The Omegaverse (or OV for short) is definitely one of the more popular alternate universe tropes, so of course we'll be starting our journey of here! The Omegaverse is trope that was created in the fanfiction community back in the 2010, and more specifically, in the Supernatural fandom, and had been formed by combining elements from the mpreg trope and the werewolf genre (without all the actual shifting and other werewolf stuff, though PNR OV where shifting and all that takes place do exist)
In this universe people are commonly categorised under three designations; Alpha, Beta or Omega. Alphas and Omegas are usually considered the minority in the OV, while Betas are considered the majority. Though, unlike in the werewolf/shifter genre where being an Alpha, Beta or Omega is a title or mystical calling, in the Omegaverse, these designations are ACTUAL genders, or well more specifically, secondary genders.
In some stories people can know what their secondary gender is from birth, either through some kind of test or procedure, which is usually done after they're born or during their younger years. In other stories people only start presenting during or after a certain age, usually it's sixteen, other times it's eighteen and other other times it's twenty one. It all depends on how an author worldbuilds their Omegaverse stories.
There are also secondary differiantations (some also call this designation switches) where, because of some kind of internal or external reason—like being sick or someone being bombarded by a more dominant designation's pheromones—people who have already presented or been informed by the goverment, doctor etc. of their secondary gender can present for a second time in their life. This is commonly seen when a Beta presents as an Omega later in their life.
Though secondary differiantation isn't a common trope explored outside of most queer fandoms, and sometimes, depending on the worldbuilding, a secondary differiantation can even be harmful or even deadly to a person. There is also the chance that a secondary differiantation can "fail", and the person who's secondary differiantation fails usually end up with half formed glands, or glands that don't work like they're supposed to (i.e. them not being able to pick up on others' pheromones and vice versa or they can'tgo through a "proper" estrus cycle and so on) plus some other health and mental side effects. These people are commonly considered "defective" and the outcasts and misfits of society.
Every author and reader has their own take when it comes to the Omegaverse, which is perfectly fine and we love to see the different takes on this subgenre/trope, but all Omegaverse books do (and should) include the basics that make up the Omegaverse, which are the different designations or secondary genders (or "sub-sexes" as it's called by others), which are commonly Alphas, Betas and Omegas, though other designations like the Enigma, Delta, Gamma, Sigma and Zeta can also be found in the Omegaverse.
An estrus cycle, commonly known as a heat (for Omegas) or rut (for Alphas), nesting (for Omegas) or denning (for Alphas), knots (there are also double knots) and locks (Alpha males and females respectively (though in some OV worldbuilding, especially in the fanfic community, all Alphas, whether female or male has a peen and it's accompanying knot), slick (Omegas, whether male or female) and glands (which commonly only Alphas and Omegas have, though some Omegaverse stories will have Betas having glands as well, even if "less active" than an Alpha or Omega's gland).
(Glands are usually a bulge on the back of the neck that "controls" the release of one's pheromones or scents, it's very very sensitive and if injured in any way it can be harmful or even deadly to the person whose gland was injured. The gland is commonly the place where Alphas and Omegas can mark and bond each other, either during an estrus cycle or whenever the author's worldbuilding allows it.)
Some Omegaverse stories will have all Omegas, whether female or male give birth (which is usuallly called mpreg). Some Omegaverse stories will include destined/fated mates or scent matches and imprinting/bonding commonly found in the werewolf genre and soulmate AUs.
Some Omegaverse stories will have pack dynamics and bondings that also have their own rules on how they're formed and how they work. Some Omegaverse stories might not have pack dynamics or bondings and just feature pair bondings. Some Omegaverse stories will include auras, something that usually only Alphas and Omegas can see and manipulate. It all really depends how the author has fit the theme into their stories.
Some Omegaverse stories will have Dominant and Recessive designations. Some Omegaverse stories will include scent suppressors, blockers, inhibitors or anti-dispersers. Some Omegaverse stories will include heat/rut suppressors or boosters or inducers. Some Omegaverse stories will have gland removals or faux glands. Some Omegaverse stories will have diseases and illnesses all dependent on the harming or weakening of a gland (like pheromone imbalance, where either an Omega or Alpha are usually (extremely) allergic to other designations' scents and so on (except for their mate's scent in some cases).
Some Omegaverse stories will have Omegas (and Alphas, in some cases) having to wear collars to protect their glands, incase of forced biting/marking. Some Omegaverse stories will include academies or institutes aimed at the education and discipline of Alphas and Omegas. Some Omegaverse stories will include Alphas and Omegas having to live on compounds or in designated communities until they're of age or married/mated off. Some Omegaverse stories might not even include the concept of marriage itself, and mating is the way to go.
Some Omegaverse stories might feature a matching rate/system, usually done by the goverment, where Alphas and Omegas with the highest pheremone matching rate are considered to be "destined mates" and, in some stories, are even obligated by the goverment to be together. Some Omegaverse stories also feature the ranking system found in the Hunterverse too. WIth Omegas or Alphas of higher rankings being revered and respected. Some Omegaverse stories might even adopt the concept of an Omega being able to "calm" an Alpha from the Sentinel AU.
Again, for those who aren't sure, the Omegaverse is an ALTERNATE UNIVERSE trope (meaning an alternate reality from ours) where all these terms and concepts are regular and mundane phenomenon in that universe. They're not considered fantastical or otherworldly, neither does having these basics that makes an Omegaverse automatically make your story fantastical or otherworldly.
However, your Omegaverse story CAN be considered monster/PNR if you're story ALSO includes fantastical and paranormal elements ALONG with the basics of the Omegaverse, like monsters (gargoyles, ghouls, giants etc.), shifting, magic, time travel and so on. If your Omegaverse story doesn't include any fantastical or otherworldly elements than it doesn't automatically fall under monster/PNR.
Again, every author and reader will have their own take on the Omegaverse. Some will just have the basics of the Omegaverse. Some will create their own subuniverses based on the Omegaverse universe that has their own terms and rules when it comes to their universe.
As long as your Omegaverse story follows the basics rules and guidelines of the Omegaverse you can do whatever your heart desires with it.
Again, this is just a BASIC guide on the Omegaverse for a different perspective and a nore indepth read, feel free to also check out The Unofficial Omegaverse Field Guide by A. Ramsey
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