Chapter 2: Adrenaline, dear friend
Today is a big day, especially for Emily. She has a big swimming competition and she intends to win it. She trained for weeks to reach the right level and ensure victory for her team. It's the biggest competition of the season and the last one she can enter before she graduates, so there's no way she's going to lose. She put all her chances on her side.
Of course, the whole pack will be at the event, all wanting to cheer Emily on. Everyone knows how important it is to her and how much their support means to her. So, all of them abandoned their plans to be present. Kurt and Aria know it, they will be the ones who will make the most noise in the audience. Nothing is better for a werewolf than to hear his pack howl their support. It's even a tradition in most packs, although some are more reserved and don't prefer to flaunt their presence.
The integration of Mike and Mercedes into the pack went very well and they tolerated the bite and the incubation period very well. They will also be present, even if they still feel a little weak. Their incubation period has just ended and the effects of spring are not helping to make them feel any better. But, they don't feel the effects like most pack members. They're just numb and slightly stunned, but nothing else.
Aria was up early because she wasn't feeling very well. The effects of the spring were really getting on her nerves, which made her groan softly in frustration. Also, she had the impression of hearing an echo, which frustrated her even more. As she walked out of her house, she saw Kurt in the central courtyard. She went straight to him, wanting to talk to him about this problem and find out if he has any answers.
"Hey, hi, I have a question. For the past few days, I have the impression of hearing an echo. I don't know why and I don't know what to do either. Is it spring that busy driving me crazy or is it something else?
"It's not the spring that's busy driving you crazy, don't worry about it. And, I don't think you're actually hearing an echo. In fact, I'd say you're pregnant. That's the heart of your child that you hear".
Aria stared at Kurt for long seconds, unsure of what reaction she should have. She didn't really expect it, even if she gave in to her instincts at one point. She ended up nodding her head, feeling an immense joy invade her. Although it is not planned, she is happy to be expecting a child. This is a very big event, and the pack will need to be made aware. But, not for now. Now they are all focused on cheering on Emily during her competition. Besides, the whole pack was busy getting ready to hit the road. Do not delay leaving, at the risk of being late.
The whole pack arrived at the Rosewood pool. Those present were quite surprised to see a line of cars pull into the parking lot, but most of them moved on. Emily got out of her car, a blue Ford Explorer, and headed straight for the locker room. She changed in record time and began to follow her pre-competition routine. For her, immersing herself in her favorite music is the best anti-stress she knows. This allows her to clear her head, think about something else and concentrate on the performance she is going to give. She goes last, so her performance will determine whether they won or not.
When the referee whistled when the last swimmers could jump in, Emily wasted no time. She jumped straight into the water and gave it her all, redoubled her efforts to beat the other swimmers who participated. She didn't feel tired, didn't feel the effort she was putting in. A werewolf always takes a long time to realize how much effort he has put into something. So Emily didn't bother to think about any of this. She just charged forward, taking advantage of her werewolf strength and speed. She felt her muscles contract and it made her want to win even more.
Coming out of the water, Emily staggered briefly before realizing something was up. The people around her looked scared, as if a monster was in front of them. And for good reason, the adrenaline rush that Emily had, while doing all this effort, triggered an involuntary transformation. As a result, his veins were dilated and visible on his skin, his eyes had taken on their orange color, characteristic of Omegas. Her fangs were also out, along with her claws, ears, and tail. She also let out a sort of hoarse grunt. Besides, her breathing is short and jerky, as if she were very tired and struggling to recover. All of these signs are frightening, especially to people very unaccustomed to seeing werewolves.
Kurt and Aria left the stands when they realized what was going on. They walked over to Emily and led her into the locker room, helping her calm down. She did not understand their reaction, or that of the public. She didn't understand what was happening to her either. All that commotion was only stressing her out even more and all that stress came out in a mighty roar. This immediately calmed Kurt and Aria, who understood that she needed calm to come to her senses and not give in to anger.
In general, adrenaline in werewolves causes involuntary transformation. This hormone sometimes affects the area of the brain that controls emotions and brings out anger. In this case, it is better to leave the person calm, until the peak of adrenaline goes down and the person is more lucid. It is not good to upset the person more than they already are.
A few minutes later, Emily seemed to have regained her senses. She was sitting on the floor, leaning against the cold metal lockers. This feeling of freshness seems to have helped her calm down. She looked at Kurt and Aria with pleading eyes, tacitly asking them what had happened. She looked down at Aria's belly, wondering if her efforts to pull her there weren't harmful to the baby.
Aria wanted to wait until after the competition to announce her newly learned pregnancy to the pack, but she couldn't. Everyone realized very quickly that she was pregnant and the congratulations rained down. So Aria had no choice but to make her pregnancy official, so the rumors would stop and they could focus on what was important at the time.
Aria went to sit next to Emily as Kurt crouched down in front of her. Both were busy thinking about the right way to explain the situation. Kurt, realizing there's no right way to do it, decided to launch into the first explanation that came to mind. After all, he was the first to notice what was going on, so he's the one who can best explain it.
"To begin with, it's nothing serious, so you don't have to worry about it. You had an adrenaline rush, which triggered a transformation that you had no control over. I even think that you didn't feel it at all. Either way, that adrenaline rush comes from all the effort you put into swimming."
"I...will it happen again? And, if so, what should I do to prevent it from happening again?"
"All you have to do is learn to control adrenaline and the effects it has on you. I think we should have known this was going to happen at some point. We're going to have to teach you how to deal with it. This training is necessary and we can't avoid it".
Kurt spoke in a calm, collected voice, effectively calming Emily, who felt her worry skyrocket. She nodded and started to get up, feeling Aria help her. Aria also went there with her explanation, wanting to clarify some things before reuniting with the rest of the pack.
"Yeah, we can't avoid this training. We should have done it from the start, instead of waiting for something like this to happen. Well, it's not the end of the world, but it could have been worse than that. You weren't aggressive, well, not towards others, but you could have been. The only people you were aggressive towards were us. And, that was completely normal. Our presence, when we guided you into the locker room, stressed you out more than anything else. In any case, no one was injured, and that's the main thing."
Emily nodded, picked up her towel, and headed to her locker. She directed her gaze towards the door, indicating to Kurt and Aria that they have to go out because she is going to change. They both understood the message and quickly left the locker room. Kurt came out of it very quickly, not liking the atmosphere at all. He has very bad memories of the locker room, but he doesn't want to talk about it. It would only inflame the pack, which would demand revenge and hunt this guy down to tear him to pieces.
Kurt and Aria joined the pack, which was waiting outside the school entrance. As expected, they were rather worried and they didn't know what questions to ask first. Kurt took the lead and explained the whole situation. He also indicated that they were going to have a new training and that it is mandatory. If they don't learn to resist adrenaline and all the effects that come with it, they are likely to have problems. Everyone nodded in agreement with what Kurt had just said, although they wondered how it was going to be. They don't know how to learn to resist adrenaline.
The next morning, Kurt and Aria had arranged to meet the whole pack first thing in the morning, not wanting to delay in starting their training. They're not sure how they're going to explain to them how they're going to teach them how to resist adrenaline. They also fear the reactions they will have. At the same time, nobody likes to receive projectiles, even if it is necessary. The reactions are likely to be strong, especially for Rachel and Quinn. Kurt was the first to speak, because he was the one who had the idea for this training.
"Okay, so, as you know, you are going to be taught how to resist adrenaline. You have to learn that, otherwise you won't be ready in case you have an adrenaline spike. That spike can happen to any time, especially if you're trying hard, and it triggers your transformation, except you have no control over it. In fact, you don't even feel it. And also, it stimulates your anger. In all case, I know you're not going to like it and it's not going to be pleasant, but it's something that is mandatory. We can't afford to neglect it".
Kurt waited for their reactions and saw none in particular. So he took a deep breath, mentally preparing himself to explain their training. He had repeated that in his head several times, but he hadn't foreseen the reactions. Fortunately, he knows how to be sure of himself and Aria is there to help him manage possible excesses.
"So it's going to be pretty simple. One by one obviously you're going to be tied hands behind your back. Then we're going to throw projectiles at you, foam balls to be precise, to trigger that adrenaline rush also triggers under the effect of nervousness, frustration, anger or rage. That's why we will stimulate that first, to trigger this peak in a controlled environment. This exercise is to resist as much as possible. You are considered to have given in if your ties break. Once you master this configuration, we will move on to triggering this peak under the effect of the effort, and so on. You will be fully in control of this when you no longer give in to these involuntary and uncontrolled transformations".
The reactions from the pack took a little while to come in, as they were all busy processing the information. Only Rachel and Quinn showed irritation, not wanting to be shot. The others just nodded, understanding that there is no other way to trigger an adrenaline rush or other ways to learn to resist its effects. Kurt and Aria have no choice but to do this.
After the whole pack agreed, Kurt and Aria began setting up everything to begin their training. They bought a ball-throwing machine and several heart monitors. The adrenaline peak can be anticipated by monitoring the person's heart rate. That's why they bought all these heart monitors, to anticipate that spike before it hits.
Blaine stepped forward, eager to be the first to test their idea. Kurt looked at him, unsure whether to let him or not. He is still in full recovery, although he is much better than two months ago. He has regained almost all his mobility, except his right hand which still hurts a little and he can't move as well as before. It's a sequel to his wrist fracture and it's likely to be permanent. But, that doesn't seem to stop Blaine from helping. He's always been able to block out the pain when needed, so it doesn't bother him.
Ezra also moved forward, standing next to Blaine. He thinks that, being the Betas of the pack, it is their role to set an example for the pack and therefore, to put the exercise first. He also wants to see how resistant he is to the effects of adrenaline. Aria looked at him and then nodded, allowing him to go first. Kurt had done the same with Blaine, making sure he felt ready and said straight up if he started to hurt. Blaine agreed to this condition and started asking various questions. He wanted to have as much information as possible, to be sure to do the exercise correctly.
Kurt and Aria started giving all the important information to the whole pack, while making sure the first two to pass understood everything. Once done, they tied Blaine and Ezra's hands behind their backs and made sure the bonds were secure, then they put the heart monitors on them. They put the balls in the reservoir of the machine and waited for it to be ready. They took one last deep breath before beginning the exercise. They were quite nervous, because it's a first, that this kind of thing has never been tested and it can fail. It can also be very bad training to resist the effects of adrenaline.
The first ball landed square on Ezra's chest, who watched it fall. The second hit Blaine in the left arm. Neither of them had any particular reactions, apart from being on the verge of giggling. Seeing the balls fall, when it didn't hurt them, seems to make them laugh. Kurt and Aria decided to increase the ball throwing speed, having realized that such a small impact is useless. The goal is to trigger that adrenaline rush, not make them laugh.
After about ten balls received with full force, Blaine and Ezra began to growl and their eyes shone an intense golden color. They began to tug on their bonds, trying to free themselves. They stared at the machine with a look filled with anger. It was clear they weren't enjoying it too much and their werewolf instincts were busy kicking in. All you have to do is wait, because the desired goal is very close.
A few minutes later, Blaine and Ezra's veins were very visible, so much so that you could almost see blood flowing through them. Their werewolf parts were out and they were starting to sweat from all the effort they were putting in to free themselves. Their growls had only intensified, becoming more and more powerful, so much so that they must have echoed throughout the forest. This may, perhaps, attract other werewolves living in the area, or scare them away, as they are growls of anger and frustration. No werewolf would want to approach a werewolf who howls like that, because it spells danger.
Another few minutes later, Blaine and Ezra broke their bonds with a loud roar of anger. They collapsed on the ground, panting and exhausted. Their eyes had returned to their normal colors and the effects of adrenaline were about to fade. Kurt and Aria went straight to check on them, making sure they were okay. They resisted for a good ten minutes, which is very good for werewolves who had never felt the effects of this hormone.
After a few minutes of rest, Blaine and Ezra got up, ready for a second try. Kurt and Aria shook their heads, letting them know that the second try will be later and now it's other people's turn. They nodded and went back to their places, letting the next ones take their places. Rachel and Quinn moved to their seats, glaring at each other. It seems that they have set themselves a challenge and they want to know which of the two will win it. The challenge seems to be to last the longest under the effects of adrenaline and therefore the effects of the anger it generates.
Kurt sighed when he realized the challenge they threw at each other, but didn't comment. He doesn't want to encourage them, unconsciously, by giving them attention. This is what they are looking for, only to start again with even crazier and surely unachievable challenges. Aria had the same reaction as Kurt, also avoiding giving them too much attention. They even decided to raise the level just for them, deciding to see if they are as resilient as they claim.
After the first five minutes, Rachel and Quinn were already in an almost uncontrollable state. Their growls were loud, so much that they sounded like angry roars. They pulled on their bonds and we heard the tape breaking little by little. They continued to look at each other, to see which of the two would give in first. However, both gave in at the same time and they didn't like it. They threw themselves on each other, challenging the results with a fight. Seconds later, a frustrated Kurt and Aria roared in unison, effectively stopping the ongoing argument. Rachel and Quinn pulled away from each other and immediately apologized. They still do not agree with the final results, but no longer dispute them. They simply resumed their place in the group, waiting for the rest of the training.
The rest of the training went off without a hitch. Everyone did their part, understanding that it is something important and that should not be neglected. Kurt and Aria have also decided to participate in this training, wanting to know their resistance. It is not surprising to know that they are more resistant, because they already know adrenaline and its side effects. They also master their transformation perfectly, being able to pass from one form to another without really thinking. The only form they do not master is the one called the original form. This is the first form that werewolves adopted and which disappeared as the species evolved. Now, only the werewolves of the original pack can reach it, after much effort and a very long training to hope to reach it.
The original pack is that of Kurt and Aria. It is recognizable by the mark that appears at the level of the person's heart, whether they have been bitten or were born a werewolf. It is a triskele surmounted by wolf fingers with their claws. It is a true symbol that all packs in the world know and respect. They are respected, even feared in some cases, because they are the most powerful werewolves that have ever existed, and they are able to master complex shapes with great ease. This is the case of the so-called rabid form. Few werewolves manage to master it without giving in to anger or madness.
They are also extremely resistant to anything that can hurt or kill a werewolf. So don't expect to kill one, because you won't. They heal instantly, are immune to most poisons or other known toxic products. They are also very quick and smart, being able to thwart tricky traps very easily. They are the real obsession of werewolf hunters, who consider them as demons or as those to be killed to be considered a true professional hunter.
However, ten years ago, this pack was decimated by undercover hunters. The technique they had used was cowardice. They had set fire to the whole territory, so that everyone present choked on the smoke. Also, before fleeing, they had taken the opportunity to kill some of them with their own hands, because that gave them pleasurable pleasure. There were only a few survivors. Luckily, the Alpha heirs of the pack were spared, being only children at the time. It is possible that the hunters were unaware of their status, otherwise they would have been killed along with the others. The fact that their parents are human must also have played a role.
These heirs are none other than Kurt and Aria. They grew up and formed their original pack by biting their friends. They wanted to bring back all the glory to this pack and let the world know that they are back, much stronger than before. Of course, they survived, but not without some injuries. Kurt lost his mother there, having seen her die. Aria, meanwhile, got away with a huge gash all over the left side of her face. It starts from the base of her hair and stops just above her pack mark. Before, she hid this scar, but she realized that there is no point in hiding it and that this scar is part of her. To hide it would be to hide or ignore what happened ten years ago.
At the end of the afternoon, the training of this day was coming to an end. Blaine and Ezra wanted to do a second try, to see if they were going to be more resilient than the first try. Kurt and Aria agreed and got everything ready again. As requested, they increased the speed level, to get this spike to trigger fairly quickly. During this last trial, Ezra was distracted by a familiar voice. He made a sign to stop the machine and quickly removed his bonds. His veins had dilated as soon as he recognized who was speaking. The same growl of frustration and anger he let out a few days ago came back. Aria groaned too, realizing what was going on. Kurt, he watched the scene, unsure of what he should do.
In the distance, the same woman in luxury clothes was approaching with a determined step. Ezra walked towards her, stomping. Using his Beta authority, he growled loudly, ordering the pack to stand behind him. By instinct, he moved in front of Aria, although he was several meters away from her. The formation that the pack has just adopted aims to give a more impressive stature to the person who requested it. Ezra is tall and muscular, but this training gives him a much more impressive build than usual. He wants to scare and scare away this person who puts him in a state of almost uncontrollable rage.
As he got closer to his mother, his veins dilated and his growl grew louder. In fact, he was roaring like a wild animal ready to swoop down on his prey. Kurt cocked his head to the side, not quite understanding why he hated his mother so much. Aria gave him a quick explanation and Kurt nodded at the end. Ezra went to stand straight in front of his mother, staring defiantly at her.
"What are you doing here? I thought we told you to leave and never come back here."
"I came to pick up my son, who is as stubborn as his mother. And yes, you got that stubbornness from me. I want you to come back and live in New York. I knew becoming a teacher would only bring you trouble».
"Problems? The only problem in my life is you. You always want everyone to do what you want. You are incapable of accepting your own children's choices! You can't be happy for once in your life, especially since I'm going to be a father in less than four months".
As soon as he finished his sentence, Ezra turned his head towards Aria, wondering if he had permission to break this news to his mother. Aria smiles, letting him know it's okay. He said it out of anger, but it wasn't a secret either. Ezra looked back at his mother, who looked more than shocked. She searched for her words for several long seconds before deciding to speak.
"Well, I thought you were never going to give me grandchildren. To be honest, I always thought you would end up single. You were always immersed in your books and not interested in the outside world. The only girls you managed to bring back weren't part of our world. They had much lower incomes than us. Besides, I must admit that I didn't see you having children with her. I don't want to not that you are raising this child in this unsanitary place".
"This unsanitary place? You are the one who is unsanitary. You have such a dark soul that no one can lighten it. You never believed in me, you only put me down, and that gave you a those pleasures. I saw your eyes sparkle when you put me down. You felt pleasure in doing that. And, that's why you'll never meet our child. There's no way he knows you, because you're a very bad example for him".
Diane looked at Ezra shocked. She reached up and slapped his face hard. Ezra didn't move, had no particular reaction. He just passed his hand over his cheek and looked at the pack, still behind him. Their looks were a mixture of shock and anger. Santana, as usual, screamed in rage and launched herself at Diane with the firm intention of killing her. Ezra stopped her from doing anything and told her to go back to the group. Kurt and Aria looked beyond shocked, not quite realizing what had just happened. Everyone was surprised when they saw Ezra remove his t-shirt, exposing his chest for all to see.
"How do you talk to your mother? I didn't raise you like that. And, why are you taking off your t-shirt? Did you start a career as a stripper?".
"You say you didn't raise me like that, but you didn't raise me at all. I'm talking to you the way you've always spoken to me. Like I'm just less than nothing, which is barely good for sweeping. Look at my back, the traces on it. Do you remember? Of course you do, because you're the one responsible for it. You made them, with your favorite belt. Besides, you always accused me of having damaged it, whereas... it was you who used it to beat me!"
Diane paled when she heard Ezra confess all this in front of about twenty people. She never told anyone about it and always threatened her son with far worse injuries if he ever revealed this dark secret. A secret known to all his family friends, who did not hesitate to advise her with new techniques to use on him. Her voice shook slightly as she tried to justify herself. She also saw that Ezra was holding the pack back by keeping his hand up. But who knows what would happen if he lowered it.
"I am not responsible for anything, it was your father who had this crazy idea. Besides, I left him when I understood what he was talking about. He always had this dark side to him and he was a fighter in his youth. So it doesn't surprise me that he beat you".
"It's not him. No, he at least, he had the decency to say that I was useless. He was just ignoring me and that was fine with me. You left him because he refused to take part in your sadistic delirium. Besides, I thank him for that. I remember why you were doing that, the objective behind it. You wanted to submit me, so you could show me to your friends as the perfect son who listens to everything you say. You wanted to find me someone, but it never worked. And, you know why? Because I'm a lot tougher than you expected. I never yielded to any of your threats, but I was too ashamed to admit what had happened to me. If I left New York, if I started this career of teacher, it's to be as far away as possible from you and to be able to detect cases of domestic violence. Thanks to the experience that I have, I can help these people to get out of it and find real loving homes. "
Once again, everyone present was shocked. Ezra was seething with anger and rage and felt his blood heat up in his veins. He doesn't know how he keeps himself from hurting her. His instincts are in turmoil and all he wants is to throw himself on his mother to kill her. He feels the need to eliminate her, as he sees her as a danger to himself, to his unborn child, and to the pack. Frustrated, Ezra let out a loud roar that echoed, again, throughout the forest.
Aria walked over to Ezra, took his arm with a firm yet gentle grip, and pulled him back. She glared at Diane, who just shrugged. The justifications she gave did not convince anyone. Everyone was angry and ready to attack if necessary. Even Brittany, who hardly ever pays attention to what is being said around her, shared her companions' rage. She held back Santana, who wanted to throw herself on this woman and cut her into pieces. She still has a naturally protective side, and being a werewolf only heightened that part of her personality. She is ready to pounce on anyone who poses a threat to the pack. Diane looked at her, raising an eyebrow with a disdainful look.
"Well, I see that your fabrications have only inflamed the anger of those present. You better get your act together, before it gets out of hand. I've always known that werewolves are only savages. The behavior of this young girl, as well as yours, Ezra, only proves to me that I am right. So, what are you waiting for to leave this place and return to your original lands? The ones where you grew up and where you have many memories. You still have friends who are eagerly awaiting your return".
Ezra freed himself from Aria's grasp and stormed back in front of his mother. The more the seconds passed, the more his veins dilated. It's clear that an adrenaline rush has kicked in and it's been brought on by the rage that floods his whole body. His breathing was also jerky, showing that he was almost losing control of himself. He goes to great lengths not to let this rage blind him. He could kill someone and it's not something he wants, even if it's his mother who passes by.
"You tell them, those motherfuckers, that I won't come back. If they have something against me, they should come and say it to my face instead of hiding behind you. As far as I know, you were never a carrier pigeon. You refused to send messages to people, except when you played your belt. There, you loved doing that and saying that it was a message that you were sending to me. So, what, my so-called friends, did to make you come back and venture into this place that you describe as horrible and unsanitary? They paid you? Or, you paid them to have a reason to come back here?
"I didn't say they blamed you for anything. And, there's no money at stake that explains my coming back here. If I decided to set foot in this place again more than muddy, it's to make you listen to reason, my son. You come from the New York elite, your place is there, not here".
"I don't come from that elite, because I never shared your way of thinking. I always hated living there, in a climate of constant pressure. I was always stressed when I went to school, when I came home, when I played. In fact, no matter what I did, I was constantly stressed. And, you know why? Because I never knew what you were going to do to me. You were always very inventive in the techniques you used to make me suffer. You did it without any real justification, because you didn't need it. Everyone around you understood what you were doing and why you were doing it ».
"You know, sometimes in order to fit into a community, we have to do things that are very unsavory. Besides, why does a mother have to be criticized for the way she raises her children? Who are you to teach me lessons ? »
Again, Ezra growled in frustration and rage. He paced around, running his hands through his hair, looking for new arguments to come out with. He felt helpless in front of his mother, because he could never have the last word with her. Every discussion he had with his mother ended in blows and he fears it will happen again. She is quite capable of doing worse than the slap. She does not fear the presence of people. This kind of thing never stopped him. After a few seconds of waiting, Diane took Ezra by the collar of his t-shirt, bringing him closer to her so she could threaten him, as she does so well.
"Stop being cheeky with me. I know what you're playing, and you know it won't work. I trained you, you know what not to do, but you always had a pleasure to break the rules that I imposed on you. So, if you continue like this, I believe that you will...".
Diane didn't have time to finish her sentence. She heard a loud roar coming from behind her son, then she was thrown several meters away. As she stood up, she saw a large black wolf with red eyes standing in front of her. This wolf had all its fangs out and was growling loudly, as if protecting something. But, that's not the only wolf she saw. A dozen others were standing behind this black wolf, and they were growling just as loudly. Ezra stood up and ran his hand through the black wolf's fur, as if thanking him. He approached his mother, letting her eyes shine with their intense golden color.
"I believe it's time for you to leave and never come back. You have a choice, and I advise you to do the right thing. You either leave or they are the ones who will make you leave. But, if they deal with this, you'll leave here in pieces. Threatening me in front of my whole pack was a very bad idea and you know it. So, run away, go, while it is still time for you. But, if you want to fight...please, have fun".
All the wolves roared in unison, showing their might. Their growls hadn't stopped. Diane stood up, rubbing her white clothes which had taken on a brownish tint. She sighed briefly then turned towards the exit, not without leaving a last comment before leaving.
"Fine, I'm leaving, since you want me. I will never understand you, like you, you will never understand me. I want to say that what you consider to be violence was nothing but that's education. Ask your brother, he'll tell you the same thing. Besides, maybe he can convince you to come home and see the suitors I chose for you."
"Get out of here! Stop justifying yourself, nobody believes you. You yourself don't believe what you say. You're just trying to look good, but it doesn't work. As for my brother, he didn't have the same fate as me, since you just ignored him. You tried to make him the perfect son, but that didn't work either. But, he keeps making you shame, with everything he does at school. You can't stand his bullshit, like you couldn't stand me making my own choices. »
Diane left the territory without a last look, considering that she had heard enough. If Ezra doesn't want to believe what she's saying, there's no point in lingering in this place. Again, she stepped over the branches and rocks on her way, almost tripping. Ezra watched her go, releasing the breath that had been blocking his chest since her arrival. Aria changed back to her human form and threw herself into his arms, trying to reassure him. Fear came out of him in waves and no one knew what to do. All the rage had left his body, giving way to fear and panic. Seeing his mother again had brought out very bad memories that he had managed to erase.
Ezra looked around, feeling his breathing slowly calm down. He cleared his throat and walked home, Aria hot on his heels. Everyone looked at each other, wondering a little what had just happened. Kurt sighed and sent everyone home, realizing that Ezra and Aria were going to need some quiet and privacy to discuss what just happened. Everyone nodded, understanding Kurt's decision. However, Santana headed straight for Aria and Ezra's house. She saw Blaine go in the opposite direction and she wondered if she should follow him. Her protective instincts were raging in her head and she didn't know what decision to make. Blaine was fine and there's no sign Sebastian was about to strike again.
Ezra, on the other hand, has a mother who doesn't hesitate to show up in the wrong place and threaten him in front of his whole pack, ignoring the fact that they are all ready to defend him if necessary. Thinking for a split second, Santana headed for Ezra's house, but was stopped in her tracks by Kurt, who realized what she wanted to do. He just shook his head no before heading home.
Meanwhile, Ezra slumped in the living room chair. He left enough room for Aria to sit next to him. She did so directly, feeling worried for him. She was never aware of that, but she suspected it a little bit. Ezra never had any reactions that suggested he had undergone this kind of treatment, but he did not like to talk about his childhood or his parents. He always had an adversarial relationship with them, and he never wanted to return to his hometown. He found the slightest excuse to avoid going there or talking about his youth. Now everyone knows what he went through and the rumors are about to start pouring in. It was one of the things he feared the most, that this dark secret would be discovered. He hadn't expected to reveal it to everyone in a fit of rage against his mother. He let his anger cloud his thoughts, thinking of nothing but what he blamed his mother for.
Lost in thought, Ezra stroked Aria's belly. He focused on their child's heart, hearing it beat. This reassured him, but he was still worried. He does not want to reproduce the violence he suffered in his childhood. Even though he did pretty well compared to other kids, it still haunts him. That's why he chose to settle in Rosewood. It's the only city he thought of that's far enough from New York. It's also a small town lost in the countryside, and her mother hates the countryside. It should have kept her away, but when she wants something, nothing stops her.
"I...I'm sorry I didn't tell you, but it's hard for me to talk about it. I've always been forbidden to talk about it and, although I know it doesn't justify nothing, it marked me. I was always afraid of consequences, if I ever confessed to someone what was happening. And, even now, I wonder what she will do. Hearing her admit that, she didn't like it at all, and I know she'll make it clear to me. She'll surely come back and yell at me in front of everyone. She loves doing that, especially when there's a large public. The more people there are, the better. That way, she'll be able to put me down and potentially undermine the authority I have here. If she knows, she'll laugh about it and say that I I have nothing authoritarian, that I can't rule anyone, and especially not werewolves stronger than me".
"Okay, so...for starters, it's okay if you haven't told me. Each person has their secrets, we don't have to tell them. Then, if she comes back, we'll make her understand that she has no place here. No one threatens anyone in the pack, without us intervening. As for your Beta authority, she can't take it from you. You saw this what happened? Everyone was ready to defend you, even kill her if they had to. You are one of the two Betas in the pack, you have authority over all the Omegas that make up the pack and no one can take that authority away from you. She won't be able to get to you again, believe me. If she ever comes back here, she won't be able to take a step without us knowing about it."
Ezra nodded, feeling slightly reassured. He still fears that his mother will return, but he knows he can count on the pack to protect him. He got up slightly from the armchair, and saw Santana in the central courtyard. She seems to have made it her mission to protect him, as she did for Blaine. Until she is sure that Ezra is no longer in danger, she will act as his second shadow.
Aria stood up too, following Ezra's gaze. She also saw Santana, and understood what she was doing. Her overprotective Omega instincts are in full swing, and she seems to be having a little trouble controlling them. But, it's nothing serious. It's always good to have someone ready to protect anyone from any danger. Aria sighed and realized something.
"I have to say one thing. You resisted the adrenaline perfectly. There was this spike, which started because of all the rage you were feeling. Your veins were dilated, so much that you could almost see your blood flowing there. You knew how to prevent your transformation from happening, just as you knew how to prevent yourself from slitting its throat. It is an example of perfect self-control".
Ezra looked at Aria, stunned. He hadn't realized what was going on, way too focused on bringing out his mother's dirty secrets. He smiled, pleased with himself, but collapsed from fatigue a few seconds later. All these emotions exhausted him, so Aria let him sleep peacefully. She kissed his forehead and left her house. She went to join Kurt, to tell him about her observations.
Kurt wasn't very surprised, he too noticed the control Ezra managed to have over him. He felt a mad rage, which overflowed him. He was so enraged that even a human could smell it. But, that he manages to stay in control of himself is an achievement. Few recently bitten werewolves achieve such self-control. Ezra an example for the whole pack. Kurt and Aria are proud of what he's done, the toughness he's had, and the trust he's had in the pack. He didn't hesitate to ask them to come behind him, in case he needed protection. And, it did not fail, because he almost got mugged. Aria jumped on her mother before it got any further. Everyone else was ready to do the same.
Anyway, the training to resist adrenaline and all its side effects is not over. However, Ezra will be exempted from it for a little while, so that he can rest and recover from his emotions. The others, they will continue, to have a perfect mastery of themselves.