A True Alpha Chapter 57

Chapter 57

Lexa wore a knowing smile as she watched Clarke exit the building twenty minutes after she had arrived. She strived to avoid her face reeks too much of an I told you so look as she spotted Clarke slightly lighter on her feet than she was when she had headed off into the building earlier that afternoon. Clarke still caught the look in Lexa's eyes, regardless of how hard the alpha tried to hide, Clarke could read her even from thirty meters away. The alpha was only momentarily flustered at how her alpha had been right and in a way she figured she had grown on Pike; how else did she get away with cursing at him? 

"Hey love." Lexa rolled the passenger seat window down as Clarke approached. 

"Hey baby." Clarke greeted back, taking her purse off of her shoulder and opening the car door. 

“How’d it go?” 

“I!” Clarke jumped slightly, surprised that the alpha already asked. “How’d you know I went to office hours?” Clarke burned in the embarrassment of knowing she was wrong earlier on the phone. 

“Aside from you taking another twenty minutes to get out here?” 

“I, shit! I’m sorry I made you wait!” 

“Aww, it is perfectly fine baby.” Lexa leaned over and hugged her alpha. 

Clarke purred softly in appreciation. The warm arms around her were quite the comfort to her, especially with the effects of the suppressant Nyko gave her earlier wearing off and leaving her craving her mate’s touch. 

“I missed you.” Clarke nuzzled into the alpha. 

“Aww, hun. I missed you too.” Lexa squeezed. “But you didn't answer my question. How did it go?”

“It went a lot better than I thought it would.” 

“See baby! I told you!”

“Yeah I know.” Clarke sighed in disappointment as Lexa released her and threw the car into reverse to back out of the parking lot. 

“So? What did he say?”

“He said that I still have a chance to pass.” 

“That is fantastic baby!” 

“Yeah, and then I proceeded to make a complete ass out of myself.” 

“What? What happened?”

“Remember how I said he had been messing with me all class?” 

“Yes.” 

“Well, I might have kinda snapped and accused him of purposely messing with me.” Clarke winced. 

“Oh!” Lexa’s face contorted in empathetic cringe. 

“Twice.” 

“No!” 

“And as it turns out he had actually altered the lecture for my sake to help me pass.” 

“Oh, baby, no.” 

“Yup.” Clarke whimpered in her shame. 

“Well, at least it couldn't get any worse?” 

“I opened with spilling coffee all over my tits.” 

“Oh, sweetheart.”

“Yup.” Clarke held her head in her hands, too much shame to peak past her fingers.

“That… that is certainly bad, but it isn't terrible.”

“On my tits!” Clarke reemphasized.” 

“Ok, maybe it is a little terrible.” Lexa admitted. 

“But on the bright side, I have a chance to pass the class. A minuscule one, but a chance all the same.” Clarke lightened. 

“Oh? Really? What is it?”

“I have to pass the final exam.”

“Well, that doesn't sound that bad. Is that it?” 

“Pike is notorious for horribly hard exams. Most of my friends who have taken his classes swear up and down that the only reason they passed was because they had an A going into his final.” 

“Off.” 

“Yeah. So, my whole life will be studying for the next month.” 

“Well, I can think of something else you will be doing for the next month. 

“What?” Clarke turned to see the small case Lexa was holding up. “What is it?” 

“It is your hormones Clarke.” Lexa handed off the case. 

“Uugh. I kinda expected it to come in a pill bottle.” Clarke’s eyebrows furrow perplexed. 

“Nope. The extra strength suppressants came in a pill bottle, but the alpha hormones are-” 

“Injectable.” Clarke cut off in fear. 

“What’s wrong babe?” 

“I am not a big fan of needles.” 

“Oof. Sorry. This was all they said they had.” 

“Yay.” Clarke rolled her eyes sarcastically. 

“It’s gonna be ok.” Lexa took her right hand off of the steering wheel and reached out, finding Clarke’s hand and taking it to lend her beloved mate support as best she could. 

“Well, where do I inject it?” 

“Ass or upper thigh. That was what the pharmacist said.” 

“Do you know how to do it?” 

“No, but we have a medical major who lives in our apartment. I’m sure she could show us.”

“Oh my god!” Clarke’s jaw dropped. 

“What?” 

“I didn't tell Raven!” 

“No, that isn't possible. She is your best friend. You had mentioned it to her. We had breakfast together yesterday.” Lexa countered.  

“We had breakfast which I ducked out of ten minutes in to return to studying and catch up work.” 

“Oh… right you did.” 

“Raven has been too worried about whether or not I would be able to graduate with her, and frankly so have I. So it never came up between that and just general relief that I was more or less back to myself again.” 

“Oh god. She won't take it too hard that you didn't tell her… will she?” 

“Oh yeah, she will only implode with enough force to drag the entire world into the resulting singularity and kill us all in a terrible black hole related empty nothing.” Clarke may have been a little overdramatic, but it in the moment, it felt like it was an appropriate way of describing the situation. 

“I’m sure it will be ok love.” 

“I know, but I’m not so sure.” 

“You! What?! And you didn't even tell me!?” Raven's shrill scream alerted the whole apartment complex to her dismay. 

Clarke reddened in guilt and waved it off, trying to play it down as something less extreme than it was. "I mean it was something I was gonna do eventually no matter what." 

Raven huffed and puffed, snatching away the medicine and needle filled pouch. "You could have told me so much as once then!" 

"I'm sorry." Clarke deflated. 

"I'm sure you are." Raven glared, pulling out the needle and hormone vial. 

"I only really knew since the weekend. Lexa told me she set up an appointment for me with Nyko while we were up in her cabin. And… just after everything that's been going on. And the focus on me getting my schooling stuff back together, I guess it just kinda slipped my mind." 

Raven frowned for a fleeting moment. "Ok Clarke." She slid her sullen slant straight to a smile before wrapping Clarke up in a tight squeeze. "I'm proud of you though. I know this probably wasn't easy." 

"It was really really stressful." Clarke admitted. 

"But you did it." 

"I did. I did? I DID!!" Clarke cycled through her emotions until she found the right response, a small pride growing in her heart. "I did it." She agreed. 

"Yeah you did." Raven nodded and released. "Now take off your pants."

"W! What!?" Clarke yelped. 

"This is intramuscular right?" 

"Yup." Lexa confirmed for Clarke. 

"Ok then, pants off." Raven ordered, already drawing out the prescribed amount. 

Clarke felt her whole body tense embarrassed and scared of the needle. 

"Come on then. Nothing I haven't seen before." Raven might have been a little desensitized to seeing others' bodies in compromising positions through her internships. 

"How is this so simple for you!?" Clarke shook conflicted and anxious. 

"I've done this twelve dozen times Clarke, it's no big deal. Just a little poke." 

Clarke growled at that phrase. 

"Hey." Lexa reached out, caressing Clarke's shoulder tentatively. "She's right. Just a little poke. It'll be-" 

Clarke interrupted in a reactive snarl. She bore her teeth in self-protective anger. 

"Woah? Hey!" Lexa's hand recoiled. "Baby? What's wrong? What happened?" 

Clarke was still panting and half snarling half growling, half just breathing in her guttural reaction. She tried to calm herself down but didn't mean it was an easy act. 

"Shh. Clarke, it's ok. Your mom isn't here." Raven knew she would have a better chance of getting through to Clarke. Being an omega had it's perks even if often seeming unassuming and unthreatening often lead to her being underestimated by classmates. 

Clarke's heavy breaths softened slowly as she realized she wasn't in any danger. 

"Why would her mom?" Lexa whispered to Raven in a register that was barely above simply mouthing the words. 

Raven attempted to communicate with her eyes alone, but when that failed, she mouthed back "long story." 

"I… sorry." Clarke whimpered. "I'm sorry Lexa."

"Hey, hey, I'm right here." Lexa offered open arms. 

"Alpha." Clarke whimpered before launching at her mate, hugging to the alpha tight. Even a strong alpha needs her mate from time to time. 

"That's it. It's all gonna be ok." 

"I didn't mean to-" 

"I know baby. If you want to talk about it, we can. But we don't have to."

"Thanks." Clarke clung tighter. 

"It's gonna be ok Clarke." Raven added in. 

"I… just…" Clarke had a hard time vocalizing her issues. 

"I know. Abbigail did quite the number on you. Especially when it comes to needles." 

Clarke nodded into Lexa. 

"I'm sorry I forgot… or just willingly ignored the memory back somewhere in my mind assuming that it wasn't that bad anymore. Either way-" Raven's sincere apology would always be enough to win back the good graces of her best friend. 

"It's ok. Thank you." Clarke hopped from hugging Lexa to hugging Raven. 

“Course Clarke.” Raven patted back still feeling a modicum of guilt. 

“You are safe baby.” Lexa came up behind her mate and kissed her on the cheek. Her warm hands aided in calming the anxious alpha, resting on Clarke’s hips. It was the small touches that made all the difference, how Lexa’s fingers pulled softly and rubbed at Clarke’s tense sides. “You don't have to do it if it is too stressful.” 

“What!” Clarke jumped. “No! Of course I want to do this!” Clarke countered quickly and apparently a little too close to Raven’s ear. 

“Ouch! Please, No yelling into my ear. I prefer not to go deaf.” Raven slithered out of her friend’s embrace. 

“I’m sorry. Just… Uugh! Just do it! I don't wanna wait anymore, needle or no needle.” Clarke huffed and attempted to look strong despite trembling in fear. Such a strong alpha, so terrified by something so tiny. The irony wasn’t lost on Clarke, even if it didn't feel like she was a strong alpha in the slightest. 

“Yeah. Go for it.” Clarke agreed, turning to Lexa and using the sight of her mate to distract her as she pulled down one side of her jeans for Raven to inject into. 

“Ok then. Just relax, it will make it easier.” Raven advised cautiously. 

“Oh yeah, just relax, because that is something that I am capable of doing around needles! Totally!” Clarke snarled, focusing in on Lexa. 

“Here.” Lexa smirked before tilting Clarke’s head up. “I have an idea. Shoot whenever you are ready Raven.” Lexa instructed, pulling Clarke in closer and then kissing her. Nice, soft, calm, sweet at first, but neither Lexa nor Clarke had the type of patience that would be required to hold themselves back from deepening the kiss for long. It was a choice Lexa certainly regretted a moment and a half after they had really begun kissing each other. Lexa’s tongue swiped softly against Clarke’s lower lip and almost immediately Clarke returned the yearning gesture, the two breaking out into s kiss which deepened quickly. It didn't last long though. 

“Oww! Oww! Oww! Ouch!” Clarke yelped moments after having nearly bit off a sizable portion of Lexa’s lower lip. 

“It’s just the alcohol wipe Clarke.” Raven informed deadpan. 

“Oh.” Clarke blushed and winced in embarrassment. 

“Are you kidding me!” Lexa snapped, holding her busted lip. 

“Oh god! I’m sorry babe!” 

“Does my blood taste good?” Lexa’s tone was both humorous and anger, she herself unsure which to feel as she fought to check that she still had a lower lip whatsoever. 

“I! I just jumped at the cold!” 

“I can tell love.” Lexa laughed. “But did your jaw have to jump too?”

Clarke laughed embarrassed. “I could kiss it to make it better?”

“No! No! I think not! Wouldn't wanna know what happens when you actually take the shot if this is just from the alcohol swab.” Lexa grinned as best she could with a busted lip, her eyes flickering down. 

“Sorry baby.” Clarke performed her best innocent and I didn't mean to look. 

“I know baby. And I’m proud of you.” Lexa nodded, receiving a thumbs up from Raven behind Clarke. 

“Proud of me for what?” 

“You just had your first shot of alpha hormones!” Raven announced standing up and putting the tools away. 

“What?” Clarke spun around in circles to first look at Raven behind her, then Lexa, then back to Raven. She repeated the cycle over and over until she was dizzy. 

“You didn't even notice that I stuck you because you were too busy apologizing to Lexa.” Raven’s smile cracked overly wide.

“Was that your plan this whole time?!” Clarke snapped back around to Lexa. 

“No, my plan was not to lose my lip. I was hoping my kisses could distract you from the needle but I couldn't even distract you from the alcohol swab.” Lexa chuckled. 

“Oh.” Clarke sighed feeling naive. “Sorry again.” 

“Well, it should be enough to distract you from anything in a little bit.” Raven zipped the medicine case up and passed it off to Clarke. 

“Why’s that?” 

“Because I gave you the rut week dosage.” 

“Huh?” Clarke tilted her head confused. 

“You started a… heat…” She whispered the word like it was verboten. “This morning right? It said in the instructions to take a double dose during your normal cycle week, that it would put you in a rut to replace your… you know.” 

“Oh god… I have to study. I have exams in like three weeks.” 

“Good luck hun, Octavia can't focus on anything unless she knots during her rut. Wonder how it will affect you?” Raven snickered at the thought. 

“Well, how about I take her off to bed and she and I can figure out what we can do about her oncoming rut.” Lexa came up from behind Clarke and nipped softly at Clarke’s neck. 

“Mhmm fuck, I, oh. I think I can get on board with that idea.” Clarke purred and offered her neck. 

“Yeah. As long as you promise to go easy on my poor lip.” 

“I promise love.” Clarke agreed, turning and kissing her mate's cheek. 

“In that case, I will leave you two to your fun. O will be home soon, and I want to have my work done so I can spend some time with her cuddled around me and talking to both of us.” Raven rubbed her belly. 

“Aww. That’s so sweet.” Clarke cooed. 

“Grr. Now I want one of those all over again.” Lexa rested her head on Clarke’s neck and pouted, getting a nice little bonus from her swollen lips. The lighthearted act almost did enough to cover how heartwrenching a topic it actually was. How the comment originated as an honest suggestion, but so quickly turned hollow and rotted in her mouth. 

“I know love, I know. Me too.” Clarke took Lexa by her hands and lifted them off from her hips so she could wrap them around her. “Me too.” It was a melancholy agreement, a small morning laced in; the burying of what she lost, but preparing to move forward. Whether they could have that or not, they could still be happy together. After all, they didn't HAVE to make kids themselves, they could one day adopt or use a surrogate if the day came they chose to do that. But for now? Just the two of them were enough for each other as long as they were together in the other’s arms. 

End of Chapter 57