A/N: So guys, it's happened, I've began writing a supernatural Peetato fic. I would like to thank DragonisNight for giving me the idea for this. Seriously, I would never have thought of doing this without your help! ^_^

Disclaimer: I don't own the Hunger Games or the idea of wolf Alpha/Beta/Omega ranks.

Warnings: Submission and Dominance. A touch of self harm.

A werewolf, also known as a lycanthrope is a mythological or folkloric human with the ability to shapeshift into a wolf or a therianthropic hybrid wolf-like creature, either purposely or after being placed under a curse or affliction (e.g. via a bite or scratch from another werewolf). Early sources for belief in lycanthropy are Petronius and Gervase of Tilbury.

The werewolf is a widespread concept in European folklore, existing in many variants which are related by a common development of a Christian interpretation of underlying Indo-European mythology which developed during the medieval period. From the early modern period, werewolf beliefs also spread to the New World with colonialism. Belief in werewolf develops parallel to the belief in witches, in the course of the Late Middle Ages and the Early Modern period.

Some modern researchers have tried to explain the reports of werewolf behaviour with recognised medical conditions. Dr Lee Illis of Guy's Hospital in London wrote a paper in 1963 entitled On Porphyria and the Aetiology of Werewolves, in which he argues that historical accounts on werewolves could have in fact been referring to victims of congenital porphyria, stating how the symptoms of photosensitivity, reddish teeth and psychosis could have been grounds for accusing a sufferer of being a werewolf.

~xXx~

Running was great. Blazing through the forest with a burst of speed, jumping logs, snapping twigs, thundering past trees and foilage as if nothing else mattered other than running. Wind bristling through fur, whistling past delicate ears, carrying the rustic scent of the trees with it to tickle sensitive noses. Paws pounding the compact earth, unsettling the soil and leaves around it.

Yes, Peeta could run forever.

He perferred wolf form. He felt free and unchained, like nothing could stop him. There was no limits when he was in wolf form, nothing to stop him, nothing to prevent him from running for eternity.

He ran on his own, that was the price of being what he was. He didn't mind, since all the other wolves just wanted to play with the helpless little Omega wolf. Being the only omega in the pack, it was difficult to be around them anyway, natural instincts being to keen and beg for attention.

There were 12 wolf packs spread out across Panem. Peeta was part of pack 12, who are located in the outskirts of the country. Packs don't mix, they stay within their zones. It was against pack law for different wolves from different packs to interact and could be punishable by death so they stayed within their respected zones.

The packs worked like this: there was a leader. Leaders are always alphas, the dominant members of the pack. They keep all wolves in their pack at bay, making sure they obey the rules and giving out punishments to those who don't. There are many alphas but only one leader. If another wolf kills the leader, they automatically become the leader of the pack. Females were not leaders and it was rare for there to be female alphas. Peeta heard that there was a couple in different packs but there wasn't any in 12.

Beta was the next rank. Betas weren't anything special. They varied between males and females and were very basic pack members. They took care of medicore jobs and were standard citizens. They weren't looked down on by other pack members but they didn't have the authority of alphas.

Then came the Omegas. Mostly females, Omegas were the most submissive and complaint of the wolves. They had a quick reaction to other wolves which was to keen for attention. There was a reflex inside them, a fire that could only be quenched by being dominated by another. They could sometimes be viewed as the sluts of the packs because even if a wolf looked at them in a funny way, they would turn on their backs and spread their legs. It was just how they worked. They were child carriers. Sex toys. Wolves to be used and abused by anyone. Anyone, that is, until they are mated.

This was why Peeta perferred being on his own. Being the only male Omega that had happened upon 12 in centuries, the betas and alphas liked taking advantage. It had been a dramatic change. For most of his life, he had been his own person, always able to come up with a snarky response to comments he didn't like and always ready to put up a fight. And then all of a sudden he turned sixteen and changed into a smipering Omega. It was ridiculously sick.

The first person he'd submitted to had been a wolf in his pack, Gale Hawthorne. Thankfully, the Beta didn't bite his neck, which was how wolves became mates. It was rare when a pack would get a male Omega so the Betas took advantage of it since they didn't know what it felt like to be the dominant ones unless they had an Omega to play with. Peeta hated himself for what he had changed into but there was no preventing or cure for it, he was stuck with it.

When he ran, it felt like he was running from them, running from himself, running from the ranks. It was nice to entertain the idea that he could run away from it all. But he always eventually had to stop, turn around and seek out the others. He couldn't even get lost because his rare scent would always cause them to find him. It made it all even more terrifying because when he didn't find his way back on his own, it became a race between the others over who could find him first.

The worst of it was, when it came down to it, he wanted them to do it. He had became the basic equavilant of a masochist whore.

If he didn't comply to what they wanted from him, he would be consumed with this cripppling guilt that would only be lifted if he got reprimanded for it. The amount of times he'd nuzzled himself up against someone in apology, begging to be hit, made him sick.

Peeta growled and ran faster. He nearly ran into a tree once or twice but managed to dodge them with ease. Running got him excited and his tail wagged gleefully as he went. He loved the freedom, how he wasn't dependant on anyone to help him, that there was no one there to force him to melt into his simpering, pathetic self who'd roll over and keen for attention.

An unfamiliar scent made him come to a skidding halt. He stopped and sniffed the air, pulling back his ears and narrowing his eyes. The 12 pack members smelt like the bark of an evergreen tree whereas this was an oak scent. It wasn't an oaktree because it was mixed with the smell of sweat and flesh as well. A wolf from a different pack, maybe? Oh gods, that wasn't good. Had he accidenly ran into different territory? Wolves could instantly tell if there was an alien presence in their zone, maybe they were coming to get him for trespassing.

Deciding to backtrack, Peeta turned around and started going back in the direction he came. The others were probably looking for him anyway. It wasn't too difficult to find his way back to camp, immediately going to his tent and shifting back into human form and pulling clothes on before the others came back. It was better that he got back before them anyway, Omegas were supposed to stay in camp while the others were hunting.

The only Omegas in 12 were himself and his friend Delly Cartwright. The difference between himself and Delly was that Delly had a mate. Once you had a mate no one could play with you other than your mate. So Delly was a stay at home mother, caring for the pups while the others were gone.

The others came back with a satisfying haul. Two deers and an antelope. The alphas ate first, then the betas and the Omegas got the scraps. Scraps weren't that bad and Peeta liked to entertain the idea that it was better than the first hand meat. Delly and himself would sit apart from the others, splitting the scraps between each other. Delly would occasionally twitch when someone walked past, since being mated her self control being much more refined. She was a good friend, Delly was. While they ate, she would slap him any time someone passed, knowing what it felt like to have the urge to roll over, and was always able to help pull himself together.

The alpha of the pack-Warren Undersee-later made an announcement that earlier in the day, there had been an intruder in their territory. Peeta sat up at the news, remembering the scent he had smelt earlier. Oak trees. Would Warren know what that meant? He couldn't tell him though because then he would know that he had went out running when he was supposed to be staying in camp with Delly and would very likely be punished for it.

Later, in his tent, Gale came to see him. Gale was a nice guy but was power hungry, that was why he always favoured the company of Peeta. It was common for a beta to want to spend time with an Omega because they never got to be dominant. They weren't allowed to be dominant with each other and they definitely weren't allowed to do it with alphas.

"Hey Peeta," he said, standing in the threshold of his tent.

"Hey Gale," Peeta replied. He twitched when Gale entered, having the desperate urge to lay down at his feet and whine. Even when not in wolf form, pack members had the habit of acting like a canine in their actions. "How are you?"

"About to go out to hunt down the intruder with the others," Gale answered. "Just thought I should come and see you before I left." He reached out and patted Peeta's head, relishing the way he would automatically nuzzle his head into his hand. He looked down on him with a gaze as sharp as a knife.

The ground called to him like a magnet and before he'd really realized it, Peeta had gotten down on all fours and rolled over onto his back. Gale chuckled and knelt down beside him, rubbing his throat with his thumb. Peeta whined and shifted forward, resting his chin on his leg. Gale kneaded the muscles in his back, running his spare hand through his hair affectionately.

Eck. He hated how much he loved it.

Gale licked the side of his face affectionately. Peeta moaned and bared his neck to him like the submissive tramp he was. Gale nipped at the vulnerable skin, rubbing his stomach the way he knew he liked. When he got aggressive, Peeta frowned, squirming away from him. Gale had been wanting to mate him for a long time now but that's not what he wanted, knowing that he was only doing it because he wanted a pet Omega. "Gale, stop it," he said.

"Sssh, it's alright," Gale murmured, thinking that he was just getting unsettled. Peeta felt the Beta's canines scraping up his neck. The statement made him flush with rage and he pushed against him. He felt sick every time he was disobedient but he wasn't going to let Gale mate him. He hated the way everyone thought that Omegas were idiots who didn't know what was going on and he wasn't going to let Gale bite him.

Peeta whimpered and wiggled out of his arms. He was hit by a wall of nausea and nearly passed out because of the intensity of it. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up and he growled softly, feeling the need to rub his head against the ground to get rid of Gale's saliva on his face. "I don't want to be mated," he whined.

Gale grabbed the scruff of his neck and pulled him back. His eyes flashed dangerously into the narrow slits of his canine form and Peeta recoiled pathetically. At least the pain at the back of his neck from his nails digging into his skin was quelling the sickness. "You're not supposed to want it, you're supposed to take it."

"You have a girlfriend," Peeta said in a tiny voice. "Mate her, not me."

"She's not an Omega."

Katniss, Gale's on off girlfriend, was a fellow beta who was waiting avidly for the day that Gale would bite her neck. She would walk around camp with several hickeys, none of them deep enough to express that she had been mated. It made Peeta feel all the more dirty for submitting to Gale. Katniss was a nice girl. She was kind and considerate and would always slip Delly and him extra scraps when she walked past. It made him wonder if she would understand if she found out about where her boyfriend disappeared to nearly every night.

"You're so much more than her," Gale insisted. At least he wasn't demanding. When Peeta said no, he meant no and he respected that. "You could be my baby Omega."

"Don't you have a hunt to be getting to?" Peeta muttered. Another wave of nausea. He curled up on himself and nuzzled Gale's arm, sighing in relief when he tightened his grip on the scruff of his neck.

"Just one bite, that's all it would take," Gale said. He leaned forward until his breath huffed against his neck. Peeta moaned and arched his back into him, tilting his head back to expose himself to him again. His conscious didn't want to be bitten but his body did, his body was practically begging for it.

He nearly did it. It was so close. Peeta felt the sharp pinpricks of his fangs press into his neck. Maybe it wouldn't be so bad, being mated by Gale. Then the other wolves would leave him alone, stop teasing him like he was nothing more than their pet. He inhaled, waiting for the blow to come.

But it didn't.

"Hey Gale!" someone from outside called, interuppting his actions. "Leave the little puppy alone and get your ass out here now!"

Sighing irritatably, Gale sat back. Disappointed but relieved, Peeta sighed as well, trying not to express to Gale how happy he was that he hadn't gotten the chance to bite him. Deciding it best to try and butter him up, he crouched down low and nudged his knee with his head. Smiling affectionately, Gale patted his head. "We'll continue this later."

When he left, Peeta jumped to his feet and slapped himself, rubbing his hands over his body and neck to get the feeling of Gale's hands off him. "Ew, ew, ew, ew," he said over and over again. Those hands had touched Katniss in the same way, those hands made love to her and made her believe she was special and the one. Peeta felt filthy. "EW!"

He crouched to the floor and slapped himself again, panting like a bitch in heat. "Get yourself together Mellark," he scolded himself. He'd be lucky to be mated by somone like Gale but . . . Katniss. No, he had to figure out a way to say no to Gale without getting ill. He placed his hands on the ground and slid forward, arching his back to crack some bones into place. He had to go for a run again before he started scratching himself.

When he felt bad enough, he'd scratch at himself, leaving little thin scratches on his arms and shins. Delly was the only person who noticed them, forever asking if he self harmed. He'd always say no. Because it was the truth. He didn't self harm, he only scratched himself a bit too hard sometimes. Only when he deserved it. Guilt made him itchy.

"Peeta?" Delly appeared in the threshold of his tent, holding the hand of Gale's younger sister Posy. "Are you okay? I saw Gale come out."

"Fine," Peeta muttered, cracking the bones in his neck.

Delly sighed. "You rolled over again, didn't you?" she asked.

"No," Peeta said sheepishly.

"Oh Peeta," Delly said quietly. "He's dating a girl."

"You think I don't know that!" Peeta snapped. "You know how hard it is Delly!"

Delly held her hands up in surrender. "Wow, watch it kid, I'm the only friend you've got right now who isn't after your hide. Yes, I know how hard it is, but I was able to control myself around those who had relationships. It was difficult, yes, but you need to remember where we stand around here. We can't afford mistakes. If Katniss found out what Gale does to you she wouldn't think twice about ripping your throat out."

"She wouldn't dare disobey Warren," Peeta replied. "You can't kill male omegas."

Delly quirked an eyebrow. "You can beat them," she answered. "And believe me, Katniss knows how to beat a wolf. She will make you roll over and probably kick the shit out of you until you're begging to have your throat ripped out. You may be a rarity Peeta but you're not invincible. This thing you have with Gale? It stops now."

"Delly, he nearly mated me," Peeta said seriously. "And I couldn't stop him. He insisted."

"God that wolf is such a man whore," Delly said, shaking her head.

"Man whore?" Posy repeated. Delly looked at the pup in alarm.

"Don't repeat that," she ordered. She turned her attention back to Peeta. "Just stay clear of Gale. He's trouble. Believe me, I know." Peeta raised his eyebrows at her. "What? I used to be just like you you know before Darius mated me. Gale used to rub my tummy too. Except he didn't want to mate me. I suppose he does gueninely want you but that's beside the point. He's with Katniss."

"I know that," Peeta said through gritted teeth, thoroughly irritated. "But if he tried to bite me again, I don't know if I could stop it."

Delly sighed. "Go for a run," she said, stepping out of the way of the tent threshold. "Clear your head." Nodding, Peeta left the tent. When he was about to walk in the direction of the outskirts of the forest-in the opposite direction of the rest of the pack-Delly grabbed his wrist. "And don't stratch," she pleaded. "You're fine."

He turned away, not promising anything, and ran off into the forest. Just as he hit the tree line, he leaped forward and morphed into his wolf form, landing on all fours and shaking his fur. He bounded off in a straight line, not in the right state of mind to bask in the rawness of nature like he normally would.

Gale frightened him. How easily he could manipulate him into his arms with caresses and licks of adoration. How close he had gotten to biting him, marking him and making him his. He wasn't even terrifying or dominant, he was just very clever in his form of devious calculation. He'd grown to know what he had liked and used that knowledge to have him on his back at his feet.

Peeta thought of Katniss. Of how she would smile at him when she'd slip him extra scraps, how she would scratch the spot behind his ear when she'd sit beside him by the campfire, how she was a lovely girl who only wanted to be loved and mated by her boyfriend. It made him feel even more disgusted in himself. You're a slut, a whore, a fleebag who could do with a good kick up the ass.

He wasn't sure how long he had ran before it hit him again. Oak. He stopped and pushed his ears back, leaning up and sniffing the air. Yes, definitely the distinct smell of oak. But he was in a different part of the forest now. Could the intruder really have gotten so far in only a couple of hours?

His tail went automatically between his legs as the worst possible thoughts went through his head. Would they try to kill him? Maul him to bits because he was on his own and so very obviously a male omega? He crouched down low, ears flattened against his head, and stepped back fearfully.

Okay, he could turn around and get away quick. Maybe alert Delly that he knew where the intruder was. She could howl out to Darius, calling him back, and tell him and the other Betas in his group where to go.

That was when he saw it.

A large wolf stood a couple metres away, bold as brass. He was an obvious male, exuding confidence and dominance. It's blond hair bristled in the breeze as he stood stiff legged and tall, his ears erect and tail held vertical, curling towards his back. He was a pack leader. An alpha.

Peeta swallowed hard, trying to quieten his panting as he practically hugged the forest floor. As long as it didn't see him, he would be fine. It would move on and he would go back to camp and never leave the pack when he wasn't supposed to ever again. He'd get Delly to tell Darius where the intruder was and hide in silence, letting people use him as their toy whenever they wanted, letting Gale mate him if that was what he wished.

He thought the wolf was going to walk away when suddenly a small whine escaped from the back of his throat, casuing the animal to stiffen. Peeta internally cursed, trying to make himself smaller as the intruder turned back around, ears pulled back in suspicion. Its tail gave a single wag, its hackles bristling as its eyes scanned the darkness for the location of the whine.

And when it's eyes finally locked on him, deep as the greenest grass on a sunny spring morning, Peeta's blood turned to fire in is veins.

It was a wolf from 2.

A/N: What do you think folks? It's my own take on the Alpha/Beta/Omega wolf ranks. Please review with your thoughts so I'll know whether to continue or not? Oh, and don't worry about Gale, this is a 100% Peetato story (: