Thorns That Bloom (Venusverse), page 1
Copyright
Copyright © 2025 by Kat Sinclair
Published 2025 by Sinclair Books
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Cover illustration by Vic Nuckowska (irlplasticlamb.tumblr.com)
Beta Read and Consultation by Ellie at Glow Up Edits
Proofreading & Editing by SinclairBooks
Contents
Acknowledgements
Venusverse
Content Warning
1. Chapter 1
Sam
2. Chapter 2
Sam
3. Chapter 3
Theo
4. Chapter 4
Sam
5. Chapter 5
Theo
6. Chapter 6
Sam
7. Chapter 7
Sam
8. Chapter 8
Theo
9. Chapter 9
Sam
10. Chapter 10
Sam
11. Chapter 11
Theo
12. Chapter 12
Theo
13. Chapter 13
Sam
14. Chapter 14
Theo
15. Chapter 15
Sam
16. Chapter 16
Sam
17. Chapter 17
Theo
18. Chapter 18
Sam
19. Chapter 19
Theo
20. Chapter 20
Sam
21. Chapter 21
Theo
22. Chapter 22
Theo
23. Chapter 23
Sam
24. Chapter 24
Sam
25. Chapter 25
Theo
26. Chapter 26
Sam
Feedback & Newsletter
Social Media
ALSO BY KAT SINCLAIR
Acknowledgements
To those who helped make this book what it is, especially Ellie and Amy,
thank you.
Venusverse
This section covers the main features and vocabulary of the omegaverse, as well as the specifics of Venusverse’s spin on it. It serves to answer questions a reader less familiar with the trope might have. Essentially, Venusverse is a non-shifter, grounded, contemporary omegaverse world. Homophobia and transphobia (etc.) are nearly non-existent in its society.
THE BASICS
Homo Sapiens Venus (also known as the second gender, the venus, or the venus sex) is a sub-species of humans believed to have evolved at some point in history as a result of an extremely unfavorable environment. They differ from regular people (Homo Sapiens Sapiens, or betas) by having a special organ called the venus gland.
Venus gland is a small gland at the back of individuals’ neck, which facilitates the specific hormonal activity of producing and sensing pheromones.
Pheromones are chemicals that all animals (including humans) produce that changes the behavior of another animal of the same species. The effects of this are usually subconscious and barely noticeable, but thanks to the venus gland, the venus are not only more sensitive to each other’s pheromones but also produce a specific, strong type which sexually and emotionally attracts them together. Pheromones usually begin emitting shortly after the beginning of puberty, at 13-18 years old, followed by a steady increase in activity of the venus gland.
The specific scent pheromones give off seems to be unique to each individual, and also perceived slightly differently from person to person. Most common comparisons are drawn to the smell of flowers, sweets, nature and other pleasurable scents.
Members of the venus sex are separated into alphas and omegas. Besides the aforementioned sensitivity to pheromones and the presence of the venus gland, alpha men and omega women are not too different from beta men and beta women. They possess a higher than average resilience to many diseases, have slightly longer lifespans, and more successful fertility rates. The most significant biological discrepancy is found in omega men, who can become pregnant, and alpha women, who have the ability to impregnate.
Alpha men possess a unique organ called bulbus glandis—a spherical area of erectile tissue at the base of the penis that engorges with blood while copulating. This is called knotting. The tissue usually only engages when an alpha is in rut or with an extreme sexual (and emotional) arousal. The omega sexes have evolved to generally find the experience pleasurable, but in sexual intercourse with a beta (male or female), it is often uncomfortable and can cause injuries.
Alpha women possess a retractable erectile tissue, usually hidden within the body, which becomes engorged with blood when in rut. This causes the clitoris to function as a small penis, which can be used for penetration. Their knot is less developed than in alpha males, but present. The alpha women’s ovaries are also unique in a way which doubles them as testes through complex hormonal shifts and slightly different biology.
Omega men, as mentioned, have the capability of becoming pregnant. Just as the urethra opens into the vestibule near a vaginal opening in beta women, the rectum is a smaller opening in the omega male’s anus, which is self-lubricating, while the main opening (regular anus for beta men) leads into the omega male equivalent of a vagina and uterus, which sits between the prostate and rectum. This means that when a penis is inserted, it enters the reproductive route, and the usual anal sex path to the rectum only opens when defecating.
Omega men also possess an underdeveloped version of ovaries which connects to their prostate. Though pregnancy is common, babies are often born prematurely, at lower weight, and cesarean is needed in many cases.
The crucial aspect differentiating alphas and omegas from betas are their fertility rates. Among the pregnancies between alphas and omegas, miscarriage is statistically near non-existent no matter the gender, and fertility rates overall are also higher, especially for alpha female/omega male and alpha male/omega female couples.
This is mainly facilitated by highly fertile periods called rut for alphas and heat for omegas. These happen once every 2-4 months (depending on the individual) and last for 4-5 days. Similar to the reproductive cycle of ovulation in cis beta females, both stages are signaled by heightened hormonal activity of the venus gland. Pregnancy between alpha and omega is extremely likely at this time.
The typical symptoms are heightened sexual libido (which is the most intense symptom for 1-2 days in the middle of the cycle) and changes to the working of the frontal lobe, causing slightly impaired decision-making and emotional control. Less desirable side effects include heart palpitations, vertigo, increased body temperature, anxiety, or migraines.
Suppressants are drugs which alleviate most symptoms of rut or heat or to stop it altogether. They can also be used to make pheromones less noticeable. There is still a lack of research when it comes to them. They can be expensive and don’t work well for every individual, leading to possible undesirable side effects.
There’s a broad disagreement about the social and psychological implications of being an alpha or omega. Many alphas are observed to be more assertive, hot-headed, charismatic and have somewhat higher chances of psychopathy, while omegas are believed to often be empathetic, caring and submissive, with some inclination for anxiety disorders. This is overall seen as outdated stereotyping and not scientifically proven, but exists in society as any other gender norms and expectations.
The most prevalent but increasingly less popular religious belief surrounding the venus is The Church of Divine Dualis Sovereign (commonly abbreviated as DDS). Members of this church, which is considered a cult by many betas and venusfolk alike, are called dualists, and believe in the existence of dual gods, female alpha Alis, and male omega Dual, who hail the Homo Sapiens Venus as the evolutionary and spiritual solution to the future of the human race. The commonly held notion is that the venus have been introduced by the gods to cleanse humanity, and their existence is the ultimate form of life. Betas are considered imperfect and corrupt and are not to mix with the Children of the Dualis. Members of the DDS also believe in fated mates (comparable to soulmates), a godly connection between an alpha and omega only that is undeniable and sacred, reflecting the bond between Alis and Dual, and leading to the deepest, most complete form of love. For the members of the religion, finding a fated mate is a blessing and a guarantee to ascending after death.
While the large majority of dualists simply acknowledge the extraordinary nature of the venus and their different lived experience, a small, highly orthodox branch of the religion, the Children of Dualis, has strict rules for any and all contact with betas, going as far as only using products made by venusfolk, living in their own pockets of society separated from betas, and bel
The venus sexes make about 35% of the population, more or less common in various areas of the world.
Content Warning
This story features sexual themes and adult language. It depicts the aftermath of SA, including pregnancy/Mpreg central to the story, mentions of abortion, pregnancy symptoms, some descriptions of the assault, PTSD, legal injustice, and dealing with trauma.
For descriptions of trauma relating to SA and perpetrator/abuser confrontation, take special care when reading chapters 16 and 18.
There are no scenes depicting birth.
Chapter 1
Sam
My barely-a-lawyer first-year associate scrambles around his papers, a single droplet of sweat I fixate on rolling down his temple. He looks up at me, and I somehow already know what his words are going to be. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Snyder, but I am afraid that…there’s nothing more we can do at the moment.”
The disappointment that passes through me is dull. I expected this, didn’t I? My heart doesn’t even sink. After all, it’s been sitting low in my stomach for the past three months.
I’m tired. Exhausted. What’s the point of responding, anyway?
He watches me, squirming in his seat and narrowing his eyes like he’s uncomfortable with my lack of reaction. And if I hadn’t received so many looks of pity to the point that just a hint of it makes me nauseous, I maybe would’ve appreciated the pained, guilty expression on his face.
“I consulted some of my colleagues. I even took it to the partners,” he assures me hastily while I unfocus my eyes on the wall behind him. “It’s—” He sighs. “We could still try to bring the case back to the court, but they will call for it to be dismissed again and…most likely succeed.”
“What a predicament, huh?” I murmur.
The guy is so green I could basically play golf on his face. And for a moment, I want to. Want to smack him in the head with a golf club.
I quickly suppress those urges. The therapist I saw would probably say that these thoughts aren’t productive. He’s not the one I should be angry at, anyway. It’s not his fault. The flaw is in the system. In this shitty, cruel world and the way it functions.
Or am I the problem? I try to figure that out every single day.
Taking a shaky breath, he darts his hands across the legal paperwork on the table and then continues, probably thinking that giving more detail will somehow make me feel better. Perhaps he knows it won’t, and that is why he drones on, driven by his guilt.
“What happened— This exact situation is why the laws ‘protecting’ alphas in case of extreme pheromone-related sexual situations were put in place. I…I entirely sympathize with how unfair they might be,” he says, swallowing his words while he loosens his tie slightly, “believe me, sir. What matters is that these laws, unfortunately, have very little room for us to argue that what those men did while they were in rut, and you in heat, was legally their fault or fully in their control.”
For the first time today, a ping of sharp, real emotion rushes through me.
“So whose fault was it?” I ask, scowling back at him. This beta has no idea. He recites the law, the letters on the paper, and tries to understand, but he can’t.
“I’m sorry, sir, I— Of course, what happened was not your fault,” he assures me before escaping my gaze, gulping so loudly I hear it. “I was, in no way, implying that.”
His gaze flickers over the USB drive lying in the plastic bag on the table. A copy of the CCTV footage, which was our largest and most important piece of evidence, is on it. I can tell it makes him squirm. I know he’s watched it, and that makes me feel naked and slimy in my skin the moment that thought enters my mind. In the hot flash of pathetic anger coursing through my veins, I wonder if he thinks of it right now.
Is that all I get? Everybody just looking in, feeling sorry for me? Feeling uncomfortable?
I wish I’d never seen it. Even if there was nothing explicit, the brutal clarity of it hurt. There I was at the start—walking into the restroom, sweaty and unwell as I went there to deal with the unusual intensity of my heat that day. All I needed was a moment to breathe. Some cold water to splash on my face and a chance to collect myself.
About a minute later, a group of boisterous, chatting alphas walked in. Five men. All tall and dressed in expensive suits. The best and brightest of the rising workers in the company.
Then, the time skips. Thirty-seven minutes. Thirty-seven minutes of…unseen atrocities.
They exited first, adjusting their ties and straightening their blazers. Patting each other’s backs. Laughing. Off to continue their workday…
Twelve minutes later, I walk out. Holding onto the wall. Trembling. Dizzy. My clothes a mess, my hair a mess, my world completely, utterly broken.
Sharply, I close my eyes. Tightening my fist under the table, I draw a slow, deep breath. I tell myself that someone in that footage was not me. It was somebody else. Had to be.
The small, dinky conference room is quiet for a moment until the lawyer speaks again. “I will see if I am able to transfer you or find an attorney who’s a little more high-profile and willing to work on your case pro bono, but…like I said, it unfortunately doesn’t look good.” He gathers some courage near the end, firming up his voice.
I open my eyes slowly, looking at him. If anything, at least he’s giving it to me straight. No more dancing around. No more false hope. I can appreciate that if nothing else. Regardless of this entire meeting being a waste of time.
“Torken is a massive company, so their lawyers are cutthroat, frankly. You were in heat. The defense is going to use this against us. It will be hard to argue. Alpha going into a rut and throwing themselves on an omega because of an extreme hormonal reaction? Despite the laws being so strongly in their favor in this state, we could handle that. Unfortunately, the fact that you were in heat and emitted strong pheromones can easily be used to get them off the hook. Not to mention—”
Something about my reaction makes him stop. My entire body feels hot and numb, and my heart pounds loudly inside my head, before my brain even fully comprehends where his sentence was going.
“Not to mention what?” I mutter, pressing my hand over my stomach.
The attorney sighs, rubbing the back of his neck.
“I’m sorry, Mr. Snyder. It— N-not to mention your decision to keep the child that resulted from the situation, they will…” He pauses and looks down like he’s psyching himself up to say it out loud. “They will counter that if it was rape, you would have never kept the baby. They are going to argue that you are only trying to use this to get monetary compensation from the rich alphas involved. I can recall several past cases that the defense will—”
A piercing squeak echoes through the room as I spring up, pushing the cheap metal chair away from the table with such force that it nearly topples.
“We’re done, I think,” I mumble, barely looking at him, and head toward the door.
“M-Mister Snyder, wait…” I hear him behind me, but he doesn’t chase. “I’m still going to attempt referring your case, like I said!” he shouts after me hesitantly. I’m already dashing through the hallway, his words growing muffled in my ears. “I will give you a call if anything changes! Please, don’t hesitate to—”
