To Lexa, her Alpha status was a mere inconvenience. She prided herself on always being in control of her emotions and her physical reactions; but every six months she found herself needing to fight against her baser instincts. She knew it could be much harder to keep herself in check but there were so few Omegas left it was not an issue often. She heard tales of True Mates where an Alpha and an Omega were biologically destined for each other; once they caught the other's scent, they could not avoid the mating call. But that's all they were, stories from the time in the Great Before. Lexa knew she would need to claim a mate eventually, but the rarity of Omegas was so prevalent she did not consider it a concern. She would continue to handle her ruts alone. Unfortunately, for her, this choice was not popular.

"Four new Omegas have presented this year, Heda. From Floukru, Sangedakru, and two from Azgeda." Titus informed Lexa and her Second, Anya. "Azgeda has already made it known that they have no desire to volunteer the first Omegas to present in fifteen years, but they know the law that an unmated Alpha Commander gets first pick." He said all of this as if it were good news. As if he could finally tempt Lexa to take a mate.

"Newly presented?" Lexa scoffed. "What is the age of the oldest?"

"Fourteen, from Floukru."

"I am not bedding a child." Lexa snapped. "Move to the next order of business."

"Heda, this is important. You cannot continue in this fashion. The other clans see it as a sign of weakness."

"Do you know why Omegas are a dying breed? Because the moment they present, they are given to their clan's strongest Alpha and are ravaged, either in the rut or pregnancy or birth. Their bodies are made to produce children. The greatest gift. But the clans are so desperate to continue the lineage they are killing the girls who could if only given the time to grow."

"With all due respect, Heda, there are no other Omegas out there. These are your choices. Even if you pick one and wait until she is an age you see as appropriate, you need to choose."

"I do not!" She stood, slamming her hands onto the heavy wooden table. Anger seeped from her pores. Titus leaned back in his seat in an effort to put space between himself and the source of the threatening pheromones. As a Beta he was under the thumb of Lexa in normal circumstances but even more so when she asserted her power in this way. Anya sighed, in annoyance or boredom, no one knew.

"I would rather live my whole life without a mate than to chain someone to me against her will." Lexa looked to her mentor for approval. Anya nodded.

"Very well, send word to the clans. Their Omegas will go unclaimed." Anya told a messenger who scampered from the room, eager to escape Lexa's presence.

"I want a law put in place. Omegas cannot be bred until they are seventeen." Lexa slid back into her seat.

"The clans will not approve of that. Warrior training begins at two and now you want to say they are too young for this? Children die all the time. Omegas, when presented, are honored. They are given every comfort their clan can spare. You know Omegas are the most valuable of each clan. They are protected from harm."

"Tell that to Costia." Lexa glared, her voice low and dangerous. "Twelve years old and sold to Azgeda for peace they didn't even uphold because she bore no children before they killed her." Her voice broke but her anger choked everyone in the room. "And because I was in the Conclave, they sent me her head. They wanted to distract me with grief, but instead they fueled my wrath." The anger that gave her the strength to kill seven other Nightbloods, starting with the Azgeda tribute. She presented as an Alpha two weeks after becoming the Commander. She was young for an Alpha presentation but the ruts didn't start in earnest until she was seventeen.

A young girl, Lexa recognized her as the girl Indra had taken under her wing as her second, entered the room and immediately fell to her knees at the strength of the pheromones as they hit her.

"Apologies, Heda." She choked out. Lexa reigned in her scent. "The Skaikru send an ambassador. An Omega. She is their peace offering." The servant stood slowly. Lexa wanted to scream. Another Omega offered. When would it stop?

"Send her away. Tell them, I do not accept."

"She is refusing to leave without speaking to you." Lexa closed her eyes and inhaled deeply.

"Fine." She pushed up from her chair, back straight. "Bring her to my throne." She glanced at Titus and Anya. "Come. Let's go see this demanding Omega." She flicked her wrist at Gustus to invite him along as well. "How unusual for her to be sent alone."

"They don't value their Omegas like we do," Anya said, "always put in danger, very little protection, and of the dozen I saw in my surveillance of the camp, none with child." Titus looked at Anya.

"You observed a dozen Omegas and didn't inform the Coalition."

"I haven't had much time beyond the matter at hand, Titus." They followed Lexa. "I've been negotiating with Skaikru on Lexa's behalf."

"We will discuss this later." Lexa said as she came to a stop outside of the throne room.

"Lexa kom Trikru." Was announced in a booming voice and the doors were pulled open by her guard. Lexa made to move forward. She intended to stride across the room, sit in her throne and turn away this Omega. Instead, she was smacked in the face with the most intoxicating pheromones she'd ever come across. Her eyes widened and she watched as the woman dropped to her knees. The guard holding her restrained arms behind her back stumbled at the sudden movement and another guard jumped to action thinking it was an attack. He pulled his sword and aimed it at the blonde's neck. Lexa didn't know what happened next, one moment she was standing next to her advisors and then suddenly she was standing over the Omega protectively and two of her daggers were buried in each of the guards' chests. She growled at the others in the room.

"Mine. She is mine." Her eyes dilated. The Omega whimpered under her. "Leave. Us." She ordered to the rest of them. Anya and Titus pulled the doors shut and two Beta guards removed their dead brothers as quickly as they could before closing the doors. Gustus gave her an unapproving look as he disappeared through the last open door and it shut with a resounding click. The only sound in the room was the Omega's low keening and quiet panting.

When they were alone, Lexa cut the strip of leather around the other woman's arms and stepped back. One step was all she could bare to distance herself from the blonde. Her bones ached with need. The urge to mate the Omega in front of her was so strong she didn't know how long she could refrain. The Omega didn't seem to be in better condition. She was desperately whimpering, her face flushed and her thighs rubbing together for any sense of relief. She had her eyes squeezed shut and she was breathing raggedly.

"What is your name?" Lexa tried to remember how to be human while the animalistic urge that roared through her veins made it hard to think. She reached out to touch the woman.

"Clarke." She responded as Lexa's fingers grazed her skin. It was like fire catching; Clark's blue eyes snapped open, her dilated pupils locking on Lexa.

"Alpha." She rasped. "I need-" She grabbed frantically at Lexa's clothes, attempting to pull them away. Lexa could feel it in her groin, her rut was coming. She groaned. Lexa hated her rut. A week of having the unusual appendage that grew was always uncomfortable. She tried to do the mental calculations as she prevented Clarke from undressing her. She wasn't due for another two months.

True Mates.

In the tales of old, True Mates meeting were enough to throw them immediately into synced cycles. She had to get them somewhere safe. She had to keep her Omega safe. This Omega was going into heat and every Alpha in a fifteen-mile radius would try to claim her. Polis hadn't had an unclaimed Omega go into heat in decades. Maybe ever.

Lexa could already scent Clarke's pheromones changing. The heady scent threatened to overtake her completely. All she desired was to rip Clarke's clothes off and take her in the middle of the throne room. But she couldn't. It's not safe. Her rational brain was screaming at her. She was fighting against Clark removing her clothes and the blonde was getting more and more agitated. She whimpered, yanking at the jacket that had been tied around her waist. She tried to pull off her own shirt. Lexa grabbed her arms and held her wrists in her hands. She rubbed her thumbs over the scent glands on Clarke's wrists and she stilled slightly, moaning. The skin of her scent glands on her wrists were red and raw; Lexa's anger flared faintly.

"Do you not want me?" Clarke choked out. Lexa's fury deflated instantly and she frowned adjusting her crouched position in front of the Omega slightly, the situation in her pants getting more difficult to ignore.

"I need you like I need air." She told her. "I will take care of you." She promised pressing harder into the scent glands. "But not here. It's not safe for you here."

"You protected me. I'm safe with you." Clarke leaned in and pressed her lips against Lexa's. Lexa released the wrists in her hands and Clarke lunged forward. She threw Lexa off balance and onto her back and climbed on top of her. Lexa saw stars as Clarke ground her center against the member that had grown between her legs.

"Jok." She gripped Clark by the hips to halt her movement. "Clarke. Stop." She ordered. No matter how desperate an Omega was she could not avoid listening to her Alpha, and while Clarke was still unclaimed, Lexa was the most powerful Alpha around. She stared down at Lexa with wide dark eyes. Her long blonde hair hung around her face in soft curls.

"We need to go somewhere safe." Lexa ordered. Clarke slid off Lexa's lap and the Commander groaned at the movement. Lexa stood uncomfortably adjusting her pants.

"Can you stand?" Lexa asked. Clarke could barely form a coherent thought through her arousal and every moment she was not being touched by Lexa was only making it worse. The only thing she could think about was getting closer to the powerful Alpha in front of her. Lexa couldn't wait for an answer; Clarke's heat was only getting stronger. Her pheromones were filling the room. Soon, she herself would be too lost to keep in control. They needed to go now. There was no way she could get them to her room without running into any Alphas and with Clarke in heat, any Alpha was a threat. Lexa knew she would kill every Alpha on her council to keep them away from her Omega. She needed Titus. She pulled her cloak off and wrapped it around Clarke before hoisting her into the air. She kicked open the door and was grateful to find Titus there.

"I need to get to my quarters. I cannot cross paths with any other Alphas."

"The way is clear, Heda. I am aware of the consequences. Complete the mating ritual." He urged her forward, marching behind her. "You must make this first coupling quick, she is in danger until you've fully claimed her. She is incoherent enough that she will not be able to resist any other Alpha, even if she is truly meant for you. And if she is claimed by another, that will be a life of pain for you both." He told her. He was the teacher, the flame keeper, he knew the stories of Old that were true and their history. "Wait," He pulled off his own jacket and draped it over Clarke in Lexa's arms. Clarke merely sobbed quietly at the jostling fabric and pressed her face into Lexa's neck, she licked gently over the scent gland and Lexa nearly dropped her. Her groin tightened and she ached in her lower abdomen.

"This won't help much, the Omega's scent is very strong. Hurry, Heda. Make the Bond." He pushed her forward. Lexa was nearly running through the halls and up the stairs. True to his word, the way was clear to her quarters. She burst into the bedroom and locked the door behind her. Clarke was crying out at the physical pain of her arousal now. Her whole body on fire and aching with need. The need to be touched, to be filled, to be satiated. Lexa placed her gingerly on the bed and stared down at her in awe for a moment. She was wearing a pair of black jeans and a grey tank top. So simple and yet..

"You are so beautiful." She told her. She slid to the ground slowly, onto her knees. She would kneel for no one; but her Omega. She would worship every inch of her skin and show her just how honored she was to be gifted her from the gods. She crawled onto the bed in between Clarke's thighs.

"Clarke, I need you to come back here for a moment." She whispered into her ear. Clarke pulled her head back, exposing her neck, showing her desire to be claimed.

"Clarke, come back to me." She groaned. Clarke's hands shot out and started to undo her belt. She once again grabbed Clarke's wrists in one hand. Trapping them between their bellies.

"Clarke, come back to your Alpha." She commanded. Her voice strong despite the absolute torment she was facing. She had to be the strong one, she had to because she was the Alpha and her Omega depended on her. Clarke blinked, her pupils constricting slightly.

"There you are," Lexa purred. "I need you to tell me you want this. Not just your Omega." She ordered.

"I want this. I want you. I want you to claim me; I've never wanted anything this badly. I've never gone into heat before, but I want you to be my Alpha." Clarke's eyes dilated a bit and Lexa knew she was going to lose her and then she too would be lost. The honeyed scent that was filling the room was making her drunk with desire. But she had one more thing to say.

"My name is Lexa, I am the Commander of the 12 Clans," she released Clarke's hands, "and I swear fealty to you, I will protect you and honor you for the rest of our days." And then they were done for. The color disappeared in Clarke's eyes and she pulled Lexa's face toward hers. They kissed hard, dueling for the upper hand. Clarke pushed at Lexa until she rolled onto her back and then she was on top grinding hard into Lexa. She pulled her tank top off and her bra before doing the same of Lexa. The Commander was in shock, she had never known an Omega to take control. She could not let this stand. She flipped Clarke back and quickly yanked her pants off along with her underwear. Clarke's thighs were soaked, she was dripping with need and Lexa's mouth watered instantly. She wanted to taste her; but somewhere in the back of her mind, Titus' words rang clear. Danger. Claim her. Make the Bond. Clarke was undoing her belt and pulling at her pants. Suddenly, her member sprang from her pants and Clarke didn't hesitate to wrap her slender fingers around her.

"Need." She begged. Her hips bucked as Lexa neared.

"You are so beautiful." She told the woman again and then she sank her length into Clarke. To them, it felt like time stopped. Both women held their breath, frozen, joined together. Both women felt for once in their lives, they were complete.

"So big." Clarke exhaled.

"Claim me." she pleaded, she drew her head back, displaying her scent gland to Lexa. Her voice, for the moment, sounded clear and cognizant of what she was asking. "Claim me, Lexa."

Lexa leaned down pressing their bodies closer together and brushed her teeth against Clarke's skin. Her inner walls fluttered and tightened on Lexa. The Commander kissed her gland gently and inhaling the scent of her Omega one last time before she was claimed, she opened her mouth and bit down hard. Blood filled her mouth and Clarke screamed and Lexa pulled back and thrust into her and then she couldn't stop. Clarke met her thrusts with her own movements. Their bodies were pressed together so tightly and when Lexa finally released her neck, they kissed with the coppery taste of her blood on her lips.

"My Alpha." Clarke was frantically moving her body against the other woman's and Lexa was lost in the sensation. She reached down and pressed her fingers against Clarke's clit, circling in time with her thrusts. She slid to the edge of the bed, her feet meeting the ground so she had more leverage to angle into Clarke.

"Come undone for me." She told her. Clarke could barely breathe the feeling was so intense as she climbed higher and higher and as she tumbled over the edge, she grabbed onto Lexa's shoulders and pulled herself upright. Lexa lifted her and continued to drive into her, deeper than before. She was getting so close; she could feel the tightening in her cock. Her thrusts were getting shorter as her knot filled her Omega. Clarke's face was next to the crook of Lexa's neck and the next thing she knew, Lexa was tilting her head, offering herself to her Omega. She wanted this to be a mutual mating, she wanted this to be the Bond, something so sacred to her people, but rarely ever completed. With this, Clarke would be the only Omega Lexa could ever be with. The agony of either of them being with another would drive them to delirium. Clarke's nails dug into Lexa's back.

"I swear myself to you, Lexa." Clarke's words rushed from her mouth a second before she sank her teeth into Lexa's scent gland. The pain and pleasure seared through Lexa and she came with a roar, or a scream, she couldn't tell. For a moment, she ceased to exist at all, she could not hear or see and the only awareness she had was to filling her Omega with her seed.

When she opened her eyes and the vision came back to her, Lexa was lying on her back and Clarke was sliding leisurely up and down on her shaft.

"There you are." She smirked down at the Commander.

"I see you're aware again." Lexa said, her hands coming to rest on Clarke's hips. She thrust up and pulled her down hard at the same time. Clarke grunted and hummed in pleasure.

"I think the incoherence comes and goes as I need to be mated." She said thoughtfully. She swirled her hips in a circle, grinding hard against Lexa. The brunette's abs tensed and she threw her head back.

"Jok." Her hands clamped down on Clarke's hips.

"What does that mean?" Clarke asked, once again back in her mind enough to be interested in the strange language her Alpha spoke.

"Let's see." Lexa grinned slamming up into Clarke with force and circling her thumb against Clarke's clit. With her other hand she reached up and twisted one of her pebbled nipples until Clarke gasped.

"Fuck." Her head fell back.

"That sounds about right." Lexa said. Clarke chuckled and nodded to herself.

"You said earlier, you had never gone into heat. How is that, you're how old?" Lexa asked.

"I'm seventeen. My people see Omegas as a threat; or at least they did when we were in the sky. Each family could only have one child. Otherwise, the Ark would have become overpopulated. Omegas were by design a flaw to the continued survival of the Ark. In the beginning, they floated – killed – Omegas; but eventually, they discovered a way to suppress the natural biology instead. I had an implant placed the moment I presented. I hadn't even had my first heat. It made it so I never would, I barely released any pheromones." She sighed. "Sometimes, it wasn't enough and they sterilized Omegas." Lexa looked confused. "They took away their ability to bear children." Clarke clarified. Lexa's eyes widened and she froze. Her pheromones filled the room, ballooning with the sudden fury she felt. Clarke pulled off of Lexa with a pop and kneeled on the bed in front of her with her head bowed.

"I've angered you." She stated cowed. Lexa moved to her knees as well and took Clarke's face in her hands.

"No, no." She kissed Clarke's cheeks. "You have not angered me; I am angry at your people. How could they do such a thing to sacred beings." Her hand slid down to Clarke's stomach, to the soft roundness she found. She pressed against her skin. "Please tell me this has not been done to you." Clarke shook her head rapidly.

"No, the suppression worked for me just fine. They took out the implant before I was sent here."

"I was worried I would have to burn your village to the ground to pay for the sin of violating my Omega." She pulled her close, pressing their foreheads together. "I may have not been there to protect you then, but I am here now and I will not let anyone take away the thing that makes you who you are. The thing that makes you revered." She sighed. "We have much to learn of each other's people and of each other." Clarke placed her hand over Lexa's and for a moment fear entered her eyes.

"I don't think I am ready to become a mother." She said. "There's so much to do before…" She trailed off. Lexa nodded.

"I will get you a tea made by our finest healer. It will prevent pregnancy. We will swear her secrecy. No one would approve of the Commander not immediately seeding her Omega."

"They will see it as a failing on my part."

"We will not let other's opinions pressure our decisions." She lifted Clark easily, laid her back against the pillows and entered her slowly and deliberately. "Besides, there will be plenty of time for children. I will one day make you swell with life." She again pressed her hand against Clarke's stomach and the image of her pregnant with her child was enough for her to knot. Clarke looked up into Lexa's eyes.

"I need all of you, Alpha." Clarke pleaded. Her logical brain once again shut off. She did desire to carry the Commander's children. The strongest Alpha in this land was inside her and would give her babies. She would be stupid to turn that down. "Fill me."

Lexa was pushed over the edge. This was the part of her that was instinct. The part of her that would carry on her legacy. Her teeth bared down on her previous bite as the first thick ropes of her come shot out at the walls of the Omega's womb and Clarke screamed out in ecstasy.