Inevitable Disaster - Chapter 3
Summary: To restore peace between the two packs, Kurt and Blaine have been forced to mate. Both families are royalty but ran things very differently. With Kurt being a carrier and Blaine being the designated alpha, will both wolves live happily ever after? SlightBadboy!Blaine Innocent!Kurt AU
Warnings: Smut in the later chapters, violence, mpreg in the future. Will add more later when I decide on what the other warnings will be.
Disclaimer: I do not own anything. But I would really love to.
A/N: Thanks again, guys! Longer author's note at the bottom of this chapter.
Pacing around the palace restlessly, Kurt groaned loudly and scratched his head uncharacteristically as he waited for his father to return home. Burt had left after apparently sensing trouble with Finn and his friends, fleeing for Kurt's sight before he could even decipher what his father had said. He did not want to sound like an over-controlling son but he was worried about his dad because of his heart and his problems with controlling his temper. Kurt knew that when his father was angry, he tended to do merciless actions that may get him in trouble, even if he was the king of the pack. Especially if it concerned the prince of the McKinley pack, his father would not hesitate to kill anyone. The last time Karofsky had 'accidentally' smacked Kurt's ass hard, Burt nearly broke the jock's hand and forbade him from ever making eye contact with Kurt again.
After hearing the door shut loudly, along with his father laughing, Kurt's head whipped around so fast that he thought he may had given himself a whiplash. Sprinting towards his dad at full speed, he immediately pulled him into a big hug, not caring if Finn and their friends saw him. "Dad! Don't scare me like that again! You just ran off and didn't even tell me where you were going. I've been so worried!" Kurt paused, looking up at his father's amused face and his friends' raised eyebrows. "Don't look at me like that, I know how bad you can get when you're pissed off about something. Plus, you said that Finn and the others were in trouble. What if they had been kidnapped or beaten up or killed? You can't seriously expect me to keep calm, do you?"
"Sorry, Kurt. I just didn't want you following me because it's really dangerous and I can't risk you getting hurt. Even though you're not going to become the next alpha of our pack, I still care about you and I want to protect you from any harm." Burt replied apologetically, smiling at his son in amusement and pride. There was no denying that he was the best child a parent could ever have; he was always there for Burt, he never gave his father a headache, he got along with everyone and sometimes, he even acted like the parent in their small family. Hugging his son back, he looked at Finn, Puck, Mike and Sam intently, who each gave him a smile of their own. "I have to talk to you about something important later at dinner, son. I can't tell you whether it's good news or not because it will depend entirely on how you look at it. You seem to be feeling uneasy right now and I don't want this to add onto that at all so have some rest and I will tell you tonight when I feel you're ready."
Kurt pulled away from the hug and stared at his father confusedly. He didn't know what the so-called news were so he was scared to find out about it. It could go either way, he decided; he could either be ecstatic or he could be devastated. He just hoped it was the former and not the latter. "Are you okay, dad? You seem quite stressed about this, maybe we should put the news on hold for a bit. I don't really mind but I'm really curious as to what it could possibly entail." The truth was Kurt did mind. He had never seen his dad as flustered as he was now.
"No, we need to talk about this as soon as possible. I just don't think that discussing the situation right at this minute will be good for me and my heart." Burt answered seriously, walking over to one of the grand couches and taking a seat. The boys, excluding Kurt, followed the king's lead and relaxed on the other couches around the living room while the countertenor remained standing. "Kurt, just freshen up for dinner and I'll talk to you about the whole situation then, okay? Don't get yourself stressed out because of this, trust me." Offering a small smile, Burt watched as his son huffed and stormed upstairs to his room gracefully. Softly shaking his head at his son's short and amusing diva fit, he couldn't help but quietly chuckle at the all too familiar action.
"Boys," Burt began slowly, staring at the four boys with a sudden sad glint in his eyes. His mind wandered back to the offer proposed to him and, more importantly, his son. He knew somewhere in the back of his mind that the offer would greatly benefit both packs and would help build a bridge for the future, but he realised that if Kurt did agree to mate with Blaine, the pale porcelain doll would have to live with his mate, ultimately separating him from Burt's guidance. There was no denying that the alpha would want his mate to be by his side all the time, especially once the two enter the honeymoon phase, and Burt was uncertain if Kurt would be able to handle the sudden surge of independence handed to him. He had always been independent but it was different with a mate - they would inevitably engage in sexual acts! While Burt wanted Kurt to stay a virgin until he was at least thirty years old, he understood the urges that a person can get when their mate was in front of them, having gone through those phases himself when his wife was still alive and breathing and now, Carole. "From your own opinions on Kurt and his attitude, how sure are you that Kurt will accept to mate with Blaine in a scale of one to ten, with one being the lowest and ten being the highest?"
"I don't know, Burt..." Finn trailed off, scratching the back of his head. Since Kurt was now his step-brother, he felt the urge to protect him and keep him away from any harm that may come his way. With the given situation, he was unsure whether it would be safe for his little brother to be left alone in a house with the vicious wolf they had just encountered. Kurt was too innocent and precious to be taken advantage of! "Kurt can be unpredictable. If I were to pick a number though, I would choose either seven or eight. I know you probably think I'm delusional for thinking that but I know Kurt would do anything to make you proud. Once you tell him about what you and Michael discussed back there, his mind will be set on doing everything in his power to make you happy and restore peace between our packs. He's a peacemaker, Burt. He may act like the Ice Queen at times but having faced his wrath for many years now, I know that he cannot stay mad at anyone for long; he will make up with them, no matter what the cost is. That is why he is adored by everyone in our pack! However, that doesn't mean that I don't think he'll start an argument with you about this whole mating thing. It'd be a miracle if he didn't! But like I said, Kurt can be unpredictable. You never know what he'll say or do."
Burt nodded throughout Finn's answer, listening carefully to his opinion and watching as the other boys behind the frankenteen nod in unison. "I guess you're right. It just scares me though. You all saw how Blaine acted back there, I'm not sure if he's the right one for Kurt. Michael said that he'd talk about it with Blaine but a person can't just change their attitude over night - it'll take some time!" The alpha groaned loudly, falling back onto the couch in frustration. Grabbing the phone from the table beside the couch, Burt dialled an all-too familiar number and patiently waited for the person to answer.
"Hello, Carole?"
"Burt, honey. What's wrong? You never call me when I'm at work! Is everything okay? Are you hurt? Are the boys hurt?" Carole rapidly asked, panicking that something bad had happened while she was treating the injured pack members at their makeshift hospital. From the tone of Burt's uncharacteristically somber voice, she knew that it was not good and she also had a feeling that it was affecting Burt in ways that not even a 'normal' and 'small' problem can. The man also never called her when she was at work, stating that it would probably end up distracting her from her job and he didn't want that. That was why she wondered why he called her in the first place. It had to have been major or he wouldn't have even considered to call her. "Hello, Burt? You better answer me this instant; otherwise, I'm rushing home because I can't handle the worry! Just tell me what's happened, honey."
"Carole, everything's fine. I'm just... stressing over something that just came up and I was wondering when you were coming home. I will be mentioning this during dinner when Kurt finishes getting ready since this whole thing concerns Kurt more than any of us." Burt sighed out, rubbing his face with his large hands. He wanted the whole family to be there before he revealed anything. Finn had already heard of the whole situation but both Carole and Kurt were still clueless, and he intended on keeping it that way until dinner arrived. He was just torn on what to do. "I just don't know what to do right now, Carole. This is too much for me to take in but I need to get this off my chest as soon as possible, and I would like to do it when our family is gathered around for dinner."
"Is Kurt gonna be okay though? You don't have to tell me anything else, I just need to know if Kurt will be okay." Carole rushed out, concern evident in the tone of her voice. While she may not be the biological mother of Kurt's (RIP Elizabeth Hummel), she deeply cared for Kurt as her own son. She was always ready to listen to her, whether it was a girl chat or something much personal, and he always gave her advice on what to do, despite being much younger than Carole herself was. That was why she felt infuriated when Kurt first told her about the unusual actions of guys around him. When he told her about their suggestive comments and attempts to touch him, she immediately saw red and was ready to hunt these guys, but Kurt had managed to hold her down and reassure her that he was fine and only slightly affected by the whole ordeal. "Burt, please tell me he will be okay at least. It should keep me at bay until I get home for later."
"I- Carole, he will be okay. He will be fine, we just need to be there for him. You'll understand what I mean when I announce this later on but try to keep yourself calm and focused for now. We don't need anyone dying right now, just because you're worried about Kurt. He will be fine, I will make sure of that." Burt explained, his voice cracking slightly at the last sentence. However, Carole knew that he was actually trying to convince himself that his son would be okay, instead of persuading her. The gruff man sighed deeply, tears springing into his eyes at the stress and worry that accompanied the situation as a whole. He wasn't ready to see is son being parted from him but he knew that it would be incredibly beneficial for both packs and for the two teens as well, mostly because it would teach them more about independence and responsibility. But having said that, it pained Burt to think that his son - his pure, young, innocent son - would be separated from him if he chose to mate with Blaine. It was a horrible thought and it affected Burt more than necessary. "He will be fine, trust me. Kurt is strong and I've taught him well. I know that he will be capable of handling this, I just know it!"
"Okay, I'm going to have to trust your judgement on this for now. I may not know the whole circumstance but I can tell that this is affecting you greatly, Burt. My shift will have to be cut off short today because I'm curious and you know that when I'm worried, I never get anything done. They'll cope without me here! I just can't be here, knowing that there's something big that's surrounding Kurt's life right now." Carole answered softly, in an attempt to calm Burt down. She knew that he cared immensely for Kurt and she couldn't blame him. Kurt was fragile and with his current condition, it definitely put him in more danger than other pack members. His carrying ability had put him on the radar for men of all ages, packs and sizes, who all had at least once attempted to sleep with Kurt. Thankfully, Kurt had strong morals and Burt or Finn had always been around to prevent any unwanted actions from taking place. "I'll be home in about an hour. I just need to finish this up, get everything here sorted out then I can go straight home after that. Everything will be fine, Burt."
Burt sighed loudly, unsure what to think at that moment. His mind was filled with different thoughts, which varied from pride to worry; all of which were aimed towards his son. He knew that he was probably only overreacting but he really cared for his son. He didn't want him to feel as if he had no choice but to mate with Blaine, who he had not even seen a picture of. Their packs would once again reunite and become one unbreakable family, but was it worth it? He was basically selling his own son for this and boy, did he feel guilty for that. But he was done living in constant fear that a pack would attack them at their weakest, most vulnerable moment. Burt was not a coward, but he did worry about his pack's safety and that included the fighters, who were willing to serve their part in the group by joining in the fight. "Okay, Carole. I just... This is not the easiest of occurrences and you know how protective I am of my boy! I really hope that you're right. I just need to discuss this with Kurt but I want you and Finn there. Finn, along with Sam, Mike and Puck, already knows because they were with me when this came up but we can't pinpoint Kurt's possible reaction. That boy is more unpredictable than the weather nowadays, I swear!" At this, Burt chuckled slightly, causing Carole to giggle along with her husband. "The boys are actually with me right now. I was just telling Kurt more about his carrying ability earlier and suddenly, this comes up?! It's all going way too fast."
"Burt, calm down. You may act all strong and heroic but you have a heart condition to worry about. We just need to have a proper chat about this later when the whole family is sat down at the dinner table, and we will see how it goes on from there. It's pointless worrying and sulking because that won't do anything. I may not know Kurt as well as you, but I know him well enough to recognise his tough and dexterous personality." Carole replied firmly. Kurt wasn't like a normal wolf his age, in more than one way. Sure he was gay, sure he was a carrier, but he was also the strongest person Carole knew. He had endured all the pain that he had been through the past number of years, ranging from the moment he had lost his mother to the horrible assumptions and insults aimed towards him. He was capable of handling more situations than a human or wolf his age could and she envied him for that. He was an inspiration to others and she was proud of him for that. "Now, I'm gonna hang up because I need to start getting things sorted out so they won't need me when I leave. I will see you, Kurt and Finn later. Keep calm for now, okay?" With those parting words, Carole and Burt hung up the phone and continued their assigned jobs; Carole's being hospital duties and Burt's being a mighty, but now worried, father and alpha.
"Sam, Puck, Mike, can you three do me a huge favour please?" Burt asked slowly, turning to the three young men who were staring back at him waiting for the task that Burt was going to set them. Despite the popular belief that the three wolves were nothing but desperate womanisers, they proved themselves to be so much more. Puck was assigned the head of McKinley Youths - since Finn was ineligible, being the alpha-in-training and all - while Sam and Mike were named assistant heads of the same group. McKinley Youths were a group of teens, from the ages of thirteen extending all the way to nineteen years old, who belonged to the McKinley pack. This group's main aim was to prepare each other for their future; be it family planning or even raising the group's awareness of what they would encounter in their upcoming years. In this group were the three mature wolves, along with Kurt, Quinn, Santana, Brittany, Mercedes, Rachel, Artie, Tina, Sugar, Lauren, Marley, Jake, Ryder, Kitty, Joe and Wade. Each of them were unique in their own way, making the group more versatile and distinct, in terms of the topics they discuss, the points they come across and the various other subjects they cover. Alongside the McKinley Youths were the McKinley Seniors and the McKinley Tots. These groups were erected to go through specific topics that suited their age groups the most, which proved to be a huge success as it helped them to become a much more stronger community overall.
Burt continued to make his favour known when he saw the firm nods of the three teens that he addressed. "Do you think you'll be able to go to our village library and research about the rules of mating with another pack's member? I am not familiar with this, seeing as Elizabeth and Carole had always been a part of the same pack, and I really just want to know that Kurt and our pack as a whole will be safe if we go through with this deal. I can't and I won't put our pack's safety and well-being in danger." Despite being a soft and gentle father to Kurt, he also had a duty to run the pack and become the best alpha that he could possibly be, which was why his tone had adapted to a more sterner and serious tone, even after his vulnerable episode prior to the acknowledgement of the boys behind him. He just wanted everything to be foolproof and for everyone to be happy even after the deal had been settled and done. "Meanwhile, me and Finn will be here discussing the whole situation with Carole and Kurt, and we will all decide - mainly Kurt though - what will happen after; whether or not he accepts it will be resolved later but either way, we will have to support him and his decision as this will affect him more than any one of us."
"We understand, Burt." Mike replied wholeheartedly, speaking on behalf of the other boys as well. "And sure, we'll visit the library and find out as much as we can about cross-mating while you talk this out with your family. We'll just report back to you tomorrow or something, after we've found out a decent amount of information about it and when you've all had enough time to discuss this. This is a pretty tough decision for Kurt but I'm sure he will make the right decision, regarding the matter in hand. He always does." Mike finished off, smiling at the alpha, who nodded and stood from the couch where he had been sat on for the past half an hour.
"Thanks, boys. It means a lot to me, knowing that Kurt has friends that are boys who won't take advantage of him and his abilities to carry wolves. It really does worry me because sometimes, people out there will do anything to sleep with Kurt and have him carry their offspring. I mean, I've heard from the news that some would even go as far as taking them out to a club or a restaurant and drugging their drink before raping them when they're incapable of fighting back. I don't want that to happen to Kurt, I won't let that happen to him. Should he choose to get mated, well that's different because I know that they would inevitably have sex and Kurt may get pregnant as a result of their actions. It's different from letting Kurt go out and having him come home, telling me that someone took advantage of him and due to the unfortunate circumstance, he is pregnant." Burt's voice shook as he imagined the pain it would cause his son if the latter happened. He couldn't stand seeing the pain in his son's eyes, it was painful for him too, perhaps even more painful because it would mean that he failed his job to protect Kurt from the dangers of the world. He would sacrifice everything for Kurt, as long as his boy remained safe and happy.
"We won't let that happen to Kurt, Burt. You've assigned us for a reason and we will not fail you." Puck strongly intervened, clenching his fists and almost growling at the thought of Kurt, who was practically his own brother, getting raped for whatever reason. "You can trust us on this, we won't let anyone hurt him - physically or mentally, in this case. You've taught the whole pack to stand up for each other and you've also taught us to take care of each other; both of those lessons, we've taken into account and intend on using them to protect Kurt as much as we can." At this, Burt felt his eyes stinging as he realised that not only were they a community, they were a family. He also realised that despite Kurt being different from the other guys, he was still loved and cherished as a friend and as a brother. The word pack didn't apply to them anymore because they were more than that; it was only a formality but if you asked him, Burt would not hesitate to call them his family.
Walking over to the boys, who had stood up to get ready when Puck finished his speech, Burt opened his arms taciturnly and motioned for them to return the initiated hug. The boys looked at each other and launched themselves at Burt, laughing and comfortably forming a group hug, which the alpha shook his head amusedly at. Those were the times that Burt felt obliged to say that he should've aimed to make more babies - he had always wanted a big family and while he treated his pack that way, he wanted a family who were all related to him, whether it was through blood or marriage. He didn't really care, as long as they formed a big, happy and relaxed family. Having said that, Burt was just happy that he had a pack that he could treat as family; it was definitely a dream come true and it made him want to rejoice and celebrate. "Thanks, boys. Now shoo, Carole is coming home soon and Kurt will probably put on another dramatic act about how careless I am."
"I swear, Kurt has the scariest diva fit and glare ever." Sam stated, shuddering at the thought of being in the receiving end of the dreaded glare. "He kicks Rachel's ass when it comes to that, and we all know how bad Rachel can get when she doesn't get the things she want. She can be like the Incredible Hulk when she's mad, always storming off and throwing anything and everything she can find. Meanwhile, there's Kurt, who's silent but deadly." He shuddered more violently and bit his lip nervously, looking towards the stairs to check if Kurt was listening.
"That is so true. He went ballistic at me for touching his iPhone when I went to check the time." Finn chuckled loudly as he reminisced the event in his mind. "He is like the devil in disguise - you may think he's okay with you and the next thing you know, you're on the floor clutching whatever body part because he sent someone to hurt you. Seriously, he may appear naive and innocent but when you get him angry, expect the worst to come your way." This caused the other boys and Burt to laugh deafeningly, which could probably be heard halfway across the country.
"And who may you be talking about, Finnegan?" Kurt asked slowly, suddenly appearing from behind the laughing men and glaring threateningly at each one, even his own father. He wasn't really mad at them, he just thought it would be fun to get them flustered, seeing as they thought he was the 'devil in disguise' anyway. Smiling inwardly when he saw them fidget nervously under his death stare, he decided that it was the most interesting sight that ever took place before his eyes. Even his father - the big, old, scary wolf - looked scared of his son. Wasn't that just a huge achievement? "Unless one of you speak up soon, I will automatically assume that you were talking about me and that will not make me very happy. And you all know that an unhappy Kurt is also equivalent to your worst nightmare, right?" Throughout his whole speech, he could literally smell and feel the fear radiating off of the five wolves, who thought it was funny to mock Kurt's temper. The diva just loved seeing people get all fidgety and nervous, especially when he was the main cause of their rather unattractive state.
"I think this is our cue to leave so we will see all of you later." Puck rushed out, ushering Mike and Sam out of the door before facing Kurt again with an apologetic smirk on his face. Even Noah Puckerman, who was known for his ruthless actions and womanising schemes, was scared of Kurt Hummel, who was known for his rather distinct tastes compared to other boys his age. Now, can you see why that didn't sound right? The pale boy could be so frightening, no one ever wanted to cross his way or anger him in any way. Like it was mentioned before by Finn, he was treated as an innocent angel by everyone but only few actually knew, and some had experienced, of his wrath. "You're looking good, Kurt."
"Nice try, Noah. Wait till you three get back, I will have something prepared as a punishment for mocking me." Kurt fought back with a smirk of his own, blowing a playful kiss towards the teen with a Mohawk. "And you know that I never break my promises so just beware." He giggled softly when he saw Puck's eyes widen in fear and all but run out their palace, slamming the door shut behind him. He could never get tired of seeing people fear him, it was definitely something for the books. He was sweet though, really! He would never harm a fly, unless it provoked or irritated him that much, but that was not the point. He would usually ask someone else to do the dirty deed for him because like he was willing to break or mess up his nails for something like that! Blood-covered fingers were not sexy. Over his dead body would he allow such monstrosity. "Are we waiting for Carole? I've got out dinner sorted. While I was waiting for you two to return, I cooked a full course meal since I felt stressed and anxious. Thanks a lot for that, by the way." He flashed a sarcastic smile at his dad and Finn, who shrugged in an 'oops, sorry' way.
"Sorry, kiddo. I'm an alpha, I have a duty to attend and help any pack members in danger and I could sense that the boys were having trouble. I wasn't wrong though but before we get to discussing that, we'll wait for Carole since that is what I have to talk about anyway." Burt said blankly as if he was not ready to talk about it but was being somewhat forced to. He watched as Kurt shot Finn a questioning glance, to which the latter bit his lip and shrug again, causing the countertenor to huff stubbornly with a matching pout. He definitely got that from Elizabeth. "Carole will be here soon. She said that she was going to sort some things out quickly before rushing straight home for dinner and the bittersweet announcement."
They all walked over to the sofas and plopped down roughly, or in Kurt's case, gracefully planted his tush. While they sat and waited in comfortable silence, Kurt decided that it would be a good idea to try and at least guess what the issue that got his father all flustered was about. Having known his father's attitude and personality quite well, he could tell that it was big and not something that should be taken lightly, which got Kurt even more curious because his father would always consult him on the bigger situations before acting up on it. So what was this huge problem, or whatever it was, that they needed to have a family meeting for? It could really be anything, mostly since there was no warnings beforehand that could have possibly hinted this. If there was an event that took place before, it would have been easier to pinpoint the given situation but there wasn't so it was harder to sum up a possible hypothesis.
Still deep in his own personal thoughts, Kurt barely registered the opening and closing of the front door, and the quick movements of his father and Finn to assist Carole to the kitchen. Sluggishly following the trio to their spacious kitchen, which was also connected to the dining room, Kurt shook his head gently and snapped out of his trance, awaiting the big news that seemed so impossibly mysterious at that moment in time. He found Carole, his dad and Finn already sat in their usual seats while the maids and chefs shuffled to place the foods on the wooden table that took up half the dining room. Kurt took a deep breath, offering a small smile at the maid that placed the kitchen utensils in front of him, before taking a seat and looked straight at his father.
Finally, it was time for the much-anticipated announcement that Kurt and Carole had been waiting for.
"Kurt..." Burt started slowly, looking anywhere but at Kurt. He didn't even know why he felt so uneasy in the first place. Was it because he may lose Kurt to his mate? Was it because Kurt was growing up faster than Burt had wanted him to? Or maybe it was just because he was worried that his son wouldn't be able to handle the tough life of being mated? Whatever it was, it made Burt feel sick. He just wasn't ready to let his son go, not yet anyway. Sure, Carole and Finn were now there with him, but they weren't really his original family. They hadn't been there with him through his darkest days; they hadn't been there when he faced the roughest challenges in his whole life; they just hadn't been there by his side as long as Kurt had been. Heck, Burt and Carole weren't even mated! They just felt an irresistible amount of love for one another, through which they had bonded and soon decided to join their families together, but Elizabeth would always be Burt's mate, just like how Christopher would always be Carole's. It would never change and they were both fine with that. However, it didn't stop them from accepting and acting on their love for each other. They may not be a biological family, nor did they have a long history, but they would always treat each other like one. "Before I spew anything out that would frighten you, I have a quick question that I want you to answer: how do you honestly feel about mating and the accompanying process?" Burt closed his eyes and exhaled deeply.
Kurt stared at his dad with an incredulous look on his face. What was that about? "You want my honest opinion on mating? Where did that come from?" He waited for his dad's response and found the alpha just nodding and giving him a look that told him to just answer the question. Breathing deeply as he tried to form the right words to say, Kurt carefully began to answer the question. "If you're asking me if I'm ready to mate with someone, I would probably say yes... I'm seventeen now and you know that I'm more than capable of living a life by myself. However, having said that, I'm unsure whether I want to mate right at this moment. Should the circumstance be crucial and important, then I wouldn't mind but if I had the choice, I would probably wait a while before choosing to embark on this rather difficult but supposedly wonderful journey. As cliche as this sounds, I also want to love my mate and I want him to be someone that I wouldn't mind spending my whole life with because otherwise, the whole process would be completely pointless. Before the actual mating process though, at least a date or two should be arranged for me to get a better grasp of the person who would be my mate, in order to ensure that I actually feel something for the person, even if it's more platonic than sexual." Kurt blushed as he realised that he and his mate would inevitably have sex, and surprisingly, he wasn't that fussed about it. "I know mating isn't exactly the same as marriage but I want it to feel as if it's the same."
Carole, who had been listening to Kurt's speech intently, felt tears in her eyes as she struggled to regain her composure. Similar to Kurt, she had had the same beliefs and thoughts prior to mating with Christopher. The speech had just reignited her passion for love and even though Christopher was now long gone, she knew that she and Burt had something between them. There was just something there. Forget about the fact that they were not mated, nor were they ever going to even think about it, the love she had for Burt was enough to make her feel wanted and satisfied again. "Sweetie, that was beautiful." She cooed with a wide smile on her face. "I can assure you that whoever you mate with will love you the way you are and if he doesn't, I'm going to have to give that boy a lecture. Oh, look at me, I'm crying." She laughed shakily, reaching for the napkin on the table in front of her to prevent her mascara from running. She didn't care about that though. At that moment, all she cared about was how lucky Kurt's future mate would be for choosing him as a mate. Despite not being Kurt's biological mother, they had gotten much more closer since Burt had begun dating her and she had grown to love him as her own. She was just happy that Kurt welcomed her into the family with open arms and without complaining about it.
As Kurt and Carole exchanged quick hugs, Burt idly watched them, debating whether to just get the announcement over and done with or drag it out as long as he could. When his son mentioned about the important circumstances, his heart had begun to beat rapidly and he was worried that he would have another heart attack right there and then. Thankfully, Kurt seemed to accept it and even talked about how, while he was not entirely ready, he would be willing to do depending on the significance of the situation. That had made Burt feel slightly better, but it wasn't enough to take the heavy feeling off his chest. "Kurt, I don't want you thinking that I'm trying to send you off by doing this..." Burt sighed deeply. There was no way out now. "I have been given an offer and whether or not I choose to accept will be yours to decide as this concerns you the most. Not mine, not Finn's, not Carole's. It's all up to you."
"Daddy, what is it?" Kurt asked nervously, his fingers shaking and his breathing getting heavier and heavier every second that passed. Didn't he just tell his dad not to start his conversations that way? He was getting really worried. It wasn't like when his dad had tried to talk to him about being a carrier; no, the atmosphere felt so much worse and tense, and that was what made Kurt feel anxious. His dad was a pretty outgoing, light-hearted man so what made him feel so skittish and edgy?
"Earlier when I ran out to help Finn, Sam, Puck and Mike, I met a man, who turned out to be the alpha of the pack that we have been in war with in the past." Burt started, deciding that the best way to lower the explosion was to retell it from the very beginning. He looked on as Kurt and Carole gasp simultaneously, grasping the table for support. "And we started talking about the recent wars and the past between our packs, amongst other subjects. He mentioned that it was actually his father who had been in charge when the last war took place, which was a few years ago. Look, Kurt, we've been very careful with exiting the village, just so that we are safe from any upcoming wars with them and I don't want that to continue. I want to walk out the palace and into the woods everyday without having to worry about any foreign wolves trespassing and destroying our village. While he said that he was not going to do such thing, I don't want to risk it happening. We had lost way too many wolves in the last war, one of them being your mother, and it really devastates me knowing that I was the one who was supposed to be in charge then, yet I feel as if I let so many people down. It was horrible. I feel better now but it will always stay with me, no matter where I go and what I do." He paused, waiting for someone to speak up. The silence was just deafening.
"Dad, just get on with it. I'm getting really worried now!" Kurt pleaded helplessly, glancing over to Finn, who had his head down, and then to Carole, who was impatiently waiting for Burt to reveal where the conversation was going. Kurt couldn't really tell where it was going; first his dad asked him about his thoughts on mating, then the old man talked about meeting with another alpha and now, he mentioned something about wars? He mentally tried to arrange the puzzle pieces in his head but nothing would fit right. It was confusing him to no end and he just wanted to know why everyone and everything felt so uneasy.
In the many years that he had assigned as the alpha of their pack, Burt had never felt more flustered and stressed than ever before. And that was saying something since he had been responsible for signing many treaties and avoiding many fights; both of which he had been successful in doing so. When something concerned his son, he immediately became an overprotective father and this time was no different. However, instead of glaring at anything and everything who wasn't his family, he felt as if his whole world was put on hold as he realised that he would have no world if his son agreed to mate with that Blaine kid. His son was his world, having been so ever since his mother had passed and Burt had to raise Kurt all by himself. Knowing that Kurt would inevitably be separated from him as part of the mating law just broke Burt's heart. "Kurt." Burt started shakily, letting the stored up emotions inside him go as he continued. "Someone has offered to be your mate."
Kurt gasped loudly as he heard the announcement, feeling lightheaded and faint. He had not been expecting anything like that. If anything, he had only been expecting a small lecture about his abilities as a carrier but the topic of mating never even crossed his mind. Was that why his father began by asking him how he felt about mating in general? He knew that his father would try to prolong the whole finding-a-mate process and knew that there had to be a bigger reason behind it. Burt was not one to just give his son away just like that; the proof for that was when David Karofsky first asked - or stated, depending on how you looked at it - him to mate with him and Burt went mental, angrily dragging the boy out of the palace gardens and to the boy's house, which was actually on the other side of their village. If his dad acted like that with David, there must be something behind the situation that made his father restless and agitated. Before he could even ask him what it was, Burt had beaten him to it, explaining the whole mishap in a careful and somber voice. "As you know, your mother died as a result of a war that had been started by our rival pack - the Dalton pack. It was never like that; our packs had actually began as a big family and we were happy. That was until an idiot decided to go on a killing spree, which inevitably separated our pack into two. Up until recently, the alpha of the Dalton pack had followed their ancestors' so-called wishes by making us suffer and experience the pain that we apparently deserved. That all stopped when Nicholas Anderson died in the last war, leaving the Dalton pack with his son - Michael Anderson, who was also the man that I saw when I came to Finn and the other boys' rescue. We got talking and he actually offered to join our packs again, without the condition of having you and Blaine mated. I didn't trust them though. I couldn't." Burt shook his head and his voice cracked slightly. "And that was when he came up with the idea of you two mating, which would undoubtedly lead to a definite treaty between our packs... I can't help but feel like I just sold my own son."
Whilst Burt continued to curse at himself for basically putting his son up for sale, Kurt remained silent, trying to decipher all his thoughts and feelings in his head. One part of him wanted to slap some sense into his dad because he was not just gonna mate with a stranger because of some agreement, but the other part completely understood the conflict within his dad; he actually appreciated that his dad was making his own self feel bad. It made Kurt feel better that his father actually did care about him enough to sulk about how he supposedly sold his own son. Now was the hard part. Kurt guessed that he would have to give an answer as soon as possible, and that was where his own conflict began.
Mating.
That wasn't a foreign term to Kurt but he was unfamiliar with the whole process. Sure, he was taught about it for when he grew up so that he was at least aware of what he may or may not come across as a mated carrier. His lessons had been more... distinct, to say the least, compared to the other wolves in his pack that were his age because he was a carrier; he could get pregnant like girls but carriers tended to go through a different cycle to a woman's. Because of this, it was always only just him and the teacher who were in the room when the classes took place. Granted, he learnt many things about the act and process of mating. He blushed a few times, he looked disgusted sometimes but overall, it made him more confident with his own future.
As soon as Burt announced that there was an offer to mate laid out on the table, Kurt felt curious, excited, shy and confused. Curious because he wondered why the offer was suddenly present when a few days before, it had been silent; excited because he would finally get to try out the lifestyle of a mated wolf, something that he had always wanted to experience; shy because he knew nothing about how to please his partner, both sexually and mentally; and he felt confused, most of all, because he was aware of how protective his father could be at times. If Burt had even bothered to acknowledge the offer, it must have been quite big and convincing overall. Knowing the man, he could be quite hardheaded when it came to situations that involved his son and while Kurt loved his dad, he felt as if he was being locked within a box, unable to escape and appreciate the outside world, which he had deemed as unpredictable and complex.
The question was, though, should he accept the offer?
There was something inside him that was telling him to go through with it and just go with the flow. However, there was something else inside him that was ordering him to decline it and wait for someone else because he was too young to be mated. Being a seventeen year old boy, Kurt had certain urges that he was afraid to act upon because he felt that it would decrease his purity levels; he did not want that. He wanted to be completely pure and untouched for his mate, he didn't want to carry out those disgusting acts himself - no way! Maybe if he accepted, he would finally get the chance to find a release and solution to those problems. Having said that, he still hadn't seen the boy - Blaine - who he was supposed to mate with. For all he knew, the boy could be a complete pervert and manwhore who would only take advantage of his innocence. That was another thing he didn't want. Kurt wanted to be able to give his virginity to a mate who he was comfortable with, not someone who he felt insecure and unsafe with. So was he supposed to say yes or no?
Kurt then took into account that it was a way to join the two packs, that were apparently one big happy family before, together. That was a valid enough reason, he thought. Not only would he get a mate out of it, he would be an actual help to his pack. Lately, he felt useless to his pack; he was always treated as if he as about to break any minute if there was no one watching or supervising him. He thought of himself as a nuisance, only accepted because he was Burt's son. Packs fought for him and some of his pack members even risked their lives to protect him from the predators who were after Kurt, and Kurt was sick of it. He wanted to be his own person too. Maybe mating with another pack's alpha's son would earn him more respect and support, and maybe he would feel less like a nuisance and more like a part of the community instead.
But then, there was that part inside him commanding him to think about his future without his dad. It was painful for Kurt just thinking about it. Ever since he had lost his mother, he had relied on his father so much more than before and he knew that once he became mated, his bond with his father would inevitably suffer, as would his bond with his friends, Carole and Finn. He didn't want that. He cared about his pack and family but what concerned him the most was Burt's sanity. Kurt knew that his father would probably end up shutting everyone out for a while and since he was the alpha, that might also lead to the pack ending up in the worst positions. However, if it helped the pack as a whole, Burt would surely understand and welcome his decision with open arms, right?
"... And if you get mated, I believe that you will have to live alone with that kid and I don't know if I trust him enough to leave you two alone. Granted, me, Carole and Finn, as well as Michael and his family, will reside in a smaller palace nearby but we won't be there every second with you two. That's what worries me the most." Burt continued shakily and Kurt bit his lip as he realised that he just completely zoned off and didn't manage to catch half of his father's speech. "It's not like we'll completely disappear from your life either. It's just... You're growing up quicker than I want you to and that itself is enough to set me off." Burt chuckled, easing the tension in the room slightly. "Once you're mated, you automatically have your own life and I can't imagine you like that. I still remember holding you in my arms when you were still a baby; when you first transformed into a wolf and you were so excited, you nearly fainted in exhilaration; when you went on your first field trip and you came home crying because you missed me and your mother. It's difficult for me to comprehend that you're not a little boy anymore, Kurt. It's only a matter of time before you start slipping away from me and the thought of that is just devastating."
"Daddy..." Kurt croaked out, looking at his dad with eyes that were pleading the latter to stop and let him talk first. The porcelain-skinned boy took a deep breath, whimpering slightly when he felt all eyes on him. He loved attention but this wasn't the type of attention he longed for. "I'm growing up now; I know that you don't want that but I am and you'll just have to accept that. Having said that, I'll always be the baby you held in your arms and I'll never leave your side, even if I do get mated. You raised me better than that and I thank you for that because without you, I wouldn't be half the person I am today. There's so many things I've got to thank you for but I'm not gonna go through them one by one now. If I did, we'd probably be here for quite some time." Kurt giggled infectiously, causing Carole, Finn and Burt to crack a small smile at the naïvety of the small countertenor's. "Anyway, back to the topic! As I was saying, this isn't going to be goodbye. Before you say anything, I honestly think that mating is a good thing for me right now. I feel that it is the right time for me to do so and, while I know that I'm a bit young for this kind of commitment, I feel as if this will help me grow up and in turn, make me a better, more independent person. Plus, if this brings our packs closer together, then I don't see why I should even be considering to decline the offer. This will be good for us and for the pack, dad. I want to do this."
Choking on his tears, Burt felt his world stop momentarily as his vision zoomed forward to a future without Kurt beside him every second of the day. He knew that he only spent about half the week with Kurt anyway, due to his alpha duties, but just the thought of Kurt mated made him feel like his son was being ripped away from him. "But Kurt, don't think of this as for the pack. This is your decision alone; the fact that it will reunite our packs again should only be a bonus for you. It's about your honest opinion on mating with someone and spending the rest of your life with them. Mating is forever. Only death can break the mating bond but other than that, nothing will be able to cross your path anymore."
"Dad..."
"Kurt, what I think your father means is whatever your chosen option is, we will be here to support you all the way. If you choose to mate with Blaine, we will be your number one supporters, and it's the same if you don't want to go through with this. Just know that we will always be here for you, no matter what your decision is." Carole intervened, shooting Burt a warning look before he could blurt out something else that would hurt or damage Kurt's feelings any further. Finn, who remained silent throughout the meeting, nodded, flashing Kurt a smile that showed how proud and happy he was of Kurt. He was immensely proud of his brother because it definitely took guts to agree to mate with a complete stranger. He had always known Kurt as a brave person, but this instance just proved his real courage. Not only had he taken matters into his own hands, Kurt had handled it very maturely and showed that he was able to make his own decisions.
"Isn't that right, Burt?" Carole asked, staring at Burt intensely. Unable to form any words, Burt nodded robotically, looking a bit scared of Carole's glare. "Remember that we're always here if you need help or just need someone to talk to. Even though you will be living by yourself with this guy, it doesn't automatically mean that you are not allowed to talk to us! We will be here every step of the way, just remember that, Kurt."
"Thank you, Carole, Finn, dad." Kurt gave them a watery smile, running his shaking fingers through his brunette locks nervously. "Dad, I want to go through with this. I want to be able to feel as if I'm actually doing the pack justice and not just relying on them for help all the time. I'm sure this doesn't automatically cut all our interactions so you have nothing to worry about." The fashionista finished, reaching over the table to grab his father's hand and squeezing reassuringly. "I'll be fine, dad. You've taught me well and it's time for me to put those lessons into action."
"But..." Burt started but before he could finish, Kurt interrupted him.
"But nothing, dad. I've made my decision and I plan on sticking by it. Please just let me decide for myself this once. I promise that if it gets too hard, I will come to you for advice first." Kurt vowed and gave his father a tight-lipped smile, squeezing the hand he was holding once more before pulling away. "Usually, I wouldn't be the one to announce this but since everyone else still seems a bit dazed and, um, out of it right now, I guess I'll do it. IT'S DINNER TIME!" And with that, Kurt dug in and was soon followed by an enthusiastic Finn, a conscious Carole and a hesitant Burt.
The whole dinner proved to be silent and awkward but Hummel-Hudson family couldn't care less. After the rather stressful - well, in Burt's case, it definitely was - seminar, they just longed for relaxation and comfort; both of which were granted by the silence that engulfed the atmosphere during their dinner. Different thoughts raced through each of their minds; Kurt's consisting of how different life would be, once he became mated; Carole's about how proud she was of her step-son for making a brave decision all by himself; Finn's consisting of food and Rachel; and Burt's comprising worry and hesitation. Truth be told, Burt still just wasn't ready to give up his son to a possible mate but he did know one thing:
As long as he was living and breathing, he would protect his son from the difficulty that came with mating and life, in general.
A/N: Longest chapter that I've ever written, I believe. Don't get used to this ;) Sorry for any mistakes.
Just to clear this up, in this story, if an alpha and another wolf from different packs get mated, it would inevitably join the packs together, forming a larger pack. They would live in their own palace and would be separated from their families, who would live in a different house.
For the sake of this story and me, I'm gonna have Finn, the up and coming alpha of the McKinley pack, mate with Rachel, who is in the same pack, just to make it easier to get across and explain haha. There's a spoiler for the future but it's not exactly going to be part of the main plot so it's not that big of a spoiler really.
Also, I'm thinking of writing another story alongside this and Attitude Adjustment so keep an eye out for that, people. I'm still in the process of deciding the overall plot but I do want to put up another story since I am lacking inspiration for AA right now and I want to have a replacement for that, just so that I don't completely disappear. Haha
Reviews do motivate me. Anonymous reviews are acceptable, as are reviews that are as simple as 'update soon' so don't hesitate to leave one. It will make me the happiest person in the world, honestly :)