Chapter 3: Revelations
Quantico, Virginia, 7:00.
All the DSC members have just been called to Quantico urgently. Garcia stepped forward in front of the screen to present the case. As usual, when giving the explanations, she showed various photos, most of which disgusted her. She did not want to think about the fact that these people had suffered and especially about the atrocious way they suffered.
"Well, the police in Rosewood, Pennsylvania, have invited us for a suspicious death. We have no more information than the photos I'm scrolling through. It is a small town, so they preferred to call on us to solve this case rather than use the few staff they have at the moment and thus trample for days, even weeks".
They all nodded and left the room. There is no need to ask any more questions, if there is no other information. The details they don't have there, they'll find out when they get there and talk to the local police. That's the way it always happens, in every case. And, from their experience, people in small towns love to care about other people's lives, especially when it's none of their business. So the best way to get as much information as possible is to talk to the locals. Even if they deny it, they surely know the lives of all the people in this town.
Meanwhile, in Lima, Ohio, Kurt left his home. He followed the same ritual every morning. He takes a deep breath, detecting whether there is a danger or not. All he feels today is excitement. Indeed, the Glee Club goes to Rosewood as part of a small friendly competition. Of course, at the announcement of this news, Rachel had rushed to her notebook to compose various songs or select a dozen, all in the same register. Within an hour, she had already written down the ideas of a dozen original songs that they could compose, having even had the idea that they could themselves use certain instruments. And, in case these ideas don't please her, she wrote down about forty songs, most of them from hit musicals, others in a more contemporary style and some of them very old songs that no one has ever heard of.
Kurt had taken Rachel's notebook, wanting to flip through his ideas calmly and to know what decision he was going to make. Technically, he's not the head of the glee club, Rachel is. But, Rachel almost always listens to what he says, not denying her input when she doesn't like it. So, Kurt knows that he doesn't have the final decision in the choice of songs they will present, but it's always good for him to keep an eye on them.
After hours and hours of debate, they managed to agree on the songs they will present in this friendly contest. There are three of which two deal with an almost common subject. The first is "Say My Name" by David Guetta and Bebe Rexha. The second is "Raised By Wolves" from the band U2. The last is "Come On Out" from the Disney Channel movie "Zombies 3". These last two songs talk about wolves, even werewolves for the last one, according to the characters who sing it in the film.
It took them a long time to come to an agreement because they all wanted to put on a personal song that they liked. Kurt calmly reminded them that this is just a friendly contest, that they only go there to show the extent of their talent and not to sing a song that they like but that may not please the jury or the audience. Everyone looked at him with black eyes, so Kurt gave a slight grunt, to remind them who is officially in charge. Of course, not every member of the glee club is a werewolf, but they still respect him as an Alpha and knows not to upset him. Kurt is calm, but he can get angry if we don't listen to him or if we disrespect him.
Today is the D day. Kurt got up early to take the time to prepare and review the plan of the songs. He also took a few minutes to rehearse, wanting to make sure he was perfectly prepared. Although it was a competition, even a friendly one, he opted for clothes that highlighted his body, especially his werewolf muscles. He chose a white t-shirt with a V-neck, a pair of denim shorts just above his knee, thanks to a hem he made himself, and white tennis shoes. Because of the majority of white in his outfit, Kurt hopes not to fall on where there is a lot of mud. A stain, even small, could ruin his outfit.
Kurt left his house and went straight to McKinley. They go to Rosewood by bus and, as there is a lot of road to do, they have to leave early. Most had complained that they had to get up so early, but Kurt simply shrugged his shoulders on the subject. For him, it's not disturbing to get up early and then, he can take advantage of the trip to continue his night. He's the kind of guy who can fall asleep everywhere, whether there's noise or not. So sleeping on that bus with all that noise is really no problem for him.
In Rosewood, Aria got up early. She didn't want to be late, especially since there's going to be a singing contest. Rosewood High doesn't have a choir, so some people decided to improvise one in the hope of being able to participate in this competition. However, as Aria sensed, an improvised choir on the eve of this competition cannot be considered a real choir and therefore cannot participate. Aria saw them who had improvised this idea leave, disappointed that it was refused.
A few hours later, Aria was at her locker and getting more and more nervous. She knows the different choirs have arrived, but something bothers her. Her instincts are boiling and she can't figure out why. She felt her heart rate accelerate, her breathing also and especially there is a smell she knows. She's already felt it somewhere, but she can't remember where. This frustrated her enormously and she began to growl slightly with frustration. She realized it very quickly and also stopped dry. Growling like that, in the sight of all, would be to confess that she is a werewolf, and she is not yet ready to make this revelation. Aria took a deep breath to calm down and resume her day.
For his part, Kurt was also nervous. He does not know this place and yet there is a smell that is familiar to him. He could not remember where he already felt it and it frustrated him too. He did his best to keep calm, but Blaine noticed his nervousness. He went to stick to him, trying to reassure him through this gesture. Kurt did not reject him, but made him understand that this is not what he needs right now. He sent this message through a tiny grunt that only the Beta understand. It's a warning grunt from an Alpha to his Beta. It's not mean, it's just a mode of communication too little known by humans. A human can misinterpret this kind of grunting.
Blaine walked away directly when he heard Kurt's growl. It was a clear message. Kurt doesn't want to be glued, he needs space to think about what's bothering him. The rest of the pack watched their interaction, wondering what was going on too. Kurt had never been so nervous. Even when there were hunters on his territory, he always managed to keep control of himself and his emotions. Kurt turned and saw the uneasiness on the faces of his friends, his pack. He smiled, wanting to reassure them and resumed his way in the corridors.
Kurt walked backwards, far too focused on the discussion he had with Blaine. He wanted to reassure him that everything was fine, that he was just busy finding a new place. He was so focused in his discussion that he did not notice directly that he pushed someone. He turned around and apologized. The girl whom he had pushed did the same, also not having paid attention.
The two looked at each other and froze, time seemed to have stopped for them.
Kurt opened his mouth, too surprised to pronounce anything. Aria looked at him with big eyes, also not knowing what to say. Their respective friends watched them, wondering what would happen. A few seconds passed until they heard what seemed to be a huge cry of joy. All saw big wolves, one black and one brown and white, running in the corridors. Blaine and the rest of the pack didn't seem so surprised to see Kurt take his wolf form. After all, he had already done so, so he knew her. Emily, Spencer, Hanna and Alison looked at the scene with great eyes. It's obvious they didn't know Aria was a werewolf.
Kurt and Aria went round in circles, and continued, shouting and grunting with joy. They did not expect to find themselves again, let alone in these kinds of events. So their reaction was not anticipated. As soon as they saw each other, they froze because they instantly recognized each other. Just before they took their wolf shape, their eyes turned red and their transformation began. All they're thinking about right now is playing and catching up.
After running through the corridors for long minutes, Kurt and Aria stopped, still in the form of big, fast, agile wolves. Kurt noticed Aria's scar and went to lick her gently, not wanting to hurt her. Even if it happened ten years ago, this kind of injury is still very sensitive. Aria let herself be done, bowing her head accepting this little sign of affection. They've known each other since they were born, so Aria knows why Kurt's doing this. He blames himself for not being able to defend her, so he did it as if to make amends. If Aria was angry with him, she would have refused this sign of affection and bitten him at the throat to make him understand his discontent. But that is not the case. She simply bowed her head, let herself be taken care of and accepted that. A werewolf who accepts that is that he has no hard feelings.
After a few more minutes spent as a wolf, Kurt and Aria looked at the empty corridors. They really distanced themselves during their impromptu race. Luckily for Kurt, the contest is already over, so he doesn't have to be late for anything. They both resumed their human form and began to laugh, almost hysterically. They didn't know why they were laughing, just that they wanted to.
Kurt was the first to stop laughing. He caught his breath and looked at Aria, taking the time to see how she became after all this time without having seen herself. Aria did the same, seeing that he has changed all this time. These changes were only physical, they grew, it is normal. But, their characters remained the same, no matter how long passed. Kurt is still as relaxed, appreciating his Alpha side that manifests itself in a firmness that no one can challenge. Aria is more dominating and possessive than Kurt. Her Alpha side always manifests in the same way. A powerful grunt of frustration when there's something he doesn't like. Of course, she has always refrained from doing so in front of her friends, not wanting them to discover her secret.
After a few minutes of looking at each other, Kurt decided to speak. He had so many questions for her that he did not know where to start. He decided to try simplicity, it is always a sure bet for him.
« So I...it's been ten years. Honestly, I never thought I'd see you again, because I didn't know where you'd gone. But I think chance has decided for us."
Aria stared at him, not knowing what to say. She also thinks the same thing as him, but does not find any arguments to justify it. She began to look around her, realizing that she took on the form of a wolf in front of everyone. She couldn't justify it, it's just impossible.
"I'm just as surprised as you are. To tell you the truth, I too thought I wouldn't see you again. What happened ten years ago was horrible. I didn't even think I could survive it, and yet... Sure, I have this scar, but it's okay. And, I know what you're thinking, it shows on your face. I don't blame you. What this hunter did to me is not your fault. We were both 8 years old at the time. We could have done nothing".
Kurt nodded at the end of Aria's speech. He understood what she meant, but this guilt still gnaws at him. It began to fade over time, but it was always lurking in a corner of his head.
"So, the girls behind you, that's your pack?".
Aria had wide-eyed eyes and took her phone directly out of her pocket. She saw no missing calls or messages sent. Even "-A" didn't show up, and he loves that kind of scandal. Kurt quickly realized that they weren't supposed to know she was an Alpha werewolf. He scratched his neck, suddenly feeling embarrassed to have made this hasty conclusion. Aria ends up releasing a long breath, having managed to find the words to explain the situation.
"No, it's not my pack. In fact, they don't even know I'm a werewolf. I mean, they didn't know before. Now, I think they're aware and I'm going to get an avalanche of questions. And, correction, it's as much my pack as yours. You know how it works".
"Yes, we come from the same pack. This pack has the particularity of being led by two Alphas. So the humans I've already bitten are as much my Omega as yours, and vice versa. If you talk to them about this and they accept the bite, it will be as much your Omega as mine".
Aria nodded at the understanding of everything Kurt had just said. He has not forgotten the peculiarity of their original pack and that it is now up to them to take up the torch. It is up to them to rebuild that pack, which will not be gone. They are the most powerful werewolves ever. They are immune to almost anything deadly to their species. So explaining how these undercover fighters came to an end is very complicated, because no one ever knew how they did it.
"Yes, that's right. And, I also found my Beta, but I haven't bit it yet. As you know, no one, except my family, knew about it. I didn't know how to tell them, I was too young. Besides, I didn't want to scare them. And, taking this kind of news is not easy".
"You just changed in front of everyone. I don't think we could have done better. But, seriously, I don't think they'll take this the wrong way. They look kind and understanding. You should be fine. And then I can help you explain to them, if you want".
Aria nodded feebly, still reflecting on the explanations she would have to give. She had already thought about it, constantly going through different scenarios in her head, but none was satisfactory. Seeing Kurt so calm and open about it was reassuring for her. Kurt obviously never hid his true nature. He's probably talking about it openly with every person he meets.
'I'm not afraid to tell them, I've even thought about it. I just don't know what to tell them. How am I going to explain my scar to them? How am I going to explain the attack on our pack ten years ago? I built this part of my life on a big lie".
When she said the word "lie", Aria felt her phone vibrating in her pocket. Obviously, Aria expected it, "-A" manifested itself. Whenever there's a scandal, he's there, ready to spread rumors. So the fact that Aria turned into wolves in front of a crowd of people is something very juicy for him. A gold mine of rumours and potential threats.
Kurt saw Aria's behavior change when she took out her phone. With a reflex that seemed natural to him, Aria handed the phone to Kurt, so that he could read the message displayed there. Kurt frowned at this message, which was actually a poem. A sadistic poem, showing that this person would not hesitate to spread this news throughout the city, even threatening one person.
"If anyone dies, Spencer will lose his sister,
If you ever see him, they'll think it's you,
But I know what you have in you,
If you don't, I'll do it soon enough,
You could say it yourself,
Destroy the bonds that bind you,
I know the beast in you,
Free her or I turn your pack against you,
If that happens,
And you stay here,
No one will protect you, I know you better than you,
I'll hunt you down in the woods,
You'll crack, I'll win and you won't,
You will yield and everyone will know your true self,
I could also kill Ezra,
But I prefer that you reveal yourself".
Kurt remained puzzled after reading this poem. It was menacing but at the same time very well written. Whether she is this person, she knows how to use words to make them impactful and scary. He stared at Aria, waiting for her reaction. She didn't seem very surprised, almost as if she was expecting it. Aria ends up sighing, knowing that Kurt is waiting for some explanations.
"I don't know who he is, nobody knows. It's...I...it started a year ago. This guy, who calls himself "-A", started sending us messages, all more threatening than each other. Sometimes he would attack us directly, by assaulting us. Hanna, one of the girls you saw, was hit by a car. Luckily, she only broke one leg, but it could have been worse. We don't even know if it's a boy or a girl, although it doesn't make much difference".
Kurt nodded, fully understanding Aria's frustration. She couldn't go after this guy, because it would show everyone she's a werewolf. She couldn't even protect her friends properly, for the same reason. So, finally getting out of the shackles that she imposed on herself does her a lot of good. She's going to be able to find this guy and make him feel like he's making threats and assaults again. Aria laughed and took Kurt by the arm, guiding him through this maze of corridors. They had to go back to where they started, each with an explanation.
On their way, they saw people, apparently FBI agents, arresting a person dressed in black. Aria soon found out who just stopped, recognizing this little makeshift costume by what she considers to be a Sunday villain. He did not hesitate to attack them directly and threaten their families, but he would not have stood up to Aria. In fact, she's even sure that he would have surrendered directly to the police if she had revealed to him that she was an Alpha werewolf. But, she began to think and said that "-A" never showed fear and that her redeyes would probably not have made their effect. After all, it is not necessary to be afraid of a werewolf, whatever his status. The only time you have to fear them is when they are explicitly aggressive towards you. Otherwise, they are all peaceful and never looking for problems.
So, Aria thinks that "-A" probably wouldn't have been afraid of her. It is smaller and therefore considered to do little damage and not at all conducive to aggression. Aria began to smile when she saw this guy being tackled to the ground, but she would have liked to do it herself.
Kurt drew it, wanting to get to their starting point as soon as possible. All their respective friends are waiting for explanations from them, so there is no question of dragging out. Aria understood what he meant and began to run, again leading to a small impromptu race. Kurt has always loved this kind of thing because it allows him to let off steam. So, he willingly follows Aria, also wanting to know which one is faster.