Tennyson didn't know how long she sat on the mats in a haze of grief and heartbreak. Eventually, though, her tears subsided, and all that was left was the weight of anguish laying heavy in her heart. Sometime during Ten's grief-stricken breakdown, Clarke's mindvoice had receded from her head. But not even the sedative could stop the feelings of arousal and erotic images being sent through their bond. And now that Ten had calmed, she was very aware of that fact.
With a loud groan at the unfairness of the situation, Ten fell back onto the mat to stare at the ceiling as she internally fought both her body's urges and her wolf's. She had to use every trick and technique her mother and teachers had taught Ten to calm her mind. And then going through it again so that she didn't head straight for Clarke. It left her panting in exhaustion and aware that she had only been somewhat successful.
Ten focused on the situation when she could think a bit clearly without lust coloring her thoughts. Ten had tentatively broached the subject shortly after Murphy's birthday, but Clarke had stubbornly refused to speak about it. And continued to refuse every time the brunette had tried to bring it up. Ten understood why Clarke hadn't wanted to talk about it. They loved one another, and their bond as leader and advisor had grown because of it. And that bond, in turn, strengthened the pack's bond. It begged the question of what would happen if Ten and Clarke could no longer be a couple and if it would weaken their bond or even the pack's.
But, as Tennyson thought about it, her feelings hadn't changed for Clarke once she'd realized the blonde was an Alpha. If anything, the feelings had deepened, and the urge to claim and mate had intensified. And though Clarke's emotions and thoughts were muddled and a mess, Ten hadn't felt Clarke's feelings towards her change either.
Unfortunately, that didn't mean anything to the Ark or its laws. Alpha-Alpha pairings were illegal. Exactly why, though, Tennyson wasn't sure. Based on the anatomy and biology books she had read, there was nothing that said Alphas couldn't mate with an Alpha or have any negative impact on a pack. The only point the books made was that female Alphas had a slim chance of getting pregnant or carrying to full term. Which made sense; their bodies weren't designed to hold a pup, not with narrow pelvic bones and small uterui. And thanks to working with both her parents, Ten knew the Exodus Charter inside and out. But none of what Ten had read explained the Ark's stance on Alpha-Alpha pairings.
Or find a way to still be with Clarke without the Council and especially Abby finding out.
"FUCK," Tennyson loudly growled into the empty pit as anger began to replace the anguish she felt.
Her voice echoed in the space, and once that had faded, Tennyson slowly stumbled to her feet. She had spent enough time wallowing and thinking, exhausting herself trying to come up with a solution. With nothing forthcoming and Clarke's thoughts and emotions bleeding through their bond, Ten decided it was time to head home. Not wanting to let anyone see her in her current state, Tennyson used the shadows to travel, only coming out when she neared her family's quarters.
Ten tiredly stumbled through the door, surprising her mother from where she was on the couch. Callie stood up, confusion and worry etched on her face seeing Ten's condition.
"Tennyson," Callie tentatively called out even as she neared her daughter.
Ten slowly raised her head, and Callie took an involuntary step back. She had never seen her daughter look so distraught and defeated.
"It's over, Mom," Ten brokenly said, tears beginning to stream down her face again. "Clarke and I are over."
Callie rushed forward and enveloped Ten in a hug, "Baby, what are you talking about? I thought everything was going well."
The young Alpha wrapped her arms around her mom, tucking herself into the comforting embrace. Crying, "It was, and we were good, Mom. But not anymore, and I don't know what to do. I need her, Mom. I need Clarke to tell me what to do."
"Sweetie, you're not making any sense," Callie said, soothingly rubbing Ten's back.
"Clarke presented, Mom," Ten sobbed, feeling her control dwindle. "She was feeling off all day, and her scent and emotions were all over the place. It was so bad that it was even affecting me through our bond. I don't know why I didn't see it, but…I should have figured it out. I should have known what was happening."
Callie leaned back and gently grasped Ten's face to look her in the eyes. Her thumbs brushed the tears falling from her daughter's face as she gently said, "Can I ask if anyone else presented too?"
Ten's eyes focused inward for a second before returning to her mother, "Murphy presented."
"What about Octavia," Callie asked.
Ten's eyes widened, and she quickly stepped out of her mom's arms. She spun on her heels and walked away, "Shit! Shit. Shit. Shit. I forgot about her. Fuck!"
Guys, Tennyson immediately mindcalled the pack. Emergency!
Ten immediately got a series of responses except for Clarke and Murphy.
Octavia isn't fifteen, Ten mindspoke. And Clarke and Murphy have both presented.
And…, Bellamy huffed.
Bell, think, Ten growled through their link. How old does the Ark think Tay is?
Then, there was a moment of silence, and Raven blurted, Oh, Shit!
Thank you, Ten drawled.
What does that have to do with anything, Bellamy asked, annoyed and still not getting it.
Octavia is fifteen in Ark records, Monty explained. Based on you, Ten, and Raven presenting last year and the fact that Clarke and Murphy have presented…
I should be presenting, Octavia weakly finished.
Exactly, Ten said. If Abby gets over her euphoria of discovering Clarke's an Alpha, she may notice that the supposed group of black-blooded fifteen-year-olds aren't all presenting simultaneously.
Monty and I can fix the Ark's records, Raven quickly interjected. But what about Abby's secret data on us? Does she have records of our birthdates and whatnot?
Ten closed her eyes, pinched the bridge of her nose, and sighed, Yes. Yes, she does. Fuck!
"Tennyson," Callie broke through Ten's conversation with the pack, laying a hand on her daughter's back. "What is it? Why are you worried about Octavia?"
Guys, I gotta tell Mom, Tennyson groaned. I forgot I was in the room with her.
Are you sure that's a good idea, Bellamy asked, feeling defensive and with good reason.
She hasn't betrayed us yet, Bell, Ten told him. We can trust her with this. We need to.
I'm trusting you, Tennyson, Bellamy sighed, still defensive. But this is my family we're talking about.
They're my family, too, Bell, Ten softly replied. I'll touch base with everyone later.
Cutting the link with her packmates, Ten turned to Callie and said, "Sorry, Mom. I was talking to the pack."
Callie furrowed her brows in confusion, "I don't understand, Ten. None of your pack are here."
Taking her mom's hand, she guided Callie to the couch, "I think it's time I let you in on some secrets, Mom. Because truthfully, I think we're going to need your help."
"Okay," Callie hesitantly replied, sitting on the couch as Ten joined her.
Ten told her everything the pack had discovered about themselves. The bonds between them, the telepathy, their high IQs, enhanced strength, heightened senses, their connection with their inner wolves, and the shadow walking. Ten left out her dreams because everything else was a lot to absorb. And quite frankly, she didn't know if there was a connection between her weird dreams and their black blood. When she was done, Callie sat there, stunned as she wrapped her head around what Ten had just told her.
When Callie found her voice, she said, "What you're telling me sounds like something out of legends, Tennyson. Stories of the first ABOs."
Tennyson nodded, softly smiling, "I know, but you gotta admit that the twelve of us have never been normal."
"True," Callie wryly replied, shaking her head as she still wrapped her head around Ten's revelations. "So, that's what you were doing? Talking with the others?"
Ten nodded, "I was."
"And it had something to do with Octavia, right," Callie continued.
Ten sighed, uncomfortably shifting in her seat and steeling herself, "Yeah. Mom, I'm going to be honest. What I'm about to tell you will piss you off, but I need you to understand that we knew the dangers. And we know how dangerous it is if anyone outside our circle ever finds out about this. But it was the only way to keep everyone safe."
"That doesn't sound ominous at all," Callie nervously chuckled. "What? Is Octavia a second child or something?"
Tennyson cringed, and upon seeing the look, Callie gazed at her daughter incredulously before shooting up and exclaiming, "Tennyson Cartwig, are you serious?! You've been harboring a second child! What were you thinking, Tennyson?!"
Ten stood up, stamping down her wolf's urge to rise against the apparent challenge in her mother's tone. Taking a slow breath, Ten tersely replied, "I am, and the plan was thoroughly thought out, Mother."
Callie narrowed her eyes at Ten's tone but ignored it, realizing Ten was already on edge. She sighed and gestured for them to sit again, "Explain."
Ten sat on the couch and faced her mother, taking a few more breaths to bring her wolf under better control. Tennyson explained how the pack got Octavia out of the Blakes and into the Orphan Ward without going into much detail. Callie had to admit that their plan was brilliant when she was done. Scarily so and even more so when she realized that children had thought of and executed it.
After a moment to collect her thoughts, Callie asked, "So, how old is Octavia?"
"Fourteen," Ten answered. "Normally, it wouldn't be a big deal, but…."
"But there's already been a precedent set when you, Raven, and Bellamy presented last year," Callie finished, sighing. "And now that Clarke and John have also presented, Octavia is in danger of being found out."
Ten sadly nodded, "Yeah. That's why I freaked out when you mentioned her. I got too wrapped up in me and Clarke that I momentarily forgot about Octavia."
"Which is understandable, sweetheart," Callie gently reassured her daughter and took one of Ten's hands, squeezing it gently. "You have loved Clarke for a long time, and I know you've talked about having a future with her."
"I still love her, Mom," Ten said, taking a shuddering breath, trying not to break down again. "And I can tell Clarke still feels the same through our bond. Nothing's changed between us. If anything, I want her even more, but we can't because of the Council."
"I'm sorry they're doing this to you, baby," Callie sincerely replied, reaching up and gently stroking her daughter's face, sadly smiling when Ten leaned into her touch. "If what you say is true, I'm positive the two of you will figure something out. Then in a few years, when you're both eligible, you can change the council's ruling. Because I really want that wedding, Tennyson."
Ten wetly chuckled and shook her head, "Mooom. Really?"
Callie shrugged, smiling, and pulled Ten into a hug, "I've waited years for you two to mate, Tennyson. I can wait for a few more, but not much more, you hear me."
Ten chuckled and then sobered, "Do you really think Clarke will still feel the same way after her Rut's over, Mom? I can't help feeling like the only reason she's feeling what she's feeling is because Clarke's only ever dated me. What if…what if she realizes that she's not in love with me? What if—"
"I don't have an answer for you, sweetie," Callie quietly interrupted. "But I can see that what is between the two of you is something special. Something more than what is between Pack Leader and Second. And it's something that has existed since the day you met Clarke as an infant. Something that has only grown as the two of you have grown older. I don't know if that's a mating bond or the mythical true mates or something else entirely. But whatever it is, I don't see it ending or growing weaker simply because you and Clarke are Alphas. What I do know is that you both will need to sit down and talk about this after Clarke's Rut."
Tennyson sighed in her mother's hold, "I know you're right. I've tried to talk to Clarke about this before, but she refused to even think about it. And now I feel untethered and lost because I don't know what will happen. I hate this feeling."
Callie chuckled, rubbing Ten's back soothingly, "I know, sweetheart, I know. So, what are you going to do about Octavia?"
Glad to speak of something else, Ten replied, "Raven and Monty will hack into the Ark's databases and fix Octavia's birthdate, and that's like child's play for them. Our problem is getting to Abby's secret data journals before she realizes Medical is a black-blood short."
Callie stilled hearing Ten's words, then, "Did you just say 'Abby's secret data—"
"Journals. Yes," Ten interrupted, sitting up to look at her mother. "Abby has been secretly gathering data on us since Clarke started school. Interrogating Clarke nearly every day while trying to be subtle about it. Then there are all the times she convinced you and everyone else to bring us to Medical. None of it's been mind-blowing revelations. Just data about our high IQs, stamina, endurance, strength, and how extremely healthy we are. Abby has no clue about the other stuff."
"I'm going to kill her," Callie muttered, her face turning angry. Then, louder, "I'm going to kill Abby."
Ten's eyes widened in shock, never having seen her mother angry before. Her mouth opened and closed a few times before she found her voice, "Mom, wait. You can't kill Abby."
"Oh, sure I can," Callie said, standing, suddenly determined to find the woman she called a best friend.
Ten quickly stood up and got in front of her mom, "Mom. Seriously, you can't. I know that what she's done is a complete break of trust, not to mention ethically wrong. But if you go after her, she could have you floated, Mom. You can't go after Abby."
"Baby," Callie tried to reason with Tennyson. "What she's done is more than that. Secretly recording and testing minors is illegal, and not even being an Alpha will save Abby."
"We know, Mom," Tennyson sighed. "But right now, we can't act on it."
"What do you mean," Callie frowned.
"Look, you and Dad have been on us for years to bide our time," Tennyson carefully explained. "To keep on the right side of the law so that when the time comes, Clarke and I can change things. Right?"
Callie slowly nodded, and Ten continued, "Okay. Besides that, Abby is the best surgeon on the Ark, and until Clarke finishes her medical training, we need her. Then there's her position on the council. Abby has been the only one that has kept Jaha from becoming a complete tyrant. If we lose her, things will only get worse for everyone here."
Callie sighed, "You're making valid points, Ten. But Abby can't keep getting away with this, and what's she's doing is wrong."
"I don't disagree with you, Mom," Ten agreed. "And she won't. Knowing what she is doing is our leverage against her. When the time comes, and Clarke and I take over the council, that is when we'll use it. Because you know damn well that Abby will be against the changes we want. She won't risk getting floated between that knowledge and how powerful Clarke and I are. She'll cave, and the other Alphas on the council will follow suit. We need to bide our time."
"You've thought about this, haven't you," Callie wryly asked.
Ten crookedly smiled, "Clarke and I do more than just make out, Mom."
"I couldn't tell," Callie teased and then sobered. "Alright, so if I can't go after Abby about secretly recording you, why tell me this?"
Ten sighed, "Abby has written everything down about us that she's discovered. That includes our birthdates. Right now, I can almost guarantee that she is over the moon about Clarke starting her Rut, and as soon as her shift is over, she'll most likely head straight for her journals. She'll notice that Clarke and Murphy both presented on the same day. Probably see the connection we did with us all presenting soon after the youngest of each age group turned fifteen. Octavia's birthday was five months ago…."
"If Abby notices that Octavia hasn't presented, it puts her in danger," Callie surmised. "She'll question why her data is different from what is probably now in the Ark's database about Octavia. And she's such a stickler for being right; Abby will want to know why."
Ten nodded, "That's it in a nutshell. The only way to keep her from investigating or questioning us is to get into her journals and change the information. That way, if there's any doubt, Abby most likely will shake it off as mishearing Clarke."
"Abby is known to get into her head and not hearing what's being said around her," Callie sighed, nodding in agreement. "I take it you have an idea how to get to Abby's journals."
Ten nodded, "I do. I just don't know how to keep Abby away from their quarters long enough to do it."
"Which is why you've told me all of this, isn't it," Callie realized.
Ten sheepishly shrugged, "Mostly. It's not that we don't trust you, but we're used to keeping quiet about what we've figured out about ourselves. We'd be seen as threats if the council got even a hint of what we could do. And you know what happens when the council or Chancellor feels threatened."
Callie sighed, "Unfortunately. You know you'll need to do this as soon as possible, right?"
Tennyson nodded, "I know."
"Alright," Callie said. "Then let me head to Medical. I've got a bone to pick with Abby."
"Mom," Ten cautioned, but Callie shook her head, "Not about the journals, sweetie. That woman is going to be insufferable about Clarke being an Alpha. Not to mention, thrilled that you and Clarke can no longer be together. Abby's been after me to insist that you break up with Clarke so much that I've wanted to hit her."
"Okay. Wow," Ten replied, stunned. "I knew she was trying to get Clarke to break up with me, but after we confronted her, she stopped."
"Typical," Callie sighed. "Even more reason to go after her now."
"I guess," Ten sighed in return, "I was hoping to put it off until tomorrow."
Callie smiled and cupped her daughter's cheek, "Baby, if you're right about Abby and you probably are, tomorrow will be too late. It's best to take care of this now."
Ten nodded, "You're right. Thank you, Mom."
Callie pulled her into a hug that the young Alpha readily returned, "You're welcome, baby. And thank you for trusting me with this. I'm not happy that you and your friends risked so much to keep the Blakes safe, but I understand. I'm proud of you, Tennyson."
Tennyson only hugged her mother tighter as a few more tears fell. She knew Callie loved her and was proud of her, but it was different knowing and hearing it. And something the young Alpha didn't realize that she needed to hear at this moment. It lifted a weight off her shoulders, knowing that such a simple statement meant her mother would always have her back. That Tennyson had someone outside her pack that supported her. It was a good feeling.
