Tennyson paced the room that had been her cage for the last two weeks. Well, her wolf considered it a cage. Keeping it and her from the girl she loved and preventing the newly awakened Alpha from claiming the girl who had her heart. Which is precisely why it was necessary, she grumbled to herself.
Ten wouldn't force a claim on Clarke, no matter how much her wolf wanted her to. They were much too young, and Clarke hadn't even presented yet. It would be foolish and downright illegal for Ten to claim Clarke. If that were even something, Clarke would ever consider. Claiming and mating were far down the road for them. For any of them. Ten's wolf would just have to satisfy itself with being girlfriends for as long as Clarke, and she wanted to or could be.
That thought made her wolf growl out loud in protest, followed by Ten's scoff at her wolf's ridiculousness.
Over the past two weeks, Ten had learned something; Presentation wasn't just a status named after wolf dynamics. Presenting meant an awakening of a primal entity. An inner wolf and that wolf is what determined a person's status. She and her wolf were like two separate entities living in one body. Both with their own thoughts and desires, though one was more primal and instinctual than the other. It had made learning to control Ten's wolf rather tricky. Forcing herself to meditate into a trance-like state to speak with her wolf. To convince her wolf of the way things were. And of course, her wolf fought her on all of it. Hating the thought of having to suppress a part of her that was natural. But her wolf had finally settled and agreed, letting Ten remain in control and downplaying exactly how powerful an Alpha wolf she was.
Though moments like this, when both sides of her were anxious to be free finally, did her wolf attempt to exert a little more control. Hence why she was pacing like a caged animal. Neither one was looking forward to the implant that would suppress the Alpha. Even though her wolf was a pain in the ass, Ten reveled in the feeling of being one with her inner wolf. The power and strength that came with being an Alpha. Of course, with it came the need to protect her girlfriend and packmates. To care for them. Being who Ten was in the hierarchy of the pack only amplified those needs as an Alpha.
It also didn't help that through the bond between Second and Pack Leader, Ten could feel Clarke's emotions. Feeling the blonde's distress and anger over the past two weeks had caused Ten to lose control of her wolf entirely on several occasions. Nearly breaking down the door to get to the blonde just to comfort and reassure her.
The whole experience had been exhausting, and Ten was more than ready to get out of the room. Not only to reaffirm her relationship with Clarke, but she'd also been stuck in a room for two weeks. Isolation sucked.
Finally, the noise she'd been waiting for after confirming with staff that her Rut was over, sounded. The distinctive knocking pattern of Jackson, Abby's medical assistant, was music to Ten's ears.
Quickly walking over to the intercom, Ten said, "Are you here to spring me, Jackson? Cause I gotta tell you, two weeks is too damn long to be stuck in isolation."
Jackson chuckled through the intercom, "Yes, I am, Ten. You'll be free to leave once I check your vitals and give you the implant."
"About fucking time," Ten exclaimed happily. "It's safe to come in."
The door opened, and Jackson entered, pushing a cart in front of him. His nose wrinkled at the smell of the room. Ten's scent was overpowering even for the Beta. Her mother followed Jackson in with a stack of clothes and her boots.
"Mom," Ten cried happily, practically shoving Jackson out of the way to get to her.
Callie smiled wide at her daughter's enthusiasm and hugged her daughter tightly, "Hey, kiddo. How are you feeling?"
Ducking her head into the crook of her mother's neck and inhaling her scent, Ten replied, "Better now that it's over. Ecstatic that I'm free again. My wolf and I didn't like feeling caged."
Callie and Jackson exchanged a look of surprise. No one had ever described their presentation as a separate entity before.
"Your wolf, huh," Callie said, trying to dispel her discomfort at Ten's admission.
Ten noticed the change in their pheromones at her proclamation and looked at her mother, frowning, "Yeah, you know, your inner wolf. We all have one. It's in the history."
Trying to play it off, Jackson cleared his throat, "I guess we're so used to having the suppressants that we forget. How about we check your vitals so that I can give you our implant, and you can get out of here?"
Confusion marred Ten's face at their discomfort but shoved it down because she didn't want to be stuck in the room longer than she had to be, "Yeah, sure, Jacks. How do the suppressants work again?"
Happy that Ten wasn't going to push, he began explaining the way the implant worked. Ten listened with half an ear while he spoke and checked her vitals. It was over in a few minutes as he declared her more than healthy. That seemed to make him pause as he exchanged another look with Callie, though this time, it was unreadable. It made Ten suspicious, but she didn't say anything just presented her left arm for the implant injection.
The sharp pain made Ten growl and fist her hand, but she refrained from striking out at the Beta. Jackson had immediately tilted his head in submission at her reaction and patiently waited as she brought herself under control.
"Sorry," Ten breathed out, scooting further away from Jackson.
Taking her apology as a sign that he could move, he gave her a tight smile, "It's fine, Tennyson. I know the injections hurt. Once the suppressants get into your bloodstream, you may feel a bit disorientated. That should wear off in a couple of hours. If it persists or you feel off like it's making it hard for you to think, come back immediately."
Ten nodded, "Okay. So, am I good? Can I go?"
Jackson smiled at her eagerness, "Yes, to both questions. The implant is good for five years, so barring injuries, we shouldn't see you again until then."
Ecstatic, Ten lunged forward and hugged Jackson, causing the young man to stiffen in surprise. Ten quickly let go feeling his unease and gave him a dopey grin. Jumping up, she headed straight for the door, but hearing her mom's voice, she stopped.
"Maybe put on some clothes, baby," Callie called out with a laugh.
Ten looked down at herself. Ten was only wearing sleeping pants and tanktop sans undergarments. Feeling a blush build, she nodded and sheepishly took the clothes Callie held out for her.
"We'll let you get dressed," Callie said, kissing her daughter on the cheek. "I'll wait for you outside."
Ten nodded again and waited until Jackson had pushed the cart back out with Callie following. The moment the door closed, Ten was ripping off her clothes and getting dressed. It took her a moment to figure out the best way to tuck her new appendage without being pinched or uncomfortable, but she did it. When she was dressed, she stepped up to the mirror over the small sink and gave herself a once-over.
Ten could still feel her wolf near the surface, and it showed in her eyes. They were more red than brown.
"We can do this," Ten whispered to herself and her wolf. "We need to do this. We cannot let anyone know just how powerful of an Alpha I am. Not yet. Not until it's time. But we can still protect what's ours. The pack. Our family. Clarke. We bide our time and keep our people safe."
Ten felt her wolf agree as she stared into her reflection. Bit by bit, her wolf receded until the only person looking back was herself. With a nod of thanks, Ten pushed off the sink. Gathering her clothes and the present Clarke had given her, Ten headed out the door.
The moment Callie and Ten entered their home, Ten made a beeline to their bathroom. Thanks to the length of Ten's Rut, she had been allotted an extra five minutes in the shower, and she planned on making the most of it. Coming out of the shower, she wrinkled her nose in distaste at the chemical smell that overlayed her natural scent. Thanks to Ten's wolf, her senses were heightened and still sensitive after being in isolation for so long. She sighed, knowing it was just one more thing to get used to.
Heading out into the living room, she immediately knew her mother had left for work, leaving her alone for the rest of the day. Knowing she had time to kill before school let out, she indulged herself with a couple of movies. While Ten did so, she skirted over her bond with her packmates. Most expressed boredom, but she picked up concern coming from Octavia and Raven. Intuitively knowing the focus of their care, she turned her attention to Clarke.
Clarke was a mess of emotions, all of them negative. Distress, depression, anxiety, anger, hurt, fear. They were all strong in their presence. Now that she was clearheaded, Ten could read the causes behind them. And at the forefront was their relationship. Her wolf sorrowfully whined that they were the cause of Clarke's mental state. That they had harmed her even if they had no control of Ten's Rut and forced isolation. The need to make it right and see their girl smile spurred Ten out the door even before her mind could catch up and form a plan.
Keeping a tight rein on her wolf, Ten made her way to Factory and one of the machine shops there. By pure luck, she found some scrap copper and got to work. A punctured fingertip and a small burn later, she had her finished product. Smiling in satisfaction, she pocketed her prize and headed to the Redistribution Center. Though it was mostly to exchange clothing and boots, it did have other things. Things people had brought onboard as keepsakes and served as family heirlooms but because of death, had ended up in the Redistribution Center. Perusing the aisles, Ten dug deep into the bins until she found what she was looking for.
Feeling herself grow excited at Clarke's reaction, she hurried back home to finish her gift. When it neared the time school let out, Ten sent out a mindcall to Octavia and Raven, asking them to make sure that Clarke showed up to the Pit. Hearing their agreement, Ten went to her closet and picked out her best outfit. A pair of charcoal gray slacks that hugged her legs and ass even more now and a navy blue button-up that she rolled the sleeves until they were resting beneath her elbows. She only had her boots, so they would have to make do. Ten walked to her mother's room, where the only full-length mirror resided and took in her appearance. She let out a purr of satisfaction at what she saw.
For some reason, coming into contact with her wolf had shot Tennyson up another two inches, making her stand now at 5'7". Taller than her mother but still shorter than her sire. And thanks to her Rut, Ten had spent a third of her time working out while she was in isolation. The result was quite apparent. Where her clothes used to be loose were now snug against newly formed muscle. Each twitch and move were tugging the fabric and drawing the eye. Ten knew that once people learned of her Alpha status and saw her, she'd be catching a lot of attention. She grinned, knowing that any attempts to draw her away from Clarke would be absolutely futile. Ten only had eyes for a certain blonde and had already given her heart away. And no one was going to distract her from making sure Clarke knew that every day they were together.
Seeing the time, she headed back out after grabbing her present and making her way to the Pit. Octavia mindcalled her and let Ten know they were on their way. Feeling anxious and excited at the very thought of Clarke, Ten shifted on her feet in the middle of the mats. Her wolf was thrumming along in anticipation.
The door opened after what felt like an eternity to Ten, who immediately held her breath as she looked for the familiar blonde. The pack saw Ten standing in the middle of the space, and they quietly moved to the side with huge grins on their faces. Ten shot them a returning smile before focusing her attention on Clarke.
Clarke was talking with Octavia and hadn't seen Ten yet, but a quick jab to her ribs broke through. Octavia looked at Clarke and, with a smile, pointed to the center of the room. It was almost comical to see Clarke's reaction. Clarke's face was a mask of confusion that slowly morphed to disbelief until finally, recognition dawned. Clarke looked to Octavia to make sure that Ten was really standing there, and then when Octavia nodded, she bolted for Ten.
Ten let out a loud laugh as she caught Clarke in her arms and spun her around. Both girls were filling the space with happy pheromones. Ten slowly put Clarke down but kept her flush against her. Sapphire eyes stared longingly into warm brown as both sighed in relief at being together once more. Ten slowly leaned down as Clarke tilted her head up, and their lips met in a sweet kiss. The kiss deepened and would have continued if hoots and hollers from their packmates hadn't penetrated their bubble.
They parted breathlessly, resting foreheads against one another as they caught their breaths.
"Hi," Ten whispered, smiling and letting out a happy purr.
That one word caused Clarke to lose her tenuous control, and tears began to fall. Ten let out comforting pheromones and kissed her again, holding her tight to reassure the blonde that she was really there.
"I'm here, Clarke," Ten whispered in Clarke's hair. "I'm really here."
"I've missed you so much," Clarke cried into Ten's chest, growing upset that she could no longer reach Ten's scent. "So, so much. I needed you."
"I know, baby," Ten apologized. "And I'm so sorry that I couldn't be. I could feel how bad the separation was through our bond."
"Our bond," Clarke looked up at her in confusion.
"The bond between Pack Leader and Second," Ten explained. "It's how I know what you need when you need it. I can explain it later."
Clarke nodded and pulled Ten into another kiss, which the brunette happily reciprocated.
When they parted again, Clarke looked up at the taller girl in wonder, "You're really here."
Ten smiled and nodded, "I am, and I promise, I'm not going anywhere, Clarke. I love you."
"I love you, too, Tennyson," Clarke responded.
Ten cleared her throat, feeling nervous, and relinquished her hold on Clarke, "Clarke, feeling the hurt our separation caused you was the worst feeling I have ever felt before. Not even getting my ass handed to me by the trainers ever caused the amount of pain I felt. I never want to feel that pain again. Nor do I ever want to cause you that pain. But, I know that as we get older, our responsibilities are going to change, and the time we spend together will grow shorter."
Clarke began to worry, "What are you saying, Ten? Are you breaking up with me?"
Ten quickly shook her head, "No, Clarke. That's the last thing I want to do. You're stuck with me until you grow tired of me. That's a promise. But, I have another promise to make you. I know that you find comfort in my arms when you need it. Guidance when you ask. Clarity when you seek it. I know that my presence grounds you when you feel untethered. My promise to you is this: I will always be here for you. Through every moment you go through, I will be here. You will never be alone as long as I draw breath in my lungs. Even if I cannot be physically by your side. I will be here," she gently touched Clarke's forehead, "and here," she touched Clarke's chest over her heart. "Always."
Clarke needed to hear Ten say those words, and once they were spoken, she felt a huge weight lift from her chest. Utter relief swelled her body, and she nearly collapsed, but Ten caught her quickly. Relishing in the feeling of being in Ten's strong arms, she sighed a peace that had remained elusive these last few weeks. And finally being within reach, Clarke nuzzled Ten's neck, inhaling her scent deeply and finding comfort.
Ten purred contentedly, continuing to put out comforting pheromones as Clarke found the last of her distress and worry slide away.
After a few moments, Ten whispered, "I have something for you."
Feeling more like herself, Clarke teased, "You mean this new look and hot body, isn't it?"
Ten chuckled, "No, my love. I made something for you. To remind you that I am with you always. Would you like to see it?"
"Mmm," Clarke hummed, "I suppose. As long as I don't have to move."
"Alright," Ten replied, chuckling and dug into her pocket to pull it out.
Letting it fall from her fingertips, Ten revealed her gift. It was an anchor made out of wrapped copper wire soldered to an oval piece of stainless steel to form a pendant. Clarke gingerly took it and admired the piece.
"I am your anchor, Clarke," Ten softly explained. "As your Second. As your friend. As your partner. Wherever I am and whatever I am doing, I am never far from you. This necklace is to remind you that whenever you feel doubt, anger, or fear and feel lost that you have me."
"It's beautiful, Tennyson," Clarke breathed out. "Thank you."
"You're welcome, beautiful," Ten replied, smiling down at her. "Would you like me to put it on?"
"Please," Clarke said, moving so that Ten could put the necklace on.
The moment it touched her bare skin, Clarke reached up and grasped it in her hand, feeling even more connected to the girl behind her. Ten brushed Clarke's hair from underneath the necklace, letting it settle properly before gently turning the blonde around. Ten's eyes dropped to see the necklace settle directly above Clarke' cleavage.
Seeing where Ten's eyes were drawn, Clarke smirked, "See something you like, Tennyson?"
Ten licked lips that had suddenly gone dry and stuttered, "You, you could say that."
"My eyes are up here," Clarke teased and with a finger raised Ten's head. She leaned forward and laid a gentle kiss on the brunette's lips. "We have plenty of time for that later, babe. How about we move off the mat so that our friends can start their training session? And that we I can catch you up on what you've missed."
"Okay," Ten mumbled and eagerly followed Clarke to the couches.
That earned a few snickers and comments from their friends but Ten didn't care. Ten only cared about Clarke and easing the distress her thoughts were once more causing her. Though, later Ten would get them back for their teasing. As the Old World saying goes; revenge is a dish best served cold.
