Chapter 2
Clarke stood nervously outside the gates of Ton DC. Her belly was beginning to cramp, and she knew her heat wasn’t that far off. Another day maybe two. The riders had come from the East an hour after dawn. They had come under a white flag of truce, stating that their Heda wanted to parlay with the leaders.
Bellamy had insisted upon going with her, but she reminded him that he was needed to hold the camp together. Tensions were thick, and emotions high, and fights were constantly breaking out. She had alerted the Betas, or the ones whom she thought were betas to what was happening, and had ordered them to partner with the Omegas. She needed them to keep the peace.
She felt a hand squeeze her’s quickly, and she smiled as Raven’s familiar scent washed over her. She could smell Octavia and Abi behind her, the only two Alphas in the group. She could feel Murphy crowding Raven, and she was surprised when Raven allowed it. She could smell Jay as she pumped out pheromones. She sighed. Two Alphas. three Omegas, and three Betas. The odds were not in her favor. But she had known that if she brought too many Alphas with her, they would be seen as a threat. And she knew that she needed the strength of the Omegas and the loyalty of the Betas at her back. The three Betas were their strongest: Toric, Jay, and Gabrielas. Gabrielas was young, but strong, and she had a soothing manner about her, that even Bellamy heeded.
She nodded to the guards on the gate, relieved that they were all Betas. They stepped through the gates after the guards patted them down for weapons. She tried not to stare, and she tried not to breathe deeply, but she almost shook in relief when she realized that she was surrounded by Betas. She quickly counted them, twenty Betas armed loaded down with heavy weapons. All wore masks, but she could smell their soothing scent. The formed a loose ring around the delinquents, and slowly made their way through the village, towards the biggest tent, set up on a small rise.
Clarke could feel the camp stirring all around her, people talking in slurred voices, as they opened their mouth breathing deeply, letting the scents of the newcomers glide across their tongues. Some of them choked on it, backing away, their hands covering their mouths and noses. Others leaned in, their muscles trembling with the need to step closer, the need to taste, to let the thick air slide down into their bellies.
She was thankful when they finally reached the tent and were ushered in with little fan-fare. They pressed tightly into a group in the middle of the tent. Clarke didn’t bother to look around, she couldn’t. Her eyes were trained on the woman, no the girl, only a couple of years older than herself, who sat in a throne made of twisted tree roots. She was sitting casually in her throne, her legs crossed. She was wearing armor, and she wore paint across her eyes and down her cheeks.
Clarke could barely breathe. She choked slightly on the musk emanating from the girl. She was young but powerful, and the girl’s alpha pheromones flooded the tent. Clarke felt her knees tremble, and despite realizing she hadn’t yet fully come into her heat, she had the overwhelming urge to bare her neck to the other girl. She could feel her belly starting to cramp, and the first sheen of sweat beading under her jawline near her scent glands.
She could hear Raven and Murphy whining and shuffling behind her, crowding against her back. Abi and Octavia were shifting and rumbling, their instincts to claim awakening. Toric and Jay immediately closed ranks, not quite understanding what was happening, but their instincts forced them into action. Gabrielas instinctively leaned in towards the Omegas, pumping out pheromones at an alarming rate, in an attempt to soothe their distress.
Lexa’s hands involuntarily clenched on the arms of her throne the moment the blonde Omega entered her tent. She fisted her hands so hard, she actually feared she might crack the wooden arms. She had smelled them approaching, and had been relieved to smell the betas with the omegas, but she still hadn’t been prepared for the onslaught of pheromones once they all entered the tent. She had already sent most of her Alphas away with Anya being the exception, but Gustus was still close by with her beta guards outside the tent. The only other guards in the tent were Indra and three of her Betas.
She tried to breathe as shallow as possible, resisting the urge to pant and inhale the girl’s scent. She could feel her skin starting to tingle, and she shifted slightly crossing her legs, suddenly aware of the growing dampness in her pants. She could smell it on them just as Theos had said. They smelled of ice and metal, of shadows, and lingering emptiness; but underneath it was a tantalizing scent. It was a wisp, and it seemed to ebb and flow, and she desperately wanted to follow it to the source. It was warm and rich, it was sunlight and rain, it was earth and trees, honey and wind; it was swollen and ripe, ready to be harvested; and she wanted to bury her nose in the source. She knew what it was unmated Omega pheromones, but she had never smelled it before, never thought she would. She barely hid the tremble in her limbs. Finally. Unmated Omegas.
She stood slowly and carefully, trying not to make any aggressive moves. She could tell that the Omegas were frightened, the Alphas on edge, not fully comprehending what was happening, but ready to fight and fuck. And the betas were doing their best to remain strong, and because they were so young and untried, even they weren’t totally immune to her call.
“Welcome, Skaikru. I am Heda Lexa,” she murmured as she slowly stepped off the dais. She didn’t approach any further, instead letting Indra step forward and greet them personally. She barely heard them say their names, except one. Clarke. She didn’t need to know the rest. She instinctively knew that the only one that mattered was Clarke.
She tried not to inhale, but now that she was closer, she could pick out their scents better, and her eyes watered when she leaned in slightly and sniffed at the blonde. She flicked her tongue against her lips, wishing she could taste her scent, but the girl wasn’t far enough in her heat yet.
She walked to the table and poured the tea into the mugs. She had already dosed herself with tea, but immediately realized with three omegas about to go into heat in her tent, she would need drink more. She glanced at Anya, and saw the bead of sweat roll down her cheek. She could feel her quiet intensity pouring off of her, and she stiffened at the thought that Anya’s attention might be focused on the blonde Omega. She followed Anya’s gaze, and felt immediate relief when she realized that Anya was watching the other female Omega. Raven. They had called her Raven.
She watched them out of the corner of her eye, noting how the Omegas were crowding each other. She felt her lips curl when the boy slipped his hand into Clarke’s, and the other girl slid her arm around Clarke, palming her hip bone. She barely muffled the growl when she saw Clarke lean in to Raven’s frame. She knew they were comforting each other, drawing strength from each other. It had been explained to her by Anya and the Elder Tracer, but it still made her anxious.
She finally turned back holding two mugs of tea and cautiously approached Clarke who stiffened and instinctively dropped her head. She could feel her Alpha surge in her blood at the show of submission, but she smiled when the blonde immediately jerked her head back up in defiance. She was stubborn, fighting against her place in the hierarchy. She was strong. Very strong.
“Here, Clarke. This tea will help. We brew it from a plant that helps minimize the effects of heat and rut. It will help us all think more clearly,” she muttered ruefully, giving the girl the smallest of smiles. She held out the mug to her, holding the other still. But when she realized the girl wasn’t going to just accept it, she gave her a small salute with her own mug and drank from it. Only then did Clarke take the other mug.
Clarke sniffed the contents cautiously, but now that their leader had drunk it, she figured it was safe. She curled her lips at the taste, but within moments, she felt her cramps start to ease the tiniest bit; and her mind felt less foggy.
“Thank you. We appreciate it. W-we aren’t very familiar with heat and rut.” She shrugged a little and bit her lip, suddenly worried she had revealed too much. She straightened, well aware of both Raven and Murphy leaning into her now. As a matter of fact most of them were touching each other in some manner or other. The air was stifling and her head hurt from the pheromones, and she could see everyone was uneasy.
“If you have enough tea, I would appreciate it if the rest of my group could also drink it. It might make this meeting a little easier.”
Lexa nodded quickly gesturing for Indra and her betas to pour the tea. Indra wasn’t surprised though when Anya took the mug from her, and walked over to Raven, offering it to her without speaking. She could tell Anya was attempting to give the dark-haired omega space, but also stand close enough to show her interest. It was a careful balancing act, and she wasn’t sure any of them were up to the task. She was more worried than she wanted to reveal.
There were too many young Alphas in camp, and they all knew about the unmated omegas. And by now word would have spread that there were more in the forest. She knew that the twenty betas she had left in the words guarding the Skaikru would not be enough, not with the Mountain and Coastal clan warriors in the area. She bent down whispering in Lexa’s ear, and once she received the nod from Lexa, she sent one of her Betas out to round up more betas to send to the Skaikru camp.
Lexa then gestured towards the table, inviting them to sit. The three omegas sat close to each other across from Lexa and Anya and Indra. Toric and Jay flanked the omegas on both sides, and Octavia and Abi stood behind their chairs with Gabrielas.
Clarke had seen the intense but short whispered conversation between the beta general and the commander, and she felt her anxiety spike. Raven and Murphy immediately reacted, pressing in close to her again. Octavia growled low in her throat, recognizing the scent for what it was, and Gabrielas and the other betas all started shifting again, pressing closer.
“It is ok. We have a lot of Alphas and Betas in the area right now. Two of the Northern clans are currently visiting, and we thought it best to send another unit of Beta warriors to your camp. They won’t enter the camp, but are simply close by and watching it,” murmured Lexa as reassuringly as possible.
“They are there to help and protect. They will see that no harm will come to your people,” Anya muttered quietly, the first words she had spoken since the Skaikru’s arrival. And while her words were meant for all of them, her steady gaze never left the dark-haired omega’s face. She was pleased when the girl stared back at her boldly, despite the slight trembling of her lower lip.
“Come. Let us talk. We have much to discuss regarding a possible alliance.”
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The hours had passed as they continued to discuss their people and cultures as they attempted to hash out an alliance. The tea was long gone, and Indra had returned with troubling news that they had run out of the plant. She had sent out Harvesters to pick more of it, but it wouldn’t be ready until sometime tomorrow. They had not anticipated on needing to dose so many Alphas, but it had been necessary as there had been too many rumblings and growling, not to mention the small fights that broke out in the village.
Indra had watched quietly in the last hour as the Alphas had started to twitch and shuffle a bit. Their muscles trembled some times, and there had been more than a few incidences of growling between the Trikru and Skaikru Alphas. She had watched the young Alpha, Octavia with considerable interest. The girl was stubborn and bold. She was strong and there lurked a certain ferocity under her aura. The girl had potential, but she was also volatile. The other Alpha, Abi, had stepped in a few times to calm Octavia, and so far it had seemed to work. This Alpha was quieter, steadier, and the oncoming Omega heats didn’t seem to affect them as much, or at least they were strong enough to not reveal it. This one too had great potential.
Despite keeping a careful eye on the Skaikru Alphas, she hadn’t missed the looks that passed between Anya and Raven. More than once Raven had tilted her head slightly in Anya’s direction, and Indra’s nose twitched each time the girl did it, because Anya answered by pumping out more pheromones. It was obvious that Anya wanted the girl, and the girl seemed to react more to Anya then to Lexa; although she too wasn’t immune to Lexa’s call.
She had watched with growing concern though, as the Skaikru Beta’s pheromones seemed to fade slightly, and she realized that it was because they were so young and inexperienced. They instinctively knew to try and soothe the Alphas and Omegas, but they hadn’t ever been trained on how to regulate their pheromone output, and so they couldn’t sustain their own pheromone level. Their soft scents started to fade, and she could smell the acrid scent of the Alphas as they reacted to the rich and sweet omega scents. The tea was rapidly wearing off, and she knew it was time to call it a night.
Indra stepped outside to call for more beta guards to escort the Skaikru to the tent they had set up for them. But the moment she stepped out into the fresh night air, and inhaled deeply, she knew they were in trouble. There was something in the air, something thrumming and pushing beneath the surface, trying to break through the metal and ice, of dead stars, and empty voids. The Betas could feel it, and some had started to congregate around the Heda’s tent, and Indra urgently issued orders to increase all Beta patrols in the crowds.
The Alphas could feel their muscles start to burn, and saliva filled their mouths and their teeth tingled. The tea had mostly worn off, and more fights were breaking out. The betas were hard-pressed to break some of them up, and Indra could hear the growling and rumbling in the village. The noise was getting louder each passing second, and she braced herself for the onslaught of pheromones that was wisping its way through the village.
She grabbed one of her trusted Betas as he hurried towards her, “Mac, gather as many betas as you can and tell them to form a circle 200 feet out from the Heda’s tent. They are not to break,” she tugged urgently on his shoulder her words hurried and sharp, “they must not let the Alphas get any closer!” She shoved Mac’s shoulder pushing him away, and his dark eyes gleamed as he saluted and hurried off into the night rounding up as many betas as possible.
She quickly issued more orders to the betas that had arrived at Heda’s tent, having them form a protective circle around the tent. She could hear the betas now at the outer ring, trying to calm the Alphas. Her head swam with the thickening pheromones in the air, and she was finding it harder and harder to concentrate. The Alphas were milling and some started growling and pushing at the ring.
She drew her sword, and suddenly swung abruptly when she smelled the young Alpha behind her. She pulled her sword at the last moment when she saw the cheeky grin of a Beta standing with the Alpha. The sweat was dripping down the Alpha’s cheeks, and the Beta was clutching a small water sack.
“Tea, Chief,” he tried to hand it to her, but she refused.
“No,” she turned to the Alpha, “Ragan, drink this. I need you both to ride to the Stone Clan. Tell their Chief, Lowiiie, we need at least two units of Beta guards, and then have them relay the message to the Horse Clan. Have the Horse Clan send a unit East to the Mountain. They must circle around to the small valley. There they will find the rest of the Skaikru. They are to protect them at all costs. Go! Now!”
She didn’t bother to watch them go, the Alpha was quick on their feet and smart, and one of their best riders. The Beta was loyal and smart, and together they would reach the Stone Clan before dawn. They just needed to hold on until then. She sheathed her sword and strode quickly to Heda’s tent.
Lexa and Anya were already on their feet, when Indra burst in. She was more than a little relieved to notice that they had managed to keep themselves under control, but she could see the sweat beading at their brows, see the way their fingers twitched. The Skaikru Alphas were pacing and growling, unsure what to do. They were fighting their baser instincts, knowing that the three Omegas were their friends, but they couldn’t deny the heady and rich pheromones saturating the tent.
The Betas were also now getting to their feet, and Murphy was whining and shifting in his chair. Jay had her hand on the back of his neck, attempting to soothe him, but she knew it was no use. The Alphas were calling, and she could hear the angry growling and yelling outside the tent. Raven was hunched over in her chair, her head in the palm of her hands, and Toric reached over and placed her hand on top of Raven’s head, but froze when she heard the warning snarl.
“Don’t touch her,” Anya spit out, glaring at the small Beta. She knew the Beta meant no harm, was actually trying to help Raven; but she couldn’t help the flash of jealousy that ripped through her, and she gasped when she felt the first cramps settle in her belly.
Toric curled her lips and straightened, stepping closer to Raven and angling her body towards Anya. She was a Beta, but she was strong and fiercely protective. She snarled back at Anya, and Indra couldn’t help but smirk at the disbelief on Anya’s face. Yes, the Skaikru were full of surprises. She was surprised the small Beta with the dark hair and eyes wasn’t an Alpha. She presented like an Alpha, but her scent was clearly that of a Beta.
“She is my friend. It is my job to protect her,” hissed Toric as she felt Gabrielas move to stand next to her to form a protective barrier between the Omega and Alpha.
“I mean her no harm,” muttered Anya, her voice strained. She took a step back, despite her overwhelming need to put the damn betas in their place, but she knew if she did it could set up a chain of events that shatter any hope for an alliance.
She turned to Lexa, concerned that the Heda still hadn’t said anything. She carefully eyed the girl, relieved that her eyes were still green, but darker. It wouldn’t be long before the red seeped into her eyes, declaring her in rut.
Lexa stood straight and tall, her ears carefully attuned to what was happening outside. She was frantically trying to gather her thoughts, trying to figure out the best course of action. It was obvious they couldn’t stay in this tent, not with the Alphas outside, and with three Omegas about to go into heat. They were trapped in an enclosed place, but each time she attempted to formulate a solution, her thoughts scattered like clouds in the wind. And each inhalation was more painful than the last, as she felt her muscles start to ache.
Her teeth were tingling, and she barely refrained from looking at the blonde Omega who was sitting stiffly in her chair, panting lightly. She was afraid if she looked, she would lose control and try to take the girl. Her instinct to fight and fuck and breed was building in her belly, and she swallowed harshly.
“The caves,” she grit out, glancing towards Anya who was immediately nodding. Indra sighed in relief and stepped to the door of the tent calling for some of the beta guards. Lexa carefully walked around the table, avoiding direct contact with anyone as she went to the corner, and started throwing supplies together into two sacks. She could feel the sweat dripping down her back, and she cursed as her hands fumbled. Once she was done, she tossed one to Anya, and then grabbed as many daggers as she could. She offered each Omega a dagger, and then motioned for her guards to arm the rest of the Skaikru. Finally they were ready.
Anya cut a hole in the back of the tent, and they slipped out one by one: eight Skaikru and eight Trikru. Once they were all out, Lexa gestured for one of the young Betas, Kaiden, into the trees. He was slim and quick on his feet. He was also one of their best archers, and he and another young Beta, Row, would move from tree to tree scouting ahead. She directed her Beta guards, Bri and Camo, to shadow the two Skaikru Alphas to protect them from other Alphas and possible from themselves.
It took them almost an hour to reach the set of caves hidden behind a waterfall. They had been met by a pack of Coastal Alphas, and fighting had broken out almost immediately. Bri and Toric had both been wounded, and one of the Alphas grabbed Murphy. Three Alphas had descended upon Raven, but Anya had managed to drive them off, but not without one of them managing to slice her across her abdomen. They ran for the caves and once they had managed to outdistance the pack, Lexa ordered Kaiden to find Gustus and lead a pack of Betas to find Murphy.
It was a relief to hit the water, for it was very cold and helped shock their systems, slightly diluting the effects of the oncoming heats and rut. They stumbled inside, pushing to the back of the cave. It was small, but there were plenty of large rocks, and Indra immediately started directing the guards to stack the rocks into the opening. It wouldn’t stop a pack, but it would make it harder for them to get inside.
Clarke stumbled to the back of the cave, falling into a wet, graceless heap. The cold water had helped soothe the flush in her skin, but now she could feel the coolness seeping away to be replaced by an insistent, warm itch. She leaned her head against the rocky wall, trying to gather her control. She knew there were wounded, and she needed to help them.
She finally managed to get to her feet, and her steps were slightly shaky, but she crouched down next to Toric who was holding her arm. Clarke could see the blood seeping between her fingers, and finally convinced the beta to let go. It was deep and would need stitches, but she had no medical supplies. Bri had a broken rip and a small gash in her shoulder. It wouldn’t need stitches.
“Here,” Indra tossed her one of the bags, and Clarke pulled out bandages and what looked like a bottle of moonshine. She pried off the top and winced as the acrid smell hit her nose. Definitely moonshine. She called for Camo, who helped her clean and bandage their wounds. There had even been a small sewing kit, and Clarke stitched up Toric’s arm as best as she could. Once they were comfortable, she had started to approach the Alpha General, but Indra had waved her off, quickly taking the bandages and giving them to Anya who had simply grunted and shoved them under her vest to help stop the bleeding.
Clarke retreated to the back of the small cave, and dropped down next to Raven who had her head buried in her arms that were resting on her drawn up knees. She scrubbed at the blood on her hands, and she shivered despite the heat shimmering across her skin. She leaned her head back against the pitted, hollowed wall of the cave, and wondered how the night would finally end.
Raven kept her head down panting lightly. She felt hot and itchy, and her clothing was drying and sticking to her skin due to the heat settling in her muscles. She wanted to whimper, but didn’t dare. She was well aware of the heavy gaze of the Alpha who squatted near the entrance of the cave. She found her stare unnerving, but not entirely unwelcome. The Alpha rarely spoke, but she had quickly learned back in the village that Anya had been the Commander’s mentor, and was one of her most trusted generals. Anya was strong. Smart. Loyal. Raven chewed on her lip, contemplating what that could mean for her, but the growing pain her belly made it too hard to concentrate.
Raven shifted, grimacing at the cramping in her belly. She knew it was just the beginning and she figured by tomorrow afternoon she would be in full heat. She relaxed slightly though the moment she felt Clarke sit down next to her. This time she did whimper and shifted slightly, leaning in against Clarke’s shoulder. She finally looked up, her gaze skimming across the occupants in the room.
There were torches in holders along the walls, and shadows flickered. Abi and Bri were seated near each other, both reclining but holding blades to their chests. Anya and Lexa were both near the entrance with Camo, Row, and Octavia. Indra and the rest of the betas were spread out in the center of the room, blocking any path towards the Omegas. Anyone trying to get to them would have to first get through Indra and her guards.
Raven whimpered quietly, as she caught whiffs of Alpha pheromones. The Betas were strong enough to block much of it, but she could tell that everyone’s strength was flagging. She turned her head and nuzzled her face into Clarke’s neck, searching for the other girl’s soothing scent. She inhaled deeply when her lips brushed against the pulse in Clarke’s throat, and she felt the other girl shiver. She couldn’t help the small moan that slipped passed her lips, and she angled her body so she could press closer to Clarke.
Clarke felt her skin flush. She could tell that Raven’s heat was further along than her own, and when the other girl pressed her lips against her pulse, she shivered and panted. She felt itchy and hollow and anxious, and she was unsure what Raven was trying to do. She assumed the girl was seeking comfort, wanting to be soothed, but she couldn’t deny the way the warmth in her belly jumped. She hadn’t been expecting to react to Raven in such a way, and even as she raised her arm and pulled the older girl to her, tucking Raven’s face more firmly in the crook of her neck; she knew she could be asking for trouble.
Their actions hadn’t gone unnoticed, and she heard the warning growls before she was hit with a wave of Alpha musk, and she almost choked when she opened her mouth, and it hit the back of her throat. She shivered and shifted in on the cave floor, her pants scratching through the dirt, when she felt a hot hand sneak under her shirt and rub against her belly. She whimpered, unsure if she wanted to throw of her hand or grab it and hold it tightly to herself. She turned and nuzzled Raven’s cheek, too tired and anxious to question why she felt the need to be closer to the other omega.
She knew Omegas sometimes sought each other out for comfort, for bonding, but nothing she’d ever read or been told mentioned that it might feel like this: sultry and sticky. Her skin prickled, and she could feel something hot twisting in her belly. It made her push harder into Raven’s hand, and she groaned lightly when Raven dug her fingers into her skin.
Raven could barely hear anything over the pounding in her ears, the small huffs from Clarke as she panted against her skin. She could feel something tight and strange coiling in her muscles, sinking deep into her bones, and she flecked her fingers hard against Clarke’s skin. And when Clarke pushed into her hand, she scraped her teeth across the salty skin of Clarke’s neck, before she even realized she was doing it.
Indra straightened slowly rose to her feet, her hand going to the pommel of her sword, her eyes never leaving the growling Alphas at the entrance of the cave. She could hear the omegas behind her, but she didn’t dare tear her eyes from Anya or Lexa, both of whom were slowly rising to their feet. She cursed under her breath, as her nose twitched hard, and she curled her lip against the acrid smell of the Alpha pheromones pumping into the cave. She stared closely, and bit back a snarl, Anya had already changed if the tight bulge in her pants was any indication, and Lexa was slightly hunched over, panting and gripping her thighs. Just what she needed. She watched them carefully, not making eye contact, knowing it would only agitate them more.
She couldn’t deny the slight relief she felt when she saw the betas start to rise slowly to their feet, fanning out. “Don’t look them in the eye, no sudden movements,” she murmured, “do not give them an excuse to attack. Do not make yourself a potential threat.”
“Heda, General. The Omegas are fine,” she murmured quietly. Her head was angled slightly down, but she could still see them and the betas off to the sides. “They are simply tired, afraid. This is normal Omega behavior.” Gaia she hoped that was true. The pheromones wafting from behind her had grown and thickened considerably in the last few minutes, and she could almost feel it settling on her skin. She shifted uncomfortably, overwhelmed with the sudden urge to wipe at her skin, but knowing that nothing was actually on her skin to wipe away.
Lexa growled between pants, and she gripped her thighs so tightly that her fingertips were white. She knew she would have bruises tomorrow in the perfect imprint of her fingers, but she didn’t care. The slight pain digging into her muscles was all that was keeping her from rushing Indra. The pain in her belly had grown, and now she could feel it rippling down her hips to her sex, and she growled low in her throat, when she felt her clit pound and scrape against her pants. She bit her lip hard enough to bleed, and the wet iron on her tongue was a relief as she felt her body start to break and change. She could feel the pressure build, and she choked slightly when she felt the small waves of pain push out from her clit, and within moments she could feel her cock push and rub against the front of her pants.
She tried to steady her breathing, as she slowly adjusted to the pressure in her groin, of the way her sensitive skin pressed against her pants. She didn’t like it, and she wasn’t even sure how she would walk. She slowly straightened, but as she did, she heard the snarl next to her, and she immediately whipped around to face her General.
She snarled in fury when she saw Anya bearing her teeth at her, her muscles tense. She was crouched slightly glaring and growling at Lexa. Lexa growled back warningly. Rarely did she have to assert her more dominant Alpha when it came to Anya. Anya had never openly challenged her, and all Lexa could think was that Anya was challenging her for Clarke.
But just as she was about to face off with Anya, she smelled the bitter stench of a horde of Alphas heading towards the river. She snarled in rage, drawing her sword and almost throwing herself at the entrance. Anya was right behind her, as were the Skaikru Alphas, but Lexa hurriedly waved back the betas telling them to watch over the omegas.
Anya and Lexa crouched just outside the entrance, behind the waterfall listening carefully to the growling and howling in the distance. Occasionally they heard screams from both their Beta and Alpha warriors, could hear the clashing of metal, but there was nothing to be done but wait. Their beta guards crouched along the river edge, their first line of defense.
Octavia leaned back against the inside wall a few feet behind Abi. She held her short sword in one hand and her other hand over her mouth. She crouched low, trying to ignore the pounding in her groin, or the nausea rolling in her belly. She could barely refrain from panting, and she braced herself hard against the wall. She had felt the omegas call, and her body had reacted instinctively. It had hurt, and she had wanted to howl, but she had crouched in the shadows, biting down hard on her forearm while the Trikru Alphas faced off.
It had hurt. She had felt like her skin was splitting, and despite learning what would happen to her body, it had still been a surprise. And now she crouched low in the shadows, trying to concentrate on the sounds from outside, and not on the hard bulge between her legs. She didn’t think the other Alphas had noticed yet, but she knew the Beta general had noticed. She had been appraised more than once by those dark, cool eyes. She just hoped she hadn’t been found lacking.
Anya snarled low in her throat when she heard the scritch of boots across rock behind her, but she didn’t turn. She grit her teeth to keep from lashing out, as she knew logically that the young Alpha behind her wasn’t a threat. “Not too close,” she muttered, trying not to inhale too deeply. She was just relieved that the younger ones hadn’t entered rut yet. They didn’t need any more alphas losing their damn minds.
Abi slowly sunk down, crouching on the balls of their feet a few feet away from Anya. They cocked their head listening intently, trying to hear beyond the fighting and growling, searching for some other sound that was out of place. They heard them before they saw them, but they couldn’t pick out the scent from the others. “Someone is coming. Two,” the young Alpha whispered.
Anya shifted and then inhaled deeply trying to catch the scent, it was light barely there, mixing in with the growing stench of the fighting alphas. But she caught it: Omega and Alpha coming quietly but quickly towards the cave. She couldn’t help but be impressed, and she chuffed at the younger Alpha who dropped their head and smiled slightly.
“It’s the omega boy and Gustus,” whispered Lexa, having been able to pick out their scents. She could hear movement in the water, and she stepped back to let them through. She caught a glimpse of Kaiden through the sheets of water, and she gave him a nod as he turned back to the river, seamlessly blending into the shadows along the bank.
Murphy stumbled through the entrance of the cave, cold and wet. There was blood dripping down his face, but the moment he fully stepped into the cave, he reeled back suddenly. He gasped as the pheromones pummeled against him, and he automatically dropped to his belly whimpering in fear and something else, that he wasn’t prepared to acknowledge.
Gustus growled at the betas and barely held back from snarling at Lexa and Anya. He raised his hand to his mouth, and nodded at Anya and Lexa who turned back to the cave entrance. Gustus reached down and grabbed Murphy’s shoulder giving him a firm, but not unkind, shake. He helped him to his feet and gently pushed him hard towards the back of the cave. Once the boy reached Indra, he nodded to her, and grabbed his sword and stepped back through the entrance of the cave. His duty was outside despite the urge he felt to return to the cave.
Murphy stumbled and fell to the floor with a wet thump. He shoved the wet hair out of his face, grimacing at the blood that coated his hand. “Awesome,” he muttered sarcastically. His nose twitched, and he inhaled sharply letting the smell coat the inside of his mouth: Omega, warmth, peace. He whined low in his throat and scooted closer to Raven, who reluctantly pulled away from Clarke’s heady warmth, but she couldn’t ignore the sound of a distressed Omega.
She sat up and turned to Murphy cupping his cheek lightly, “Damn, Murphy. You ok?”
He nodded his head and then groaned, “Fucking alpha with muscles the size of my head hit me,” he muttered. He closed his eyes for a moment and leaned his head on her shoulder, but he opened them quickly the moment he smelled the approaching betas.
Gabrielas crouched in front of him, the concern etched deeply across her face. She held out some dry cloth for him, and once he took it, and Clarke pressed it against his head, she stood to leave. But she stopped when she saw him shiver. She didn’t particularly like Murphy. He was sarcastic, annoying, and sometimes violent, but her instinct to protect him was almost overwhelming. She tossed off her coat, and then shrugged out of her dry shirt. She held it out to him, and then slipped her jacket back on, before returning to her place.
Murphy bit his lip, surprised at the tears that flooded his eyes. He pressed the shirt to his nose, and inhaled the strong, comforting Beta scent. He quickly pulled of his wet shirt, and slipped on the new one, enjoying the way it warmed his skin. He buried his nose in it for a moment, and once Clarke was done bandaging his head, the three omegas cuddled together in a pile while their betas stood watch.
The sounds of fighting eventually started to fade, but the Alphas held their post at the entrance of the cave, trying to ignore the pheromone saturated cave. Sometimes they splashed water on their faces and necks in an effort to cool down, but it helped little in actuality. They attempted to stand downwind of each other, but still more than once they caught aggressive whiffs of each other.
The hours slowly slithered by, and dawn wasn’t far away, when Lexa smelled the beta approaching the cave entrance. She curled her lip slightly, not immediately recognizing the scent, and then she growled warningly when she realized who it was.
“You were banished,” she hissed as she slowly rose to her feet, and stepped up to the screen of water. She couldn’t make out his features on the other side of the water, but she could smell him. Now that he was closer, his smell was all too familiar, and something twisted inside her chest.
“Heda,” he murmured dropping his head, “It has been four seasons.” He stood quietly, his head low, and then slowly sunk to his knees. He slid his dagger out of his sheath, and he smelled her tense more than he saw. He pulled down his shirt, and dragged the blade diagonally across his heart.
“My life, Heda.” He waited for her reply, wondering if she would finally see fit to lift the temporary banishment. He tried not to move, even as the water chilled his skin, even as his nose caught the rough scent of pine and sweet sap. She was there. He knew she would be, he had followed her scent. The young Alpha was just behind the veil of water, crouching in the shadows. He could hear her pant now, hear the rocks that she dislodged as she braced herself harder against the rock wall. She was calling to him, and he shuddered.
“My life, Heda. Always,” he whispered again. And then he heard her grunt, and he rose quickly to his feet, pushing through the sheets of water. He hesitated a moment, letting the water split over his head. He let it wash away the blood, and he inhaled deeply, letting his mouth fall open.
“You,” Octavia hissed as her legs gave way with a thump, and she landed with a snarl. The pain in her belly was burning now, and her cock ached. But all she could smell was him: soft leather, green leaves, and ink. She growled when she felt him crouch in front of her. She wanted nothing more than to lean into him. He was big and strong, and his soft brown eyes were ringed in blue.
She reached out blindly, her hand fumbling in the rough material of his shirt, and she panted harshly as she pulled him to her. He shuffled until he was at her side, blocking her from the view of those in the cave. She wondered briefly what his name was, but she realized it didn’t matter. Not now. There would be time for names later. All that mattered was he was here. She growled again, choking back the urge to vomit from the pheromones the other alphas were pumping out. She leaned into him, burying her nose in his shirt, and she sighed in relief, when his arm came around her, and he laid his cheek against the top of her hair.
He didn’t understand it, but he wasn’t going to question it any more, why this young Alpha called to him so strongly, why every time he closed his eyes, he had seen her; how he had spent hours in the woods following her scent. He could smell her nearing rut, and when he looked down, he saw the familiar bulge. His lips twisted in a wry grin. Somehow he didn’t think his mate would ever be able to change quite like this. But he also knew it was only because of the Omegas in their partial heats.
“Does it hurt?”
She almost groaned at the soft whisper, and she moved her legs slightly trying to relieve the pressure in her pants. “Yes. It aches and keeps pounding.” And this time she did groan when she felt large, gentle fingers scrape across the front of her pants. She whimpered, when he unbuttoned her pants and slipped his hand inside to cup her.
She panted harshly into his neck, and pushed her hips up into his hand, “More,” she muttered, ignoring the chuckle from the entrance of the cave. She grabbed the top of his head, her fingers skimming the warm skin. She slipped her hand around his neck and pulled him down, sliding her lips across his own. She whimpered into the warmth of his mouth, as he stroked her length, and when she couldn’t hold back anymore, she came in his hand with a groan growling, “Mine.”
He pulled back slightly smiling at her, and she cupped his cheeks with both hands, “Mine,” she whispered as she felt him press his forehead against her own.
“Yours.”
Dawn finally broke across the horizon and with it came messengers telling them that not only had Lowiiie sent her beta warriors to their aid, but she had also arrived, and Luna of the Boat Clan, had also arrived with beta warriors and with an extra supply of the suppressant plant. Indra sent out scouts to help break up the fighting, and sent messengers to the Skaikru camp.
Once everyone had been dosed, they made their way back to the village, picking up bodies along the way to be burned. Indra shook her head, too many deaths, and she could tell Lexa and Anya were both troubled by it. They were calmer now because of the tea, but Indra knew it wouldn’t be long before they entered full rut, and the tea would suppress the Omega’s heat for only so long, probably not for much longer.
And then…