Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter I

A Visit to the Empire

It was still the early days of Spring. Droplets of dew from the overhanging trees dripped onto Ben’s outstretched hand in arrhythmic intervals as their carriage bumped along the dirt road. A recent rainstorm must have turned most of this road to silt and mush. The wheels of their carriage dipped precariously along the deep rivulets made by the heavy downpour. 

All of the jostling was beginning to cause a twinge of pain in Ben’s side, or perhaps it was from the tension filling the cabin. Ben curled his palm into a fist, crushing the droplets in his hand before he pulled it back inside. He tried to tune out the heated discussion between his parents. 

“I’m still unsure if this was the right decision,” the Queen of Alderaan was chewing at the knob of one of her knuckles nervously, one of the fingers without a jewel-encrusted ring. “If we should have come at all.”

“Was there really a choice?” Ben looked at his father, the King Consort, as he rubbed a hand over a tired jaw and the fine, silvery hairs that spotted his chin. 

Leia sighed deeply, seemingly reluctant to be forthcoming about her doubts. They would be arriving soon, and Ben could tell his mother was more than a little unsettled.

“Palpatine is not to be trusted. After the death of his son, and only a few months later, the illness that took his wife? I don’t feel good about it. Their poor infant Omega conveniently orphaned. Now she is far more valuable as the sole heir to the Empire. More usable.”

“Be careful, princess,” Ben’s father chided as a smile spread across his lips. “You’re starting to sound like those myth sayers, and we know there is no chance of such a prophecy to be true.” As if to insert some humor into the carriage, his father made a face at him. His teasing filled the carriage with some lightness. At his mother’s resulting glare, Ben tried to keep his lips from turning. 

“That’s because they’re dangerous,” Leia snapped, her eyes afire. It gave Ben pause whenever he found himself before that compelling look, always ready to fold back his ears and wait to be dismissed. But his father did none of that. He just kept smiling. “Myths that can give false hope. That can raze empires on pure belief? If Palpatine does believe such a thing–if he’s letting it rule his judgment, then we are in even more danger.” His mother’s tone worried Ben. 

Ominous and foreboding. He knew his parents had tried to keep discussions like these away from his ears. Lest they upset him. Not the words themselves, but the feelings within them. The fear his mother felt towards the Empire rattled through him tenfold.

Even before he presented, he had a good sense of the emotions surrounding him. Threepio called it a gift. His mother looked on worriedly.

“Feeling so much, how will he control his emotions? His anger, his rage?”

It hurt to overhear his mother’s concerns. To know she feared how his anger might mature. But deep within, he hoped she might think of his other emotions. His desire to be strong, protective, kind, and–even loving, one day. He knew about Omegas and mating, at least the basics of it. He knew that aside from being warriors, Alphas were also providers. He had always been more caring of others, cautious of their feelings. Wanting to be subservient to their needs. The instinct had always been there. While his pain often felt unbearable, his enjoyment of being helpful, and needed was just as powerful. If not more so.

But he understood why they were worried about this uncommon skill Ben had that others did not. While Alderaan was more accepting, there were still laws to follow, and if Ben was to be a leader and be responsible for his people, he would need their trust. He would need to be trustworthy.

Though it was hard to have faith in an Alpha who couldn’t control his emotions.

Ben was brought back to the conversation happening between his parents when his mothers’ voice rose. “The oppression he aims to enforce is dangerous to designations. How that snake has wormed his way into the emperor's good graces, I’ll never know. The timing is not coincidental either. Ben presents–rather early for his age–and hardly a season rolls by before we are answering a Royal call, one that we have been forced to accept.” His mother sniffled. Her sight misted over as she looked out into the morning fog. “And when he does not do what the emperor expects…” she muttered trailing off. Her words only served to further Ben’s anxiety.

They were on this journey because the emperor wished to see him. News of Ben’s recent presentation as an Alpha had spread to the Empire. It was not much of a shock, given both his parents were Alphas. The Queen and King of Alderaan were an unusual pair, their union a disgrace in the eyes of the emperor. Palpatine had moved trade routes and taken business ventures from the kingdom because of it. Ben would hear the stilted concerns of his mother when she had too much mead. So sure the Empire was only biding its time before it sought to vanquish Alderaan until nothing remained.

Ben had no clue what was expected from him. Not from his mother, and certainly not Emperor Palpatine. He felt as if he was being asked to perform an exam without any time to study, and his mother’s attempts to hide her worry did not help his doubts. 

There was no choice to be made. They had to accept the invitation. And so, here they were on their way to the Empire. Ben’s glands itched under his collar as their carriage rattled ever closer to what seemed to be his impending doom.

Ben was sure that disquiet came with the fear of officially being labeled an Alpha. A week after he presented, his mother pulled him aside after one of his lessons.

“It’s different here, in Alderaan. Alphas and Omegas are not forced to hide in fear of imprisonment. We created law here, Ben. Do you know what that means?”

He didn’t know. At least, there was much he was still unsure of. 

“But as a prince, sometimes there are more responsibilities we must bear for others. You are someone the people look up to. As an Alpha, you must lead by example. Many depend on us. We are held to a higher standard.

In many places, Alphas are feared. They think we are too powerful, that we are ruled by greed and selfishness. Other rulers choose to oppress it. Oppress designations.”

A shoulder bumped him, pulling him out of his spiral of panic. Ben looked over to see his tutor and caretaker, Cornelius Thorp, or “Threepio” as the family referred to him, run a hand through his shining white hair–always one to keep up a well-composed appearance–and offer him a wrinkled smile. 

“Do not fret too much, my prince. Remember, all things have a purpose and, with it, an outcome. Your uncertainty now will be quite forgotten in time. Of course, we can always remain ever-hopeful. If we believe in the will of the Almighty.”

“Oh mythsayer,” Han jeered in response, right before lightning struck. 

“Some things may have a purpose,” the queen interjected with a tinge of warning. A subtle caution. “We shouldn’t let spirituality dissolve our reasonings.” From the way his mother was not glaring at Threepio, Ben got the feeling his mother did not approve of his tutor’s idyllic sermons.

Threepio bowed his head, white curls falling forward. “Certainly, your Majesty,” he amended. “While the balance of the universe may work in mysterious ways, we must remain vigilant. In the eyes of the Almighty, the greater Being that watches over us, who watches all. Where there is hardship, there is the hope of salvation.”

While Ben had heard these ramblings from his tutor for years, Leia often seemed perturbed by them. “Careful, Threepio. Those sorts of musings are often cycled and touted within the Empire.”

“Indeed they are, your Majesty,” his tutor replied, but his voice sounded off like he wasn’t agreeing entirely with his mother, but perhaps hinting at something else. Ben was not given the time to inspect it further, when his tutor leaned forward, his voice a hushed whisper. “You know, once at a festival many years ago, a young mage foretold a legend of mated souls. A dyad, they have called it across the stars. An Alpha and Omega, destined to meet no matter how far apart. Even if worlds–if eternities–if the most challenging hardships stretch between them they will still find each other.” Threepio had his arms outstretched, hovering over Ben’s body as he exaggerated his tale. But his passion was undeniable. “It’s a symbol of hope. It will start with a spark. An uprising from within. They will bring peace to the world and designations. One day there will be a society where a designation no longer defines you.”

The idea of a greater power being responsible for Ben’s choices didn’t sit well with him. It was something he didn’t fully understand, but he wondered if an Alpha was a poor imitation of such a being. From his readings, they seemed like selfish creatures, hungry for power. Harbingers of destruction. 

And a legend was just a story anyway. His mother’s words echoed in his head. Her crossness over the topic of prophecies and legends was always with an edge of skepticism. 

“What I am trying to say, Your Highness,” Threepio hums beside him. “Is that you are well watched over. The Almighty has blessed you with the power of an Alpha, and with gifts most others do not possess. Like your excellent sense of feeling the emotions around you. I am certain, if the prophecy is true, you will be able to scent the princess.”

“Sir Thorp, that is quite enough.” Leia’s voice was stern, biting. The warning was now obvious.

Heat rose to Ben’s collar as felt his mother’s anger and processed his tutor’s words. “H-how will I know? If I’ve scented her? What if she isn’t really an Omega?” What does the prophecy have to do with me?

Threepio smiled sagely as he patted Ben’s knee. “Perhaps you need to pay more attention in our lessons. Omegas are easily detected at birth. They are born with shadow marks on their skin–where their glands will one day be. Now that you are an Alpha, you will be able to scent her if it is a good match. The destiny of fated souls is not hindered by trivial things such as time. If it is meant to be, it will be.”

“What if it isn’t?” Meant to be? Ben swallowed his nerves. “A good match?”

“Then we will return to Alderaan,” his mother interjected with an air of disdain, but something cold crept around Ben’s heart. “And we can pretend this never happened.”

Ben could tell his mother was trying to hide something from him by the sharp dismissal. He could sense it. At twelve years of age, he was only just coming into some of his Alpha traits, but his gift to sense emotions and feelings through scent was the strongest. 

And he smelled fear.

“I think that’s enough hopefulness for today,” Han grumbled, noticing Ben’s inner turmoil. 

Ben’s nerves were swarming around in his head. With a blink, the whipping wind tunnel clogging his senses ceased. As he took a trembling breath to try and settle his rapidly beating heart, his Alpha slowed to a prowl. When his mind returned to him, he saw his father holding something in his palm wrapped in an oilcloth.

Han encouraged him to take it with a subtle nod towards the object. Unsure of what it could be, Ben lifted it gently, curling his fingers around the edges and cradling it to his chest. 

When his eyes were able to focus, Ben looked at the intricate carvings of the wolf figurine. 

“It’s made of pure white oak,” Han commented as Ben peered at the carving in the oilcloth. “A comfort token.”

Ben knew what a comfort token was. They were part of his studies forced upon him by Threepio for five hours of the day. The lessons had been never-ending since he presented. 

“It is important to know about the workings of the Alpha spirit,” his tutor had instructed him. “That is how you will truly understand who you are. How to control the instincts that threaten to control you.”

The white oak carvings were created as little token reminders for Alphas and Omegas to hold the scent of their beloved. Did his father assume he should give it to the princess? It made Ben blush just thinking of it. 

“What am I to do with this?” He could not keep the apprehension from his voice.

Despite the tension surrounding their journey, his father smiled at his question. “Hold it,” he said simply. “For a while. Maybe it will help keep you calm,” he added with a wink. It left Ben feeling more frustrated than placated. 

Ben plucked the wolf figure from the cloth, holding it in his palm. “I’m not feeling very calm.”

“Never forget, Ben. The wolf is strong. You are an Alpha, and an Alpha’s greatest responsibility is to be a protector and to be brave,” Threepio replied in a singsong. Ben could not stop his hand from trembling as he clutched the little wolf. He did not feel very brave either.

“I thought being an Alpha and a prince meant I had responsibilities to lead.” Ben felt heat rise on his cheeks when his voice shook.

“Well, what do you think those traits represent? Leadership—Being strong is not only meant for physicality,” his father paused before he leaned forward and rested his elbows on his knees. Han’s gaze was now at eye level with Ben’s. “You aren’t just a protector of your possessions, but for the pack. Your family. Be it by blood or fate. The wolf knows.” Han was pointing to his chest, to his heart. “An Alpha’s instinct is to be strong, courageous, to protect. It comes from within. Regardless of what outside forces or other beings may think,” Han waved his hand in dismissiveness. “The wolf knows. You got that? That is what leadership is. You just have to trust what it tells you. In your heart, you will know what to do.”

Ben was still not so convinced, his instincts were so unpredictable. He never felt sure of anything, but he gazed down at the wolf figurine once more feeling an instinct to hold it tighter. To let the sweat from his palm seep into the wood. If what his father said was true, his instinct would guide him. He only had to believe. He was an Alpha. It was instinct for him to lead. Even if the anxiety did not completely go away, Ben held on desperately to the reminder that no matter what awaited them, he would be brave.

There was only one way to enter the Empire by land. The city was nestled within a giant inlet, where the palace sat atop, the city trickling below it, overlooking the sea. Structures curved with mountains, spanning thousands of leagues. It was a massive city, where its hierarchy resembled its architecture. The Empire was said to be impenetrable. Even a massive fleet would not be able to fully advance, lest they were to come to shore. It was the perfect natural defense, and why the ancients of their species had thought to build the great City of the World right here.

Ben saw the Empire as they rounded a long, bulbous curve in the road. The Empire unfolded like a paper fan before his eyes. The glistening golden dome of the palace shined beneath the sun like a beacon.

His mouth dropped in awe. It was a beautiful city. It was magnificent. 

It did not help his already crafted uncertainties.

Their caravan was small. This was a civil meeting, after all. So they only had a few guards with them on their journey. Ben watched as his mother’s right hand, Sir Johan Chewbacca, strode past the carriage and to the front gate to the city, where he made a booming proclamation.

“The Queen of Alderaan by invitation of the Empire.”

The soldier peered into their carriage, where Ben watched his mother pull back the curtain so they could see inside. After a tense moment, the soldier nodded and they were granted entry.

The carriage moved much smoothly along the cobblestone roadways of the inner city. Ben gazed at the looming basalt walls as they passed through them. There they stood, the imperial gray walls that were said to be impenetrable to any amount of force. Barriers that must have stood at near one-hundred feet in height. 

“It is not so easy to come and go from the Empire without the emperor’s approval,” Threepio muttered quietly at Ben’s side. “We are very fortunate to be received by invitation from the emperor himself.” His voice was terse, even if his words were supposed to be light-hearted, and it caught Ben’s attention. It was harder to sense the emotions of a Beta, but if Ben put a little more effort into it, he could sometimes sense the weariness from his caretaker. Tentatively, Ben reached out to gauge his tutor’s emotions, and his stomach turned nauseous as he followed Threepio’s gaze out the carriage window.

Curious eyes watched them pass. Ben’s attention caught on a man with an odd sort of contraption around his head and mouth. It looked similar to a horse’s bit, a metal bar stretching between his lips. Leather straps pulled around his head attached somewhere behind. He had a thick collar around his neck that looked much too tight, suffocating him with each breath. Ben’s stomach dropped when he realized its purpose.

“When Alpha’s are not obedient to the Empire’s strict rules, they are punished, rather cruelly I must say.” His mothers' voice was subdued as it filled the carriage and with it a sense of dread that Ben felt in the very depths of his gut. “Omegas as well. However, their punishment is even more severe.”

Ben looked on with confusion. “Why do they do this to them?”

Leia sighed deeply. Her disturbance sizzled in Ben’s veins. “Things are very different in the Empire, Ben. Palpatine seeks control, power. He will not stand for anyone that might get in his way. I only hope our visit here will not become one of his impediments.”

“What if it does?”

His mother ignored the question. “Will you be strong for me, Benjamin?” Ben wondered if he was being asked a trick question. “You will learn this soon enough, but we have a greater responsibility in representing designations—especially here. When so much of the world wants to keep us shackled and oppressed, we have to eliminate the fear that many people cannot fight themselves. It is in our blood to be protectors of the truth. To forge a path for designations so that they will not have to be so fearful to live.” 

A knock on the carriage door broke the tense moment within. When it opened, and Chewbacca stood there with a surly expression, Leia motioned for Ben to exit first.

 When Ben stepped out of the carriage, he was startled to see a wall of soldiers standing at the gates to the palace. A tall, thin man with a sickly pallor stood before the towering palace doors. A scar crinkled on his face, but from here, Ben could tell it must be some sort of deformity. Half of the man’s face was disfigured and slanted. 

More peculiar was that Ben could tell he was not an Alpha. His scent was muddied, foul in a way that made Ben want to turn his nose into his elbow, but the hard-disciplined manners he was taught kept him facing straight ahead, his eyes alert, and his mouth pressed tightly closed lest he was able to taste the rancid scent. He had never encountered a Beta that gave off such a stench. 

A hand landed on Ben’s shoulder, making him turn to see his father frowning behind him. 

The thin man moved forward slowly, almost as if he were floating. His ocher-colored robes dragged along the cobblestones before he stopped and bowed lowly before Ben’s mother.

“Welcome to the Empire, Your Majesty,” his rough voice grated as he addressed the Queen. The man's eyes then cast over Ben when he straightened. “We have been awaiting your arrival with much anticipation .”

“We accept the emperor's invitation with graciousness.” Leia’s response was clipped and, by all means, the quintessence of good politics. 

“On behalf of the emperor, it is a great honor to escort you to the ceremony.” Long, spindly fingers gestured behind him to where the doors of the palace stood open, leading to an ominous shadow of blackness ahead. 

Ben watched his mother nod in acceptance. She was already dressed in her ceremonial garb. Her headdress sparkled under the sun as little silver shingles trilled against each other when she began to walk toward the entrance.

They followed the lead of the queen as they approached the doors. Ben noticed his mother’s only lady in waiting, Amilyn, reach down to fix her train so that the gold and silver embroidered design was on full display. The intricate silhouette of the phoenix, stitched along the heavy fabric, glistened, alight with flame.

“I see Snoke hasn’t become any less unsavory,” Han’s voice murmured under the movement of their caravan so that only Ben could hear as they entered the palace.

Ben swallowed the lump in his throat as they walked along the high-vaulted halls. His gaze traveled up to look at the frescoes depicted on the walls. The imagery of battle and war. Strong Alphas standing triumphant over their enemies. A few depictions featured Omegas, subservient and docile.

A phrase in Latin was scrawled on a banner underneath one painting: Fortissimus praevalebunt super infirmum. 

“The strong prevail over the weak,” Threepio whispered beside him. “It is the motto of the Empire. Their piercing battle cry…”

They are led to an expansive great hall. Long tables lined the sides as they entered on a plush carpet rolled out, leading to the raised throne where the emperor sat behind an ornate feast. Bowls overflowed with fruit, and platters of pheasant and other delicacies were set before him. Ben could not stop his gaze from focusing on the bassinet placed in front of the table where his future lay.

And perhaps the future of a kingdom and an Empire.

The room fell silent as they continued their procession. Ben watched as the emperor rose from his chair, his robes a dark crimson, reminding Ben of fresh blood from a wound. When he held out both of his arms in greeting, the long-hanging sleeves of his robe spread with him. “Welcome, Alderaan!” His voice was booming and triumphant. The emperor appeared to be in great spirits. “Come, feast! Let us celebrate this hopeful union!”

Ben watched as his mother bowed her head just so before she walked around the table to sit beside the emperor. He barked orders at his servants demanding more wine. Ben sat beside his father. He eyed Chewbacca standing off to the side, a goblet in his hand, but he did not drink from it. The knights' expression remained alert, watchful. It reminded Ben that while everyone may appear to be enjoying themselves, they were still in a place of vulnerability.

He tried to eat but found his appetite lacking. It gave him little peace to smell the aromatic scents of the delicious food surrounding him. Turkey legs dripped with juices, and piles of roasted vegetables wafted in his nose with such fragrance, and yet none of it appealed to him. He could smell everything with such finite clarity. 

It was almost overwhelming. The emotions from his parents, the stench of the emperors' suspicious Beta counselor, and the mouth-watering bounty of food before him. Ben feared for when the time came for him to scent the princess. What if he could not? What would become of them? Nervousness continued to swell in his stomach, and he clutched the wolf figurine in his hand even tighter. 

The emperor spoke to him twice at the table. The first was a simple question. “How old are you, young prince?”

Ben had to lean forward so he could answer through the noise in the hall. “T-twelve, Your Eminence.”

Emperor Palpatine hummed in response. “Rather young, for an Alpha. Do you think it is too soon for my granddaughter to be matched?”

Ben stuttered through an answer. “I w-was told that Omegas could be scented at birth.”

“Very good,” Palpatine smiled kindly, and Ben was struck by the rush of relief that came over him. The emperor seemed satisfied. “Did you know there are many Alphas who have already lined up to have a chance to mate with Aurelia? Some closer to boys like yourself, but also some men.” Ben’s stomach began to twist into knots as the emperor continued speaking. “Do you think a man who has lived half a century would be a good match for my infant granddaughter?”

Ben’s palms had begun to sweat as he shrunk under the emperor’s intense stare. He did not know the correct answer, but he wondered why they were invited then if the emperor already had suitors for her.

“I do not know, your–Lord Emperor.”

The emperor hummed, his eyes still alight with humor. “Aurelia has many suitors, but you see, I am hopeful.” Something in his tone was much more sinister compared to the expression on his face. “It is my only wish that she be paired with her perfect mate. I do not want her to have to worry about much. She is so vulnerable, you see. Without an Alpha to protect her, she can be claimed by anyone. The Alpha that commands her would be granted my Empire. She can be used as a means to destroy me–destroy this.” The emperor’s wrinkled hands spread out as he gestured to his subjects. “All I have built. The order I have ensured. It is paramount that my legacy continues, and there will be nothing that gets in the way of that.”

Ben felt the emperor’s threat like a slash against his chest. The blade was hot as it cut his skin. He did not understand it. How the emperor could appear so forthcoming and welcoming, while the truth within his Alpha simmered in darkness.

“It’s quite normal to be nervous.” The comment gave Ben the feeling the emperor cared little for being comforting. “Tell me, Prince, what makes you think you are worthy of my granddaughter's hand?”

Ben’s throat ran dry as he thought of an answer. The blush was quickly spreading from his neck to his face. In his nervous state, he could not think of what might be a suitable answer. He tried to recall one of Threepio’s lessons.

“I…I would take care of her,” he said very quietly, almost too low for the emperor to hear, but by the twitch in his eye, something told Ben he did hear him. His father's palm came to rest on Ben’s shoulder and it settled him.

The wolf knows…  

But then the emperor laughed, suddenly raising his goblet, calling for the room to quiet. 

Fear did grip him then as he awaited the emperor’s announcement. Ben knew that soon all the eyes in the room would be on him as he laid his gaze on an unknowing and innocent princess.

He did not hear what the emperor announced, but some gasps filled the room. Plumes of shock and awe wafted against Ben’s conscience as Palpatine gestured for him to rise. He felt his father’s elbow bump into his side, a nudge of support. “The bravery comes from within,” he murmured as Ben pushed back his chair.

“Come, young prince,” Palpatine beckoned as his shriveled and gold adorned hand motioned to the cradle where the princess lay. “It is time for you to choose your destiny.”

None of this felt like much of a choice.

Ben held onto the wolf so tightly his knuckles were white. It served as a small anchor to the earth as Ben’s spirit threatened to float away and leave him. The pressure of all the eyes in the room sent shooting pain to his knees. His footsteps were heavy as he walked around the long feast table. Each step echoed in the silent hall. Clap, clap, clap . Slow and yet filled with anticipation. Ben began to breathe through his nose and mouth. The same recognizable scents filled the air, and as he approached the cradle, he wondered how soon he would notice a different scent, but the dread and fear of being unable to smell anything at all made it hard to concentrate. 

The emperor looked on with a masked expression, his face giving nothing away as he waited, but Ben could sense a sour impatience from the elder Alpha. Another pang of emotion nudged at his shoulder. Ben allowed his senses to guide him, where he spotted a young woman of a towering stature with her eyes downcast. Blond braids fell forward past her shoulders. Long intricate twists. Her thin red lips were twisted in a scowl. Worry etched upon her face. Ben could sense a greater fear within her. Something unsettling, nervous. It made Ben curious. What might she have to be afraid of?

And somehow, knowing that others felt the same gravity he did, knowing that this was likely a moment that would decide whether they remained treasured guests or…unwanted intruders, made everything each step feel much, much more imminent. 

Ben turned his gaze back to the gold embossed cradle. Little sounds hiccuped and cooed from the bundle of quilted blankets swaddling the baby. 

He took another step forward and had his first glance at the princess. 

Ben wasn’t sure what he was expecting when he laid his eyes upon her, but he was shocked at the realization that, amidst all his worrying, she was still merely an infant. Perhaps barely a year old. 

Her expression brightened as she saw him hover over her cradle. Wide and inquisitive eyes blinked at him. It made something in Ben’s chest tighten. Some sort of enchantment that possessed him to learn forward. Little hands reached out, uncertain about this unfamiliar face, but no less inviting. Ben frowned.

What was the right decision? He did not know.

He watched her fingers wiggle in the air, asking for something he did not know how to give. So instead, he let his Alpha decide for him. Ben looked at his hand as it reached forward, the wolf figurine between his fingers as he placed the figure in front of the princess. Her wiggling grip caught the leg of the wolf and held on. A gurgled sound of happiness escaped her mouth, and it eased some of Ben’s worry.

But then it brought his attention back to what he was supposed to be doing. It was not to give a gift of little consequence to the child.

Everyone remained quiet, watching with bated breath, perhaps waiting for Ben to scent the Omega princess and for the celebration to truly begin. 

He couldn’t hear the whispers as much as he felt them. The curiosity in the chamber was very loud amidst the silence. A heavy hand and a hardened gaze, urging him on. 

Knowing he couldn’t delay much longer, Ben took a deep, stuttering inhale. 

The air flowed through his nose and down his throat, into his lungs. He waited to sense something different, for him to catch that scent that was so distinctly Omega . He wished he knew what to expect, but in his short time as a presented Alpha, he had never encountered an Omega before. 

“The wolf knows.” His father had said. Ben took another breath, willing himself to trust it.

But after a few more inhales, Ben sensed…nothing. 

It was peculiar that she would have no scent at all. Even if Ben wasn’t expecting something spectacular, or attractive to him, he still expected something. But the baby gave off neither a scent of delight nor distaste. There were only the same scents that permeated the room.

Movement off to the side caught Ben’s attention as his eyes drifted up to his parents. The expressions on their faces were unreadable. His mother appeared emotionless.

Inside, somewhere far away, Ben thought he could hear someone screaming.

What did this mean?

Snoke had slinked over to the emperor, where he was now whispering something into Palpatine’s ear. 

The emperor looked mildly disappointed. But underneath that exterior, Ben sensed a disquieting calmness, and that was far more worrisome.

“Well, do you sense anything?” The emperor questioned stonily. 

Ben glanced down at the princess one more time before he took a subtle inhale through his mouth, and relief flooded him as he caught a very subdued taste of…something. Some errant wisp of…delight? A little spark, even if it was only barely a hint of a taste—of a garden, of flowers, but so many he couldn’t pinpoint a specific one, but it was something it was— 

With a deep sigh, Palpatine broke the silence. “While I had hoped for a different outcome, it seems this union was not meant to be. Do not worry, Prince, you aren’t the first Alpha who has failed to scent her.” The emperor had his hands raised to the ceiling in a resigned stance.

Panic rushed through his veins, and the feeling of injustice began to bubble in his gut. “I can scent something!” he exclaimed, his voice sounding unlike his own. It cracked as he tried to have his reasoning heard. 

Palpatine stopped, his expression furious with Ben’s interruption. His words took on an icy tone. “What is it you think you have scented then, boy?”

“Flowers,” Ben blurted out, and he took another inhale through his mouth, his tongue pressed against the roof as he tried to lick at the essence of that scent he caught. It was so fleeting and hard to grasp, but Ben knew it was there.

“What sort of flowers?” It’s Snoke who asked the question, and Ben blinked, the dread returning.

“I—I’m not sure, there are so many—“

Snoke chuckled, dismissing Ben’s argument. “It appears the Prince may be scenting the floral arrangement surrounding Aurelia’s bassinet.” His eyes pierced into Ben as he discounted the boys' claims. A ring of soft nervous chuckles echoed in the chamber hall. “Lying to the emperor will not be tolerated,” the lord growled before his lips pursed together contemptuously. “A True Alpha would know his mate.”

Suddenly Ben was bombarded with fear and self-loathing. He did not know, and that seemed even worse than if he had a succinct answer. His father and now Lord Snoke had both said it. His instinct had failed him, or perhaps there was something amiss. Maybe he was broken. 

Ben opened his mouth to say more, perhaps it was the flowers strewn across the cradle, but he was sure it had come from the princess. Yet, the seed of doubt had already been planted, and not just in Ben, but in the nobles surrounding them. Even his parents looked unsure, and Ben questioned his own beliefs. 

The emperor turned from Ben to face the crowded room. “While this is rather disappointing news, I invite you all to stay and be merry. I will retire, however, as I am feeling drained from the spectacle.” With a wave of his hand, the emperor commenced the feast to begin again, and the hall filled with curious chatter and whispers. 

If they were commenting on Ben’s failure, he could not be sure. He watched with sinking dread as the blond woman came forward to lift the infant from her crib, casting him a stony look before she swiftly carried the princess away.

Ben watched them go, the tiny strings of the princess's white bonnet billowing past the blond woman’s braids. The muddled flowery scent of her wafted behind her with each step, giving Ben one last bit of hope that it was her until the doors closed resolutely behind them.

The moment they were in their chambers, Leia voiced her concerns. 

“We should be prepared to leave immediately,” she said as she helped Amilyn remove her ceremonial robes. The headdress clashed against the wooden table as Leia all but threw it down.

“I’m surprised they didn’t even try to poison us afterward.”

Leia’s pacing came to an abrupt halt at her husband’s dry quip. “Han, like you can find the nerve to joke at a time like this.” Ben has never seen his mother look so troubled. “That did not go as we’d hoped. The emperor's temperament changed before his departure. It does not sit well with me. None of this does. Why would they pretend to want this union? Ben said he scented something and still they dismissed him. If Palpatine thinks a union can be decided under such strenuous circumstances–”

“Then you mean I wasn’t wrong?” Ben voiced his confusion, but hope surged within. “I didn’t fail–” 

“We’ve been lured here for another reason. Oh, it’s all been very well-plotted. If the emperor does not want the prophecy to come true, then we are a threat. We should never have come.”

“Should have just brought our soldiers with us then,” Han mumbled the words under his breath. “Would’ve saved the Empire a trip.” His father was being unusually calm, considering he also had an Alpha temper that could raise stones from the ground. 

“Might I add,” Threepio said quietly, but his interjection received an open stare from Ben’s mother. It was a look that would have made Ben instantly recoil, chastised. “If the emperor were to believe in the prophecy that shall not be named, then wouldn’t he be seeking the one?”

“Yes,” his mother said tersely, appearing far from amused. “And if they think it’s Ben, then Palpatine will not hesitate to–” Leia began pacing again, and Ben just wished they could all go home right this instant. 

“If we announce our departure, the emperor may forbid it. But if we delay, and we let them capture us…” Her worry spread and sunk its claws into Ben’s stomach. Dread twisted in his gut. Could the emperor do such a thing?

“We’re getting out of here, we came with an escape plan, didn’t we?” Han looked pointedly at his queen, and Ben wondered if it was the Alpha in his father that gave him the urge to bring levity to every serious situation. 

Leia looked troubled. “As far as I know, there is only one way out of the Empire, and we would be fools to attempt it.”

“Then perhaps we must seek an alternate route. If I may make a suggestion, Your Highness.” Threepio’s voice came from somewhere behind Ben and made him jump. He had completely forgotten he was there. “Despite who may reign, the old tunnels of Corus—er—the Empire are whispered to still exist.” 

Leia stopped for a second time. “Whispers are not sure statements, Threepio,” she chided. 

Threepio bowed his head. “I swear this is a source I trust. These walls have stood long before Palpatine’s reign.”

“These tunnels you speak of, do you know where they lead?”

At that Threepio’s excitement chilled. “I admit, this was told to me a long time ago, hence I recalled them as whispers–”

“We do not have time for games, or to risk my son’s safety because of whispers!”  

Threepio’s demeanor changed and he stood up straighter, stiffer. His mouth worried in a trembling line before he blurted out, “I know someone, a smuggler. He is an old, old friend. He will help us. We only have to make it to port. Perhaps the emperor won’t expect us to try it and will be focused on searching for us within the Empire.”

“This is all after we’ve escaped the palace,” Leia pointed out roughly, her tone unconvinced. “How well do you know this smuggler? Can we put our trust in him?”

“I would trust him with my life. He knew your grandfather…before–”

“Unfortunately, now is not the time to walk down memory lane,” his mother interrupted, her voice sharp. It perked Ben’s interest. He never knew his grandfather, but he’d heard the whispers in Alderaan. He knew that Anakin had tried to oppress designations in Alderaan in allegiance to the new Empire. That he had betrayed his friend, a man who was as close to him as family, as brethren. A man whose namesake Ben now carried with him. Ben didn’t know all of the details, but he knew their history was clouded, filled with smoke. Some of which still needed to air out.

Threepio appeared apologetic. “You were likely too young to remember, my queen, that I once served these halls many years ago. I grew up within them as a boy.” Ben saw his tutor’s gaze grow misty-eyed. “There are a few tunnels I know quite well, and while they may not be straight assurances of an escape to get us out of the Empire, it's a first step.”

“Let us start taking them, and many.” His mother’s command rang through the room. Suddenly she was kneeling before him, her hand lifted to graze his cheek. “Be brave, Ben,” she whispered, and it wasn’t her voice that made him feel so much conviction but the message her Alpha sent to him. Ben was used to this feeling, to the way his mother would sometimes inject her emotions into him knowingly. How she could reach him and calm him with a feeling. 

And being so in tune with it, Ben could feel it shift, and the warm embrace from his mother turned harder, sharper. His mother’s next words weren’t for comfort. They were a command. “Please, do as I tell you.”

Ben had never experienced a moment where he thought his life was truly in peril. There had been some instances of fear, yes. But Ben had never really been afraid.

It was hard to tell what fear was his and what was his mothers’, or even his fathers’. The emotions were so intense, his Alpha whispered with a constant pang of worry that made his fingers shake. 

There were too many of them, so they decided to split up. Ben was very against the decision of being separated from his parents. He didn’t understand it. Why did they think it was best to go off on their own? Why didn’t they want him with them? Why did they allow Amilyn to go with them? Why did his mother send him away with an Alpha command?

Chewbacca laid a hand on Ben’s shoulder, and he knew it was supposed to be comforting, but nothing about this situation felt good. 

The questions continued to bombard Ben’s thoughts. How would his parents know where to go? What if they were caught? What if he never saw them again?

No, he had promised them he would be brave, even as confusion and fear warred with his emotions. 

Threepio had led them out of the palace through a narrow tunnel he used to frequent when he served the Empire as a boy. Ben thought it odd that he had never known any of these details about his tutor considering the man practically raised him. It seemed there was much he did not know.

They are close to port, Ben could see the shimmering waves beneath the almost full moon. Just a few more streets and then they would be out of the city.

It almost felt too easy. They had evaded detection thus far, but Ben kept his head down, hoping not to draw attention. But then Chewbacca stopped walking, his head turned and eyes alert. He spotted something down an alleyway, and when Ben went to look he saw a mounted soldier trotting towards them.

“Hey, you!” 

“Go!” Chewbacca growled. “I will hold them off and find you at port.” The tall knight left no room for argument as he stalked towards the soldier charging at them on horseback. Ben’s last image of the knight was with him raising his giant broadsword over his head.

His tutor's grip on his arm pulled him further away. Grief and despair clung to him as they turned down a narrow alley. A few paces down, there was an alcove. Threepio pulled him towards it.

“Uh, I—I would advise you to take off your jacket, Your Highness. Anything to help throw them off our trail.” Ben looked down at his festival attire and scowled. 

“You might want to start calling me Ben if you’re trying not to cause suspicion,” Ben huffed as he pulled his arms violently out of his jacket. The fine cloth fell to the floor of the alleyway with a soft thump.

 “Quick, we must move. Surely there will be soldiers patrolling the streets. Do not fret. We will reunite with your parents when we make it to port.” His tutor’s words did not appease his fears, but Ben was helpless to disobey his mother’s command. Threepio snagged Ben’s wrist and pulled him along. 

Ben found it odd that his tutor seemed so knowledgeable about this escape route. It made him ponder what Threepio’s life might have been before he served his parents. If perhaps his tutor walked these familiar streets from a past long left behind. Ben silently trotted behind his tutor as they hid behind shadowed walls, taking turns and more turns until abruptly, Threepio came to a halt. 

He peeked over his shoulder to see what made him stop. Empire guards stood by what looked like an open cavern. Hoofbeats clapped along the cobblestone as more guards approached. 

“Men!” A voice rang out. “There was an attempt on the emperor tonight, the Kingdom of Alderaan has betrayed the Empire. The Alpha prince has escaped and is to be apprehended immediately. There is word that he is hiding here in the Under City. We begin an immediate search. Get to your posts!”

There was a joint roar from the crowd of soldiers as they assembled.

“What are we going to do?” Ben tried to be brave, but all he could see was his mother’s devastated face. His pain and his fear too easily let in. 

Threepio turned away from their only escape route. “We must find Maz Kanata.”

Finding Maz Kanata became more difficult as the night wore on. More soldiers arrived, searching for the prince. Ben perked his ears for any news of the queen and king but had so far heard nothing.

It did not ease or add to his concerns. He was very much in a state of survival. His mind was unable to provide much more than its most basic functions.

The Under City was unlike any place Ben had been before. The structures surrounding them were not made of stone or with the same elegance as the buildings Ben saw when they entered the Empire. This place felt like a world almost forgotten, and yet the streets were full of life.

Finally, they arrived at a plain wooden door. Ben watched as Threepio’s lips formed into a quick little prayer, and then his hand reached out to knock. 

After a long wait, it opened a sliver. “Cornelius?” The woman’s voice was surprised. 

“Hello, Maz. Long time. We are in desperate need of your assistance.”

The crack in the door widened. Two wide-set eyes came into view, as did one of the smallest women Ben had ever seen. Her eyes traveled over him from his feet to his sweat-matted hair. 

Her eyes narrowed in scrutiny. Her grumbled reply followed. “You should come in.”

“Why have you brought an unmated True Alpha into my home?” Maz spoke with a grating abruptness. It was the second time Ben had heard that phrase. Its patronizing connotation filled Ben’s with unease.

Threepio took a deep breath. “I was told that you could be trusted with matters of the Resistance.”

That word rang something loose in the back of Ben’s mind. A memory of whispers between his parents, but they were wisps of cognizance he would not grasp. 

Maz did not flinch. “What matters do you speak of?”

“We were on our way to port before we were stopped. Too many soldiers were in the streets. I was told if I was ever in any bind to find Maz Kanata.” Threepio spoke to the woman–Maz–with familiarity as if they were old acquaintances. Friends perhaps. 

“Jar Jar will only take bribes, you might not have gotten very far at port,” Maz said with a shake of her head.

“I believe I had many incentives for him based on the travelers he would ferry alone.”

Maz’s gaze blinked behind her spectacles, landing on Ben with a scrutinizing stare. “What sort of incentives,” she grumbled with suspicion, eyeing Ben more closely now. 

Threepio's voice dropped to a low whisper. “The lineage of Alderaan has been threatened upon this night. With me, is the sole heir to that line, and I must keep him out of the hands of the emperor.” 

Ben was stunned by the passion behind Threepio’s declaration. He had never seen his tutor in such a state. 

Maz appeared apprehensive. “Unless you have an army, there is no way out. Port will likely be swarming with soldiers already if they’re prowling the streets. They will begin knocking on doors soon enough.” Maz’s face twisted into a grimace like she smelled something foul. In Ben’s panicked mind, he could sense the subtle scent from Maz; earthy and warm. She was an Omega, her scent weathered and worn, yet…tampered. “His stench is too strong if even I can smell it. The beast in him is too loud. We won’t be able to hide him like this.” A heavy pause filled the air, enough to make Ben grind his teeth together in frustration. “And you know the only solution—“ 

“No, not that,” Threepio’s interjection startled Ben a second time. He never knew the man had such a backbone, and yet Ben was witnessing his tutor in a whole new light. Gone was the carefree philosopher. “No, we cannot take a risk like that.”

“This is a matter of life and death, Sir Thorp,” Maz’s voice remained hard, but with the added formality she was menacing. “Surely you recognize that.”

“But he would become an Infandus…the damage could be irreversible!”

The term Infandus was new to Ben. He wanted to know what it meant, but he was also terrified. How would his parents handle the news? If they were even still upon this earth. Would they be in despair? Disappointment? He already failed them once today. He was determined not to do it again.

Petrified screams tore through the air in the distance. It was an alert to the danger so near. The soldiers were closing in.

There was no time to ponder a decision, and while Ben felt as though he were teetering on the edge of a cliff, with nowhere to go but down, he had to decide how he was going to face the fall.

The wolf knows. 

“I’ll do it.” Ben’s unsteady voice cut through the bickering, and they both stopped to look at him.

“My prince—“

“I am an Alpha. I promised them. If this is what I must do to survive, to fulfill my responsibility to Alderaan. I—I will do it. Then I will return to Alderaan one day, and I will make up for the time I have missed.”

“If this is your decision.” Maz nodded gravely before she went to a different room to retrieve some items. When she returned, she beckoned them with her hand. “Come, in the kitchen.”

“Your Highness, the muzzle is an extremely dangerous contraption. It is meant to stifle your Alpha, to keep you bound. Some of the effects may be irreversible—”

But it seemed they had no choice. If they found him now, Ben would be imprisoned and likely executed.

They followed Maz into the adjourning room. She had begun clearing the table in the center of it. Ben went to help her. Time was not a comfort they could afford.

When it was clear, Maz pointed to it. “Get on the table, Prince.”

“My name is Ben.” 

Once he was lying on the table, Maz only responded with a disagreeing hum. “After tonight, it might not be for some time. After tonight, the Prince of Alderaan will be no more. Ben Solo will not have stepped past my threshold.” Maz stared down at him. “Perhaps you can think of what you wish to be called as a distraction from the procedure.”

A strong scent filled the room. The sharp sting of alcohol and an intense whiff of spice. A heady resin wafted through the air, thickening it. When Maz appeared by his side she was flicking the scented powder through the room. “It’s to help with your stench,” Maz growled as she moved around him.

Maz lifted something into view, and Ben realized that the metal contraption was the muzzle. Forged from iron, and unforgiving, it swayed heavily in Maz’s hand. Ben considered the intricacies of the bit, similar to one for a horse, but with straps that fit around a human skull. There were sharp little prongs along the edges where the hinges met. 

“They hook into the meat of your gums at the back of your jaw.” Maz was not one to keep things light, that was certain. “It hurts, and the prongs rub uncomfortably at your glands. It is supposed to be a torture device, and its ability to subdue an Alpha is abhorrently effective. The mouth will adjust, and eventually, you will get used to it. Once it is done it can only be undone by a prolific surgeon, which I am not. I hope when you find your way out of here, that the muzzle is removed with delicate care.”

Threepio was at Ben’s side as they both eyed the metal prongs. “We will get you out of these chains as quick as a lightning flash, do not fret.” But his tutor's voice trembled as he spoke, and Ben felt little confidence. 

A surge of doubt pushed against his will, but Ben swore to be strong. He was an Alpha. He knew what he must do. 

“Just get it done.” Ben wanted to be brave, but fear was a very powerful thing. And it was not just the fear of the pain. While he only recently just presented, there was an archaic instinct within him that shivered in uncertainty. 

What if this prevented him from being a strong Alpha, a worthy leader? A good Alpha…the perfect mate? 

It was the most persistent thought on his mind as Maz put her fingers in his mouth to pry them open before she inserted a metal device that stretched his jaw to an uncomfortable degree. 

Panic began to swell again, to take over his mind and his ability to be still. Ben tried to remain calm, so he thought about his mate—whoever she may be. For one moment he thought of the princess and her diluted scent. Perhaps it was only because she was too young. Perhaps she was not ready to be scented? Ben didn’t know what compelled him to believe this, but some small part of him wondered if given some time, he would discover that scent to be a perfect match for him. Why he believed this, he did not know.

But he held on to that belief with every last whisper of hope that he had. 

“Be well, my prince. All things have a purpose.” Threepio’s voice wafted heavily with sadness above Ben and out of his line of sight. He heard Threepio’s footsteps near, the bouncing end of a white curl falling into view. Ben tried to grasp the memory of Threepio this morning, his eyes filled with light and hope, but his tutor’s despair for him was difficult to ignore. Ben did not want to think too hard on it, lest it breaks his resolve. 

Part of Ben wanted to believe it as well. Could all things have a purpose? Was this the necessity to lead him on his path to greatness—to become the Alpha that his parents hoped would return to them?

Would he still have that chance?

To become the Alpha that would be the most formidable protector of his mate?

Would he be an Alpha at all? 

Would he be lost?

Ben only needed to hold on to hope, let it keep him away from the darkness, from the misery that lay before him. He needed to be brave, and as he felt the metal pierce his flesh, he vowed to try.