The Duke's Runaway Omega
by Autumn Montague
LGBTQ+ Historical Romance, MPreg, Mystery & Suspense
Date Published: August 14, 2026
Phillip’s on the run, with not just one but two alphas on his trail.
Raised as an alpha, Phillip’s unexpected manifestation as an omega turns
his life upside down. His father demands a handfasting, insisting Phillip be
mated to whichever alpha wins the day with their pheromones. But when the
triumphant alpha turns out to be his school friend Everett, Phillip realizes
they are fated mates. However, as a diminished omega, his chances of bearing
Ev’s children are slim. Heartbroken, Phillip flees to London.
Everett never expected to be Duke of Harriford. His title brings a slew of
distasteful marriage and handfasting offers. The latest invitation for his old
friend Phillip shocks Ev into accepting. Phillip is everything he remembers
and more, and Ev soon finds himself responding to the potent scent of
Phillip’s pheromones. When his mate runs, Ev questions whether their
feelings are true, or merely the bond of alpha and omega. Despite his fears,
he’s determined to find Phillip and bring him home.
As Ev searches London, Phillip questions the wisdom of his choices. His plans
have begun to unravel rather spectacularly. To start with, he’s
pregnant, the one thing he thought he’d never be. Worse, there’s
an alpha hunting him -- and it’s not Ev.
EXCERPT
Yorkshire, 1811
Lord Phillip Tyerman stared through the barred windows of his tower room at
the parade of men and women summoned by his father. All of them were
well-heeled and every one of them was looking to make a prestigious match with
the earl’s eldest son. The earl’s omega son, who was unable to
inherit either lands or title. The earl’s useless son, who wasn’t
even a full-fledged omega. Just a not-quite-beta whose first presentation had
caused no scandal, lured no lusty alphas, and could have been passed off as
little more than being in his second puberty. Not even the beta servants of
the household had realized anything was amiss. Only his youngest sister had
noticed. It had been Philomena, who was now heir to their father’s
estate at fifteen, thanks to her unexpected and early manifestation as a
dominant alpha. Lovely Phil, whose patrician nose had wrinkled as though a bad
odor had just filled the air.
“What a dreadful stink! Have the oranges gone over?”
Phillip could hear it even now, a full year hence, and it still rankled to the
point where he’d taken to wearing a strong sandalwood fragrance to avoid
smelling like rotted fruit. His father’s shocked look had likewise never
left his mind. The forbidding expression on the earl’s face had been bad
enough, but Phillip’s subsequent banishment to the tower room from the
heir-presumptive suite had cut even deeper. He had been nearly twenty-two at
the time, grown tall and strong. He was the spitting image of his father.
Everyone, even his omega mother, had assumed he’d manifest soon as an
alpha, and his delicate sister as an omega.
The tall and strong young man had become the omega, and the petite, delicate,
and winsome girl had become the alpha. God most certainly had a peculiar sense
of humor, at least insofar as the Tyerman family was concerned.
With a snort of irritation at the memory, Phillip turned his attention back to
the courtyard below, where the last equipage had rolled up to the front steps.
The livery on the carriage door proclaimed the occupant to be a member of the
Harrifords. Intrigued despite himself, Phillip opened the windowpanes and
peered through the bars, hoping for a glimpse of whomever it was that had come
from that prestigious family to gawk at the sale of the Tyermans’
awkward omega son. Of course, even if the occupant proved to be Ev Harriford,
Phillip fully intended to be well away from this house long before
arrangements could be made to pursue a match with any of these honored guests.
He sighed and turned away from the window, leaving it ajar to bring in fresh
air to a room that was stuffy even in the dead of winter. He had no fear of
his scent drawing unwelcome attention from all those alphas despite being near
his heat. His pheromones were practically indiscernible, as even in heat they
never carried much beyond his immediate person. The doors to the tower stair
were securely locked, and only his mother and his beta valet carried the keys.
He felt no qualms about allowing the room to air out while he dressed for this
ridiculous charade.
Well, said charade would come to an abrupt and hopefully embarrassing end for
his father. Phillip had a small bag packed with the most minimal necessities
safely stowed in the bottom of the wardrobe. He’d return to his rooms to
“refresh himself” when the alphas retired for brandy and banter,
and he’d make his escape then, while his father negotiated with them for
Phillip’s eventual marriage to the highest bidder.
The tiniest tremor ran along his spine. It seemed his estrus had chosen to
come in a timely manner. At least he would not have to spend several days in
isolation waiting for it to arrive so the festivities could begin in earnest.
The mere thought of said festivities sent another shiver through him, this one
of disgust.
A brisk tap sounded on the door, followed by the sound of keys in the lock and
his mother’s quiet entrance. She gave him a mildly disapproving glance
upon seeing him still in his ordinary daywear. “You should always lock
the inner door, Phillip,” she chided him. “You ought to be in your
tails by now. You have a scant half hour before dinner. Your father wishes you
to meet the guests tonight prior to the formal ceremony on Saturday.”
“Ceremony!” Phillip winced as the word came out in shocked tones.
“What ceremony?! I thought this was the usual idiotic dinner party
series so he can twist the arms of his alpha friends and convince one of them
to marry me to their offspring --”
“No, dear,” his mother interrupted with false serenity. She smiled
at him, the attempt obviously meant to soothe, yet the smile did not reach her
eyes. “The earl has decided to make this a formal handfasting ceremony,
to ensure the chosen candidate does not hand you the mitten after. So only the
most acceptable and honorable suitors were invited. If you don’t find
anyone particularly to your liking, the earl will decide who wins the right to
bond with you.”
The earl will decide. His mother’s use of his father’s title told
Phillip that Lady Winifred Tyerman did not support this extraordinary
decision. It also told Phillip that his father had chosen not to leave the
critical matter of his awkward son to chance or romantic feelings. His
thrice-damned sire would pick the person who would control Phillip for the
rest of his life. Then the true significance of his mother’s words
penetrated the fog engendered by the word “ceremony.”
“A handfasting? What on earth are you on about?” Phillip cursed
himself for the shake in his voice.
Handfasting was an ancient custom, very much out of use, as it used a bonding
bite to ensure the omega couldn’t flee with another alpha or beta. But
to do so in this day? The handfasting ceremony included a public bite, binding
the omega to the alpha forever, socially and physically, even if the alpha
chose to marry someone else. While the ceremony wasn’t precisely
outlawed, it was frowned upon as outré and generally reserved only for
omegas of wealthy families perilously close to the end of their breeding
years.
And this was to be his fate? He’d be damned first.
About the Author
Autumn grew up loving history, mythology, and all things Japanese, not
necessarily in that order. This eclectic love affair has bled over into her
writing, and her stories are always well spiced with the taste of Japan,
strange mythological beasties, or the lords and ladies of the ton. Sometimes
all three, leading to dark desires and forbidden loves.
And after all, dangerous passions should lead to uninhibited love.
Author’s Website
Author on Facebook
Follow Autumn on BookBub
Publisher on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and TikTok: @changelingpress
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