2
Callum scrunched his nose up a little as he slowly blinked his eyes open and came face to face with someone’s chest, he tilted his head a little to the side in confusion as he looked around only for his tail to perk up happily when he noticed the yellow wing that was wrapped around him protectively. It was Julian! He hadn’t been abandoned!
He attempted to sit up in his excitement only to let out a pained whine when he put pressure on his wrist, he quickly brought it close to his chest and noticed multiple things at once. His wrist had been wrapped carefully in gauze, he was wearing a very familiar-looking peach-coloured sweater and his pained whine had caused Julian to shoot up in concern.
“Pup?” He questioned worriedly as he huddled closer and nuzzled Callum’s face worriedly which allowed the younger Omega to get hit full force with his scent, he had gone into heat that explained why he had disappeared as he had. He let out a comforting purr as he nuzzled Julian back who let out a pleased chirp only for his nose to scrunch up slightly as he glanced around.
“Dawn?” He called out and Callum furrowed his eyebrows in confusion only for his eyes to widen as flashes from yesterday suddenly came to him. He glanced back down at the sweater he was wearing and brought the fabric up to his nose so that he could breathe in the scent of lavender just as the door creaked open.
He glanced towards it and saw Dawn shuffle into the room with water bottles and snacks stacked high in her arms, she looked odd without her signature peach-coloured sweater on but what really caught Callum’s attention was the fact that she wasn’t wearing her mask which allowed the soft smile on the woman's face to be on full display.
“Oh good you're awake” She remarked cheerfully and Julian let out an unimpressed whine as he held out his arms towards Dawn grumpily to which the blonde just chuckled as she placed the water and snacks down so that she could slip into the nest, Julian making quick work of cuddling up to her happily as a pleased purr escaped him.
“Come here pup” Julian demanded as he held out one of his wings and Callum shuffled closer so that the duck hybrid could wrap his wing around him protectively which brought him closer to both him and Dawn.
“Here Callum” Dawn said softly as she held out a healing potion which the fox hybrid quickly downed and then let out a sigh of relief when the pain in his wrist faded.
“Pup better” Julian said pleased as he nuzzled the younger Omega happily who just nuzzled him back as he looked at Dawn who gave him a soft smile.
“You probably have a lot of questions, huh?” She remarked and Callum nodded a little bit.
“A few yeah” He said softly and Dawn nodded in understanding as she went to say something only for Julian to pull her closer so that he could nuzzle her as well, wanting both of them to be covered in his scent.
“How about I tell you everything once Julian goes to sleep?” She offered and Callum nodded in understanding.
“Okay” He said softly and Dawn smiled as she leaned forward to nuzzle him which earned her a happy purr from the younger Omega who nuzzled her back.
“So no one but me and Julian know that you're an Omega?” Callum asked as he leaned into Dawn’s side who nodded as she ran her fingers absentmindedly through Julian’s hair from where he was sleeping on her lap.
“Yup” She said casually and Callum tilted his head thoughtfully.
“Why do you hide it? Are you ashamed of being an Omega?” He asked which earned him a sad look from Dawn as she shook her head.
“I’m not ashamed of being an Omega, I’ve just been hiding this aspect of myself for so long that it's just become second nature” She explained and Callum furrowed his eyebrows in confusion.
“But why do you hide it?” He asked again and Dawn glanced up at the ceiling sadly.
“My parents were traditionalists, men should be Alphas and providers whereas women should be Omegas whose only task should be carrying pups. I did not want that life for myself so when I presented I hid my scent and pretended to be a Beta which while not ideal still gave me some freedom, but eventually they discovered the truth and they did not take it well” She explained as she reached down and tugged up her shirt slightly revealing a ragged looking scar across her stomach which pulled a distressed whine from Callum.
“I think if it weren’t for my brother I might have bled to death” Dawn mumbled as she stared at the scar thoughtfully before glancing back at Callum whose ears were pressed against his skull.
“So it’s a trauma response?” He asked softly and Dawn nodded as she resumed running her fingers through Julian’s hair.
“Rationally I know no one here would hurt me or treat me differently for being an Omega I’m just…” She trailed off while Callum let out a soft whine and cuddled closer to her.
“Scared?” He said softly to which Dawn just nodded softly.
“It’s ridiculous really, all things considered, I’m one of the most powerful people here but the opinions of others absolutely terrify me” She muttered disdainfully which earned her a stern look from Callum.
“It’s not ridiculous! You went through something awful it makes sense you would be scared!” He said seriously and a soft smile appeared on Dawn’s face.
“Thank you, Callum” She mumbled and Callum hummed as he nuzzled her protectively earning him a pleased purr from the older Omega as she nuzzled him back.