Chapter Text
Abby struggled to get the candle to burst into life. On the fifth frustrating attempt the wick succumbed to the intense heat and gently smoldered. Chancellor Griffin stood back to admire her handy work. The best China and the best cutlery sat on top of the most luxurious silk table cloth. Being Chancellor of Skai-kru had its troubles and its benefits, as domestic as those benefits currently might be.
Abby had traded three pairs of shoes and her husband’s pristine set of screwdrivers for the antique kitchenware she now beamed over. She was not a woman for pretty things usually. This though, was one of her guilty pleasures. Nothing pleased her more than an evening filled with lovely food and drink. She would share these moments with her greying Alpha mate and their only Alpha daughter.
Abby was endlessly proud of how her ancestors had been part of the original coalition that united the clans. The nations had lived in relative peace for the best part of 100 years now. It was a daily endeavor though, to ensure it stayed that way.
Her husband Jake watched on shaking his head.
“Abby, I’m fairly certain it all looked perfect the first time round.”
Abby continued her neurotic ministrations. Her hands on her hips rethinking the whole thing yet again. She blew an errant hair out of her face.
“You could help Jake…” Abby snapped.
Abby turned her back on the much amused man. She held her head in her hands.
“I’m acting like a crazy person, aren’t I?” Abby now turned to face her husband.
“I’d say you’re exhibiting your skills as a domestic engineer, Chancellor.” Jake bowed.
“Screw you Jake Griffin.”
“I’d love nothing more, but our guests are due any moment.”
Abby ignored her husband’s flirtations and focused on the clock on the wall. Her Tri-kru counterpart would be arriving any moment. Abby had learnt over the last few years to tolerate the Tri-kru first minister. Abby constantly felt under the woman’s scrutiny; the raised eye brow, the tutting, the wholesome goodness that was the spirit of the Tri-kru leaders that came before. The arrogant belief that it was their influence within the coalition that managed to bring the temperamental Azgada into line. Ski-kru would always be the petulant youth about to make the next mistake for Tri-kru to clean up. Abby sometimes found it hard to believe the 13 clans had ever made it to a lasting peace. Tonight, Abby was to be introduced to the future Tri-Kru Omega Queen. Hopefully, their relationship would go smoother than Indra and hers.
Abby knew the basics of Indra. She had mated and produced one pup just like herself. Abby knew Indra’s son as Lincoln. He was nothing like his tightly wound, quick to fire Mother. Abby had found bringing pups to term difficult after Clarke. She and Jake had lost many litters. Nature eventually took its course and Abby found her great heats become less and less until one day they were no more. Indra it seemed had also found herself victim to the same heartbreak. Indra’s mate was no longer alive though. He had become ‘infected’ whilst out negotiating with the Azgada traders. Indra swore it was murder, but Abby had managed to convince Indra to not take her people to war when she had no evidence to back up her claim.
The Tri-kru were a noble, devout people. They believed in the spirit of earth and ground. They believed nature to be sacred, and had strict laws on how it should be maintained. The Tri-kru were one of the more powerful clans, as their ability to cultivate and control their lands provided construction materials, medicines and most importantly, food to the surrounding clans. Only the Azgada covered almost as big of a territory as the Tri-kru-square mile wise.
Abby found Tri-kru beliefs to be noble but unmovable even in the face of logic: no sex before marriage, no contraception, no inter breeding with other clans. It was rigid and suffocating to Abby. Indra’s adopted daughter had rarely been seen outside of Tri-kru territory since she was a child. As her body changed and prepared itself for woman hood she had been hidden from prying eyes.
Abby glanced back to the clock again.
“Where the hell is our daughter?” Abby threw her hands into the air.
Jake wasn’t sure his daughter was ready for the world of politics. Abby waited for Jake to respond. He just looked on at her sullenly.
“Don’t give me that look…” Abby sighed.
Jake chose his words carefully. Not wanting to add further anxiety to his fretting wife.
“She’s been through so much already Abby. She just wants to paint.” Jake shrugged.
“We tried that Jake. Clarke needs a role that gives her some authority, an outlet for her need to dominate.”
“I don’t think we gave other options a chance for long enough!” Jake’s voice raised slightly.
Abby’s eyes narrowed.
“You want to discuss this now Jake? Really?” Abby snapped again.
Clarke had indeed had a tough 20 years. Hospital bays, psych wards, and jail. Abby knew Jake meant well, though Abby truly believed art was not the answer for her troubled daughter. Clarke was a natural leader. She had done so much good already. Clarke had campaigned strongly in support of Lincoln opening a gathering place for the youths within the clans; a place where anyone could come and be themselves-a place to feel safe and respected. Indra did not approve. Abby, at first, did not approve as well. The thought of young Alphas and Omegas being packed together with curious Betas filled her with dread. It was still running though. It had its checkered history, but Abby saw it now as a great milestone of the communities melding together. Even the people from the furthest reaches of the clans would travel in order to visit the famous Trinity bar.
“I just want her to be in a safe place, I want her stable and happy.” Jake sighed.
“Jake, she’s an Alpha not a serial killer.” Abby made light of Jakes concerns.
…………………………………………
Clarke was no ordinary Alpha. Her mother was not wrong when she called her daughter a natural leader. Clarke seemed to be faster, stronger, and more dominant than any other Alpha within the territories.
Clarke had struggled horribly to stay calm and settled throughout her life, especially her teens. The animal inside her was controlling, and sought victory constantly. Abby and Jake dealt with Clarke as best they could in a purely Skai-Kru way. Abby was reluctant to take advice from other clan leaders over her only pup. Her medical background always being her guiding light.
Abby recalled a terrified five year-old Clarke running into her room. She believed a wolf had chewed through her door-a wolf had torn all of her clothes. Abby and Jake had managed to keep this charade up until Clarke hit puberty. Clarke soon realized whom the wolf was.
On her 14th birthday Clarke hit the floor in agony. Abby had known this day was coming. As Clarke passed out Jake carried his only child up to bed. Abby removed Clarkes clothes. Her private parts were swollen and changed. Clarke’s penis was enlarged and looked painful. Her first Knot had formed at the base and bruised the skin around it. Clarke was far too young to be experiencing her first rut. Keeping so much from Clarke about what she was had not helped the situation. Abby would admit Indra had been wiser than her about that. Her words a strong memory still.
“You cannot suppress Clarke’s true nature with your drugs.” Indra had lectured.
…………………………………………
Abby sat down heavily in one of her leather dining chairs. She fiddled with the hem of the table cloth mindlessly. She went to speak, but second guessed herself. Jake pulled out a chair opposite and sat himself down.
“I… I know Clarke isn’t ready to lead yet.” Abby admitted.
Jake nodded back.
“We did a good job… didn’t we?” Abby questioned
Jake reached across the table and took his wife’s hand into his.
“We raised a strong, independent young Alpha. Despite her setbacks, she still thinks of others before herself, and knows the importance of love.”
Abby’s eyes watered at her husband’s perfect words.
At that, there came a loud knock at the door.
Both Abby and Jake shot up like rockets, both bounding for the door. Abby caught her knee on the table leg as she passed. The contents rocked violently. They both froze watching until the last candle wobble, but thankfully it stayed upright like everything else.
“Let’s take that as a good Omen.” Jake winked.
They both burst out laughing.
Impatiently, the door knocked again. Both Abby and Jake headed for the door.
“Let me answer it.” Abby comically whispered.
Abby paused at the door with the latch in her hand. She turned back to a giggling Jake.
“Will you please behave, find Clarke!” Abby sniggered herself.
“No way, I am not missing the look on Indra’s face after you made her knock twice!” Jake held his stomach from laughing.
Abby composed herself and opened the large wooden door.
The dying light from the sun sat low in the sky. This created three solid silhouettes at Abby’s door. One was much taller than the other two.
As Abby’s eyes adjusted to the light she noted the taller figure as Lincoln, and instantly gave him a smile. He politely nodded and smiled right back. Indra stepped forward holding out her hand to Abby. They shook hands formally, Abby offering Indra a smile. Jake then stepped forward and took Indra’s hand. He glanced at his wife and prayed he did not burst out laughing. Indra eyed him curiously then spoke.
“May I introduce my daughter, Leksa” Indra beamed.
As Indra stepped back and brought the girl forward, Abby noticed Lincoln look away. Abby thought that odd. Her focus was then taken back to her husband. Jake gently bumped her once with his hip to get her focus back on Indra. She was about to present her mysterious daughter to them.
As the girl stepped out of the low sunlight, she removed her red silk shawl from her head. Abby and Jake instantly lost the goofy grins that had previously adorned their faces. Lexa’s hair cascaded downward over her shoulders, her green eyes shone intently in the sunlight, and her skin appeared soft and flawless. She held a nervous hand out to Abby.
“Chancellor, I’m pleased to meet you.” Lexa drawled.
Jake stood baffled by his wife’s reaction. She held Lexa’s hand with her jaw gaping open. Jake himself remained stunned. This girl was absolutely breathtaking! Jake coughed lightly and waved nervously at Lincoln in the background. Lincoln was more than accustomed to the effect his adopted sister had on people on first meeting her.
Lexa hinted at Abby.
“I’m sure you have a beautiful home.” Lexa squeezed Abby’s hand.
Abby snapped out of her surprise.
“My apologies, please come in! It’s Lexa isn’t it?” Abby fumbled.
All three Tri-Kru members entered the Griffin household.
Indra scanned the room. Abby’s home was smaller than what she thought it would be, but very nicely put together. She appreciated the effort with the dining table. Her eyes then settled on the Skai-Kru crest above the doorway: A cobalt blue background, with an embossed image of the famous Ark that had crash landed on her ancestor’s lands over 150 years ago. Lexa seemed to be scanning the room for something different.
Jake noticed her wandering eyes.
“Lexa, may I get you a drink?” Jake politely offered.
Lexa smiled broadly. Both Jake and Abby momentarily froze again. Lexa’s whole being seemed to change totally when she smiled like that. She truly was the most beautiful woman Abby had ever met. Both Abby and Jake stood slack jawed awaiting a command, both primed for Lexa to speak. Her voice was soft and dripped with caramel as she answered Jake.
“Water is just fine” Lexa thanked them.
Both Abby and Jake made for the kitchen together, leaving Indra to investigate the Skai-kru household further.
Abby rushed and collided with Jake at the water fountain in their home.
“Oh. My. God!” Jake squealed.
“What the hell is wrong with you?” Abby squealed back.
“Me? you nearly kissed her when that door opened!” Jake playfully bumped Abby with his hip again.
“I did not. I was just a little…surprised” Abby confessed.
“She’s just-” Jake lost his words.
“Stunning.” Abby answered.
“She’s so beautiful, yes.” Jake admitted.
“How is it fair that someone gets to look like that?” Abby shook her head in awe of Lexa’s genetics.
“We have to get it together. She is their future Queen, and Indra’s daughter!” Jake whispered.
“Right, take her the water, then for the last time... go find Clarke!” Abby slapped her husband’s arm playfully.
As Jake left, Abby leant her head on the wall briefly. Why was she acting like this? This young girl was really something else. It wasn’t just how she looked. She gave off an intense vibe of sexuality that even drew Abby in. Abby wondered if Lexa’s heat was due very soon.
When Abby reentered the main room, Jake was gone. Hopefully he was off to drag Clarke out from wherever she was hiding.
“Jake is off looking for my daughter, you’re about the same age id think.” Abby smiled at Lexa.
Abby noticed the same odd look on Lincoln’s face from earlier at the doorway. Lexa stared at him and he could not hold her eyes for long. Abby wondered if the siblings had squabbled on the way over. Squabbling did not seem very likely from either of them though. They were so well put together and calm. Indra quizzed Abby on Clarke.
“I would have thought her to have greeted us at the door.” Indra stood up straighter than need be.
Abby groaned internally. Not five minutes in her home and Indra had started to poke holes in Skai-kru manners and etiquette!
“She’s not been well this past week or so.” Abby again noticed the glances between Lexa and her brother.
Clarke had not been herself at all lately. She had been locked away in her room, or out in the yard punching Jake’s training bag. Abby noticed Clarke’s pumped, pronounced muscle and moody behavior. Clarke had spent extended periods of time in their makeshift shower which Abby would rather not query further.
Abby thought perhaps Clarke had been tempted by an Omega because this was how she usually dealt with the… tension.
Abby offered Indra an awkward smile.
…………………………………………
Jake entered the back yard to find Clarke sat in the shadows listening to music. As Jake approached, Clarke removed her headphones and turned to face her father.
“See, that never ceases to impress me!” Jake grinned at Clarke.
“You can’t sneak up on me Dad. You know what I am.” Clarke half smiled.
“Ah, smell that bad, do I?” Jake sniffed at his arm pit.
“Something like that…” Clarke let her father hug her briefly.
“So… Indra is here. Your Mother is in the same room as her, how about some help with that?” Jake pleaded.
Clarke looked up to the sky. Her father copied her gaze.
“It’s no better up there you know? We should know that kid.” Jake put his arm around his daughter.
Clarke sighed heavily.
“I have some encouraging news though-Lincoln is here!” Jake gave Clarke a thumbs up.
“I know Dad.” Clarke winked.
“Ah, the heightened senses thing again.” Jake realized.
“Well, we have another guest, her name-”
“Lexa.” Clarke interrupted.
Jake frowned and took in his daughter’s sudden change in mood.
Clarke found her courage and turned to her father.
“Dad, I have to tell you something before we go in there. You’re not gonna like it.”
“Honey you can tell me anything.” Jake smiled.
Clarke moved away from her father and back into the shadows of their yard. Clarke sat back down in the lawn chair and grabbed for her moonshine. She sat with her usual tom-boy posture. Her hooded top tight with its hood raised.
Clarke sipped her cup of moonshine and offered one to her Father.
“I shouldn’t-ah, what the hell?” Jake took the drink.
Clarke swigged from the cup and stared straight on. She waited for her father to ask her some sort of starter question. She had no idea how to begin.
“Clarke, I can’t talk to you with that damn hood up.” Jake reached to pull the hood back.
Clarke shifted quickly out of his reach. She didn’t want her father to see her as she was. Her wolf was taking over, her features were changed. Darker eyes, skin paler and her jaw set stiff. Her teeth felt sharper and ached in her mouth.
“Baby, I know what you look like at these times. It’s ok, drop the hood.”
Clarke sighed and granted her father’s request. She’d endured nine days of running miles in the woods, punching the workout bag, and masturbating constantly. She was at the point of forgetting how to be Clarke Griffin at all.
The silence remained only a few more seconds.
“So…what’s the special occasion?” Jake raised his cup.
Clarke cradled her drink between her hands and looked back at the house. She still had no idea how to begin, or how much detail to share.
She took a deep breath.
“I-I know Lexa, I... woke up with Lexa.” Clarke stuttered.
Jake paused to look back at the house with Clarke.
“The girl in the house? That girl?” Jake went dry mouthed.
Clarke nodded.
“You’re sure? The girl in the house…that girl?” Jake repeated comically.
Clarke went bright red now.
“Brunette, tall, green eyes, big lips?” Jake beamed brightly.
Clarke’s eyes narrowed on her father.
“Hey, your mother noted these things, not me!” Jake held is hands up.
“Dad, it’s not funny.” Clarke went to stand.
“No, honey, wait.” Jake sat Clarke back down.
“Let me get this in my head. That girl…and you…wow Clarke.” Jake chuckled.
There was a long pause as Jake took a long gulp from his drink.
“She’s possibly the most beautiful woman I’ve ever met. She’s so…beautiful.” Jake blew out air.
Clarke gripped tighter around her cup.
“Is it weird if I high five my own daughter?” Jake held up is hand.
Clarke sank down lower in her chair, hood pulled further over her face.
“Wait-shit! She’s Indra’s daughter and a Queen Omega!” Jake went pale.
Jake’s excitement and odd pride in his daughter’s bedding of Lexa distracted him from Clarke’s ever changing form.
“I’m...struggling. She’s my first.” Clarke was in a downward spiral.
Jake bit his bottom lip and cursed up to the sky.
“Oh shit Clarke. What the hell have you done?”
“I didn’t wear anything Dad…” Clarke admitted.
“Why not? We taught you about that.” Jake was beginning to find things less funny.
“I didn’t have time to think…she just, took me into her.”
“That’s a shitty excuse young lady!” Jake was stern.
“She’s Tri-kru anyway, they don’t believe in contracep-”
Jake butted in.
“I don’t care what Tri-Kru believe. You wrap it Clarke Griffin.” Jake reiterated.
“Not with her I won’t. It felt… amazing.” Clarke’s eyes swirled with dark pools.
“And that’s the trap Clarke.” Jake shook his head.
“Trap? She didn’t trap me into anything.” Clarke looked annoyed.
“Did she bite you?”
Clarke pulled back the neck of her top, Lexa’s tooth marks still obvious.
“Clarke, tell me you didn’t bite her as well!”
Clarke rose up quickly. Jake jumped out of his skin at the sudden change in mood.
“I bit her... she belongs to me.” Clarke glared out from her hood.
“How many times Clarke. Omegas belong to themselves. You’re Skai-kru you know this!” Jake schooled Clarke.
“That one is mine.” Clarke pointed towards the house.
“Clarke, what the hell-since whe-” Jake stopped mid-sentence.
He took a moment to really look at Clarke’s deteriorating mental state.
“How long have you been separated from her?”
“Nine days!” She growled.
Clarke paced back and forth like a trapped dog.
“I…I went into the woods this morning.” Clarke admitted.
She rocked gently and gripped her moonshine tighter, still not looking at Jake.
Jake waited patiently for Clarke to get whatever it was off her chest. He lied to Clarke earlier; he hadn’t ever seen her look this inhuman before.
“I…thought I was running. I think I might have been hunting.” Clarke frowned.
Jake looked beyond Clarke, he looked into the depth of the shadows of the yard. He saw a form covered under a sheet of tarp. Jakes hands began to go numb and his spine tingled.
“I followed a deer. I chased it through the trees and took it down harder than I should have. It set off to get away but I couldn’t stop, I couldn’t stop hitting it over and over, until it couldn’t get away any more. Then it just stopped moving.”
Jake stood slowly and headed for the tarp. As he got close he felt his shoes sink into a small pool of blood.
“I had to throw out the shirt you got me from Polis on your last visit…there was too much blood to wash out.”
Jake peeled back the tarp and threw his hand up to his mouth in disbelief. A mid-sized slab of deer lay dead on his lawn. Its skull caved in and its tongue loosely hanging from what was left of its jaw.
“Clarke…you…you did this?” Jake stuttered.
Clarke just stared her father down with dark eyes.
“Why did you bring it back here?”
“I don’t know.” Clarke squint her eyes and stretched her neck from side to side.
“I will sort it out before your mother sees it.”
Clarke moved quickly and marched over to the tarp. She bumped her father out of the way, nearly knocking him over.
“No, it’s mine!” Clark snarled.
Jake stepped back, hands in the air.
“Ok…ok Clarke…its ok.” Jake reached out for his struggling daughter.
Clarke slapped his hand away and pushed her dad back. Clarke swiped out a clawed hand at the first thing she saw; Abby’s solid wood bird table was quickly snapped in two.
Clarke grit her teeth and pulled herself further away from her wide-eyed father.
“I WANT LEXA!”
Clarke made for the house with Jake quickly in pursuit. He tackled Clarke to the ground and pressed all of his weight onto her. She struggled violently beneath him. As she bucked and twisted, Jake could feel her giving in. Jake was not a young man anymore, he was never a weak Alpha in his day but Clarke was something else. If she had wanted to, she could have tried harder and thrown him off her back.
“Shhh, Clarke calm down.” Jake wrestled his daughter into the dirt.
“What happens if I let you in there Clarke? You gonna hurt your Mother? Hurt Lexa?...How do we treat Omegas Clarke?” Jake knew what he was doing.
Clarke stopped struggling and Jake eased up off her.
“I would never hurt Lexa.” Clarke held her head in her hands as she now lay on her back in the dirt.
“I’m gonna bypass you not mentioning your mother.” Jake pointed playfully at Clarke.
Clarke looked up and saw her father’s outstretched hand. She let him pull her to her feet. He dusted his daughter down and took her face into his hands. Her eyes were like black tar, and her skin burnt hot.
“What the hell did she do to you?” Jake sighed.
“It’s not her fault. I wanted her we…we couldn’t stop.” Clarke felt her insides shudder at the memory of how good Lexa felt.
“She’s your mate now Clarke. You should never have been separated after…you know.” Jake blushed.
“Dad, take me to her just-do what you have to if I need taking down.” Clarke sighed.
“Honey, I don’t think we have anything heavy enough.”