The Omegaverse and My Hypothesis of Why It Appeals

By: Alli

Sorry for a text post instead of a proper episode for this one! I developed a cough that sounds like I’m trying to expel my soul from my physical form! In the meantime, I’ve had a lot of time to reflect on the omegaverse and the books I’ve read this month!

The biggest question is why? Why write books based off an outdated concept of wolf behavior? I touched on this some in our intro episode! It can be a critique or just some folks find it hot. As Trey said in that same episode, it feels a lot like pup play to him, and kinks as always feature heavily in erotic and romance novels. BUT the second question that comes up is: why does anyone have any interest in reading this stuff, outside of the kink community? This is where my thoughts have been. Of course, the simple saying “one man’s trash is another one’s treasure” sums up a lot of it, but I find that a little reductive when thinking about the stories that are societal and gender critiques.

To set up a new societal and gender framework, a fictional way that people can be stereotyped and subjugated, works in the way that all fictional scenarios work: a thought exercise and a blank slate for readers who aren’t in real life minority groups. The idea of the soft omega being at the whims and control of fierce alphas, all the while betas standby and buy into stereotypes and propaganda, is a dark reflection of our current systems. Adding kink elements, love stories, and happy endings makes this messed up genre palatable.

I have been clear from the beginning that this isn’t my preferred subgenre, but some parts of it are finally appealing to me. (Sometimes exposure therapy really does work, folks!) People in these books are victims of their own biology, genetics, and hormones. One book that really helped drive this home for me is Hers By Moonlight: Claimed by the Billionaire by Bethany Baker.

I know, I know, the title evokes bodice rippers, mysterious billionaires, a Cinderella story, etc. Yes, there are those elements, but it’s also a very mature book that subverts so much. For instance, one of the main characters, Jamie, is an AMAB non-binary omega, in a world where male omegas are basically vestigial and “useless.” Jamie is genetically forced to go through heats, be sensitive to smells, textures, and be automatically manipulatable by alphas. Obviously this makes them miserable and avoid alphas at all costs, especially with trauma related to their alpha dad. Guilt tripped by their mom into finally getting a big city job in their field, some complicated chemistry stuff that I sort of understand but not really, Jamie becomes an official employee of Artemis Pharmaceuticals.

Artemis Pharmaceuticals is run by alpha, boss-bitch, muscle mommy Morgan Hunter. She is in control, built the business from the ground up (yes, of course she already came from money), won’t cut her workouts for anything, and takes no nonsense. While giving a rousing corporate speech, she triggers Jamie into heat with her smell, because they forgot to take their suppressants. Eventually during a big media and public relations campaign where they travel around the world together, they fall in love and Jamie has finally found an alpha they’re comfortable with, while being spoiled with the excess of wealth. Also, this whole campaign and journey is to get more insurances to cover suppressants for alphas and omegas so they can live just regular lives.

Okay, I’m chronically ill with a few things. I have to take medicine every day, four times a day. (It was even more often there for a while.) Just like Jamie, I’m a soft little “my gender is don’t perceive me” being. The idea of not being able to function and live a regular life without medication is super, super relatable to me. I’m sure none of the Pharmaceutical CEOs are hot muscle mommies in real life, so that’s an extra layer of fantasy to appeal to my disaster bisexual self.

The statistics and science have shown that the majority of chronically ill people are women, especially if you factor in autoimmune conditions. Oh wait, who are the biggest readers of romance? Oh yeah, that’d be women. Of course, omegaverse fiction has a fan base and appeal, because of this.

Now to everyone’s favorite topic: menstruation! It’s the obvious parallel to having a heat. I’m AFAB, and without my IUD, I am useless 7 days of the month. I want a nest and soft stuff and extra spoiling. Obviously heats are more sexual and are more like heat in animals. It’s a nice fiction. Instead of debilitating cramps, nausea, headaches, and blood, there’s orgies, in some cases, and orgasms. Who wouldn’t take that trade?

Omegaverse ranges from cringy kink to sophisticated critique, but it’s all “your mileage may vary.” This month, my deep dive helped me realize just how varied the appeal is. Sometimes, it’s a simple “that’s hot,” and other times, you’re a chronically ill person having big existential thoughts. I love romance novels