The only sound at lunch was the clinking of silver spoons against the edges of delicate porcelain bowls.
No one talked here... unless it was to give orders or to scold.
And usually, the only one who had the right to do that was my father.
"You're not going to the academy tomorrow."
I expected this. He's been glaring at me all morning, and now, like a snake, he finally struck with his venom.
I just stared at him, while a thousand thoughts swirled in my mind.
What did he mean "not going"?
All these years of studying, struggling, holding on... and now I'm supposed to sit in this damn house forever, just to be handed off like some prize wrapped up for an Alpha?
Like a fruit at the market?
No. Absolutely not.
My father repeated coldly, "You're an Omega. Remember your place."
Of course, I know. I'm not just any Omega.
I'm a leader Omega.
But to him, that didn't matter. Omega meant Omega—a breeding machine that must always obey.
Society has been changing for a hundred years... Omegas haven't been suppressed for a long time. Everything's equal now—Alphas, Omegas, even Betas.
But
Old, powerful families like ours refuse to give Omegas any respect.
They cling to power, money, and their stupid outdated traditions.
And me?
I'm not about to give in to these rotten ideas.
Then I heard Itachi's voice, loud and angry, but trying to keep calm:
"Father... if you try to stop Sasuke from studying, I'm sorry, but... I'll arrest you as a cop!"
My father's cold, serious reply came immediately:
"She's an Omega."
But Itachi couldn't hold back his anger any longer and raised his voice:
"She's an Uchiha—a leader Omega. You can't force an Omega to do what they don't want. Father, I'm warning you... if I arrest you, this will be all over the news."
I caught my breath.
My heart pounded faster.
I didn't want to stay silent... but now wasn't my time to speak.
My father snapped angrily,
"You're so rebellious you want to arrest me? Those laws made by some no-name fools don't apply to our clan."
My fingers clenched into fists, gripping the edge of the table.
I couldn't take it anymore.
I stood up and shouted,
"I'm sick of this damn clan!"
Before anyone could react, I slammed my foot hard on the table's edge. The table flipped, dishes shattered everywhere, and food spilled all over the floor.
My mother stayed silent as always—because she's a Beta, my father never treated her properly.
And I shouted louder:
"I'm an Omega... I'm not ashamed of it. I'll live however I want."
My breath came faster with rage.
"I'm the first leader Omega of the Uchiha clan. If you step on me,
I'll wipe you off my path... even if it means spilling the blood of every single one of you Alphas."
My breaths were heavy; my heart trembled.
Itachi gave a small smile.
My father—
For the first time, I saw his shocked, maybe terrified face. His eyes were wide, his mouth open as he stared at me.
I didn't care.
I turned away from them, lost in thought so deep I didn't even notice when I climbed the stairs. Now I was standing in front of my room's door.
I slammed it shut with all my might, making sure everyone heard.
The thud shook through my bones.
My chest heaved—my blood felt like it was boiling.
And now, in the mirror, I saw what I had always hidden:
Two sharp, glossy black-blue ears poking out from my hair.
Behind me, a cat tail twitching restlessly.
"We Uchiha are cats."
Black cats, agile, with deadly claws...
We're hunters, not prey.
But in this house, my father wants to turn me into a house cat whose only job is to wait for the Alpha to come kill her at night.
I bit my lip.
"Senju... dogs."
The Senju are a big tribe... loyal and well-mannered dogs.
And the foxes—
That means the Uzumakis and Namizakes.
Foxes live in the Golden Region, the most modern city, best universities, best hospitals, and the fanciest houses.
Whether now or five hundred years ago... they never hid their ears or tails.
Foxes proudly show their ears, celebrate, wear traditional clothes... take pictures.
When their gender is revealed—Alpha, Beta, or Omega—they throw huge celebrations.
Even five hundred years ago, no one dared say a word because they have power. The foxes still rule society.
The only thing I learned growing up was:
"An Omega must never show their ears... they must always hide them."
I looked deeper into the mirror.
The Senju are just like the foxes...
A cold smile touched my lips.
"Sarutobis? They're sly political lizards.
A bunch of scum gathered together... dirtier than all the rest. Takashi Sarutobi... the one I was betrothed to when I was a kid."
I whispered,
"If you try to hurt me... I'll destroy all of you."
But now...
Now that my ears are out, I won't hide them anymore.
I was five years old.
Back then, I didn't understand Alphas and Omegas.
I didn't know what a tribe was or what politics meant.
I was just a kid, small, wearing the clan's formal clothes, surrounded by people who never once looked at me kindly.
And right there, at that damn feast, my great uncle Madara Uchiha traded me off.
He called it the "Alliance Pact with the Sarutobi clan."
Just like that—casual.
Meaning I, Sasuke Uchiha, a five-year-old child,
had to be engaged to someone ten years older than me.
Whenever he came near, he'd bend down and say,
"You're like other Omegas—you like sweets, right?"
And everyone around...
I remember that same night, when they took off my dress, I said:
"I don't want to see that man anymore."
My father just said,
"Shut up... you're an Omega. What does it matter who you belong to?"
And that wasn't the first time I felt like an object.
It wouldn't be the last.
The Sarutobis... with their poor Omegas who run to the Alphas of Senju, Hyuga, and Foxes to escape their families...
Now, one of those scum is my fiancé.
Why? Because the Uchiha companies decided to enter the pharmaceutical industry.
And whose samples and equipment were the best? The Sarutobis'.
The result?
I became a bargaining chip in a multi-billion-dollar deal.
I never thought I'd use this word, but... I was sold.
For market share.
For economic dominance to outrun their rivals.
For expanding the clan's control over health care.
And then my father says:
"It's your duty."
My duty?
I yelled,
"Go to hell, all of you."
From the moment I was born, I became property.
But enough.
Enough already.
If they keep pushing,
I'll report them to the police.
I'll tell everything—
The pills they forced me to take every week to suppress my pheromones... the tests they ran on me...
Everything.
And if I have to,
I'll look myself in the mirror and say,
"You were born in a cage.
But you don't have to stay in it."
The door opened.
Itachi came in quietly.
He sat on the edge of the bed and looked at my restless tail for a few seconds.
Then smirked.
"First time you didn't hide your ears."
I didn't look at him indifferently, but I didn't take my eyes off the mirror.
"I'm not hiding them anymore."
My voice was rough.
I turned toward him.
My eyes shone.
"Tomorrow, I'm going to the police. I'm filing a complaint for domestic violence and discrimination."
Itachi looked down.
"I know. The law's on your side.
But this family won't let you go."
Then softer,
"Even if they have to enforce the law... they won't leave you alone."
I stepped closer.
"I won't bow my head."
He stood up.
His gaze was gentle and kind.
"I don't want to stop you.
I just want to make sure you're okay."
For a moment, our eyes locked.
"Come to my place... and whenever you want, I'll take you to the police myself."
I stayed silent.
I felt happy.
I smirked and said to Itachi,
"Finally, your detective skills came in handy."
Itachi winked with a smile.
"I'm a senior detective."