This is a multichapter omegaverse Clexa fic. A promt on tumblr inspired it. It is planned to have more chapters and to be slow-burn and slow-plot. I hope I will update and get on with this fic on a regular basis but as all of you who already know me from my Brittana fics know, I'm unfortunately a little undisciblined in that aspect :) I hope you all enjoy and comment anyway!

Characters not mine.

Chapter 1 - The Alpha

„I do not believe this a wise move, Alpha. Merdock's pack will never join us, just last year they attacked-"

"I haven't forgotten!" Lexa hissed, continuing to pace back and forth in her office. She hated this place. Even with the floor to ceiling window front and the view over the city and its surrounding suburbs it offered, she despised being so far away from the earth. As all Weres, the Alpha of the Grounder Pack was not fond of the high, modern buildings that many of them were forced to work in following their day-time jobs.

The animals inside them drew strength from the earth but it was so much more than that. Being disconnected from the ground had Lexa's inner wolf pacing restlessly sometimes, growling in her psyche to be freed from this imprisoning room so high up above. Of course, being the Alpha, her control over her wolf was nearly impeccable and much stronger than that of any Omega or even Beta for example, but nevertheless she felt agitated when she was held inside for long periods at a time. Especially if that place was on the twelfth floor.

"Forgive me. I did not mean to imply you had." The quiet apology drew Lexa's focus away from her beast and she stopped her pacing to look around at her primary guard.

Her second in command, Indra, stood by the dark mahogany double doors of her office, her stance, as always, indiscernible of that of a warrior. Only someone as close to her as Lexa would be able to tell just how strained she was to hold back her own wolf as nothing seemed amiss except for a slight sheen of sweat across the tall woman's forehead.

"No, I must apologize, Indra." Lexa inclined her head a fraction as she willed her wolf to rest. "I lost my focus."

Immediately Indra's tension seemed to lessen as her Alpha's restless wolf quieted.

"If I may still offer you my advice." It wasn't a question but Indra waited for the Alpha's nod anyway before continuing.

"I see the gain in trying once more to convince Merdock's opposition inside the Blackpaw Pack to join us in an alliance, but my hopes of your success are slim."

Lexa's eyes glowed dangerously for a second before directing them at Indra's once more. Her second in command's directness wasn't a challenge even though many of their pack had feared Lexa's wolf would see it as such when she had first come to power and had elected Indra as her primary guard and first advisor. The dark woman had always been strong-headed and unapologetic in her demeanor but this was exactly why Lexa deemed her perfect for the position. Yes, as Alpha she could not and would not tolerate any insubordination towards her and her leadership decisions but she did not view Indra's directness as such. She greatly valued their relationship and the strong bond that had formed between them ever since Lexa had come into power as Alpha after her mother had passed.

At first Indra had shared the position as Lexa's second with Anya, who had been by Lexa's side ever since she had been called by Lexa's mother, the previous Alpha of the Grounder Pack, to teach Lexa the ways of the pack when she was only a pup. The hunt, the rules and maybe most importantly the power of the pack psyche connection, the teina nomon. All Weres had a mentor to guide them and watch over them on their way to becoming a full member of the pack.

Lexa had only been eight when Anya was appointed her mentor and after initial problems, which Anya and Lexa later would both amicably attribute to the other's attitude, the pair formed a bond stronger and more intricate than Lexa had known possible.

In some ways Indra and Anya were extremely similar. They both were of very high order, their natural rank proving to lie just below Alpha from as early on as childhood, and they both had exceptional strength and sharp minds as well as tongues. Even after Lexa had been called to her natural position of leader of the Grounder Pack Anya had, while respecting and recognizing Lexa as her Alpha, never seized to call the latter out whenever she saw the young girl's mind or will stray from her path.

And while Lexa outwardly had had to reassert her status as Alpha more than once with her longtime confidant, she had always been incredibly grateful to not have lost Anya's friendship and deep-bonded support as their positions to one another inside the pack order had changed.

Indra, who had been Lexa's mother's second before, had known Lexa most of her life as well, and Lexa had not hesitated to appoint her as her second as well when Indra offered her services to her after the Alpha of the Grounder Pack had passed by the hand of a rivaling pack seven years ago.

The war between the Grounder Pack and the Azgeda Pack had raged on for generations before the Alpha in command prior to Lexa's mother had managed to bring peace to the two nations for the first time in over a century. Lexa and her pack still didn't know what had brought the current Alpha of the Azgeda Pack of that time to break their truce and attack their pack but the summer after Lexa's fifteenth year had begun they had attacked and a terrible war had broken out in which many Weres on both sides had been killed.

The Grounder Pack had lost their Alpha that year and Lexa had lost a mother and been chosen to step into her mother's foot and paw prints as leader of their people. Chosen by her natural Alpha instincts that is. It had almost driven the young girl insane to suddenly be burdened with such a heavy cross to bear while she was grieving not only her mother but her lover Costia as well who had also fallen victim to the Azgeda's unexpected wrath.

Had it not been for Anya's and Indra's strong, leading minds and Lexa's trust in her bond with each of them, Lexa would have unleashed all of her untamed, young, immature fury on the whole of the Azgeda Pack and there would have been many more lives lost on both sides.

As it was, however, together with her advisors Indra and Anya she had managed to see beyond her own pain and drive for blood and successfully joined forces with a young Were of the Azgeda Pack who had been leading the opposition to their vicious Alpha Assyra. Together the Grounder Pack and Greyor and his followers had overthrown the leadership of the Azgeda Pack and Assyra had died at Lexa's feet.

Greyor had claimed the position of Alpha almost unchallenged and thus the peace between the two packs had been restored.

While this had been a victory the Grounder Pack's celebrations were overshadowed as they mourned their Alpha and a young Lexa suddenly saw herself in the position of leader of a whole people, responsible for the lives of over two thousand Weres.

Seven years had passed since then and while Lexa still felt the weight of grief on her soul she had risen to the task she had been naturally chosen for with unbreakable fierceness, loyalty and strength of heart and will, keeping the peace her mother had so passionately tried to maintain between the twelve packs of the northern world.

She had been successful as well except for the relentless Merdock and his Blackpaw Pack who did not let up and tried time and time again to wreak havoc and unsettle Lexa's pack so she would be forced to declare war or bow down to him and grant him power over her pack, relinquishing her own status as Alpha. Of course the latter would never happen and Lexa had been doing her best to assure her pack's unity and strength against the repeating attacks by the Blackpaws.

Just last year they had had to defend themselves against a particularly vicious attack and Anya's life had been lost, almost bringing Lexa's resolve to avoid war to its knees. She had once again been blinded by pain but her years in command and the wisdom she had gained since the attack of the Azgeda Pack had let her head rule over her heart and her beast's wrath had been held back with such power that the whole pack had been unsettled for weeks; Fights breaking out between the Weres, some even falling ill, the Alpha's conflicted feelings that called out to the pack in their shared teina too much for the weaker members of the pack whose wolves were almost driven insane by their Alpha's fight with her own.

Nevertheless with Indra by her side she had reigned in her inner beast and made sure the Weres responsible for Anya's death would be hunted down and executed by her best warriors. Those Weres but no one else of the Blackpaw Pack, thus assuring the fragile truce was not broken by her own, playing on Merdock's unwillingness to be the one to start a war he knew he could not win with a Grounder Pack that remained as united and loyal to their Alpha as ever.

Now however, almost a year after the fact, she saw a new attack lying ahead as her scouts told her of a band of seemingly rogue Weres roaming the woods near Polis. Lexa knew that rogues joining together after being banished was not unheard of but still she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off about these Weres that seemed to wander, admittedly not the most direct, but a sure path towards the Grounder encampment in the Forest just outside of Polis. Her wolf agreed with her assessment and both had heightened their senses to highest alertness upon receiving these news.

That had been three days ago and despite her best efforts to keep her inner wolf sharp but calm Lexa started noticing the effects her heightened vigilance were having on her pack, especially those closest to her.

"Maybe you are right." Lexa sighed, resuming her pacing only for a few steps before turning to the window front. Her hands tightly pressed across her chest she watched the sun glow a bright red as it set behind the mountain range in the distance and felt her wolf shudder, yearning to run free in the wild.

"But Kellan seems to steer away from Merdock and if I just found the right moment-"

"Kellan is not Greyon." Indra interrupted before adding "Alpha.", declining her head in respect.

Lexa did not see the gesture however, eyes still trained on the view over the city, and only hummed in response, once again lost in thoughts of how to avoid another attack and finally regain peace. She felt her muscles ache, a tiredness that had nothing to do with lack of sleep, creeping through her body and mind as another seemingly impossible task towered over her.

A minute passed before Indra spoke up again. "Maybe it is time for you to let your wolf hunt, Lexa." Came the quiet suggestion. Not many were granted the privilege to call the Alpha by her given name and even though Lexa did not mind Indra adressing her by it, the loyal Beta only did so on very rare occasions.

Lexa drew in a deep breath and then slowly nodded twice.

She turned around then, feeling the material of her blouse and suit trousers lie more and more uncomfortable and restraining against her skin as her wolf awakened once more at the prospect to run; to hunt. They both needed to feel the earth underneath their paws and to smell the forest. Their home.

"Will you run with me?"

The question was unnecessary and Indra inclined her head once more. "Of course. Alpha."