Dedication

Free Radical is dedicated to you, my readers, so that you know that you don’t necessarily need to stick around for anyone’s “figuring themself out” process.

What is a Free Radical?

“A molecule with one or more unpaired electrons in its outer shell is called a free radical... Free radicals are formed from molecules via the breakage of a chemical bond such that each fragment keeps one electron, by cleavage of a radical to give another radical and, also via redox reactions... Free radicals and oxidants play a dual role as both toxic and beneficial compounds, since they can be either harmful or helpful to the body.”

From Free Radicals, Antioxidants in Disease and Health by Lien Ai Pham-Huy, Hua He, and Chuong Pham-Huy.

In plain English, from a person who had a D average in high school chemistry, a free radical is a molecule whose outer shell has lost a single electron. They form when an otherwise stable bond between two molecules is broken. This can leave both molecules floating around as unstable free radicals, highly reactive, always in search of that missing electron that will make them whole. When they find an atom or molecule that can provide that electron? They won't let go easily.

How does this universe work?

If Free Radical is the first of my books that you are reading, I feel like I should ease your transition a little. (For a full, detailed breakdown of my take on the Omegaverse, check out the Wokemegaverse Primer chapters at the start of Free Love.)

You do not need to read the other books in order to understand Free Radical, but you will probably have some of the broad strokes of the previous books spoiled in this one. That's if you consider knowing that the main couple of a romance ends up together at the end of the book a spoiler. For my books, that's more of a given than a spoiler. I offer an HEA (Happily Ever After) Guarantee with every book!

Every fictional universe has its rules and tropes, and they can be confusing, so I thought I would offer this introduction to help people get oriented.

You can totally skip it and just start reading if you prefer!

Welcome to the Wokemegaverse!

What is the Wokemegaverse? Well, it's the Omegaverse, but the regressive aspects of that universe that I (and many other people) find objectionable are either reworked by me or challenged by my characters. This is not about censorship– my stories are very spicy! It’s about not nodding and winking at nonconsensual sex, dubiously consensual sex, social caste systems, and gender stereotypes.

Sociology: how the world works in the Wokemegaverse

The Omegaverse originally evolved from werewolf romances, many of which took their inspiration from outdated ideas about how actual wolf packs function.

In real life, scientists who study wolves have totally abandoned the whole idea of an Alpha/Omega hierarchy. Turns out, that's just not how wolves work. It's much simpler: a breeding pair leads a wolf pack until another even stronger breeding pair takes over— they don't have designated positions or tiers in a wolf pack.

Similarly, in my world, Alpha, Beta, and Omega are purely anatomical/genetic terms. In addition to sex assigned at birth, Alphas and Omegas have a genetic “trait” that gives them different anatomy and behaviors than we (we’re Betas) have.

Do Alphas have a privileged place in the Wokemegaverse world based on the antiquated idea that size, strength, and aggression are important qualities in leaders? Yes, they do, in much the same way that, in real life, certain groups of people (affluent cis/het white males, I’m lookin’ at you!) have gamed the system to pretty consistently come out on top.

In the Wokemegaverse, though, there's no sighing and saying, "Oh well, I guess that's just the way the world works." In my books, the Omegan and Betan Rights movements are powerful and motivated lobbies, as are all of the other equality-based movements that we have in our world.. My characters are generally invested in making their world more equitable and socially just.

Ok, so if I'm just going to be a snowflaky SJW and overhaul the whole system, why even write A/B/O, you might ask?

Fair question. Because Omegaverse is hot and it’s popular, and if it's going to popular, I don't want it to be toxic or fucked up. I say if it's broke, fix it.

Omegaverse is fun to read and fun to write, so I am trying to re-envision the genre so that I can enjoy its positive qualities guilt-free. This isn't groundbreaking or unique to me-- many other creators do the same.

What are A/B/O's positive qualities, you might ask...Welllllll, that probably varies from person to person, but what I like are these things: wild sexual chemistry and powerful attractions (love-at-first-sniff/meant-to-be pairings); the size and protectiveness of Alphas; the nonbinary nature of Alphan females and Omegan males; and the expanded possibilities for all kinds of relationships and families as a result of new categories for gender, sexuality, and reproduction.

Anatomy

At its most basic, here’s what you need to know about Wokemegaverse anatomy:

More detail is available in the Free Love primer. If you get confused, feel free to ask me questions in the comments or via DM or on my Discord. I am unembarrassable on these topics, and I enjoy discussing them, so please don’t feel shy.

Who can get pregnant (who has a uterus and ovaries)?

Omegas (male or female), Beta females.

Who can impregnate other people (who produces sperm)?

Alphas (male or female), Beta males.

Who was born with a penis or phallic clitoris?

Alphas (male or female), Beta males, Omegan males.

Female Alphas have testicles that are concealed in their abdomen, similar to marine mammals IRL , and a very sizable clitoris that functions similarly to a penis, other than the fact that most if it is retracted into the abdomen except when erect (also similar to marine mammals).

Alphas, male or female, tend to be well-endowed— Omegan anatomy demands a little extra size to get sperm deposited in the ideal location.

On the flip side, Omegan males have external testicles, but they are vestigial (an evolutionary leftover, like the tailbone) and only produce lubricating fluid, not sperm. Their penises tend to be comparatively small in size, although fully functional.

How do Omegan males get pregnant?

Where the anus is in a Beta, Omegan males have a cloacal sphincter. (Fun fact: This isn’t so far-fetched—it can happen with female humans IRL— google cloacal malformation). Beyond this sphincter is a branched vestibular space that leads to two anatomical pathways, each protected by an internal sphincter.

One branch leads to the vagina and from there to the uterus. The other leads to the rectum and from there to the colon. During sex, a penis or clitoris would go in through the external sphincter and from there through the vaginal sphincter and into the vagina.

Male Omegas could also be receptive partners for anal sex if the spirit moved-- the angle would be tricky, but it is possible.

The slippery fluid that Omegan penises and vaginas copiously produce (called slick, colloquially) lubricates the vagina, facilitates the movement of sperm, and keeps the vagina and vestibular space clean.

Any other weird anatomy stuff?

Relative to Betas, Omegas and Alphas have elongated canine teeth, aka fangs. Not dramatically long, but longer than ours. In my universe, fangs don’t suddenly lengthen vampire-style, they’re always present.

Alphas have irises that turn yellow or gold when aroused or angry. When their eyes shift, their night vision is improved.

Alphas and Omegas have scent glands located in various places in their bodies that produce a pheromonal “scent” that is unique to each individual. They also have a sensitive vomeronasal organ (Jacobson’s organ) in their noses that allows them to detect each other’s scents.

What is a claim?

When an Alpha bites an Omega with their fangs deeply enough that some of their saliva is introduced into one of the scent glands beneath an Omega’s skin, it creates a claim bond.

The claim functions much like infection with a virus (think rabies).

A claim creates a permanent biological connection between the Alpha and Omega— as the introduced DNA spreads through the Omega's body over weeks and months, it will eventually affect all aspects of the Omega’s reproductive system. Arousal, fertility, etc. It also changes the Omega’s scent.

This physical bond can proceed from an emotional bond, but since an Omega can be bitten without consent, it does not always equate to an emotional bond.

An Omega is not a thrall who blindly follows an Alpha once bitten, but once the Alpha’s DNA is spread throughout their system, they are likely to feel a strong sexual attraction to that Alpha and they will, biologically, have a hard time reproducing with anybody else.

What if the Omega doesn’t want the claim?

Well, I’m glad you asked. A huge part of this universe revolves around that question. As a human with a monthly breeding cycle, I know it’s hard to deal with. For Alphas and Omegas, especially Omegas, it’s worse. So, like many other A/B/O authors, the scientists and doctors in my universe have created medications that regulate and suppress the breeding cycle so Omegas don’t have to drop everything and do nothing but have sex three days a month and Alphas don't go nuts during a rut 3-4 times a year and sexually assault people. The medication is called “suppressant therapy.”

In this universe, doctors have also developed a treatment protocol for reversing an unwanted claim. It involves both surgery and very high doses of the suppressant medication described above. Currently, reversal has to be initiated quickly (within a few months of the claim bite) for it to be fully effective. After that, a claim can be sort of chemically dampened, but not eliminated.

What links all of your stories?

The nexus of all of my stories is the Anastasia Anderson Foundation (AAF), a non-profit created by the Anderson family in memory of their daughter/sister. Anastasia was an Omega who died as a result of a relationship with an abusive and controlling Alpha.

The Foundation has two branches— a claim reversal clinic that focuses on Omegan health and a legal fund that assists Omegas with legal problems related to their trait.

The legal fund also lobbies politicians to create and update laws so that the world is more just and equitable for Omegas.

Free Radical focuses much more on the medical side of things than the legal side, because Andie (one of the MCs) works in the AAF clinic as a clinician and researcher.

The holy grail for Andie and other Omegan medical researchers in this universe is finding a way to reverse older, established claims so that Omegas can regain and retain control over their own bodies.

Access to claim reversal and claim education are the things that Andie is professionally passionate about. Sadly, this is controversial in the same way that reproductive rights and sexual education are controversial in our world.

Ok, I think that’s enough to get started with. I hope you enjoy the story!