Safe and Sound

Clarke tilts her chin up in defiance, face coated in dirt and blood. The woman steps closer, muscles visible under the thin training clothing she has on, skin as pale as the snow on the ground. Clarke holds her breath as the woman prowls closer. "You are the on who tore down the mountain?"

"Yes."

The woman takes a deep breath. "An omega." Eye dilate but the woman holds strong, even as some of her warriors tremble. Clarke stares with fire in her eyes at the woman, teeth bared in challenge. The woman's pale eyes dance and she tilts her head. "Are you hungry?" Clarke swallows, hands threatening to shake and dark hair spills from the braid as the woman laughs at Clarke's silent defiance. "You can come with me or stay in the cold." She turns to leave and the warriors dressed in fur tremble. Some stand tall and eye their fellow warriors with caution, fingers on their weapons ready to intervene. Clarke huffs before trailing after the woman in thin clothing, musk filling her nose and blue eyes widen before she bites into her cheek.

The woman slips on a thin jacket and wipes the sweat from her face. "Eat if you wish."

Clarke's insides roll and her feet tingle with the cold, cheeks bitten red by the wind as she glare at the woman a few years older than she. "Do you know who I am?"

"You fell from the sky." She stalks to a table beside Clarke and the blonde refrains from stiffening. "Killed three hundred warriors in a ring of fire and made the mountain crumble." With a cloth she wipes the sweat clinging to her brow. "I was in awe of your power before today."

Clarke scowls. "And now that you know i'm an omega?"

The woman tilts her head to the side, her scent is soft yet powerful as it emits from her, not pushing out in dominance like some alphas. "I would fall to my knees before you if we faced in battle." She watches Clarke's eyes widen and her thin lips twitch, scar pulling at the left of her cheek. "But it will not come to that will it? I am curious as to why you are here."

Clarke stiffens, glaring at her. "Your warriors found me in the woods."

The woman gives a barely there nod. "And they brought you to me."

"They smelt me." Blue eyes flash and Clarke fingers curl as if claws. "I am not a prize for you."

"I didn't say you were." Pale grey eyes shift over Clarke, tilting to the side slowly. "It is not safe for lone warriors in the wild, especially omegas."

Her teeth bare, stark against her dirty face as a growl rumbles in her chest. "Is that a threat?"

The dark haired warrior release a huff, quiet and cautious. "No, but nomads have no ties, they would take you against your will."

"And you won't?'

Grey eyes are dark with latent hunger, pheromones pricking her nose as she pulls in a deep breath. "You are coming on your heat and I haven't touched you yet."

Clarke stiffens, hands curled and ready for an attack, itching for a knife. "Doesn't mean you won't."

Grey eyes darken and a scowl tightens across the woman's face. "I have more control than those whelps you have seen, I will not take you." And that musk is permitting Clarke's nose, filling her lungs and surrounding her in its warmth. Pulsing in her blood and she shakes with it. The month alone had been harsh on Clarke, she stood thinner than any omega should be, all lanky muscles and bones. Dirt ridden and scarred yet standing strong as the alpha before her pulls in another breath. "I can smell remnants of an alpha on you, did they take you against your will?"

"Tried to." Clarke's eyes spark dangerously and the queen tilts her head to the side at the blonde's feral behavior. "I killed him." 

"Good." Her eyes are bright before they narrow. "Was it one of my warriors?"

"I left him a mile north of here."

The alpha drops her chin in admission, walking to the side of the room, away from Clarke and the table. "You can rest here if you like, none will harm you."

"Why should I trust you?"

Grey eyes are curious. "Why shouldn't you?"

"You're an alpha. You're the Ice Queen." Clarke swallows, legs barely keeping her upright, she chooses to ignore it. "You killed Costia."

"You are an omega. You are the leader of the sky. You killed over five hundred of the ground and three hundred of the mountain, why shouldn't I fear you?" Clarke just stares at her and the queen tilts her head to the side almost lazily. "None will come in this tent without your permission."

"Why?"

The queen's lips twitch. "Because it is impolite to enter a place uninvited."

Clarke's eyes are wide and her heart thunders wildly in her chest. "No, why would they leave me alone?"

The queen's nostrils flare as Clarke's pheromones press out thickly, catching in her lungs and causing her blood to thrum. She stills her chest, under the coming heat there is the smell of desperation, fear and exhaustion. "Because I ordered them to. If they touch you they will lose the hand that dares touch you." The woman's eyes are darkening. "I will see you tomorrow or I won't. Sleep well."

Clarke falls into the corner of the room as the door shuts, a fur blanket tucked under her, smelling of beta, her fingers curled around the knife hidden in her sleeve. This last week she had spent in the trees, climbing up them and with her back pressed into the bark on to watch. To see any attackers coming and attempting to get sleep. She curls around her legs, body trembling as slowly she falls to unconsciousness.

Her dreams are of the dead. Boiled and falling apart. Children's hands pulling at her clothing, jacket stained with blood. Skin falling as they yank the gauntlets from her wrists. As they tear at the shoulder pad with bloodied fingers before ripping Clarke's gun from her, dripping with blood and ooze. A soccer ball rolls her way and Maya steps forward, unblemished and alive. "You killed my people."

Clarke shakes, the beta's eyes are calculating as they watch her speak. "I had too."

"They were children." There is a soft yet accusing flint to dark eyes.

"I had to save them. Save Jasper."

Maya's face twists with rage, skin reddening. "You mean your mother."

Clarke's arms burns and she trembles. "Cage was going to kill her. Kill Octavia and all of my friends."

Boils form on Maya and she tilts her head to the side. "You saved them yet you left them."

Clarke stares at her hands, covered in thick red blood. "I'm a monster."

"Yes."

Blue eyes fill with tears and she reaches for Maya. "I'm sorry."

Cracked lips release a harsh choked laugh. "No, you're not."

"Yes I am!" Blue eyes are wide and desperate. "I wish I could go back."

"But you would do it again if needed."

Clarke drops her head. "Yes." Her words crack through parted lips.

"You killed me." Maya kneels down beside her, skin thick with boils.

Clarke chokes on her breath, shaking. "I'm so sorry."

Maya's gentle face is twisted and grotesque. "I helped your people and you killed me."

"I wish I hadn't have had to."

The boils melt away and a saddened clear skinned Maya grips Clarke's chin. "But you did."

"I'm sorry." Clarke chokes on her sobs. "I'm so sorry"

"You killed all of us. You killed all the children. " Maya takes a knife, staring at it before she drives it into Clarke's stomach. Clarke screams out in pain, twisting away. 

Clarke bites into the pillow to muffle her soft whimper of pain as she wakes from the nightmare. The small throb and flush of yesterday had turned into a deep hollowness inside, waiting to be full. Her skin was flushed with heat, pheromones trickling from her scent glands, sweat beading across her brow and lower back. Her teeth ache and she bites harder into the pillow, teeth leaving indentions as her insides twitch and flutter. Searching and agonizing. She had gone too long without a bed-mate. Too long without the suppressants they offered on the Arc.

There is a knock at her door and Clarke moans pitifully before sitting up straight in the corner, standing on shaky legs even as her body tries to curl in on itself. Her joints tremble and she grips the knife. Another knock on the post. "Who is it?"

"Nia." The woman's voice is surprisingly steady and Clarke trembles at the soft authority in it. "I have brought you food. I can leave it outside the door or bring it in."

Clarek closes her eyes, even thinking about opening the door makes her heart flutter in fear, yesterday foremost in her mind, the alpha's oppressing heat. The bulge in his pants and the hot breath on her neck before she drove the knife into his throat. Clarke hears the woman take a small whiff of the air. "Are you alright?"

"I'm fine." Clarke chokes out, fingers trembling on the knife.

"I will bring the food in." There is a slight hinge of caution in Nia's voice. "Betas will stand guard outside you tent."

Clarke shakes her head, heart racing. "You'll loose control. I won't hesitate to kill you."

"I am not some pup." There is a hint of amusement but also a sternness to her words. "And you may smell good but not enough to make me loose control."

Clarke presses against the wall, eyes darting for an exit in case things go awry. "Heats make the most controlled alpha go insane."

"They make uncontrolled alphas act like animals." Nia's voice is sharp with authority. "Our instincts are a part of us, they can be managed."

Clarke remains silent, waiting for the woman to come in but it is silent. After a few minutes Clarke speaks. "You can come in." Her fingers tighten on the knife.

Nia enter quietly, making barely any sound, the hut door creaking against her shoulder. She enters and as the door shut quickly behind her her eyes meet Clarke's. She pulls in a quick short breath and Clarke watches her pupils dilate. Black spreading over grey. Calloused fingers tighten over her knife and Nia tilts her head, setting the food on the table. "I will not attack you." Clarke clenches her jaw, hips shifting as she stands in the corner. Blown grey eyes flicker to the untouched bed before finding Clarke and the pillows in the corner. "I can find you a different accommodation if this is not to your standards."

Clarke stiffens, glaring balefully at the alpha. "I don't like my back in the open."

"You are wise to be wary of unknown place, but you will not be harmed here."

Clarke scoffs, eyes follow Nia as she leans against the wall farthest from Clarke and the door, offering an escape route Clarke had been desperately searching for. "I can't trust your word."

"I don't expect you to." Dark hair is pulled back into tight braid, white feathers interwoven into it. Wolf teeth twisted into the ends of some as she tilts her head to the side, motioning to a room. "There is a washroom in the back, water already supplied. Heat the coals if you wish for a warm one." Her eyes never waiver from Clarke, never dip to the knife or her sweat soaked chest. Never find the source of the heat or pheromones, they simply meet her eyes. "Cold baths tend to help with the heat, cool the skin and fever."

"How would you know this?"

Nia tilts her head again, dark braids slipping across her shoulders, lips twitching. "You are't the only omega, Natshana."

Clarke stiffens, narrowing her eyes, hands tight on the knife. "What did you call me?"

"Natshana. The moon, steady and strong but changing. You did not give me a name." The blonde turns her chin away from the leader of the Ice and the woman gives a barely there nod as she stands from her position against the wall. "I will bring you more food."

"Am I imprisoned here?"

A dark eyebrow slope high before falling back into a neutral expression. "You can leave whenever you wish, I am offering you a place to rest without threat."

Clarke grips the knife tighter, warily watching the alpha. "There is no such place."

"I will bring more food later, you will be here or you won't." The woman shrugs, heading for the door. "Goodbye Natshana."

Clarke watches the gap close quickly and hears orders given to the two guards at the door. "She may leave if she wishes but none will enter."

"Sha Kwin."

She remains in the corner, hand trembling on the knife, her insides roll and coil, and she curls in on herself, empty and too hot. The sun climbs higher and higher in the sky before the smell of the food causes her stomach to growl. Unable to remember the last time she ate her feet carry her to the wooden plates. There is a lumpy thing of bread and dried meat. A plate of fresh fruit, none Clarke had seen before, sits beside a pitcher of water.

She picks up the fruit, feeling the soft skin before puncturing the flesh with her teeth. Soft juice spills over her mouth and she brings her fingers up to stop it from dripping down her chin. Chewing thoughtfully she takes another, slightly larger, bite. Before she knows it her teeth hit a pit and the fruit is gone, fingers sticky and stomach calming she sighs gently, pouring water into a glass and sniffing it. There is no hint of alpha on this glass or food. An omega, mated, made the food and Clarke relaxes sipping at the water and picking at the meat.

Knife still in hand she takes a small bite of the meat before heading to the back waiting to see if it had any ill affects. Any hallucinogenics in it or sedatives. She enters the back of the tent and finds the tub, metal and large on a bed of coals, bundles of sticks rest beside the tub and Clarke presses her fingers into the water. It's cold to the touch, nearly freezing as it forces her hand to retract from it. Her skin itches, hot and feverish and she presses her entire hand into the cold water before bringing the now cooled hand to the back of her neck. She trembles at the cold, chasing the heat away even as her inside clench painfully, throbbing and begging. Her nails dig into her hands and she steps away from the tub, stumbling back into the corner of the room and pressing a hand below her stomach, hard and unforgiving. Her thighs clench together and her knees curl to her chest. Shivers roll down her shoulder to her back and her hips twitch. She buries her teeth back into the pillow, nails digging into the soft comfort and she stares with bleary eyes at the door.

The time passes agonizingly slow until there is another knock on her door. Clarke ignores it, rocking slightly, tears in her eyes and zeroed in on the door suspiciously. "May I enter?" Clarke does not speak and the seconds that pass are agonizingly slow. "I will send in someone else if you do not wish it to be me." Clarke throat tightens in fear and a soft sound escapes her chest, the thought of an alpha forcibly pressing into her make her tremble with terror even as her body throbs with the need to be filled. There is a shuffle outside the door and shaking fingers tighten on the knife as she waits and waits. "I brought an omega, the one who made your food." Clarke makes a soft sound and silence only follows. "May she enter Natshana?"

"The omega." Clarke bites out through gritted teeth. "Just the omega."

"Of course."

The door opens before it is shut quickly. There is a woman before her, maybe early twenties. She is short in height with thick dark hair and plump with pregnancy. Her eyes soften when she spots Clarke. "Child." Clarke shakes and the woman walks closer, kneeling next to her, setting the food down with a hand cradling her stomach. "Are you alright?" Clarke ignores her, rocking back and forth like a child woken from a nightmare. A soothing hand is hovering over her. "May I touch you?" Clarke gives a sharp shrug and the woman waits. Brown eyes meet frantic blue before Clarke nods. A soft yet calloused hand settles onto her cheek and Clarke pulls in a deep breath, the fear in her chest stills at the comfort given off by the very pregnant mated omega. Everything about her meant to calm.

Clarke's rocking stills and she continues to pull in deep breaths of the omega, soothing. It reminds her of her father and tears fall down her cheeks, she turns her head away but the woman spots them. "It is alright child." Her fingers sooth through Clarke's hair, untangling mats gently and Clarke relaxes for the first time in what feels like eternity. The woman hands her a drink. "It will help, I promise."

"Why should I trust you?" Clarke spits out, throwing the cup form her hand, backing away from the woman with narrowed eyes, pulling in the scent of her own shirt, losing the calming effects of the pregnant omega. "You could drug me, give me to an alpha."

Brown eyes sharpen. "I would not risk an omega like that." She stares at Clarke, eyes glittering dangerously. "I know what it is like, do not assume I would do to you what was done to me." 

Clarke ducks her head. "Sorry, I didn't realize."

"No, but that is fine. You are safe here."

"You can't promise that."

"Omega to omega, you will not be forced and taken here. I promise you this, the queen would kill any alpha who even dares to try that." Clarke nods her head sharply and the omega sighs. "Come, let's get you into the bath, it will help."

Clarke trails after her with a cautious gait, eyes on the door. The omega throws the curtain open wide, allowing the door to be seen from the tub. She bends down with a grunt, setting the coal and branches aflame before stepping back. "Let it warm a bit before you get in. The cold may help but you don't want to freeze." Clarke shifts nervously. "I can leave if you want." Clarke's eyes widen with slight terror and the woman steps closer. "No harm will come to you, but I can stay here if it makes you feel safer."

"Your alpha?"

"Will understand."

Clarke shifts, right arm curled around her stomach, cradling herself in a tight hug. "I can take care of myself."

She stares at Clarke, the left hand tight on the knife. "I don't doubt that, but two sets of eyes are better than one. I'll watch the door while you bathe."

Clarke trembles, eyes on the door and the omega's back as she strips her clothing off and gently settles into the tub. The water is cool yet not freezing as she sinks into it and the flush is pulled from her skin, soothing even as her inside clench and throb with need, forcing her hands to grip at her stomach pitifully. She washes the dirt and grim from her, dipping her head quickly before running her fingers through it. Minutes later she is jumping out of the bath and gripping a towel to her chest. "There are clothes to the left of you, I wash them myself."

Clarke picks them up, eyeing her dirty clothes clumped on the ground before sniffing cautiously at the shirt in her hand. It smells like the omega and Clarke pulls it over her head, sighing at the noninvasive smell before finishing getting dressed, pulling on thin undergarment and pants, stuffing her feet into sock and boots. The towel is wrapped around her hair and she cautiously finds her way back to the corner, eyes on the omega and the door. "Thank you." Clarke's voice is barely loud enough to hear but the omega smiles softly, eyes finding Clarke as she stands.

She walks closer to Clarke, sitting on the bed with a slight grunt. "I will stay the night if it make you feel safer."

"You should go be with your mate." Clarke trembles. "I'm fine."

Brown eyes narrow. "You are not, and he will understand."

"Please, i'll be fine. I appreciate this but I don't trust any of you. I can't."

The omega stands. "That is understandable, I will be back if you need me." Soft hands hover near Clarke and the blonde nods. They press into her cheek, cupping them before lifting her to face the woman. "You will be perfectly safe here, I promise this to you as an omega." Thumbs brush over her cheek bone, bumping over a fresh scar. "Sleep well child."

Clarke sniffs. "I'm not much younger than you."

"No." Eyes look at Clarke full of sorrow. "You're not."

Clarke watches her leave and stands up, shoving the table in front of the door before she buries her nose into the shirt, taking in the soothing smell of mated omega. It reminds her so much of her father that she cant stop the sob leaving her throat as she slumps in the corner. She buries her mouth into the pillow to muffle the noise, teeth digging into it for a completely different reason than earlier. Her heart aches and she wants her father's arms around her, Wells beta scent in her nose. She just want to feel safe. To feel at home again. Her fingers find the knife again, like a safety blanket and the tears slow, she picks at the food in front of her, eating it slowly. Her stomach settles but her insides still ache with each beat of her heart. It still demands to be filled. Her thighs clench and she curls around herself shoving her hand to press between her legs to try and take some of the throbbing away. It does not work and she counts her breaths like her father had taught her. She falls into a fitful sleep, the smell of safety in her nose.

The blonde jolts with a start, wide eyes searching the room before she finds the source of the noise, at the door there is a shadow and she stiffens, crouching as her fingers tighten around the knife. There is a knock on the door again and Clarke stiffens even more before the voice filters through. "I have brought food again, the omega is here as well if you wish for company."

Clarke darts eyes wildly around the room, heart still racing from her nightmare. Her breathing calms and she realizes she has been silent for a few minutes. "Just the omega."

"Of course." The alpha's voice is calm and gentle.

"Can I come in?" The omega's voice is soft.

Clarke races to the door, pulling the table away from it. "Yeah."

The door opens quickly and the omega shuffles in, plate in one hand and fingers tangled around a young girls wrist. Clarke stares with wide eyes. "My daughter, my mate was need for a hunting party."

"Oh."

The woman smiles gently. "If you'd rather call me Lina than omega that would be fine." Her eyes are teasing and Clarke drops her head but does not give her name. Lina just dips her head and sets the plate on the table. "Eat, you'll need your strength."

Clarke sits down in a chair, knees bouncing. The child is staring at her with wide curious eyes, tilting her head to the side, small fingers tangled around a thin wooden horse. "She is the sun."  Clarke blinks in confusion at the words as Lina lets out a gentle laugh. 

"She called you the sun. Your hair." Clarke ducks her head, eyes on the child and her chest expands in sharp rapid breaths as the mountain looms in her mind. She focuses on the wooden horse, trying to calm herself but she is reminded of a soccer ball. Before she knows it she is across the room and rocking, pulling at her hair and breathing in too quick breaths. "Child?" Lina steps closer, eyes darting around the room as her own child begins to wail in fear, wide eyes on the keening sound coming from the omega in the corner. "NIA!" Her word is sharp and the door is thrown open by the alpha. "Take my daughter."

"Lina?!" Startled eyes look for an intruder but only find the omega in the corner. "What happened?'

"Out." She presses a kiss to her daughter cheek. "Marin, go with Nia, everything is fine." 

Nia, with the child in her arms, is pushed out the door by the omega and the door is shut in her confounded face. The two betas eye her with confusion and caution but she bares her teeth and they turn back around, wiping the curious looks from their eyes. She looks down at the child in her arms, deep brown eyes are full of confused tears. "Calm child, let us find Fralin."

Clarke's breathing has become even shorter and her chest trembles as her hands rip at her hair, throat aching with pain as she keens lowly. Lina steps close. "I'm going to touch your shoulder." The blonde does not acknowledge her and Lina bends down, hand on her own stomach as she meets the eyes of the omega. They are far away and too pained. "Talk to me, what happened?" The blonde continues to make the awful sound low in her throat and chest that pulls at every nurturing bone in Lina's body. 

The dark haired omega grunts as she sits down beside the blonde, slipping soothing fingers over her shoulder and hair, combing through it. The sounds does not die after almost twenty minutes of this but her shoulders stop trembling. Lina keeps untangling the knots in her hair, braiding small sections of it as the girl pulls in short sharp lungful of mated omega.

Tears continue to fall down her face and the sound slowly dies in her throat after a few more minutes of the older omega's gentle fingers in her hair. The worn blonde's body slumps into the pregnant omega's. Her heart beat is still too quick against Lina's fingertips but the woman continues to comb fingers through the younger woman's hair. She looks like a child, broken and scared. It makes the woman ache with a need to help and nurture.  "I'm meant to care for children." The blonde's voice is rough and Lina keeps her own mouth shut, staring ahead as she continues to comb through blonde locks. Clarke sniffs, eyes still dropping tears as she breaks. "We're made to bear children and care for them. Nurture them. Everything about us is meant to care for them." Blue eyes stare far away. "I killed everyone in the mountain. I killed all the children." Wild eyes find Lina's as the omega looks down to the blonde. "I killed them." Her breathing picks up again and fingers fist on the tail of Lina's shirt. "Someone pulled the lever with me." The words flood from her lips. "But he's an alpha. He doesn't know what we feel, how we work. He doesn't know that it killed me to kill them. To watch them die. I killed children." Her words beat into Lina's ear and her heart is set on a frenzy, hand coming to cradle her unborn child as the blonde rambles. "I killed them." The younger woman's voice is a low whisper and her eyes find Lina's hand on a bulging belly. She scrambles away from the pregnant omega, eyes downcast as she presses herself into the wall. "Sorry."

"Child." Clarke flinches back at the word and Lina licks her lips. "Sweetling, it is fine."

Blue eyes remain downcast. "I'm fine, you can go. I won't hurt your children."

"I never thought you would."

"I'm not the right kind of omega. I never will be." Blue eyes harden and the blonde wipes at her cheek roughly. "I don't need your help or pity. I'm fine. You can go."

Brown eyes are soft and far too understanding as she stands with a grunt and hand on a curved belly. "I was only trying to calm you down."

"Well i'm fine now." Clarke turns away from her, shoulders stiff even as her fingers shake. "You can go."

"I'll be around if you need me Sweetling." Her fingers itch to stroke the hurting blonde but she steps away with quiet feet, dark eyes darting back to look at trembling shoulders.

 Nia finds her the second she exits through the door. "What happened? Who broke my orders?"

"No one tried anything." Brown eyes find the hut with the beta guards in front of it. "She told me things in secret, she is a broken girl." Her hand cradles her stomach and Nia catches the unconscious action, filing it away. "Do not push her Nia, she will lash out."

"I didn't plan on it Lina."

"I grew up with you, you're very brash darling." Grey eyes narrow and Lina chuckles softly, facing the Alpha with a soft smile. "Thank you for taking Marin."

Nia stiffen, swallowing. "She is sweet. Smart and strong."

Brown eyes brighten with parental pride. "She is." Those eyes fill with worry as they turn back to the hut the omega has been in for two days. "Let her rest, do what you've been doing."

"Mochof Lina."

Lina tilts her head to the side, a half smile on her face. "You and your too big heart."

Nia stiffens, glaring at the pregnant woman. "I am a monster Lina, you know this."

 Brown eyes flash and with a thick swallow the omega presses into her unborn baby, seeking comfort in the familiar kick against her palm. "We do what we have to to survive."

"And I will bear the monstrosities for my people."

Lina stares at her, hand moving to grip long pale fingers and squeeze. "You two aren't very different."

There is a knock on the door and Clarke looks up with stormy blue eyes. Her hand is tight on the knife and her eyes are bloodshot. "I've brought food."

Clarke licks her lips, eyes darting around the room, her breathing is sharp and loud in the empty room. "Come in."

Nia tilts her head in confusion before opening the door. Her eyes darken at the swirl of omega pheromones in the hut, thick with days of being in here. Clarke looks up at her and Nia set the food on the table. Clarke stands and Nia eyes the knife in her hand before finding Clarke's wild eyes and tear stained cheeks. The blonde steps closer, letting her knife hand drop as she comes to stand in front of the alpha, Clarke relaxes her shoulders as her insides clench with need, pheromones twisting around her in a coat of want and heat.  "Take care of my heat."

Nia's nose flares and her entire body stiffens. "You are not thinking correctly, I will not take advantage of you in this time."

"I don't care, it is killing me." Her eyes are a burning frantic energy, full of pain and something else. Something Nia recognizes from too many years of doing what is needed. A thick need to feel something other than pain. "I have been alone for my heats too long. I need someone and you're the only alpha I can somewhat trust in this place."

"The heat is addling your brain." Nia steps back, jaw tight as she struggles not to breath to deep. "If we discussed this before your heat I would gladly help you." Her eyes bore into Clarke's blue. "But I will not succumb to animal urges. I will bring you more food in a while. Goodbye Natshana."

"You're turning down my offer? An omega in heat?!" Clarke growls out, pumping pheromones in her need to be mated. To be filled. To feel something other than this emptiness.

Nia tenses, eyes darkening and her hands tremble as the smell of an omega in heat is thickening through the now too small hut. "Sexual relations during heat undicussed is not noble. I will not take you because your heat demands it.

"Some alpha." Clarke scoffs, eyes glinting in challenge and danger. "Any other alpha would have taken my offer."

"Any other alpha would have taken you without an offer." Her eyes are darker than Clarke had ever seen them in the past three days. "I am not some alpha. I am not other alphas. If you wish for heat sex then find another, but I will not be a part of this." She leaves with stilted fast steps, shutting the door quickly behind her. Outside the tent she pulls in a deep slightly contaminated lungful of air. Her entire body trembles and she clenches her jaw, teeth aching as she stands outside the tent. "None enter without permission, any try yell for me."  Both betas nod, eyes wide with awe. They could smell the omega from here. Could hear other alphas struggling to remain clearheaded when they weren't even in proximity of the unmated omega.

Nia stalks across the camp, shaking before she grabs two of her strongest alphas. Both take one look at her before their eyes widen and they wrinkle their nose in distaste, knowing already they will leave with severe bruising and wrenched arms. Both roll back their shoulders before they begin to fight their queen. She is aggressive in all her move, blood thrumming with need that she had ignored in the hut. 

Clarke throws the food across the room with a shriek of desperation. The wooden plate clatters against the wall and the metal jug splatters water all across the floor. Clarke shakes, picking up the thin chair with shaking arms she throws it across the room, it doesn't break. It bounces and clatters around until it stops and she lets out another shout of pain and frustration. Kicking at the metal cup to send it flying into the wall. Her chest is heaving and her eyes burn as everything in the room stills again.

The fit had done nothing to change her emotions, she was still just as empty as before. Just as sad and desperate. She falls to her butt with a cry of despair, deep agonizing sobs rack her body. She breaks because everything aches but most of all she just wants to forget the mountain. Forget the way the children had looked slumped over one another. Forget the way her insides had rolled and how it shattered every remaining shard of her heart. 

Her hands grip the knife and she fingers the blade, touching it to her fingertips with a thick sniffle, tears fall down her face and she releases a thick sigh, swallowing as she presses the point into her finger tip, watching the blood well up. It drips down slowly and splatters across the floor and she watches another small drop bead before rolling to the palm of her hand. With another loud snuffle she stands on shaking legs and makes her way to the corner of the room, fingers gripping a blanket as she all but falls into the corner. Her hand rubs over her face, smearing the blood across her cheek and eye. She wipes at her running nose, too lost to care about the mess she is making of herself. Her chest still shudders with each breath, catching in the end and fluttering with grief. "I'm sorry." Her voice is cracking and thick. "I'm so sorry." Wavering blue eyes stare at the image in front of her, Maya hand linked with a young child's. The young girl holds a small doll, dirty from years of use and her lips pull back into a smile, showing a missing tooth. Maya's throat starts bleeding and Clarke's lips tremble. "I'm sorry." The child's skin burns red and Clarke closes her eyes. "I'm sorry." The words leave her lips, choked and thick with guilt and greif.

 Nia's shoulders are tense as the smell of spilt blood presses into her nose. Her fingers twitch and she turns her head to the tent as one of her warriors slams into her side, she easily dispatches him with an elbow to his throat and a wrenched arm to throw him over her shoulder. Her eyes meet Lina's and the omega gives her a trembling but gentle smile, before she opens the hut door, shutting it quickly behind her. The two beta's shift back in front of the door, eyes on some of the alphas struggling with trembling muscles, some are dragged off to fight while others sharpen their weapons by the herb hut, the thick smell of the herbs masking the omega's heat. With a flash of teeth she spins under the other alpha's arm kicks his knee and brings her hands to his neck. He tilts it in defeat as Nia can barely make out gut wrenching sobs. Her heart clenches and she pulls back from her warriors. "Again." 

The heat lasts another three days and when Nia does her morning rounds the smell of heat is depleted, left over from last night and her shoulders relax. The two beta guards dip their chins in acknowledgment, hand fisting over their chest before falling back to their side. She rounds the fences, exchanging glances with her guards, listening to the soft snores of her people as the sun slowly rises. She makes her way to the food hut, dipping her chin at the omega there. Her alpha's scent clings to her as does her children's. "Dinka." The woman scowls at her and Nia flashes her a half smile.

The omega watches her with a grudging annoyance born from knowing the queen since childhood."You creep in here every morning, sit and eat."

Nia raises her chin, grey eyes narrowed. "I have many things to do today Dinka."

The omega narrows her eyes. "You would do well to eat Nia, our people need their queen strong."

"I am never weak." Grey eyes flash before she swallows, dipping her chin close to her chest. "Thank you for the food Dinka."

Dinka puts more food than normal on the plate, loading it with meat while scowling at the alpha. "She will need the protein, you as well my Queen."

"Mochof." The queen ducks out of the tent, squaring her shoulders and making her way to the tent that holds the sky fallen omega. She knocks on the door. "I have brought food."

Inside the tent Clarke jerks upright from her position against the corner. Her hands find the knife and she relaxes at the calmness that falls over her. Her heat is gone. "Come in."

Clarke watches the door open and the alpha steps in, pressing it shut behind her before setting the food on the table. "I have food." Grey eyes meet Clarke's head on. "You can stay here as long as you wish, but if you wish to leave we can supply you with necessities."

"Why?"

Nia's lips twitch but her face remains impassive. "It is not kind outside the walls of villages."

Blue eyes narrow and Clarke shifts her fingers tighter around her knife in suspicion. "Why would you help me?"

"Because you saved our people. Because you need it." The queen shrugs. "Need there be any other reason?"

Clarke shifts nervously, glaring balefully at her. "People don't just do things because they're right, they have motivations. Reasons."

Nia tilts her chin high, hands fisting behind her back. "I almost lost my warriors to the mountain. They stole many of them. You gave our warriors absolution. Their revenge."

Clarke raises from the corner, dropping the blanket and glaring at the queen with wild eyes. "I didn't do it for them!"

"No." Nia tilts her head to the side. "But they are gone either way."

"Children are dead, do you even care?" The words crack as they leave the blonde's lips. "The mountain held children."

"As did our villages, as did the pregnant omegas and beta's that were trapped in that mountain. The alpha's that were turned into reapers." The alpha's shoulders tremble with rage. "The children the reapers took and killed. The mountain has haunted us for many years, children were raised with fear in their bones and death on their backs. In times like those we do what is necessary, you took down the mountain because it was needed."

Blue eyes fill with tears and her left hand trembles across the knife. "I killed children."

"And that will haunt you until the day you die, you don't forget things like that." Grey eyes harden and a jaw clenches as the alpha swallows thickly. "You never will."

Tears fall down Clarke's cheek and Nia steps back. "Eat, gain your strength, no decisions need to be made."

Clarke watches her leave with a quiet sniffle, wiping at her nose she sighs deeply, heart aching. With trembling feet she heats the coals before moving to grab the food left behind by the queen. Clarke forces the food down a too tight throat and strips of clothes that smell like heat, sweat, and pain. She settles into the warm water, scrubbing at her skin and neck as she watches the door. With quick efficiency she ducks her head under the water to clean it, wide eyes finding the door as she comes back up. Her fingers brush through her hair to loosen any knots and she relaxes for once into the warm water. Her shoulders slump and for the first time in a month and a half she feels somewhat okay. 

Grabbing the towel as she stands up her eyes find her own clothing, the clothes from the Arc. The gauntlet and shoulder guard Lexa had given her are long gone, lost in the forest, Clarke's blood and tears staining them. The blue jacket stands out against the deep grey and white furs and blue eyes turn to the clothes Lina had given her, they smell of heat and with gentle footsteps Clarke makes her way to the door. She knocks and hears the soft murmur of confusion from the guards. "Sha?"

Clarke swallows, fingers clenching around the towel fisted across her chest. "Could you get Lina?"

"Sha, hod up." She hears the shift of one of the guards leaving, his footsteps silent and she waits with baited breath, hand finding her knife. There is a sudden knock on her door and Clarke stiffens.

"It's Lina, whats wrong?" The omega's voice is high with worry.

Clarke swallows. "I need clothes, these smell like heat."

"Of course." The is relief tainting her voice, a gentle understanding. "I'll be back." 

Clarke shifts nervously, knife still in hand. No one may have attacked her during her heat but that didn't matter, anything could happen. She had learned to look for danger around every corner, to expect an attack. There is a knock again. "Come in." Lina steps in and shits the door quickly, her eyes find Clarke's as she passes the clothes over. They dart to the pile of heat soaked clothing and then the clothes Clarke had worn in the mountain. Clothes that remind Clarke of before and during. "I'll get these washed in case you need them again." She smiles gently at Clarke. "Dinner is around sunset, find the fire if you want to. If not we can bring you food."

"Thank you." Clarke whispers, hands tight on the things in her hands. The other omega nods, lips twisting into a more sedate smile as she leaves the hut.

Clarke pulls in the undergarments, sighing at the smell of clean, no alpha, no heat. Just clean with a hint of Lina remaining on the clothing. Clarke pulls on the pants, too loose around the hips but the belt is pulled tight around her waist. Thick socks find her feet and she stuffs them into the boots, strapping all the buckles to her legs before she pulls on the loose shirt, it is grey and thin but clean. Though the quarter sleeves are tight around her biceps. She pulls on the vest, buckling the straps before her hands find the thick jacket, lined with fur inside the jacket as well as on the outside of the shoulders. The only color against the black is the white of the fur and small beads woven into the shoulders. Clarke shakes the jacket out and fur gloves tumble to the floor, followed by a harness for the knife she clutched like a security blanket.

She tightens straps on her legs, sliding her knife in it. Her heart stills and calm falls over her as she pulls the jacket on. She is not the omega who spoke too loud during class and held her chin high when she should duck it to her chest on the Arc. She is not Prisoner 319, hair pulled back into a single braid, charcoal on her finger tips and a too used shirt on her shoulders. She is not the Princess, dark blue jacket patched, with a map in her hands and blood on her fingertips. She is not Clarke Griffin, clothes stiff with starch and stitches on her arms. She is not the chancellor's daughter, face split open and another blue jacket on her shoulders. She is not the leader of the Sky, shoulder pad thick, gauntlets jingling and betrayal in her eyes. She is not the mountain slayer, finger on a trigger, ears ringing with her hand wrapped around a handle and eyes on the dead. She is simply there, name unknown, a knife on her thigh and fur on her shoulders. She is free. 

With a deep breath she makes her way outside. Shaking fingers pull the door open and both betas look to her before dipping their heads in greeting. She walks out between them stiffly, turning to face them. They continue to stand by the door. "Are you going to follow me?"

They both tip their chins up and square their shoulders, meeting her gaze head on. "Nau."

She watches them cautiously before making her way through the village. Her eyes dart around and around, taking in the overly large walls, high and thick with barbs at the top. The bustle of life is loud. Warriors in the middle of training exercises in the far corner, shouts and the clang of metal on metal. There is smoke climbing high from one of the huts. The smell of meat cooking in another and she watches as children scream and run past her. A mutt nipping at their heels, ball rolling between their feet. Clarke's breathing picks up and her vision swims, hands begin to shake and she stumbles to find solid walls. To find something to hold onto and focus on. "Natshana?" Nia greets her cautiously. Grey eyes flit over her form and the alpha reaches for the omega. "I'm going to move you, your breathing will only grow quicker until you calm down. Breathe and focus on something other than memories." Her hands tentatively find Clarke's elbow and she is pulling the omega to the food hut, letting her in and standing far away from her as the smell of cooking meat fills the room. "Focus on the smell of the meat."

"Burning." Clarke chokes out, blue eyes unfocused and wide.

Nia growls low at her own stupidity, Clarke's hand finding her elbow and allowing the alpha to lead her past the food and to the gate. It opens and Nia lets Clarke take in the high trees, the chill in the air. "Breathe." Clarke falls to the ground, pressing her back into a tree and nose into the knee of her pants.

Clarke swallows down her panic attack, pulling in quick breaths, matching them with the woman next to her until she is calm. 

The month passes with little incidents, children still set off panic attacks so the omega steers clear of them. A wide berth that most of the camp take notice of but do not mention. Lina helps her find a place around the camp, not sewing, never sewing like they were taught on the Arc. No, Lina taught her how to bend a sword until it was straight again. The mated omega showed her how to heat a blade just right, to watch the colors dance across the metal. Most days she would find the queen watching her with cautious grey eyes and some times they would talk. Never about the past war or death or children, nothing about the mountain. They spoke of patrols and winter. Of food and how the Ice had changed under the alpha's rule.  

She found little things to do with her hands that did not bring back the ringing of a gunshot or the panic of the kill switch. She worked with knots beside a beta, tying, tying and tying until her fingers were bleeding and then calloused. She worked until the knots were strong enough to anchor down any pole. Until making knots became second nature to her, the same as stitches once had been. She steers clear of the healer's tent, the smell of blood sets her on edge, the moans of the pained bring her crashing and so she adapts.

She learns new things, she grows familiar with the chill to the air and the bustle of the camp. She keeps away from the triggers that set her off, children, blood, healers. She learns to forge swords, to tie knots that would make the sailors of the past scowl in envy. She learns to defend her self with her fists, with a twist to her hips and locked shoulders. Learns to throw a knife like it was born to fly from her hands. She adapts. In that month she create bonds with what everyone had deemed a savage clan. She made peace and bonds with a clan that accepted her omega status without a scoff or skeptic look. With a clan that did not mention the mountain or war. Too far away from any other clans to have territorial disputes every week. She grows to care for people that looked at her like she was an equal. They didn't see Clarke Griffin. They didn't see the traitor of the Arc or the Princess or the Commander of the sky people. They didn't see the Mountain slayer. They saw Natshana, they saw Shana. The stray omega who was eager to learn and wore her scarred hands like they bleed even when they were healed.

That night there is a knock on the door and Clarke calls for the alpha too enter. Nia eyes her curiously. "You wanted to speak to me?"

Clarke stares at her, eyes flitting up and down. "My heats coming up."

Nia keeps her face impassive. "Yes."

Clarke clenches her jaw, rolling her eyes. "Say yes or no."

Thin lips twitch, scar quivering across her cheek. "I did not hear a question in there."

Clarke narrows blue eyes and growls low in her throat. "Do you want to take care of my heat or not?"

The queen swallows, all teasing gone. "I am not a good person Natshana."

Clarke meets her eyes head on, chin tilted high. "Neither am I."

The alpha pulls in a deep breath, eyes darkening. "We need rules before we begin."

Clarke stiffens, swallowing. "You fuck me for my heat and we'll be good."

Nia narrows her eyes at the blatant disregard for anything. "If you tell me to stop at any time?"

Clarke lets out a scoff, shaking her head. "Can you stop in the middle of heat sex?"

The woman's grey eyes are steel as she growls. "I am not weak willed."

"Fine, we can stop if we need to. Anything else?" Clarke shifts restlessly.

"How would you like to do this?"

Clarke sighs. Relaxing her shoulders and lets out a breath before pulling in the smell of alpha. Her pheromones spike and Nia groans quietly, clenching her jaw. "My heat hits tonight, we can do this now or later."

"Whichever you wish." Nia speaks stiffly.

Clarke watches the alpha before shaking her head. "You have too much control."

"I will not be some hormone driven alpha." Nia's voice is hard but she stares at Clarke like she's waiting for rejection. "I may be a monster but I won't blame it on my status."

Clarke steps closer, hands trailing up Nia's arms before gripping her neck, pulling her down. Clarke releases a shuddering breath and Nia clenches her fist to keep them from gripping Clarke. "You can still back out Nia."

The queen shudders, opening dark eyes. "As can you."

"I really don't want to." She pull the alpha down for a kiss, fingers tight and Nia is stiff in her hold, arms straight by her side. Clarke releases a sigh. "I'm not going to break." She grabs Nia's wrist and yanks the alpha closer, breathing in the deep musky scent as hands finally grip her hips. Clarke lets out a low grumble of approval, chest vibrating as she pulls the alpha in deeper, slipping her tongue past thin lips. She pulls back slightly, biting at the alpha's lips and Nia growls low in her throat, pressing closer against Clarke. Clarke fingers drag down the woman's back before shoving up and under her shirt, the smell of alpha and omega taints the tent and Clarke presses closer to the queen, feels the bulge at the front of her pant already forming and she presses into the woman harder, rolling against the woman's lower half. 

Nia pulls away with a panting chest, walking Clarke back. Eyes blown but swirling with need even as she show restraint, control. "Are you sure?"

Clarke open dark eyes and glares at Nia. "If you ask me one more time I will find another alpha, one who will fuck me until I can't go anymore."

Nia lets out a low growl, burying her head to Clarke's shoulder and neck, nipping at where the pheromones are strongest and pressing Clarke into the wall of the hut, bracketing her there. "You test every once of control I have."

"Good." Clarke rolls her hips against the alpha, whimpering in need. She can feel her heat simmering in the background but this, this right now is all her and she wants the queen. Her fingers weave in braids and she pulls her in for a needy kiss, deep and consuming. Teeth sharp and insistent as the pull at lips, moving down to the omega's jaw and then her throat. Nia pants against the skin there, pulling in every scent she can as she presses her tongue down to sweep across the collar bones of the blonde. Clarke groans as lips curve around the bone and suck. Her knee comes up to wrap around one of the alpha's hips, pulling her in tight, hands still tangled in braids as she presses the alpha closer, deeper into her neck and chest.

Nia's fingers are tight around the blonde's ribs until the omega shifts, bring her hands closer to her breasts hidden under the jacket. Nia pulls it off hastily as Clarke shoves off against the wall, knee dropping as she shoves Nia back. Hands working on the buckles to the alpha's clothing. "Bed, now."

"Impatient." Nia grumbles, warm fingers wrapping around Clarke's sides again and pull her closer. Her pants are getting tighter by the second and she rolls her hips into the omega, waiting for the hitch in her breath. She is not disappointed and her Natshana shoves her back to the bed. The alpha bites back a growl as she falls onto her back. Clarke hastily pulls her own pants off before grabbing at Nia's. The alpha remains still, letting Clarke control what she wants even though even fiber in her being itches at her to grab the omega, bite and have her until her heat comes and goes. 

Clarke stares at her, blue eyes hooded as the pants fall to the floor. Nia shifts and Clarke grins slightly. "Most alpha's wouldn't stay on their backs that long."

"You are in charge Natshana."

Clarke eyes flash and she climbs on top of Nia's hips, pressing down swiftly. Nia groans deep in her chest at the weight and friction, hands itching to grab at the omega's hips and roll her over. The blonde kisses her, fingers tight on the queen's cheeks and pulling sounds of pleasure from the alpha's throat as she wickedly twists her tongue against Nia's mouth before pulling back, teeth tight around Nia's bottom lip. Any harder and blood would taint their kiss, it makes Nia's chest rumble and her fingers finally find Clarke's hips. They don't move the omega, just grip it tight enough to show her need. Clarke eyes search over her face and Nia gives a sharp nod. The blonde breaths sharply, eyes wide and thick with desire before her teeth press down harder and the taste of blood fills their mouths as Clarke presses in for a more frantic, deeper kiss. Her hands scratch at Nia's skin and her hips begin to rock forward. Nia's hands tighten on Natshana's hip and she gets a nod in response, a thick pant in her ear before she rolls them over, pressing into the omega, rolling her hips slowly until they rest against one another, hips slotted together and chests rising and falling, pressing until the air around them is full of their hot breaths. Hands pull at Nia's back and the alpha takes the hints, rocking against the omega. Each whimper and twitch makes hands tighten on the pillows beside blonde tresses, their eyes stay connected until Nia thrust particularly hard, angling her hips to push the blonde up high on the bed. Clarke releases a deep moan, hands tightening on quivering back muscles before she pulls at the undergarment around the alpha's lower half. "Off, now." Her voice is deep with want and thick with demand.

Nia gives up all pretenses and rips the clothing from her own hips, sliding Clarke's down her thighs and over her ankles to fall to the floor. 

The queen presses at Clarke's entrance, warm and hard, grey eyes almost black as she stills herself, every muscle stiff to remain still. "Sure?" Her words are bitten out through a guttural growl but they still send a flutter to Clarke's chest. 

Clarke wraps her legs around the alpha's hips and pulls her in. Nia groans low, hands fisting the pillows and she presses nipping kisses to Clarke's neck as she begins a slow roll of her hips, taking in the fluttering of Clarke around her, wet and warm. The press of their hips as she presses deeper and deeper with each slow controlled thrust sending a vibrating moan through the blonde's throat.

"Fuck." Clarke's hands scrabble over tight shoulders, digging into the muscles. "Harder Nia." Nia obeys, picking up the pace and kissing at the parted lips until the blonde pulls away to pant for air as Nia continues twisting her hips just right to hit Clarke where she needs it. The omega is whining and twisting in pleasure below her. Nails dragging lines down the alphas back. Nia trembles as she picks up the pace, nipping and sucking at the omega's chest with each thrust. Her own breathing is growing labored as each thrust draws them deeper and closer to the end. She can feel Clarke fluttering around her, catches the moans with her lips and blue eyes fluttering open before falling shut again. 

Nia can feel her knot forming and she just continues to bring Clarke closer and closer to the edge. Clarke's fingers get tighter and her moan's less like words and more like growls. Suddenly Nia pulls back and out, chest heaving as her muscles tense. Clarke doesn't have time to protest before Nia's fingers are in her and there are the knuckles of her other hand stretching her wide at the entrance. Clarke shudder, twisting and stiffening as her orgasm hits her. She moans loud and deep. Nia twists her fingers with a slow pump as the knuckles of her other hand press into Clarke's entrance more fully and Clarke twitches, moaning louder, her body fooled into thinking she has been knotted. The orgasm rips through her, continuing until Nia stops the gentle thrusting and Clarke whimpers low and deep as Nia pulls out her knuckles, then her fingers. The alpha licks her lips, tasting the fur of the pillow she had bitten into as Clarke's eyes flutter open, chest flushed and heaving.  "You pulled out."

Nia shifts from atop her to roll to her side next to Clarke. "You wish to use me for release, not as the mother of your children, I will not force it upon you."

"Different on Arc." The blondes words are slightly slurred, eyes half lidded as she rolls on her own side to face the alpha. "Omegas are low. Bottom of the chain."

"It is the same on the ground." Nia shifts, bringing the blanket to cover them both. "Omegas are thought to be breeding tools to produce the strongest untainted blood line."

"Then why is the ice tolerant of Omegas?"

"My sister is an omega, I defended her status and her during heat times more than I care to think of." Her fingers, wet from Clarke brush gentle caresses over Clarke's hips, calming the rampant hormones flowing in her blood, soothing the omega in post sex needs. Clarke sighs in content as warm fingers trace invisible line across her body. "I would not wish that on anyone." She pauses, fingers stopping before they continue again, a dark look in grey eyes. "When I fought off the leader of the Ice, he threatened to banish me when I lost and take my sister every night I was gone. I killed him, ripped his throat open with my teeth." Her eyes are dangerous, teeth bared and Clarke clenches with need again at the rampant alpha display. "He thought he could take whatever he wanted because he led, I did not agree. The others fell into line when I killed a few more ignorant alphas."

"Your sister?"

"Mated an alpha of the Mountain Clan."

Clarke leans into the hand, hormones calming with each brush of the alpha's fingers, laced with Clarke's smell. "Why did you kill Costia?"

Nia stiffens before she relaxes, breathing deeply as Clarke presses closer to her. "I am not a good person, I long for more and crave what I can't have. I took Costia from Alexandria because I needed secrets of the Woods Clan." Her fingers do not still but her voice drops low. "I was going to attack and take the trees. Kill the Commander and lead the 12 Clans myself."

"Why?"

"The clans have been under the rule of the Commander's for too long." Nia's voice drops low with anger but the blonde under her hands does no stiffen in fear. "We fall to their every whim because they are chosen. I do not believe that. I believe a leader should not be based on tests done to children. She should not have led."

Clarke lets her fingers find the scars across Nia's shoulders and collar bone, raised and pale. "You're practically the same age as her."

"I won my title through hardship and blood." She tilts her chin as proud and high as she can laying in a bed after sex. "The Commanders are children who pass tests for spirits."

Clarke stares at her. "We've all had hardship."

Grey eyes watch Clarke thoughtfully. "That we have Natshana. Rest, we can continue when you wake again." Clarke blinks tired eyes, post coital bliss making her guard fall and she just wants to sleep. She hadn't had a good night sleep in so long and here was this alpha that smelled okay. That smells like her and sex and safety, so her eyes flutter.

She fights off sleep. "You didn't even." Clarke murmurs sleepily.

"I will be fine." Fingers smooth across Clarke's hip that aren't so bony anymore. They brush ribs that still jut with the harsh lines of former hunger. There is a coil of protectiveness that stifles down the urge to fuck until Clarke's full of the queen. A protectiveness that makes the queen want to claim Clarke, dig her teeth in and growl at any who come near the omega. 

 Seven moon cycles later Clarke is following the trail of a deer when she comes across an almost familiar scent. Following it she just about runs into the alpha's chest. Her eyes widen and Bellamy stares at her in shock. "Clarke?"

"Bellamy?" Her heart beats too quick and anxiety blooms in her chest.

He takes a deep breath grin already forming on his face before it falls away. "Did you have a choice?" His eyes are angry and worried.

Clarke smiles, too soft to be anything but loving. "Yes, I chose her after months Bellamy."

"Good. I'd kill her if she forced you to mate."

Clarke takes a quick whiff. "What about you?"

He blushes. "She likes books."

Clarke laughs and Bellamy's grin looks like happiness and relief bottled into one expression as the sound escapes her. "You nerd."

He shifts nervously, swallow as he dips his eyes to his feet before meeting her gaze again. "Who, whose the alpha?"

"A grounder, of the ice." His shoulders relax and she raises her eyebrows at him. "What?"

He blushes, freckles dark against the pink. "Sorry. You said her and I thought Lexa." Clarke's heart doesn't ache as much as it once had at that name. "I know you're your own person but I'd probably want to punch her in the face."

"She did what she had too." Clarke's shoulders are stiff as she shrugs. "We all did."

His dark eyes are so gentle they make her heart ache even more. It dredges up memories of them above Atom, them at the cliff with Charlotte. Against a tree, bloodied and tired. Their eyes meeting in the middle of the drop-ship battle. Sitting by the campfire looking for Finn. A look as Gustus is strung up. A call over the radio and eyes connecting at the edge of the mountain, armies gone. "Are you okay?"

Clarke trembles. "Sometimes."

Bellamy nods, eyes looking up through his thick lashes, just as broken as she is. "Me too."

"What are you doing here?" She tilts her chin to the forest around them.

He grins widely. "Scouting for food and hunting grounds. We've set up sectors, i'm meant to map this one."

"You're getting close to Azgeda territory Bellamy."

"I know where the lines are Clarke." His eyes are bright again.

"You've crossed over one already." The voice is low and Bellamy stiffens, the smell of alpha grating his nose. His fingers itch to his gun but Clarke's face is bright and his shoulders relax.

"He's a friend." Clarke speak with a chin tilted high, eyes on the forest.

The woman steps out, dark hair twisted off of pale skin chalked in white, grey eyes glinting dangerously before she takes a deep breath. "Mated."

Clarke raises her brow and cocks a hip. The alpha tits her own head, dropping one shoulder and biting her cheek as Clarke stares at her. "I can care for myself."

"I know." The alpha keeps her chin high, eyes on Clarke, body angled to her but her ears on the alpha.

Bellamy grins at Clarke, tilting his head to the side as he meet cool grey-eyes. "I'm Bellamy."

Sharp eyes find him. "The one from the drop-ship."

"Clarke told you."

Lips twitch and eyes appraise over him. "The rebel king."

Bellamy blushes, rubbing at the back of his neck and barely keeping a glare from Clarke. "She was the princess."

The alpha grins, teeth wide and sharp. "She is a queen now." She stalks close to Bellamy, holding her arm out. "I am Nia, Queen of the Ice, Rebel King."

Bellamy chokes on air, eyeing Clarke before turning back to the Ice Queen. "Shit."

"You aren't the only alpha to say that in my presence."

"Nia." Clarke's voice is amused yet sharp.

Nia sniffs the air again. "He is a befitting King, strong shoulders. Mated."

Blue eyes dance with mirth and the omega fights the smile twitching at her lips. "Nia."

Grey eyes spark in amusement as she moves her eyes from her mate to the mated alpha. "I apologize Natshana, Rebel King."

Bellamy huffs, rolling his eyes to the side.  "I thought that name left with Murphy."

Clarke grins at him cheekily, coming to stand next to Nia, bodies pressed tightly together. She opens her mouth to speak when Bellamy's radio goes off. "Hey Bells and Whistles, you get the perimeter checked yet? Can't idle the truck much longer."

Bellamy watches as happiness and fear creeps into blue eyes. His shoulders relax and his lips twist into a bittersweet smile. "Yeah Boom Box, i'm on my way back."

"Really?" Clarke's heart clenches at the familiar sarcastic drawl of the mechanic's voice.  "Cuz that third beacon isn't set up yet."

Bellamy lets out a chuffing laugh, rolling his eyes to the sky. "Almost done Reyes."

"I need to tell your mate you got a side girl?" There is a hint of teasing in an almost false stern tone.

Bellamy scowls. "I'll tell Abby you fucked Jackson."

There's the sound of something crashing over the radio and Bellamy smirks at Raven's screech. "He's a puppy!"

"You lie I lie."

"Float you alpha man." Raven voice is tinged in amusement. "Get that third beacon set up, it's not that hard."

He rolls his eyes and puts the radio away. Clarke laughs, Nia's hand a comfortable weight on her hip. "Nothing changes."

Dark eyes flicker to the forest around them before finding Clarke, his smile is softer than she remembers. "Some things do, but usually for the better." He steps closer. "I get a hug Clarke?"

Clarke smiles. "You'll smell like an omega."

Bellamy rolls his eyes, his eyes dancing like so long ago. "You're mated."

She steps close, Nia watching them with confused eyes. Clarke grips Bellamy tight, hands forcing creases in his jacket. "It was good seeing you."

Bellamy buries his chin into her shoulder, pulling in a deep breath. "Raven will be pissed if she ever hears about this."

"I'm not ready." Her voice cracks and Bellamy can feel his heart ache at the pain there, watches as Nia twitches with the urge to step closer and offer her mate comfort. Instead she lets Bellamy squeeze her tighter.

"I know." 

Clarke swallows thickly, fingers tightening even further on him. "I don't kno-."

"I know Clarke." He releases her, squeezing her shoulders tightly. "May we meet again."

Clarke's lips twitch in a broken smile. "May we meet again." Bellamy steps back with tears in his eyes before he begins his trek through the forest once again, Nia comes to fold her arms around Clarke's waist, squeezing it as they watch the shadows swallow the alpha.