Author's Note: This chapter has a little bit of action and depicts violence as well as other gruesome content. Please be advised.
"I can't check it. Can you do it for me?" Lexa asked moving her swivel chair away from her laptop. It was Monday and the final grades for Lexa's classes were posted. She did well in all of her classes, but Art history was a tricky subject for her.
Clarke scrolled down the page. She turned to Lexa who had her eyes closed tightly as if she were waiting for impact and took her hands into her own.
"Look at me." Watery green eyes met her own. "I don't know how to tell you this…" Clarke let the last part drag on for dramatic effect. "Are you sure that you aren't a genius or something?" Lexa looked at her perplexed. "You got a B. I don't know how you feel about B's, but that's great, baby!" Clarke finished bouncing with joy.
Lexa sat in her chair mouth agape. She glanced from the computer screen to Clarke before a bright smile was painted on her face.
"I got a B! I passed!" She replied before standing up and hugging her girlfriend excitedly. "What a relief. I thought I was going to tank."
"Maybe you can tutor me next semester."
"You bet your cute little ass, I will."
The living room was a mess. Clarke had been wrapping Christmas presents for most of the morning. It turned out that buying five different types of wrapping paper was unnecessary.
The past couple of weeks had been relaxing to say the least. Clarke and Raven were becoming more comfortable in Minneapolis. For the first time in a long time a place felt like a stable home.
Raven was out with Kyle, so that gave Clarke more time to wrap her gifts. Every year Raven would tell her not to get her anything and every year she ended up buying her stuff anyway. The brunette tried to act annoyed, but Clarke could tell that she enjoyed the sentiment.
"Finally!" Clarke exclaimed excitedly. She finally finished wrapping her last gift. She started to quickly clean up thinking Raven would be back home at any moment.
The doorbell ringing made her stop in her way to the garbage can in the kitchen. She walked briskly toward the door. Not seeing anyone through the peephole, she made sure to open the door cautiously. Her eyes landed on a black box with her name on top of a card that accompanied it. She picked up the box and took it inside.
Clarke was a wreck. It seems silly to freak out about a black box that is most likely a present, but in her world it meant the hunters were coming. Her mind traveled to the friends that she had made in the past few weeks and reminded herself that if the hunters were coming that they would be there to help her.
She took a few breathes before picking up the card and opening it.
I know it's still a few days until Christmas, but I saw these and thought of you. I hope you like them.
Love,
Lexa
Clarke felt her body relax. She couldn't help, but grin from ear to ear at what Lexa could have gotten her. She untied the bow and opened the top of the box. She gasped at the sight of a few sketch pads, pencils, and a camera caught her eye. She took out her phone and dialed Lexa's number. The other girl picked up after two rings.
'I'm assuming you opened your present. Did you like it?'
"Like it. Lexa I love it. Thank you so so much."
'It was no problem. Like I said I saw those things and it made me think of you.'
"Who knew the big bad Alpha of the Northern Alliance was so sweet?" Clarke joked. Lexa laughed at her banter. "It's a shame that you didn't stick around so I could thank you properly." She said huskily.
Lexa shivered on the other end of the line. "I know, baby. But I had to go to the club and do a little inventory before the Christmas party tomorrow night." She replied typing in an order on her computer.
"Why don't you come over tonight? I'll cook you dinner and help you relax that crease in your forehead." Clarke said laughing at her own joke.
'That sounds lovely. I do not have a crease in my forehead, Clarke.' Lexa replied through laughter.
"Well now you don't. You laughed it away."
'You're cute you know that?"
"Why thank you, beautiful. You are amazing for being able to have a business, go to school, and be an Alpha. "
'Thanks, babe. It helps that I have you now. It's like I have someone to share my kingdom with.'
"Well I am a princess." Clarke quipped.
'I should be done by 6, so I'll be at your place by 7. Is that okay?' Lexa asked not wanting to get back to work.
"That sounds perfect."
'I'll see you later, okay?'
"Okay. Bye, baby."
'Bye, princess.'
Clarke hung up the phone. She looked around at the large ball of unused wrapping paper and realized that she probably should throw the evidence in the outside trashcan. She picked it up and walked outside quickly to throw it away. She didn't notice someone watching her from a window a few houses down.
Octavia was on her way out of Barfly, when she heard someone following closely behind her on her way to her Ducati. Although, her day was not particularly bad it was still long and she had no patience for night time creeps.
She felt for her knife in her jacket pocket and swiftly pulled it out before turning around to confront the prowler.
"Whoa whoa!" A dark middle aged man said with his hands up in surrender. "This is not the welcome I was expecting. Then again it is my fault for sneaking up on you. I should know better." He explained nervously.
Octavia dropped her arm. She tried to relax, but she felt her jaw clench tightly. The person in front of her was supposed to be keeping the Southern packs safe, not keeping an eye on her. She made sure to keep her guard up.
"Thelonious." Octavia greeted lowly.
"Why are you here? Who is protecting the rest of the South?" She asked fearing the worst. It was bad enough that their own pack was demolished; she didn't know if she could take it if anyone else had fallen in the South due to those fucking hunters.
Thelonious looked around as if someone were watching them. "The South is fine, Octavia. I hate to tell you this, but they are here." The man didn't have to explain who he was talking about. The young woman already knew.
Octavia felt the air leave her lungs. This can't be happening. "We have to go to Clarke. Now!" She said keeping her tough exterior, while the girl inside of her from a few years ago was terrified.
Clarke felt the sense of apprehension while she and Lexa were cuddled up watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas. She must have stiffened in Lexa's arms because the other girl released her to look in to her eyes questioningly.
"Something is wrong." Clarke's hands started to shake. She felt a crippling pain in her side. It was too much for her take. She had to close her eyes to try to calm her nerves, but there was no comfort for her. She saw glimpses of blood and bright lights. She tried to open her eyes, but it was like she was stuck in a dream. Then she heard a voice.
"We have to get to Clarke and Lexa." Clarke placed the voice. It was Raven. She then realized what the bright lights were, they were flash arrows. A few glimpses around her and she saw trees, then a line of houses and backyards. As fast as the vision appeared it was gone.
"Lexa. They're here. The hunters found us." Clarke said terrified.
Lexa tensed at the news. She had a feeling this was going to happen at some point after she met Octavia, so she was prepared. She quickly sent out a text to Lincoln to warn the others. If these people wanted to harm her new friends they were going to have to go through five packs to get to them.
Raven gripped Kyle's hand firmly as they ran to her house. She didn't pay attention to the blood rolling down her face or the hole that was currently healing on her back. She had to get to her Alpha to protect her.
They were out walking the promenade when the hunters attacked. Raven knew they shouldn't have parked so far away from the mall.
Kyle snarled next to her. One of the flash arrows got too close to his eyes and it was still very difficult for him to see. Thankfully, the rest of his senses were still intact. He ran as if he could still see the pavement in front of them.
Turning on to Day Drive, two cars came to a screeching stop in front of them.
Kyle felt Raven tense. He smelt the air and smiled.
"The Calvary is here, Raven." He quipped making sure to turn in his girlfriend's direction with a smile.
"C'mon guys we have to go to the Alpha before the hunters catch up." Lincoln said opening his truck door.
Raven and Kyle piled into Lincoln's truck just in time to hear a motorcycle wiz past them in the direction of Clarke and Raven's house.
Octavia smelt them before the assholes tried anything.
"Thelonious. We are gonna have to cause a bit of a disturbance. There are two grenades in my nap sack next to you. I need you to throw them in 30 seconds to our right, okay?" She instructed the older man.
Thelonious nodded. "You got it." He replied quickly gathering the grenades.
Octavia made sure to move to the left side of the road as Thelonious unpinned and threw the grenades.
It was quiet before a blue light and a moderate bang emitted through the air.
"What the hell was that?" Thelonious asked not believing the grenades worked.
Octavia slowed down, before parking in the driveway.
"I like to call them Bigot Bombs, grenades to civilians." She joked.
Thelonious laughed at the joke.
"The light from the bomb also releases a light mist that paralyses humans within a 50 foot radius. That little bang you heard is to make it sound like a gunshot, instead of a grenade being set off." Octavia explained as they waited for the others to get to the house.
A minute later, Lincoln showed up with Kyle and Raven in one care. Indra arrived with Anya, Gustus and a few others in her car.
"Indra and Gustus. Make sure the perimeter is safe. Everyone else let's get inside." Octavia instructed.
Raven led them through the front door. She gave Clarke a bone crushing hug, upon entering the foyer.
"I am so sorry." Clarke said looking Raven over. It's been so long since the other girl was covered in blood that it pained her physically.
Raven put on a brave face. "I'm fine, Clarke. Kyle has other problems." She said turning to the boy in her arms.
Clarke looked him over. His wounds were healing, but his eyes were blacked out.
"A flash arrow." Clarke remembered from her vision. "Let's take him to the bathroom and wash out his eyes. We might have to inflict more pain, so he can heal properly." She instructed as she led the pair down the hall to the first floor bathroom.
Lexa stood in the middle of the foyer as Octavia, Lincoln and someone new entered the home.
"Who is this?" She asked turning rigid. Her wolf couldn't help it. She did not take kindly to strangers, especially given their current situation with the hunters flocking all over here territory.
Thelonious approached her. "I hate that we have to meet on such awful terms, but my name is Thelonious Jaha. I kept the Southern packs safe after, the princess and a few of her pack escaped the fire at the Griffin plantation."
Lexa smelled something familiar on him. Irises and something else, blood.
"You grow Irises." Lexa stated. "You also killed someone recently. Who?" She asked wanting to make sure he wasn't a foe.
Thelonious swallowed. "Marcus Kane. Who I am sure you've probably heard about wanted to handover the royal family to the Mountain Men. A few days ago, he and a few of his cohorts were sentenced to death by the Southern Council. I as well as a few others ripped them limb from limb for their acts of treason." He explained looking guilty.
"Those that seek to destroy our species deserve no remorse." Lexa replied gaining respect for the man in front of him.
"Gustus, Indra, and a few others are guarding the perimeter outside." Anya spoke up proudly.
Lexa's eyebrows grooved together. "Who gave the order?" Looking from Lincoln, then to Anya and finally to Octavia.
Octavia stepped forward. "I did, Alpha." She answered.
Lexa nodded proudly. "Nicely done." She replied leading the small group into the living room. Making a mental note to check on the others as a loud scream came from the bathroom, followed by a "Did you have to break my freaking leg?!"
