Chapter Text
To be fair, George has imagined university to be a bit more different - living alone and being independent, finding new hobbies and friends.
Definitely not getting wasted on a Wednesday night with his roommates without a reason, who do indeed have a talent for asking awful questions, once that second vodka shot hits.
"Come on, I know that you have a crush, don’t lie to me!" Lando states loudly, not caring about Alex's annoyed eye-roll. “I can see right through you!”
"Just because we’ve been at this university for a year now, doesn’t mean that I was social enough to meet someone?!" Alex answers as he grabs some chips from the bag George is holding under his nose. "No Lando, I don't have one." The bright red cheeks tell George something different but he prefers to stay quiet.
"Me too," George adds quickly and stuffs his mouth with some more salty crisps.
"You've got to be kidding me! No one?!” Lando looks a bit flabbergasted, not sure what to think of his friends. “Oh god, am I the only one again?”
“It’s not our fault that you’ve fallen for the first fashion major that crossed your way!” Alex argues back and takes the bag from George’s hands, who has followed the whole story in an amused manner.
Lando rolls his eyes dramatically before he pouts and hugs his pillow close. It’s one that is not integrated in the wall structure of their shared nest but from Lando’s bed. Alex giggles at Lando’s face before taking another pillow, throwing it on Lando to annoy the youngest Omega.
“Guys, you’re ruining the nest!” George complains half-heartedly, he is more than used to their constant bickering.
George met the two first when he entered year 9, having moved with his parents to Oxford for his mother’s job. The two other Omegas had already presented at that point, yet still took George into their friendship, seeing how many problems he had to adapt to his new class and teachers. It wasn’t long before George presented himself, also as an Omega and it tightened their friendship bond a lot. They stuck together for their final years and graduation, applying for their universities together on the floor of Alex’ house's living room. Once the acceptance letters came flying in and they all realised they ended up in the same university in London, the joy had been even bigger. Alex was studying English Literature, Lando got into International Business Relations and George made it into the Forensic Sciences course he had always dreamt about.
It turned out even better when they found out they would share a dorm in their student accommodation, having got a nice flat with three separate rooms and small kitchen and bathroom to share. It certainly helped them all in their first weeks, having a safe space where they could curl up together, talk about their hopes and worries. it also started the tradition of building a big nest in someone’s room they could share whenever they needed it. Or use it for useless drinking in the middle of the week like right now.
"Earth to George?”
“Huh? Oh sorry, I got lost in my own thoughts for a second.”
“We could tell.” Alex says before pulling him over, George snuggling against the soft material of the dark blue sweater that the Thai Omega is wearing, taking in Alex' comforting scent that reminds him of white chocolate. He makes a good cushion George decides and reaches over to grab some more crisps.
"Anyway," Lando waves his hands around, trying to get their attention back on him, "have you heard about the new packs?"
“Who hasn’t, they try to get you to join one wherever you go on the campus…” Alex trails off. Technically, they are a little pack of three. George couldn’t ever imagine leaving his friends behind for any pack on the planet. The only problem is that packs consisting of only Omegas are frowned upon. It’s said that they need at least one Alpha to keep them save, to help them during their heats. As if they didn’t make it through them alone in their teens all the time and now suddenly need some Alpha to lend them a hand. Or well, some dick in that case.
"I wish they wouldn’t pester us about it every five minutes..." George mutters under his breath and pulls Lando into their small cuddle pile too. The youngest shuffles around a bit before he is comfortable lying between the two of them “It’s so annoying.”
“But, imagine a real pack.” Lando whispers and Alex sighs, ruffling their youngest’ hair.
“If you want to go and join one, you can always do that. We won’t stop you from trying out, we’re not a proper pack. And as long as you remember that you can always come back to us if you need it, we’re totally okay with it.”
The young Omega nods and George feels Alex putting his arm around them.
“Our pup is going to leave us for his fashion student and a pack he barely knows and you just let it happen?” George cries out in fake hurt, earning himself some slaps on his arms. “Ow, you ungrateful shits!” He can only roll his eyes at the laughter that echoes back.
The thing is, the first packs are formed as soon as they start presenting around the age of fifteen, sixteen, during their teen years in school. Most of them aren’t meant for a long time, it’s experimenting with dynamics and most start to break up as soon as after graduating. The fact that three Omegas have stayed together is a miracle.
Long-lasting packs are formed later during someone’s life, at university or work, wherever you end up one day and feel comfortable. Sometimes it can only include your own family members, sometimes it’s 30 people you trust. There are not many rules except that there needs to be a leader, a Pack Alpha or Beta, less likely an Omega. Stereotypes and prejudices still exist. George has heard about it all but still, ending with a pack has never really been his priority. He’d be more than happy alone but he won’t blame Lando for being an overexcited social butterfly that loves to make new friends and join a pack one day.
“The fashion student has a name, Charles. And the pack seems to be very nice.”
“Wait you know his name? Finally?” Alex moves around a bit, staring in shock at Lando. “You’ve actually talked to him?”
“No,” Lando blushes and looks away, fumbling with the hem of his sweater. “Max, one of the Omegas in my language courses knows him because they share some classes. Charles is from Monaco and an Alpha.”
George sighs and reaches for his water bottle that got lost somewhere in the nest. “Mate, you’re having a very expensive taste I’d like to say.”
Lando slaps him lightly again before leaning back against Alex, noising on his collar bone. “You’re a meanie, George.”
“Pff. As if you aren’t the first to throw insults.”
“Guys, please.” Alex manoeuvres Lando around a bit before slotting himself against the small Omega, spooning him so he can look at George. “I have a class at 10 tomorrow, I’m going to sleep now.”
“He’s turning old,” George whispers as he throws the bag of crisps out of the nest together with the half-empty bottle of vodka and takes the free spot on Lando’s other side.
“I can basically see your grin, wipe it off your face, Russell.” Alex comments, not even opening his eyes anymore.
“Fine,” George pulls a face for Lando, to which the other Omega replies with giggles before he pulls the covers over all of them and turns the lights off.
“Night guys.” Alex murmurs, sounding more than half-asleep now.
“Night.”
“Ew there are crisps everywhere! Quick, turn on the light again!”
“No, go to sleep Lando.” George feels Lando hitting his chest as the Omega shuffles around, squeaking at the crisp crumbs.
“I fucking hate both of you.”
×
George is the first one to wake up, the alarm hasn’t even gone off yet. He can’t feel his left arm because Lando is clinging onto it for dear life and George has a hard time to pry him off without waking the other Omega up. He manages to free himself a minute later and leaves the shared nest to get ready, closing the door behind him to not disturb the two sleeping Omegas.
His first lecture won’t start before lunch so he technically has all morning to be a bit lazy. George decides against it, planning to go to the library and work himself through some lectures and notes. He brushes his teeth before making his way from the bathroom back to his own room, the nest they slept in is in Alex’ room this time. George changes into a comfy black sweater, one that was originally Benjy’s but that he stole from his brother before leaving for university.
George is not really in the mood to leave, dark November clouds hanging over London, promising a good amount of rain over the whole day. The type that will soak your shoes and leave you with a cold feeling all day. He turns to the mirror to fix his hair a bit, it sticks from his head in very weird angles.
The odd thing is - it’s brown, the same tone as everyone has in his family. But in his wolf form, when he shifts? It’s suddenly snow-white. George hates it through and through. A white wolf is said to bring bad luck and even if it’s just an old tale, George knows most people won’t be friendly towards him if they knew. Lando, Alex and his family does but apart from that, no one. George rarely shifts, only when the urge can’t be suppressed much longer and he knows that no one is around to see him. And it’s just another reason why he doesn’t want to join a pack. They’d throw him out as soon as they know.
George shakes his head, not in the mood to bother himself with his same old worries. He puts on his glasses, fixes a few more hair strands and then makes his way into their kitchen. It’s a tiny room that barely fits the oven, the cupboards, a table for the three boys but they somehow made it work. Alex even found space to put a ton of plants, to give it more of a homey feeling and friendly atmosphere.
He prepares a can of coffee for all of them and makes sure to leave the machine on, so it will be warm once the two other sleepyheads decide to wake up. George makes himself a quick sandwich for the library and checks if he needs to bring back some groceries but their fridge is still stacked from their last grocery shopping. The Omega makes sure no crumbs are lying around before packing his bag, stuffing his laptop and notebook in it, together with his water bottle. Before he leaves, he decides to check on Lando and Alex who are still sleeping, Lando now tightly clinging on Alex’ side. George can’t help but take a quick photo, obviously for blackmailing them into doing their chores, of course.
×
Half an hour later, George arrives at the campus and for a Thursday morning, it’s still pretty empty. George wouldn’t be surprised if it’s the rain's fault, a slight drizzle has started to come down since he left the tube. The library is empty too, exam season still far and George doesn’t have to fight for his favourite spot, hidden at a window in the science aisle. Probably one of the few places where George can open his textbook in peace without risking someone screaming.
Some pictures in there are... pretty disgusting, George has to admit that.
He puts on his headphones and selects a random playlist before he works himself through a few chapters, makes some notes and doodles in his notebook. It’s so interesting that the Omega quickly forgets the time. When George looks on his phone the next time, his lecture is set to start in ten minutes.
Panic flows through him as George quickly stuffs everything back in his bag, not caring if he crumples a few of his notes. His forensics professor is not one for jokes and hates everyone who is too late for her lectures. It’s worse that George needs at least fifteen minutes to the forensics faculty, if he runs he maybe has a chance to be on time. The Omega slips out of the library easily, onto the campus that is filled with a few more students huddled under umbrellas now. George easily slips through them as the rain grows stronger with every minute.
After a moment of running, he can already see the building in the distance, just the last corner-
Suddenly everything is happening very fast. George bumps hard into someone that is coming around the corner, the next second he slips on the wet concrete. The dark clouds above him wander before his eyes, cold rain hits his face before there is a strong pain spreading through the backside of his head. Someone is leaning over him, blocking out the rain, his mouth is moving. George stares back, a static noise filling his ears. The guy starts shaking his shoulder as black dots move into George’s vision before he loses consciousness.