Chapter 9

"Because of the duality of the Lycan nature, there are certain physiological imperatives. While in the modern era most Lycans spend a large portion of their time in their human forms, it can have horrific consequences should a Lycan neglect their lupine side. Other than breeding mothers who are protected by hormones unique to them, Lycans who refuse to or are unable to shift for extended periods of time may be subject to involuntary or permanent shifting, madness, or even in extreme cases death. Furthermore, Lycans have an innate drive to hunt and run in much the same way that they must shift and with similar consequences should they neglect this aspect of their nature."

-an excerpt from Lycans: Life, Love, and Mythos by Arthur Abrams of Lima

Kurt was lying on his bed going through the swatches he had gotten a couple of days earlier from Blaine. He'd already picked out wall colors for the kitchen and living room and was now trying to figure out a color scheme for the master bedroom while simultaneously trying to not think about exactly what would be going on in said room. He was chewing on his lip torn between a rich chocolate brown and very pale lavender when the front doorbell rang. He heard the low murmur of voices from downstairs before his brother hollered up to him

"Dude! Door for you. It's Blaine!"

"Shit!" he muttered under his breath before hollering back. "I'll be right there!"

Kurt quickly put all of his swatches back in the binder he was assembling before practically flying to his closet to change out of the casual outfit he was wearing. He hurriedly did a check of his hair in front of the mirror of his vanity. He slowed his hurried pace at the top of the stairs and descended with what he hoped was a casual elegance. He felt his heart speed up at the sight of his soon to be mate standing in the living room chatting with Finn. The boy was too damned handsome for his own good or for Kurt's sanity. That wasn't, however, what had Kurt's pulse racing. It was the large bunch of orchids and roses clutched in his hand. Where on earth Blaine had found orchids this time of year, Kurt had no idea, but one thing was for sure, he had taken Kurt's mention of wanting to be romanced to heart.

"What are you doing here?" Kurt asked, trying hard to hide his pleasure at Blaine's unexpected arrival.

"Hello to you too beautiful. I was hoping you wouldn't be busy tonight," Blaine said, smiling charmingly and presenting Kurt the flowers with a flourish.

"Thank you Blaine. They're gorgeous, and you've apparently forgotten. I'm on lockdown. I have no plans for the foreseeable future. What did you have in mind?" Kurt asked heading into the kitchen to look for a vase and beckoning for Blaine to follow him.

"I was hoping we could go to Westerville. There's something I want to show you," Blaine said leaning against the counter as Kurt filled the vase he had found and filled it with water. "And before you ask, it's a surprise so no… I won't tell you anything more about where we're going."

"Hmmph,"Kurt sniffed. "I wasn't going to ask anyway because I know how you like to be all infuriatingly sneaky. Either way, I suppose I can make room for you in my terribly busy schedule of sleeping and staring at the walls, assuming the warden will let me out."

"Kurt you know your dad is just worried about you," Blaine said gently. He knew Kurt was going stir crazy. Lycans hated being cooped up. They had a physiological need to run. It was part of the reason he had been arranging these outings for the blue eyed boy. Kurt sighed.

"I know, it's just… frustrating," Kurt said. "Come on let's go find Dad. You can ask him though. He never tells you no."

A short time later, Kurt and Blaine were driving though the high, golden gates of Dalton. Kurt looked out over the exquisitely manicured lawns awash in the light of a nearly full moon. The grounds were shrouded in a thick mist giving them a beautiful and mysterious s glow. His lupine half longed to jump out of the sleek black vehicle and race across the lawns of the school at a breakneck speed. The sharp tang of fear over what happened the last time he was transformed helped him to ruthlessly squelch that impulse however. Blaine parked the car and came around to help him out, always the gentleman, just one of the many things Kurt was coming to love about him. He took a deep breath of the crisp cold night air and felt himself begin to twitch slightly, so strong was the urge to transform.

"It's beautiful Blaine, but you've brought me to Dalton before. Why are we here tonight?" Kurt asked, the strain of maintaining his human form making him slightly more snippy than he had intended. "When you said date, I didn't exactly picture this."

"What exactly did you picture, Kurt?" Blaine asked cocking his head to the side in inquiry. He was interested in hearing his future mate's answer.

"A nice restaurant and maybe, if you played your cards right and didn't go all arrogant alpha on me… just maybe, some kissing." Kurt was blushing hard.

"While I really like the sound of that, especially the last part, I know you haven't transformed or gone out for a run since the incident at Lake Lima. I thought you'd be interested in going for one with me on the Dalton grounds."

"I don't know Blaine. It looks awfully cold and damp," Kurt said biting his lip. He longed for the freedom of a run, but he couldn't quite shake the memories of those moments when he was at Karofsky's mercy.

"Come on love," Blaine persuaded, taking his hand and putting a gentle kiss on his knuckles. "You've got to be ready to burst at the seams. It's not healthy to keep your wolf chained like that, you know. It makes it much harder to control our more… animalistic impulses."

Kurt sighed and cast a longing look at the lightly snow covered grounds. He was touched by Blaine's sincerity and concern. He could even admit that Blaine was probably right, he did need to allow his wolf to come to the surface, but he was still nervous. Karofsky's attack had damaged him in so many ways.

"Blaine…I don't…I mean…I'm scared," he admitted in a small voice.

"Kurt, the Dalton grounds are secure. Even Sue and Karofsky aren't stupid enough to attack a well-guarded school, that also happens to be where the Lycan Council holds its meetings, not to mention the fact that the place is filled with Lycans loyal to me that would pick up on their scents before they got anywhere near us. I would never suggest anything that wasn't safe and secure for you," Blaine said sincerely. He took Kurt in his arms offering him the comfort of his embrace, while mentally counting the ways he was going to torture Karofsky before he ripped him to shreds with nothing more than his teeth and claws.

"Are… are you sure?" Kurt asked quietly. Despite his fear, he was touched that Blaine was making him a priority. It warmed his heart and made him feel like here, with Blaine, he was finally safe.

"I'm absolutely certain, but if you're still uncomfortable, we can just go to dinner." Blaine didn't want Kurt to feel obligated to do anything, but he didn't want him to be afraid of allowing himself to be completely free, completely himself. He knew that Kurt would never admit it, but Blaine saw the way he flinched at unexpected contact from even his own pack. It hurt him to see the flash of fear in Kurt's eyes. If things continued the way they were, there was no way that Kurt would be able to attend Dalton in January with so many strangers. He ruthlessly stamped down another surge of anger at Karofsky at the thought that he might have taken yet another thing away from Kurt.

"A run would feel good." Kurt admitted at last, clenching his fists to stop their shaking. He hated being so scared of everything because of Karofsky. His heart fluttered in his chest as a brilliant smile burst across Blaine's features.

"Great! Come on," Blaine smiled pulling Kurt across the grounds to the forest which encircled the school. He stopped a few feet inside the tree line. "Ok this should be safe from prying eyes. You show me yours I'll show you mine."

"What?" Kurt stuttered. Blaine chuckled.

"Your wolf Kurt. I haven't seen your wolf form yet. You were already transformed when I got there at the lake," Blaine clarified. Kurt blushed, something he seemed to do frequently around his intended.

"I've already seen yours," Kurt pointed out, raising his chin defiantly. Blaine rolled his eyes.

"Fine. I showed you mine, now you show me yours," Blaine said. "Please Kurt."

"Oh alright," Kurt conceded waspishly to hide his nervousness about this. He took a deep breath and centered himself, then willed the shift to happen. He felt the familiar tingling discomfort before the wolf became dominant and he shifted. He was momentarily distracted by the barrage of sensory input that accompanied the change. Sounds were crisper, smells were sharper, and each one of his senses was suddenly that of an apex hunter. He quickly moved to face Blaine, who knelt in front of him.

With shaking fingers, Blaine reached out and ran his hands through the thick fur near Kurt's ears. Kurt nuzzled Blaine in pleasure at his touch. Before pulling away awkwardly and sniffing at the ground.

"Kurt, look at me," Blaine ordered. Kurt's head instantly snapped up. It was nearly impossible to resist an Alpha's command in this form. "You are so beautiful. The most beautiful wolf I have ever seen. The day Will Schuester walked into Dalton and presented me with the opportunity to have you as my mate was the best day of my life. Don't ever hide this part of yourself… don't ever be ashamed of it."

Standing, Blaine transformed into his own wolf. He stepped forward sniffing Kurt who instinctively bared his neck in submission. Blaine nuzzled at his throat for a moment snuffling into his ear before pulling back with a wolfish grin and leading the way through the fog shrouded night.

Kurt's blood was singing in his veins at the sheer thrill of his paws digging into the earth and the wind whispering through his fur as he ran. He was free and happy and young and this night was magic. He saw Blaine ahead of him in a clearing. He had transformed and was waiting patiently for him to catch up.

"Kurt, transform back, please," Blaine asked when he reached the clearing. Kurt pulled back in surprise.

"Why did you want me to be back to my human form?" Kurt whined when he transformed back. "It felt good to run with no fear." Kurt was raised to obey an Alpha and future Alpha's orders without complaint, but he didn't want to give Blaine any ideas of his subservience.

"So I can kiss you," he answered promptly. Laughing, Kurt slowly backed away from Blaine.

"If you want to kiss me, you have to work for it, Anderson. My kisses aren't free to anyone, you know. Catch me if you can," He quickly became his wolf form and raced away deeper into the forest.

Grinning, Blaine transformed and chased after him. They wove through the moonlight, barely visible. Blaine let his nose guide him to his intended. Kurt was fast, equal to or a fast as he was. Blaine was certain his soon to be mate would be quite a surprise to all of the stick in the mud old guards in the pack. He grinned in anticipation before putting on burst of speed and darting off the path through the woods to intercept his mate. He tackled him to the ground, both of them transforming back to their human selves as they fell.

"Pinned you again," Blaine panted. Kurt rolled his eyes.

"Lion King Blaine? Really?"

"What can I say? I'm a Disney fan boy. Now, I believe you owe me a kiss because I caught you," Blaine whispered, swooping down and capturing Kurt's lips in his own before moving to his neck.

"Blaine!" Kurt squealed in protest, although he didn't attempt to stop him.

"What? I want to make sure I get it right for the ceremony and I have to practice, you know," Blaine said huskily his lips still moving up and down Kurt's throat.

"You were chewing on me," Kurt said feebly.

"Mmm," Blaine murmured. "Love bites, sweetheart… not even using my teeth… just sucking on it."

"You're going to leave marks," Kurt pouted.

"Mmhhhmm," Blaine agreed. "That's the general idea."

"What do you think my father is going to say?"

"Good job?" Blaine joked.

"Very funny Anderson. I meant to me, not you." Kurt sighed. "I'll probably get some big lecture about sex."

"That would be kind of pointless. We're going to be mated in less than a month," Blaine pointed out.

"Now relax Kurt and let me make that lecture worth it," he huskily murmured lowering his head to Kurt's lips again.

"I hate to bring you home. I can't wait until the day that I don't have to anymore," Blaine sighed as they pulled into the Hummel driveway a long time later.

"I... I'm looking forward to that too," Kurt admitted shyly.

"It's only a few more weeks and then we'll be officially mated. After that, we'll be together all of the time."

"Assuming I survive my dad seeing this hickey when I go in the house," Kurt responded examining his neck in the rear view mirror.

"Kurt, don't worry about it." Blaine laughed. "Your dad isn't going to give you trouble about it. Besides, if he does, you could always remind him there are worse things we could be doing."

"You are insane Blaine Anderson, and you obviously have a death wish if you want me to point that out to my Dad," Kurt laughed, leaning over to give Blaine a quick peck on the lips before getting out of the car and flouncing to the front door of his house. He turned and gave a flirty wave before disappearing inside, happier than he had been in a very long time.