Chap 4: Photoshoot
Monday, pack territory, 12 p.m.
Kurt and Aria had organized a barbecue for the arrival of the beautiful days. After all, it's sunny, so it would be silly to deprive yourself of this kind of opportunity. The children of the pack were just running around the barbecue, the tantalizing smell of the meat being far too exciting for them. They are only three years old, but they are already beginning to master their sense of smell, as well as all their other senses. They know how to recognize the smells that excite them and those that disgust them.
While everyone was busy eating, Aria felt her phone vibrate in her pocket. She pulled it out and saw Kurt do the same. He was frowning, not knowing the person who just emailed them. They took the time to read it, and were surprised when they read the subject of the email. A fashion magazine, one of the most prestigious, based in New York, wants the whole pack to become models. They decided to dedicate their issue of the month to werewolves and their pack was the one chosen after several hours of deliberation.
Kurt and Aria are both surprised, because they weren't expecting it. They hadn't thought of posing, one day, for any magazine, especially not such a prestigious one. They also wonder what motivated their choice. Yes, their pack is the most respected in the werewolf world, but there are plenty of others, who surely have interesting abilities.
According to what is said in the email, they chose their pack for the improvised shoot they did a few days ago. The person behind this idea is none other than Lucas, who wanted to improve his skills and photography. He thought this impromptu shoot idea was cool, and they could even post the photos online. Kurt and Aria didn't mind, letting him do it and playing along. It seems that posting these photos is beneficial, since a prestigious fashion magazine wants them to come and pose for them.
Kurt and Aria still took the time to think about the answer they were going to give. They are not sure, but it remains an experience that is likely to be unforgettable. To refuse their request is unimaginable, because it is surely the only time that this kind of proposal will come to them. But, if they accept, they risk having many other proposals in the same genre, and that would upset their peace of mind.
Werewolves prefer to live a quiet life, in a rather isolated place. Being bothered constantly is the worst thing for them. Appearing in stuff that's so public, that's going to be seen by millions of people, isn't a good idea either, because there may be werewolf hunters in the people who will see all of this. The only motivation of these hunters is to exterminate the werewolves, for simple and pure sadistic pleasure. Some are very talented and get their way. Others, on the other hand, are not as strong and gifted as they believe and very often end up in prison. Independent hunters, who have no support from anyone, also end up in prison. Only the large groups of hunters still run in the wild, not stopping their massacres under any pretext.
Kurt and Aria end up accepting the proposal made by "Mode Magazine". This kind of opportunity only comes once in a lifetime, and it is out of the question to miss it. The announcement was made to the pack, which was present at the reception of this email, and all agreed. Rachel, in particular, jumped for joy at the idea of returning to New York and improvising as a model in such a selective magazine. She went straight home, starting to pack her suitcase and prepare the diet she thinks she should follow. But, as a werewolf, she doesn't need it, because her body already naturally eliminates all harmful fats.
Everyone else in the pack shared in Rachel's joy, and started packing their things as well. They're leaving first thing tomorrow morning, so there's no time to waste. Only Ezra didn't look happy, and that's understandable. New York is his hometown and he swore never to return there. He is afraid to meet his mother, especially if they go to the most upscale neighborhoods of the city. She likes to hang out in this kind of neighborhood, window shopping and emptying her entire wallet by buying things that are, for the most part, useless.
Ezra sighed and considered staying here, to guard the territory while the pack was gone. But, precisely, he is part of the pack. He is one of the two Betas, he must be present for this shoot. He groaned in frustration, not knowing what decision to make. On the one hand, he wants to come, because it's an unmissable opportunity. On the other side, the fear of meeting his mother is persistent, so much so that it is what is likely to make him make his final decision.
Aria went to hug him, reassuring him with this gesture. Betas have always been sensitive to body contact, as it is what always helps them relax. And, it did not fail with Ezra. All the tension instantly left his body when Aria came to lean against him. She knows what he's thinking, and that he's not sure what choice he should make.
"You know, you have nothing to fear. You won't be alone, not even for a second, believe me. And then, we won't stay too long. After this shoot, we're going to visit the city a bit, but we're going to avoid places where your mother might be."
"Yeah, I...it's going to be hard. Because, the cool places to go, are the places she likes to hang out, in general. Because there are lots of high-end shops, and she loves it. You know the cliche of the spendthrift woman? Well, my mom is that cliche on her own, because she can empty a whole bank account because she saw something she might not to be able to find it later. As soon as she sees something interesting, she has to buy it, no matter the price. Anyway, I think there is little chance that we will come across her, but we are not immune to that happening".
Aria nodded, understanding what he was saying. She didn't add anything more and just enjoyed the moment, feeling Ezra's heartbeat calm down as the seconds passed. She felt something push against her arm and wasn't surprised to see their daughter, Ellie. She's an Alpha, too, and she wants to help calm her father down. By mimicry, she stuck against Ezra, like Aria does, and tried to calm him down by gently stroking his knee. All it does is make Ezra laugh, but it also helped calm him down.
The next morning, the whole pack woke up early. They were all busy loading all their suitcases into the common vehicles, deciding that it was more convenient to take those rather than their personal vehicles. The first common vehicle is a Cadillac Escalade. They also have a Mercedes Sprinter Tourer, to transport heavy loads but also to be able to accommodate a lot of people. To carry all the suitcases, their choice went to the Volkswagen Crafter. It is a van with a large loading capacity and can accommodate three people in its cabin, just like the Sprinter. Quinn has agreed to lend her Mercedes GLS for the trip, as it is a very large SUV that can fit seven people in it. Marley has also agreed to lend his Jeep Grand Wagoneer, as it also has plenty of room.
It is the Cadillac which is at the head of the convoy, the other vehicles following. The van carrying all the luggage was at the back of the convoy. The kids are in the Cadillac and the Jeep, which is right behind it. Of course, all cars have been equipped with child seats, because they are still too small and too young to sit on normal seats.
The trip to New York will take several hours, which will allow the majority to continue their night. Getting up so early is not always good, especially for growing children who are full of energy almost all the time. Fortunately for young parents, their children are calm in the car, because the movement rocks them.
About four hours later, the whole pack arrived at their hotel in New York. Although they are rich, they don't like to spend their money too much on superfluous things. That's why Kurt and Aria decided not to take a very high-end hotel. A simple hotel is more than enough for them, as long as there is enough space for a good thirty people. Sure, some people, Rachel mainly, wanted to go to a five-star hotel, but that's pretty pointless. They don't plan to stay long, so paying such an expensive and prestigious hotel for such a short time would be an unnecessary expense that could have been avoided. And, that's what happened. They haven't spent any money on a hotel like this for the short time they'll be here.
Everyone took the time to get settled in their room, because they didn't have an appointment for the signing of the contract and for the shoot before tomorrow morning. They therefore have all the time they want to settle down and, why not, visit the city a bit. That's what Rachel plans to do. She already knows the city a little, because she studied there, but returning there always gives her a feeling of joy that she cannot express.
Rachel stormed out of her room, leaving Finn to put away their things. She headed straight for Kurt and Blaine's room, nearly knocking over anyone in her path. The person she almost knocked down, namely Alison, didn't hesitate to growl at her. Rachel didn't bother to answer, not wanting to start hostilities again. Instead, she stopped in front of Kurt's bedroom door and started banging on it, hoping he would open it soon. She could barely contain her excitement and she wanted to go on an adventure right now.
Kurt opened the door to his bedroom, knowing full well who was busy pounding on him with such force and insistence. He sighed when he saw Rachel wearing her characteristic big smile. She wanted to do something and obviously needed his permission to do it. Kurt didn't even bother to ask the question, because he knew very well what she wanted to do. She wants to visit the city and wants to bring as many people as possible with her. After all, the vast majority of the pack have never been to New York. They don't know the city, they don't know what's good to visit, and they risk getting ripped off very easily.
"You don't even have to open your mouth, I know very well what you want. And, the answer is, we don't have much time right now. I know our date is only tomorrow, but that's no reason to visit the city already. You better calm down your excitement, because everyone smells it and especially feels it. Once this is over, you can be the tourist guide of the whole pack, because I know you're dying for it".
Rachel groaned slightly in frustration, but nodded anyway and went back to her room. She has only one desire, to leave the hotel and go on an adventure in the city. She wants to go have a coffee where she used to have it, eat in the best restaurants, take pictures in very touristy places. She wants to do a lot of things, and she doesn't even know where to start. But, Kurt told him no, and going against his decision is a really bad idea. Disobeying an Alpha is a very bad idea, because there are always very serious consequences behind it. Very few Omegas dissent because they can be hurt. Indeed, an Alpha will not hesitate to use force to establish his position as pack leader.
Rachel shook her head, not wanting to think about that possibility. She has known Kurt for several years already, and he has always known how to be firm and authoritative when he wanted to. No one has yet challenged her authority and she won't be the first to do so. Finn saw the troubled look on Rachel's face and knew that Kurt had refused his request, and he didn't like it. Rachel doesn't like being told no, but she still knows how to accept. Of course, she will not fail to bitch and let it be known that she does not like it.
The day after the arrival of the pack in New York, the meeting takes place. It takes place in the premises of "Mode Magazine", in a building belonging to the press group "Meade Publication". The building is huge, so much so that people look very small next to it. The whole pack entered the entrance, saluted the guard and went up to the 28th floor. Arriving on the floor where they have to go, they were surprised to see a crowd of people waiting for them in front of the elevator. Kurt was the first to come out and extend his hand to introduce himself. The rest of the pack followed Kurt's lead and all moved into the meeting room.
The presentations continued. The person who introduced himself as Daniel Meade is the editor. It was he who had the idea of devoting an entire issue to werewolves. A girl, next to him, nudged him lightly, so that he could collect himself on what he had just said. The idea didn't quite come from him, but from his assistant, Betty. Another woman, older this time, made a remarkable entrance. She adjusts the light scarf she wears around her neck and introduces herself as Wilhelmina Slater, artistic director at "Mode Magazine".
Once the presentations were over, the whole explanation of the project was given to the pack, and they signed all the contracts. Even the children, who wanted to be present and participate in this photo session, signed the contract. They wanted to imitate their parents and do things like grown-ups. Once the contract was signed, everyone headed to the dressing rooms to change. When they saw the clothes, and the plan of the shoot, they were surprised. Indeed, there are some photos that are considered quite daring, but they don't mind doing them. They like to have fun, and doing this kind of thing is quite fun for them.
The main clothes and costumes they have to wear during this photo shoot are in the black color theme. The majority are made of soft fabric, but there are some pieces that are made of leather. All had mittens, which they loved. All of these mittens were in different styles, so no one had the same ones. There was little jewelry, because it might overload the outfits, but there was still a little. The jewels present brought brilliance and relief. The majority were silver, but there were some that were golden.
The first part of the photo session was done dressed. They were quite classic photos, but they still appeal to the public of this kind of magazine. The second part, on the other hand, was a little more daring. All had to drop the top. The men therefore found themselves bare-chested and the women in their bras. The purpose of this was to bring out their sexy and attractive side, and also to show off their natural muscles. Not many people realize how much muscle a werewolf has, especially when he gets it without really trying hard. Besides, the pack didn't mind showing off like that. On the contrary, they had fun doing it, taking deliberately exaggerated poses to the delight of the photographers present.
The third part of the photoshoot was with the kids. They wanted to take part in this shoot. They insisted on appearing in the photos. Well, it's done now. Each child posed with their parents, then with each other. They weren't posing in any particular way, they were just having fun with each other. It is also a very good exercise to teach them patience and being calm. They followed the example given to them by their parents. They even repeated certain poses they had taken, finding it amusing.
The fourth and final part of the shoot focuses more on their werewolf condition. It was there that they showed their fangs, claws, ears and tails, and made their eyes shine with their intense color. Whether red, gold or orange, the color of their eyes appealed to photographers, as they focused on shooting close-ups of their faces to capture their eyes up close. The whole pack also took on their wolf form, becoming much more impressive than usual. They couldn't help but roar softly, mostly out of joy and excitement. Those who couldn't keep still began to hop around, still paying attention to the material present.
The fact that their wolf form could be immortalized in a photo is quite interesting, because the majority do not know what it looks like when it becomes this huge wolf with sharp fangs. Kurt, he knows very well what he looks like, Finn having already remarked to him. He looks a lot like a giant brown and white husky, but he's not quite that. In fact, its fur is mostly brown on top of its body, and mostly white on the underside. Unlike a husky, it has no markings on its head, which is all brown except for the tip of its muzzle, which is white.
Aria is black, with no particular markings. She is the only werewolf to be actually black, as it is a color exclusive to Alphas having a hair color approaching black. Because, yes, the color of the werewolf, whatever form he takes, is determined by the color of his hair in his human form. The markings, on the other hand, depend only on chance. Aria has no markings, but highlights on her fur. It's also a quick and easy way to recognize a black werewolf from a very dark brown. Black Werewolves will always have bluish or silvery gray highlights, sometimes even both at the same time, like Aria. Very dark brown werewolves will always have red or lighter brown highlights.
Betas have a particularity in their fur. A dark line, very often black, runs from the tip of their muzzle to the tip of their tail. Sometimes this line descends along the legs of the wolf or thickens at the level of the neck of the wolf. It's a fairly aesthetic marking and is very popular in the werewolf community. Some Alphas, in search of Beta, seek this perfect marking, rejecting all those who do not stick to what they are looking for.
Blaine and Ezra are both Betas, so they have these markings, but they also have the same hair color, except for a few shades. Their wolf form should be quite dark brown in color, which would not allow their characteristic markings to stand out. This same marking has never been observed being light in color, so it cannot be at home. Well, they are not dark brown, but a more or less dark gray, letting this marking stand out without any problem.
Blaine is the one with the lightest shade of gray, but it's complemented with areas of his fur that are darker. Its marking is quite basic, as it does not extend onto its legs or neck. Ezra is the darkest shade of gray, but his markings are still visible. Unlike Blaine's, Ezra's markings had run slightly along his paws, going all the way to the base of his claws at his front paws. He also has a little bit of white at the end of his muzzle and on the fur at the end of his tail.
Markings are not uncommon among werewolves and they are quite varied. This can range from highlights to small flecks of a lighter color compared to their base fur. The marks most present in werewolves are the line, like the Betas, but in a darker variation of the base color of the wolf. This line, outside of Betas, is mostly seen in light-based werewolves, especially blond ones. It is also smaller, often taking its base at the level of the withers
This is the case for Quinn, Hanna, Alison and Kitty. All featured this line in different shapes and shades. Hanna is the one with the largest, because it goes from the tip of the muzzle to the tip of its tail, like the Betas. This line also descends at the level of its legs and thickens very slightly at the level of its neck. It also goes up behind its ears, up to the tip, which is quite rare.
Alison, on the other hand, presents the smaller line. It takes its base at the level of its withers and goes to the base of its tail. It does not go down and it does not thicken either. Quinn and Kitty have almost the same marking, only the size changes. Indeed, Quinn's line goes from the tip of her muzzle to the base of her tail, while Kitty's starts from the same place, but stops at the level of her withers. This configuration is also quite rare. Brittany, on the other hand, is an all-blonde werewolf, which is pretty rare, considering most werewolves have unique markings.
The last kind of marking to be aware of is that the tips of the legs can be darker than the rest of the fur, sometimes making you think of a horse. However, it is a very rare marking, so it is not seen often. But, one of the original pack members has this marking. In general, members of this pack are known to exhibit the rarest and most prized markings.
The one and only werewolf to have paws darker than the rest of his fur is Spencer. Its fur is mostly chestnut in color, like its hair, but its legs are darker. The lower you go, the darker the color, pulling even an almost black. At the beginning of this shade, we see the hairs of different colors mixing together, creating a quite beautiful gradient. The rest of its fur contains a few small white highlights, especially on the underside of the tip of its tail. Moreover, the tip of its tail is also dark, reminiscent of a fox's tail.
The other werewolves of the original pack don't have any particular markings, apart from color reflections, which is very common. Rachel has white highlights, especially on her cheeks. Emily has red highlights when she is in the sun or in the light and a diamond-shaped red mark, which runs from the tip of her muzzle to the tip of her tail. Emma, meanwhile, is the only red-haired werewolf. Its color is a little coppery, but it is indeed red. In general, red-based werewolves lean towards a brown that leans towards red. So, running into an all-redhead werewolf is truly a rare thing.
The belief that members of the original pack sport the rarest colors and patterns is true. Just look at Emma's wolf color, and Spencer's patterns and Hanna's supposedly perfect backline. But it's not always the case. Indeed, a rare pattern remains a rare pattern. So, it is quite difficult to come across it. But, members of this pack are more likely to come across the rarest patterns, as they are considered to be the purest werewolves of the species and therefore the most worthy of wearing these extremely rare patterns.
Once the photo session was over, the whole pack headed to the room provided for the interviews. All agreed to give one, each giving their point of view. There are lots of different questions, from simply defining a pack trait to how a new member's inclusion happens. The people conducting the interviews seemed impressed, it's very easy to see that they are faking it. They are only doing their job and this subject did not seem to interest them particularly. So they had to play the comedy card for everything to go well. No one knows what an angry werewolf looks like.
Once all the interviews were over, the night was starting to show. The city lights were strong, and the almost traditional hustle and bustle of the city was slowly coming. It's time for the whole pack to head back to their hotel and enjoy a well-deserved night's sleep. The children looked exhausted as they fell asleep in their parents' arms. After all, it's the first day they've gone without a nap. It is therefore normal that they are so tired.
Everyone was returning to the hotel, each walking at a different pace. Rachel, in particular, wanted to enjoy the bustle of the night. She wanted to go to bars she's been to before, because she knows them and knows they're cool. She doesn't feel tired at all. On the contrary, she seems to have a boost of energy and seems ready to stay up all night. She went straight to Kurt and Aria, asking them if she could spend some time outside. She wants to relive old memories by hanging out in different bars. Kurt shrugged, not seeing any downside. He knows her and he suspected that she was going to ask them the question. Aria followed Kurt's gesture, leaving her to go about her business in the New York nightlife.
At the hotel, everyone returned to their rooms, most collapsing directly onto their beds. Finn walked into the bedroom he shared with Rachel and found it pretty empty. He suspected that Rachel was going to ask to stay out for most of the night, but it still bothers him a little. He could have accompanied her, but she is very difficult to follow. She has a crazy energy and drags each person who accompanies her to all the places she knows. She had already done with Finn, and it didn't bother her at all. When they got home, he was so tired that he slept for a whole day.
As he was getting ready to go to bed, Finn started thinking about all the advances Quinn was making to him. None of her advances had any effect on him, and it never would. It's just annoying and it creates arguments that bother everyone. The number of times they've been separated in the middle of an argument that turned into a fight. As soon as they cross each other, they growl at each other, because they can't stand each other. Finn considers going to see Quinn, to explain to her how he sees the situation. Besides, that's what he did.
Finn came out of his room and walked down the hall to Quinn's room. He knocked on the door loudly, letting his anger show slightly. He wanted this situation to end and quickly. He's tired of separating them every five minutes. Quinn came to open the door and saw Finn standing in the hallway. She started to smile, believing that her plan had finally worked. That smile quickly left her face when she saw the look of anger etched on Finn's face.
"Oh, Finn, what a joy to see you. What do you want? Have you finally decided to leave Rachel?"
"No, and you know damn well I never would. You and Rachel keep arguing and...you know what? It's just boring! Can't you avoid each other or just tolerate each other? It's not complicated. Because... everyone is tired of intervening because you have decided to put yourself on the face".
"It's not me who decided to fight against Rachel. In fact, it is she who rushes over me. She is the one who causes all this".
"Because you started it. Rachel and I imprinted on each other, and you couldn't stand it at all. So you decide to get revenge. But, now, it's over. You will provoke her again, and you will know what the real pain is".
At the end of his sentence, Finn let his eyes take on their orange color, characteristic of Omegas. He groaned briefly and went back to his room. He slammed the door behind him, which caught the attention of the whole pack. Everyone was looking at Quinn, who was still on her doorstep, looking shocked at what Finn had just said. He had threatened her and he wasn't laughing. Everyone must have overheard their little conversation and no one seems to have bothered to intervene. They must think this shouting match is deserved, and they're not far from the truth.
The next morning, the whole pack woke up early. They have nothing planned today, except to visit the city. However, it seems that their self-proclaimed tour guide, namely Rachel, had an alarm clock blackout. Kurt went knocked to their room, and a sleepy-looking Finn opened the door for him. He briefly points to the bed, and Kurt sees Rachel lying down, sound asleep. His alarm clock rang, and he saw Rachel turn it off with a big hand. She groaned and turned over in her bed.
Kurt sighed and shrugged. He kinda expected it, since she spent the whole night outside. He shook his head and decided that he was going to be the tour guide for those unfamiliar with the city. After all, he studied there, he lived there for a year, he knows the city rather well. He waited for everyone to be ready, then led them through all the rather quiet little places he knew. Before leaving, he left a note
for Rachel, detailing all the places they were going to go, so that she could join them if she wanted to. During their visit, Aria felt Ezra tense up. As they walked, his muscles tensed and his breathing raced. These are signs of a panic attack threatening to happen, but he seems to be keeping them under control. He was content to look around, analyzing the people walking by, and looking for a possible escape for possible danger. Kurt sensed something was wrong, so he stopped and took the time to take in the situation.
Aria went straight to explain to him what was wrong. The neighborhood they're in, a fairly well-to-do neighborhood, is where Ezra's mom likes to hang out from time to time. There is therefore a risk of meeting her, because she goes to this neighborhood every day, and all the time at the same times. Kurt nodded and began to analyze the surroundings as well. He smelled the surrounding air, looking for the perfume of this famous Diane. It's an easily recognizable scent, especially for a werewolf with a very well trained sense of smell. The whole pack was busy doing the same, being suddenly aware that there must be danger and they need to spot it.
After a few seconds of sniffing, Spencer growled in anger. She had spotted something, and she didn't like it. All the other Omegas fell behind her, ready to defend her if necessary. That growl, which was more rage than anger, alerted Kurt and Aria. They came to see what Spencer had found and they had the same reaction as her. In the distance, Diane was walking quietly. She seemed to be heading towards them, but she may not have seen them.
Aria growled too, feeling angry at this woman. She forced herself to remain calm, wanting to see if she would come their way or if she would pass on her way. Ezra had noticed it, too, and that's why he wasn't feeling well. He knew where they were and he had smelled his mother. He knew she was not far away and that they might run into her if they lingered in that area.
Kurt was watching this woman walk, but he was still on his guard. He doesn't appreciate her, doesn't appreciate what she did to his son years ago, and he doesn't appreciate her coming back to them, still wearing her arrogant demeanor. Kurt stood in front of everyone, protecting them. He saw all the children hiding in their parents' arms, his son going to hide at Blaine's. It is clear that they have realized that there is danger and that they must hide to avoid being harmed.
Diane saw them in the distance and began to smile. It's finally a new opportunity to convince his son to come back and live here. As she approached, she saw that everyone around her seemed on their guard, as if protecting her from a danger she considered non-existent. She took a deep breath and moved even closer, opening her arms wide. She also saw children hiding behind their parents, as if they were afraid of her.
"My son, have you finally decided to listen to your heart and return to your origins? I must say that I expected you to do it sooner. I also see that you have a child, as you tell me. You said it three years ago, I think. Anyway, that's not the point. You'll be delighted to hear that all your friends are looking forward to you. Besides, I'm going to tell them directly that you're here. I'm sure you have a lot to tell each other".
Ezra was staring at his mother, unsure of the emotion he must be feeling. He feels a mixture of anger and fear, and doesn't know which emotion to turn to. However, it seems the whole pack made the decision for him. Everyone began to growl, wanting to scare her away. She has never tolerated direct displays of rage towards her, but she loves showing it towards people she hates.
As expected, Diane backed away slightly, looking outraged. She took several small breaths and considered how to resolve the situation. She didn't expect any hostility from them, although she didn't know what she really expected. She ended up nodding her head, as if accepting what was happening.
"Well, I see that everyone present doesn't seem to like me. I don't see why, I've always been a lovely person. I guess it's in the genetics of werewolves to be like that, hostile towards everyone".
"Is it in our genetics? You seem to forget one thing. The whole pack knows what you did to me when I was a kid! They know everything, and you were there when they found out. So, if they are hostile towards you, it is because they know that you are a dangerous person. They are only defending me against you".
"Are you still with that story? It was a long time ago. You're a big boy now, you should get over it. How many times do I have to tell you education ? The hard way, of course, but it's still education. In any case, I didn't come for that. Follow me, we're going home. If you want, I can organize a party, where you can find all your friends.
"A party? You know where you can put your fucking party? I'm not coming. I don't leave the pack, no matter how much you want me to. Because, you don't say it clearly, but I know what you want. You'd better go home, or it could get worse for you".
At the end of Ezra's sentence, the whole pack began to growl, in sync. Everyone was angry, even enraged, but they managed to control themselves. Diane was looking at them, not sure what to do. She thought she could convince her son, but it seemed he didn't want to hear anything from her.
"Okay, no party then. Anyway, let's move on. What are you doing in New York? You told me you didn't want to come back here, and yet here you are. So, I would like to know what which allowed my son, so stubborn and stubborn, like his mother, to change his mind".
"We came here for a shoot for a major fashion magazine. Besides, I know you read it. So this will be the only place you can see me from now on. It's also, only there, that you can see your granddaughter, because you know that I would never let you near her. In fact, no one will let you near her.
"Oh, yes, yes, I know that magazine. It's really very prestigious, that's why it's the only fashion magazine I read. The advice they give is always excellent and really helpful and very good taste. You had to pose with clothes from high fashion brands. They don't laugh about it. And, who said I could never meet her ? ยป
"Me, I'm the one saying it. In fact, it's not just me, but the whole pack. Like I told you before, they know how dangerous you are, it's why they'll never let you near Ellie, or the other kids in the pack for that matter. You come back, one day, to our territory, and you're going to suffer as much as I suffered. And that, I can swear to you. We don't accept hostile people here, and you're on our hostile list."
Ezra ended his sentence with a short growl, wanting to show that he was serious. It seems he chose to feel anger rather than fear. He doesn't want to be afraid of his mother forever, but those memories still haunt him. He is still surprised not to wake up in the middle of the night because of a nightmare related to that. For now, he considers himself lucky not to.
The whole pack had copied his growl, also showing that they support him and won't hesitate to attack in defense of him. Once again, Diane had only nodded, not finding any other arguments to give. She opened her mouth, looking like she had something to say, but she closed it again, still thinking. She seemed shocked at what Ezra had just said.
"Well...knowing that you're going to be in this magazine makes me proud. It makes any parent proud, of course, but it makes me even more so. Because I know you reconnect with your origins, whether you like it or not".
"I'm not reconnecting with anything at all. If I agreed to do this, it's to make our species known to the wider world. You can think what you want, you're far from reality. Besides, I hope you understood what I said before".
"Oh, of course I got it. How dare you threaten your mother like that? I didn't raise you like that."
"You didn't raise me at all. And, you love threatening everyone, to get what you want. And now you get offended when I do it? Guess you don't like being told no. In fact, you don't like it at all. I know that, everyone knows that, but you still keep playing the nice person."
"I'm just myself, I'm not playing a role. On the other hand, you are playing one. Do you think you're really happy to live this life of a recluse person, far from the modern world? People of note social class are not made to live in the countryside".
"I don't come from your fucking social class. I have nothing in common with you. So stop making excuses for me to come back. You know I won't come back. You better go back to your big house, which I know is empty. As for me, I will go home, far, far away, from your disastrous influence".
Diane looked at her son, still shocked by what she had just heard. Like last time, she just nodded, but her blood boiled. She hates being disrespected and knows how to make it understood. She tried to imitate Ezra's growl, having realized that it's a very common way of communication among werewolves. She did her best to make her attempted growl threatening. But all she got was laughter. The whole pack was hilarious, because his growl was just ridiculous and not at all on par with that of a real werewolf.
"You think you're doing what? You think you can growl like us? You're just ridiculous, and you know it. You just don't want to take it on."
Diane looked at her son with a look of pure anger. She approached him confidently, letting her heels click on the concrete floor. Every click of her heels echoed in Ezra's head, because he knows what that means. Suddenly, all his confidence disappeared to give way to a pure terror that he could not control. He started to back away, wanting to avoid what he knew was inevitable. He groaned softly, hoping to scare his mother away, but it didn't work. His heart rate was accelerating greatly, as was his breathing.
Ezra saw his mother raise her fist, ready to strike him, like she did when he was a child. He continued to back away, finding himself backed into a wall, with no way of escaping. However, before Diane could direct her fist and reach her son's cheek, Aria grabbed her and threw her several feet away. She screamed as loud as she could and was quite surprised to feel the ground shaking beneath her, her scream was so loud. The whole pack was surprised, because no one knew how loud an enraged werewolf's howl could be. They had heard rumors that he could be strong enough to shake the floor or the walls. It seems that these are not rumors but reality.
After this powerful scream, Aria stood up. She was almost exhausted and her veins were so dilated you could see them through her skin. You could even see his blood pulsating, showing how his heartbeat had raced. When she started to howl, the whole pack had gotten behind her and accompanied her in her howl. Of course, all this noise alerted the people around, but they quickly understood that this is a conflict with werewolves and that they have no right to intervene.
Aria was enraged, which is normal. A woman, whom she doesn't know very well and who has a very bad reputation, attacks Ezra, her Beta. Her protective instincts kicked in and she didn't think twice before throwing herself on this woman to defend him. Kurt felt the same. He doesn't know this woman, just her reputation within the pack. He hasn't really met her. He was there when she came to their territory three years ago, but otherwise he hasn't had another chance to see her. And he doesn't want it. This woman is as hateful as possible and he dreams of gutting her. Although Ezra is not his Beta, he is still protective of him. That's the role of an Alpha, to be protective of every member of the pack.
Aria looked at Diane, letting her eyes glow their bright red color. She also had her fangs out, showing that her posture is aggressive and she wouldn't hesitate to attack again. She considers this little assault to be nice and that she can do ten times worse than that.
"I think it's time for you to leave, and quickly. As far as I'm concerned, I'd rather have you in prison, or dead in a ravine, but I'll settle for you leaving. But, I warn you, get in touch with Ezra again...and you'll know what it feels like to see me in a real state of rage. Because, so far, I'm in control, I know what I'm doing. But, I can very well lose control voluntarily, and then... I'm not sure you made it out alive. But hey, it's up to you".
Diane nodded, adjusted her fur coat, and turned on her heels. Turning around, she was surprised to see a brunette girl with orange eyes staring at her like she wanted to eat her. This same girl moved away and let her pass. She didn't suppress the growl that threatened to come out of her throat when she arrived. Besides, this growl frightened Diane, who fled at full speed.
Kurt wasn't too surprised to see that Rachel would eventually wake up and come join them. What he didn't really expect was to see her explicitly showing aggression towards someone other than Quinn. It seems that seeing Ezra's mother did not please her and, above all, she must have felt all the rage and anger that Aria gave off. She acted accordingly, helping without quite knowing how.
The whole pack resumed their visit, but they didn't linger too long. This unexpected encounter made them decide to cut short their trip. After all, everything important was done, so they could very well go home if they wanted to. And, that's what they decided. Everyone has seen Ezra's condition. When his mother left, he was still in a state of panic that he couldn't calm down. Aria stayed with him, to help calm him down, while Kurt drove the pack back to the hotel. Ellie, Aria and Ezra's daughter, had stayed with her parents. They didn't want to leave them and wanted to help comfort her father. Like all werewolves, she feels her fear, and she doesn't like it at all.
When the pack got back to their hotel, no one wasted time packing their bags. In less than an hour, everyone was ready to go. Kurt had changed plane tickets, so they could leave as soon as possible. Aria and Ezra got home a few minutes before Kurt got too worried and decided to call to find out where they are.
The whole pack headed for New York airport. Luckily, they went through the boarding formalities fairly quickly and were therefore able to get on the plane very quickly. When the plane took off and moved away from this anxiety-provoking town, Ezra slowly began to calm down. His heart rate was still a little high, but it's a lot from earlier. He took a deep breath, finally feeling reassured to be able to go home, and to be able to regain his comfort. He's like all werewolves, he hates losing his bearings and the comfort he's used to.
He felt that this trip to New York was going to go very badly, but he went anyway. He wanted to do this shoot, no matter what bad encounters he might have. But, he is happy to leave, but this villa always made him panic. Wherever he goes on these high streets, he always seems to smell his mother's perfume. And, this time, it did not fail. He was right, and their account was finally settled. Now he doesn't have to worry about her coming back, although she is capable of it. He can finally enjoy his family life, his pack and assume his role as Beta, without having any fears. He doesn't have to have his mother's influence, because she can't reach him like she used to.
As of now, he is free and under very strong protection. He already had how the pack was protective of Blaine when he was attacked. And now the pack is protective of him, especially Santana. So he knows he has nothing to fear, because he is under very good protection. He can live his life, do what he wants when he wants. He is finally free.