disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter
warning: angsty, mentions of alpha/beta dynamics and acts of punishment (if none of you have ever read any story with pack dynamics, then know I am going with natural instincts of real animals in that when a pack member of lower status misbehaves, they are given a punishment by their higher authority. Its not explained much within the actual chapter because it does not fit well in the story)
Hi everyone! I know its odd that I have a new chapter posted of CYPM rather than switching to one of my other stories like I've been doing, but writer's block is my biggest enemy. Although, I'm sure none of my CYPM fans are complaining!
Another note: I have submitted my short story "Unforgiven" to inkkit dot com's fandom3 short story contest. If you could please go on there and hit like or leave me a comment to help vote for my story. I would greatly appreciate it, and tell any friends you have that enjoy fanfiction! I don't have many in the real world, so its been hard boosting that I entered.
On to the story!
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Remus watched as Harry left the room, feeling a bit sad that he would not be able to spend the day with Harry. But he could understand the need to learn about oneself, he just hoped that was what Harry was truly doing. It would crush him if Harry was instead looking to get away from him and Severus and later reject him because of feeling forced into this. He didn't think he could handle another situation like he dealt with Severus. Being rejected like that had hurt so much, regardless that Severus eventually accepted him. Remus shook himself from his thoughts, what was he thinking? Of course that wouldn't happen. Harry had already accepted the mating tokens he and Severus had given him, plus sang a song in return. 'That's right', he said to himself, 'I should have nothing to fear'. Feeling more confident, Remus placed his napkin on his plate and got up from the table. "I think we should go unpack. Coming Severus?"
"Yes, only because you don't know how to handle my things." 'Ever the veela', Remus thought as he waited for his mate to stand up. Once he had, Remus put his arm out for the other man, wo took it with a roll of his eyes, and went back to their room. For the entire walk, Remus couldn't stop talking about Harry. Discussing about their date the next day and that it wasn't fair to be without Harry today.
It was wearing on Severus. Yes, Harry was new to their lives and he wanted it go well, but he and Remus were still mates, still together and had been for twenty years. But it seemed that it didn't matter to Remus anymore. He acted like they should be putting all their time and energy into Harry. Wasn't this a triad? Was it because Harry was the submissive? Severus shook that question out of his mind because he too was a submissive, of course only to Remus. Was it age? Since Remus was the "alpha male" and Harry was the younger mate, he needed more time and attention than Severus. Severus was growing evermore worried that he was being placed on the back-burner. The silent, calm one that his mates didn't need to lose any sleep over.
"I was thinking about going to a sea-life shop to get the fish Harry wants for the spring as a late birthday present. Since he didn't get anything yet, what with everything that's been going on," Remus continued as he opened the door to their rooms. "Do you have anything on aquatic life? Oh, maybe the library here does! What do you think, Severus?"
What did Severus think? He thought they should get to know Harry a bit more before getting any gifts, because what if he didn't like what they got for him? Then they would look like a pair of thoughtless mates. And he also thought it would be nice to receive attention from his mate. The short time they had spent being intimate before the full moon wasn't enough for him, and brought on by Harry's actions. But that didn't mean he wanted to be intimate with Remus- he still wanted to wait for Harry- however, that didn't meant Remus had to remove all affection. Severus didn't like the feeling of being lost or forgotten around his mates, and it made all of his old insecurities rise again. He knew he had to say something to Remus about how he was feeling- it was about their relationship- but that didn't mean he had to like doing this.
"Remus?" Severus murmured. 'Damn these insecurities of mine', he thought to himself. It was as if he were a hatchling* again.
"Would that even be acceptable this early into the courtship? We should-" Remus continued.
"Remus?" Severus spoke louder this time. The lack of acknowledgement from Remus was starting to anger him, along with the intense loneliness he was feeling.
"Really make an effort, the both of us." Remus showed no sign of stopping, he just kept rambling which only served to irritate Severus more.
Finally having enough, Severus stomped his foot, "Remus!"
Remus turned towards the vela, shocked at the outburst. He could see the small transformations in his mate that only happened when the man was loosing control. His nails had grown sharper, his hair revealing feathers, and the dark eyes were glowing with power. Remus just couldn't fathom what had caused a reaction in his mate. Had one of the elves damaged his things? Remus looked around the room and noticed none of Severus's things had been touched. So what had caused this? He turned back to Severus and saw that his mate was intently staring at him. Remus was the focus of the veela's anger, but didn't understand why. "Severus? What's wrong, what did I do?"
"You," Severus started, but didn't finish. The look on Remus's face made him pause. There was no accusation that Severus was in the wrong, instead Remus looked as if truly did something to the vela and wanted to fix it. Severus looked around for answers to everything in his head, but only saw the old record player that Remus insisted on keeping. With an idea, Severus turned back to his mate. "Dance with me?"
"Uh, sure we can dance, but wouldn't you rather we talk about what just happened?" Remus asked. He was confused by the quick change in Severus, more so since the man asked to dance. Whenever Remus could break out the records, he always begged Severus to dance together until he agreed rather reluctantly, despite being a talented dance partner. But never before had he asked Remus to dance.
"No. I would like to dance with you, my mate," he replied softly. Severus walked to the player and various records, and pulled out one of his favorites. Not that he would admit to anyone of having a favorite record that he always insist to play. He stepped up to Remus and waited for the man to take the lead. He didn't have to wait long before they were spinning around the room.
"So, are you going to tell me what that was all about?" Remus asked. Apparently he would need to try some other way to get his mate talking when all he did was sigh and rest his head against Remus's shoulder. Maybe changing the subject away from Severus would help. "Do you think Harry would like to dance with us?" That got a reaction from Severus, but not the one he was expecting.
"Why is it always about him? He's only recently come into his inheritance and already he's all you ever talk about! What is I don't want to include him in every little thing we do? Why can't dancing stay between you and I? Even he said himself that we should spend time separately rather than all three of us together. Or do you no longer wish for me to be your mate? Is that it Remus? Throw me aside for the next young male that walks into your life? I was here first-"
SLAP
Severus stopped his ranting and reeled back. His eyes wide as he looked to the man that had just slapped him. Everything became clear. He had spewed all of his insecurities and twisted them to attack his mate, both of his mates. Severus stood silently as he watched Remus, ready to flee at any moment. The wolf was in front of him. Lips set in a snarling grimace, power radiating off him in waves, eyes glowing gold, one hand curled into a fist and the other still raised from the hit. Severus realized he had ruined everything between them and for once he didn't have an answer as to how to fix his mistake, didn't know what to say to make it right. So instead, he did the one thing he know how to do.
Severus fell to his knees in front of his angry mate and exposed himself. He let his arms fall to his sides and turned his head, revealing his neck to the werewolf. In actions, he was giving permission to punish him and ask for forgiveness from his mate, his alpha. Only once did he ever have to do this before, when he had received the Dark Mark. And that was traumatizing. But this was an attack with words against himself, and mates. He didn't know what to expect, only that it was going to be infinitely worse than before. Never before had Remus raised a hand to him, but Severus had to agree that it was warranted.
"Why?" Remus asked darkly, voice rough with many emotions and the wolf close to the surface.
"What?" Severus croaked, not daring to look at his mate.
"Why did you say those things? If you were anything, but happy, why not say something?" Remus growled as he came closer to Severus. He saw Severus flinch from him being so close, but stayed in the same position. "I am your mate, your alpha, so you come to me and I will provide. Are you so proud as a vela that you no longer need me? Or have I been too gentle you no longer see me as an alpha?"
Severus carefully chose his words. It seemed Remus was giving him a second chance before enacting any punishment. "I will always have need of you and have always seen you as my dominate mate."
Then explain what was running through your head that made you say those things."
I have my insecurities, just like everyone else," he said quietly.
"That does not explain our words!" Remus shouted, frustrated that he was not getting a proper response. He was quickly getting a headache as his instincts were blazing within him to punish his wayward mate. He didn't want to, didn't like to at all and he was hoping to avoid it. The slap he delivered had been hard enough.
"I was jealous, alright!" Severus shouted back, although he still kept is head turned. "I don't know why, but when Harry is not around and you talk only about him and pleasing him, I get jealous. I don't feel that way when he is around or had just left a room. It's only when the two of us are by ourselves, like on the walk here to our rooms is when I felt like this. All of your attention went to him, as if I were covered in his invisibility cloak." A single tear fell down his face, and Severus mentally cursed himself for his weakness.
"Oh, Severus," Remus whispered, the anger diminishing at the truthfulness in which his mate spoke. He gathered Severus in his arms and carried him to the sofa. It was hard seeing Severus like this and it saddened him when his mate didn't protest to being carried and coddled; it proved how much, or rather how quickly, he ad neglected his mate. Of course gaining a new mate would shake things for the both of them, but foolishly he thought he could let everything go and things would fall into place. "I'm so sorry I hurt you, Severus. These past few days I have been a poor excuse for a mate, but I promise to make it right."
"I don't need you to baby me, Remus," Severus returned, but not with his usual bite. He tightened his grip to Remus's clothes when he felt the man kiss his the top of his head.
"I'm not babying you." They sat together in silence as both men calmed down. Back in his rational mind, Remus knew he would still need to punish his mate, just as a reassurance as to reestablish their roles. It would be light, extremely light, and he would even allow Severus to complain about it, but it would still need to happen. "Severus? You know I still have to give you a punishment? As much as I don't want to, but you understand, don't you?"
"Of course I do. Both of our baser instincts wouldn't allow it to be any other way." Severus sighed as he sat up away from Remus as he prepared for the punishment.
"So, what I have decided is that you will unpack all of our things and tonight you will sleep on the sofa."
"That's it? I sleep on the sofa?" Severus was confused. Sure, sleeping on the sofa would be painful in its own right, but as a punishment for his disrespect, it wasn't much.
"I can make it worse for you if want a heavier punishment," Remus said. When Severus only shook his head at his comment, Remus explained more. "Part of what happened was my fault and so you should only get something light. However, we will also be letting Harry know what happened."
"What?" Severus exclaimed.
"He is our mate and part of what happened. So tomorrow when we meet with him, we are going to tell him." Remus squeezed his hand before placing a gentle kiss to the corner of Severus's lips. He got up and went to the door that lead to the rest of the house. "I'll bring you lunch so you can unpack, but if you need me, I'll be in the library."
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A/N: As stated before the chapter, at this moment I was using real animal pack instincts in that when a pack member of lower status misbehaves, they are punished. I don't go into depth within the actual chapter because it did not fit into the story. It may be explained further into detail as Remus, Severus, and Harry's relationship progress, but as of now it doesn't fit and seemed confusing to me as I tried to write it.
PS: Please go onto inkkit dot com and click favorite or leave a comment on my story "Unforgiven" under the same username. Thank you!
Love, Echo Harmony
