Omegaverse (also known A/B/O verse and is often reverse harem and can and often does include same sex relationships) is an alternate universe that originated within the male/male erotic fanfiction space, mainly in Manga and Anime. This genre is an alternate universe where people have defined roles or ‘dynamics’ called Alpha, Beta, and Omega. Some books (primarily in paranormal) might even add gammas and deltas.
The fun part of omegaverse is the range of subgenres from contemporary to science fiction to paranormal and beyond.
Aside from having specific sexual characteristics, Alphas tend to be bigger and more dominant and largely ruled by their more primal instincts. Their need to breed, to protect, to form a pack is a big part of their personalities. Their scents tend to be
stronger.
Omegas are smaller and have submissive tendencies. They preen under the attention of their alpha, love soft, comfy clothing and blankets, and thrive on touch (again, usually from the person they care for whether their alpha or even beta). Their scents are usually sweeter or even floral.
Betas are usually very similar to humans, without the defining characteristics of either Alpha and Omega, but each author chooses how to define them in their world. Betas are usually awesome at soothing either alphas or omegas as their scents and personalities are less on the extremes of the former two. Beta scents tend toward cleaner or lighter scents like fresh cut grass or clean linen.
The initial concept of Omegaverse was to explore the idea of males (Omegas) who experience pregnancy, called male pregnancy or m-preg, with a male partner (Alpha). The ’verse quickly expanded to f/f, m/f, and multiple partners. The concept has continued to morph and change with various authors adding their own flare. It’s no longer only Omegas who can become impregnated, but betas, as well. Alphas are the only designation, whether male or female, who cannot get pregnant.
How these dynamics behave, particularly the erotic interaction between Alpha and Omega, is what makes a story omegaverse. Common tropes include:
– Irresistible sexual attraction and compulsive sex through biological imperative (between Alpha and Omega)
– Power imbalance
– Omegas being disadvantaged, rare, or sought after in the social hierarchy (depending on the world building of each author)
– Knotting – when the base of the Alpha’s penis swells and locks them securely with the Omega so sperm doesn’t escape (for breeding)
– Pregnancy
– Bonding (with claiming bites, true mates, etc, like in shifter PNR)
– Heats and ruts
These Omegaverse-specific tropes can be paired with any setting, fantasy being, and trope. However, Omegaverse is most popular in Romance and it has developed in sub-genres such as dark romance, sci-fi romance, PNR, monster romance, and contemporary.
Now, how about a few definitions of the different aspects:
Knot – the swollen base of an alpha male’s penis that locks him with his mate (whether male or female omega. Betas aren’t typically capable of receiving a knot)
Lock – How a female alpha (a rare designation) locks around a male omega’s penis. (I giggle every time I type penis)
Heat – Exactly how it sounds from the animal kingdom. An omega has a few cycles a year where her primal instincts to breed cause her body to become feverish and causes extreme cramping in her uterus. The only way to ease the pain and suffering of a heat is with an alpha’s knot.
Slick – the “fluid” produced by an omega, whether male or female, when aroused. And yes, something as simple as an alpha’s scent can cause an omega to get wet.
Rut – the alpha version of a heat, except they tend to become more aggressive and can even become downright violent.
Nest – an omega’s room where he or she feels most comfortable, whether in their heat or not. A nest tends to have cushioned walls and floor, loads of soft pillows and blankets, dim lighting, and either neutral scents or the scents of their alpha/s or pack.
Scent marking – leaving one’s scent on a someone by brushing their scent glands against the other person, usually to “mark” one’s pack.
