's grey eyes are dark, and Severus can smell the lust in his sweet and sticky pheromones.
"No," he forces out, fighting an internal battle not easily won. "I have to revise for Charms. Owl Lucius."
Regulus' eyes widen, and his mouth curls into a coy smile. "Oh, I have," he says. "It's more fun when it's the two of you."
Severus looks away with a curse on his lips, and to his horror, Potter is staring directly at them. Severus is immediately on his guard, a possessive growl building in his chest as he steps in front of Regulus.
The Omega stands, pressing closer to Severus' back. "Easy, now, Alpha," Regulus breathes against the sliver of neck exposed between curtains of black hair. "There's always room for one more."
Severus catches Regulus' little wave at Potter over his shoulder from the corner of his eye, and James swiftly looks away, focusing his attention on his neglected coursework.
Severus grabs Regulus' dainty wrist, forcing it downward. "What do you think you are doing?" he hisses.
Regulus leans in closer, his nose a mere hair's breadth from Severus' neck, taking another long sniff. "How interesting..."
Before Severus can demand an explanation, Regulus strides away, taking a detour around tables and bookshelves towards where Potter and his friends are sat. Potter's eyes are back on Regulus, and the prickling tension in Severus' body ignites once more. Potter can smell the Omega; his body language betrays as much, while his surrounding Beta pack is none the wiser.
Severus' fists clench at his sides, wanting above all else to pin the bastard to a wall, hand at his throat and growl, Don't look at him. Look at me!
Severus stumbles back slightly, the desires of a schoolboy colliding with the instinctive needs of an Alpha. Composing himself, he rushes for the exit. He can smell Potter's pheromones, thick and enticing, unbothered by the unoffending chairs he disturbs in his rushed departure.
Yes, he's always anticipated that James Potter would present as an Alpha. This knowledge stuck with Severus, his unexplainable and, frankly, unhealthy interest in James. Cocky, bullheaded, entitled, looking down on Severus as a kind of scum not even deserving of the bottom of his shoe. He's arrogant, just as he is charming to the ones that matter. Yet even through the years of insults and torment, and Severus' own disdain for the Gryffindor grew, Severus wished it could be different. For some twisted reason, he wanted James Potter's smiles and genuine laughter shared with him—and that want remains.
When Severus' secondary gender revealed itself, the depression that followed was crippling, physically and mentally. As much as he fought the demons inside him, the reality remained: Severus is an Alpha. The chance of James presenting as his complementing gender was slim to none. He was daft for even desiring it could be different. Even if Severus had been an Omega, James Potter would never have looked his way. Not with such pretty Omegas dancing about.
Omegas like Regulus.
Regulus with his large eyes and heavy dark lashes. His slim, sinewy body and softening curves. The intoxicating smell of his pheromones as Severus fucks him, begging to be bred. And now, Potter is an Alpha, and Regulus' sights are set on him, with gold-flecked hazel eyes just as curious and intrigued.
Severus reaches the exiting door, daring to glance back. Potter's eyes are on him, and not without effort, made obvious from the twist of his body in his chair. Severus' grip tightens on the handle as every bone, every cell of his body rebels.
Severus wants to fall to his knees. Submit. It makes the Alpha in him furious, scratching at his insides and refusing to be contained.
But it doesn't change anything. It doesn't change the truth buried deep inside Severus. A truth not even his Alpha instincts can ignore.