Despite his resolve, it took a few days before Blaine felt ready to approach his ex-boyfriend.  Partly, that was because he'd just gotten so good at dodging Kurt that their paths didn't cross all that often anymore.  But Blaine would be lying to himself if he didn't admit he simply wasn't ready to handle the emotions he'd successfully squelched for the last three months.  He'd thought he was dealing well enough, but as the days passed, he realized he'd just been deluding himself.  He still wasn't ready when he ran into Kurt a few days later.  Literally, as it turned out.

Blaine was late for modern literature (again), and was stuffing things in his bag as he half ran to class.  Suddenly he slammed up against another body, jerking away and apologizing before he looked up from his bag.  Of course it would be Kurt.

“You're running late,” Blaine said dumbly, staring into Kurt's eyes.  While Kurt's body was even skinnier then Blaine remembered, bordering on gaunt, his eyes were anything but.  The bright blue in them practically glowed with intensity.  Blaine didn't remember his gaze being quite that bright.

“Uh, yeah,” Kurt mumbled, dropping his gaze and shrugging his bag back over his shoulder.  “I slept in too late.  I'm sorry I ran into you; I'll try to be more careful.”

Blaine took in Kurt's wan, faded complexion and made a decision.  Reaching out, he grasped Kurt by the shoulder when he turned to go, wincing at his too-thin frame.  “Are you alright, Kurt?  Is everything okay?”  Blaine ignored the bell ringing in the background, the quiet in the halls as they emptied of students.

Kurt swallowed, his too-bright eyes glancing to where Blaine was gently squeezing his shoulder.  His whole body began to shake.

“Kurt! Dammit!  Blaine, step away from him right now!”  Shawn called out as he pelted down the hallway towards them.  Blaine turned in surprise, freezing as the large student came barreling at them like a line backer.

Shawn swept Kurt up in his arms the minute he reached them, clutching him tightly as he half dragged Kurt's slim form down the hall.  “Kurt, leave.  NOW!”  Shawn barked, giving Kurt a little shove to get him going. 

Kurt immediately turned and walked/ran towards the back exit.  Shawn turned back to Blaine, getting up in the shorter man's space until their chests were just shy of touching. 

“He's not yours anymore, Blaine.  Remember?  I have him.  Don't touch Kurt again,” Shawn rumbled, a world of menace in his tone.  Dismissing Blaine, Shawn strode after Kurt, quickly catching up and dragging Kurt along beside him out the door.

Blaine stood frozen, watching the two disappear.  Shawn bearing down on him like that had triggered all kinds of unpleasant memories and Blaine struggled, fighting back his demons of old, clawing his way back to the present.  By the time he could reasonably think again, Kurt and Shawn had disappeared. 

No.  Blaine wasn't letting the bullies win again.  And he wasn't letting anyone manhandle Kurt like that, no matter how big they were or if he'd been dumped.  Blaine dropped his bag on a nearby bench and ran after the pair. 

Once outside, Blaine paused, not sure where to go next.  He was in the open space that led to the Lacrosse fields if he went left, and to a tree line with graveled walking paths through the forest if he went right.  Blaine ran right, assuming Shawn would want to take them somewhere with privacy.

Blaine walked down the well-tended trail, making his way towards the lake.  It was darker here out of the sun, and he normally found the path soothing.  Now he felt anything but tranquil, keyed up and listening intently for any sign of the pair.

“I can't do this,” Kurt's high voice rang out in the distance.  Sighing in relief at correctly guessing where they'd gone, Blaine hurried towards the voices raised in argument.

“You have to.  You don't get a choice.”” Shawn's tone was lower than when he'd threatened Blaine, pitched to placate.  Blaine fought back a growing urge to punch him. 

“There's always a choice,” Kurt replied despondently.  Blaine ducked around a tree, veering off the path when he spied the two of them standing in a small gazebo.  Kurt didn't look particularly scared; he looked sad and worn down.  “I didn't ask for any of this.”

“But you got it,” Shawn replied coolly.  “It's really not that bad, Kurt.  There are good parts, aren't there?”  He ran a hand down Kurt's arm.  Kurt turned into the touch, his stiff posture relaxing.  Blaine hesitated, not certain anymore if his intervention was warranted.  Then Kurt shrugged off the touch, turning his back on a clearly irritated Shawn. 

“Quit distracting me, Shawn.  I don't need that.”  Kurt's tone was brittle, harsh with anger. 

“Don't be so difficult, Kurt,” Shawn replied stepping forward and reaching out to clutch at Kurt's shoulders, holding tight when Kurt clearly tried to pull away again.  That was more than enough of that, Blaine decided.  Taking a deep, steadying breath he stepped out into the open.

“I don't think Kurt wants you to touch him,” Blaine called out as he walked quickly towards them.  Kurt spun to face him in shock. 

“Blaine!”

Shawn didn't look terribly surprised, he just sighed in resignation.  Blaine kept walking, hopping up the two steps into the gazebo until he was only a few feet away, close enough to intercede if Shawn tried something again. 

“Kurt, if he's hurting you, or threatening you in any way you don't have to put up with it.  I'll help you, just come with me,” Blaine told his ex-boyfriend as soothingly as he could, reaching out a hand. 

“He's not…it's not that simple,” Kurt stuttered out.  He wrapped his arms tight around his slim frame and took a step back.  “Why do you care, anyway?  I mean, I left you.” 

“Yes,” Blaine said evenly, retracting his hand but not backing away.  “You did.  But that doesn't mean I'll let someone push you around.  Or that I've lost all feeling for you.  I've cared about you a lot longer then I've…hated you.”  Kurt made a harsh, choking sound at that admission.  His bright eyes were wet, tears just beginning to fall.

“And honestly, I don't think I could ever hate you, not really,” Blaine admitted softly.  He took that last step into Kurt's space and reached up, running a tentative hand along Kurt's pale cheek.  Kurt's eyes widened and he made a sound that sounded an awful lot like a whine before spinning away.  Kurt staggered several steps out of of the gazebo before falling to the ground.  His whole body started to shake and convulse.

“Kurt!” Blaine tried to run to Kurt's prone form only to be stopped by a firm hand on his arm. 

“Don't,” Shawn cautioned.  He didn't sound angry, or aggressive.  Mostly he sounded tired, and maybe a little relieved.  “He'll be fine.  Your touch was just too much for him.  Kurt's been skating the edge the last few days and his control isn't all that great as it is.”      

Blaine glared at the man and tried to shrug off the grip, but even though Shawn only had one hand wrapped around his arm, Blaine felt like he'd have better luck fighting free of concrete.  He stared at the hand in shock before a muffled moan from Kurt distracted him.

“He's having a seizure!  We nee to get help!” Blaine argued, fighting to get free.

“It's not a seizure.”  Shawn was right.  Whatever was going on with Kurt's body, it wasn't anything Blaine had ever seen before.  Soft, wet, popping sounds filled the relative quiet of the forest, followed by several sharp cracks.  Thin red fluid poured out of Kurt's body, staining the light colors of his shirt and white skinny jeans.  Kurt groaned, his body twisting and writhing as the clear sounds of fabric tearing joined the sickening cacophony of sounds. 

“What's wrong with him?” Blaine whispered as Kurt's body continued to convulse.

“Nothing,” Shawn replied firmly.  “Nothing is wrong with him at all.  Kurt is perfect just the way he is.  But he's going through some…changes right now.  The kind that don't suffer witnesses.” 

“What?” Blaine asked dumbly.  The clothes were well and truly shredded and what sounded like broken whining sounded from the pile of fluid soaked fabric.

“Kurt has, well, let's call it a genetic condition.  Usually it shows at birth, but sometimes can happen later.  That's really rare, though.  We still aren't sure what triggered Kurt's dormant genes to activate.”

“So, you're telling me this is okay?”  Blaine asked incredulously.  “Doesn't he need to go to a hospital or something?”   Blaine tried again to pull free, with no success.

“No,” Shawn replied, chuckling in amusement.  “He's fine.  Anyway, he's almost finished, stop freaking out.”

As if in answer to Shawn's words, Kurt's body went still.  A furry head popped up from the mess of soaked and shredded clothing.  The rest of his body followed suit, revealing a streamlined canine form.  He stood on wobbly legs for a moment, then shook his whole body as if to clear it of any residual droplets. 

“Feel better now, Kurt?”  Shawn asked.  “I mean this does simplify things considerably.” 

The creature standing where Kurt had fallen just a few minutes ago stood taller, more firmly now that it's legs were steady.  It looked graceful, strong and sleekly muscled.  The animal's coat was a white so sheer that it practically glowed and it gazed at Blaine with familiar, husky blue eyes. 

Blaine had originally thought the figure was canine, but now that he had the chance to really look, he realized that this majestic creature no more resembled a dog then a house cat looked like a lion.  It was much taller then any wolf Blaine had ever seen in the nature shows, and its eyes held a wildness about them that reached deep into Blaine's subconscious, where age-old instinct screamed ‘run.'

But Blaine didn't run.  Despite being freed from Shawn's death grip, Blaine stayed still, staggered by the beautiful animal before him. 

“Gorgeous,” Blaine whispered, unable to take his eyes off the big wolf.  The creature ducked its head, and Blaine swore it'd be blushing if it could.  His mind tried to resist what his eyes were telling him, the sheer impossibility of it all, but there was no way to deny it.  Kurt had morphed into…something else.  Blaine's brain refused to allow the word to work its way into his conscious mind.  It was just too incredible to believe.  But it was happening; there was no denying that.

“Is Kurt, you know, in there somewhere?”  Blaine asked Shawn uncertainly. 

The creature's eyes certainly looked intelligent, Blaine decided.  The beast jerked its head high at Blaine's question, appearing to scoff.  Blaine laughed in spite of himself, all too familiar with that particular disdainful expression.  “I guess that's a ‘yes',” he commented as lightly as he could.  He had to be dreaming. 

Shawn laughed.  “Yeah, that's him all right.  And he's really good with conveying his thoughts through body language.  He's had a knack for it since his first change.”

Blaine decided to just accept the dream for the moment.  It was either that or admit that losing Kurt truly had driven him over the edge.  After staring at the white beast a moment later, something occurred to him.  “Is that why he broke up with me?”  Blaine asked softly, glancing back at the larger man.  “So that he could be with another, um…another…”

“Werewolf,” Shawn finished for him.  “The word that you're looking for is ‘werewolf' and the answer to your question is ‘yes and no'.  Yes, he broke up with you because he became a werewolf.  He had to.  Not only is his self control way too shitty for him to be alone with a human for any length of time, we're not allowed to reveal ourselves to norms.  I mean, his dad knows of course, because we're allowed to tell spouses, and with his mom and all…”

“Kurt's mother was a werewolf?”  Blaine interrupted.

“Yep.  And there were even odds he'd turn out one as well.  When he didn't at birth or when he hit puberty, we pretty much concluded it wasn't going to happen.  Imagine how shocked we were three months ago when a frantic Burt Hummel was suddenly on the phone with our pack leader demanding a rescue wolf asap.  Anyway, Kurt can't control himself worth a damn right now.”  

Kurt narrowed his eyes and growled at that statement.  The low, menacing sound instantly set Blaine's heart hammering.  Shawn clearly didn't have the same concern.

“Well, it is,” Shawn told the wolf bluntly.  “Even for a newling, you kind of suck.  Don't bitch at me, it's not as if you don't know why.”  Shaking his head at the animal, Shawn resumed his conversation with Blaine.

“Anyway, Kurt wasn't permitted tell you anything.  None of us can.  So, he really had to break up with you.  For your own safety as much as anything.”

Blaine nodded at that explanation, turning back to stare at the wolf.  Kurt had taken a few steps closer, though he still remained several feet back.  His ears were forward, tail up, clearly doing his best to appear nonthreatening.  Well, as nonthreatening as a wolf the size of small horse can, anyway.  Blaine found the look kind of adorable.

“About the other part of your question,” Shawn continued after a moment.  “The breakup had nothing to do with him wanting to be with another wolf.  It broke his heart having to leave you like that.  Honestly, we've been a little worried about him.” 

“It seems to me like he got a decent consolation prize,” Blaine commented coolly.  He wasn't quite ready to let go of the hurt yet.

Shawn laughed.  “I'm vain enough to accept the compliment.  But it's not like that.  I'm his preceptor.  My job is to make sure he doesn't lose control and inadvertently eat someone.  Kurt's kinda cute, I guess.”  The wolf snorted at that.  “But he's not exactly my type.”

“What?” Blaine asked.  He thought he understood what Shawn was saying, but he wanted to be clear.

“I'm straight.  100% straight.  Not even a little curious.  Only lady wolves for this puppy.  The only man meat I want in my hand is my own.  Should I continue?”

“Please don't,” Blaine replied, though he was smiling a little.  “But you two are always touching, and always together, and...”

“That's wolves for you,” Shawn agreed easily.  “We're a really touchy-feely group.  It makes us feel good.  And it was a convenient cover to play the boyfriend.  I'm plenty secure enough in myself not to worry about what people think.”

Kurt moved a little closer and laid down on his belly sphinx-style.  Clearly he'd been listening in.  Blaine smiled a little at the giant beast, wondering what that ivory fur would feel like against his fingertips.  It looked so soft.

“So you, my dear, have a decision to make,” Shawn commented casually.  He leaned against the gazebo railing, his dark gaze pinning Blaine in place.

“What decision would that be?”  Blaine asked absently.  He wondered if it was okay to ask if he could touch.

“If you want him or not,” Shawn clarified.  Blaine jerked his head back at that, staring at Shawn.  The big guy shrugged.  “Now that you're in the know, there's no reason why you both can't be together.  I can vouch that Kurt didn't break any rules so both you and he are safe on that score.  I'm not going anywhere for another six months at least, which will be awkward.  And Kurt, well, that's permanent.  Mother Moon will hold her sway over him for the rest of his life, and being a part of a pack can be complicated.  It's good too, to have family like that, but it can on occasion be incredibly annoying.  Turning into an animal every month isn't exactly ideal, either.  It may be best for you to continue as you are, honestly.  Kurt's a work in progress, and it's not an easy path he's been chosen to walk.”

Blaine glanced over to the white form in front of him.  His scattered mind was finally coming to terms with the idea that he hadn't exactly been dumped; Kurt hadn't chosen someone else over him.  As impossible as this situation seemed to be, it was infinitely better than Kurt spontaneously losing interest in him.  What did it say about him that he'd rather find out his boyfriend was a freaking werewolf then that he'd left him for someone else, Blaine wondered briefly.  He let that thought go when he took in Kurt's body language.    

The wolf's ears now drooped, and his head wasn't straight and proud like it had been when he'd been posing for Blaine.  His eyes, still so startlingly bright, looked distant, like he already knew what decision Blaine would make. 

Blaine had lost Kurt once.  He knew what that felt like, and he knew what he'd go through to never feel like that again.  So his boyfriend could turn into a giant dog.  How much did that really matter?  It worked well enough for Prof. Moony and Tonks.  Blaine suppressed a giggle at the thought.  Clearly the hopeless nerd in him wasn't all that opposed to this new development.   

Without hesitation, Blaine walked forward and dropped to his knees in front of the great wolf, reaching around to hug him tightly.  Kurt was a tall wolf, and even lying on his belly he had to drop his head so that Blaine could reach all the way around his neck.  Kurt rested his furry head in the crook of Blaine's neck, nuzzling softly.  Blaine let his fingers ruffle through the long strands; they were every bit as soft as he'd imagined. 

“I love you, Kurt.  Even after all this, I never stopped.” Blaine whispered into the fluffy ear.  “Not even for a minute.  Even when I wished all those feelings would just go away.  You're a part of me, Kurt.  Sometimes I think, the best part.  We can do this, you and me.  Together we can handle anything.  I want you Kurt, fur and all.  Do you still want me?”  Before Blaine had a chance to second-guess his speech, Kurt reached out with one long paw, awkwardly drawing Blaine against his body in a hug. 

Blaine laughed at the gesture, leaning back so he could look into the luminescent blue eyes.  Who needed words?  He could clearly see the sheer happiness radiating from Kurt, how he was sitting straighter, ears perked. 

“I mean, the sheer amount of product you're going to need for your hair now could be a problem,” Blaine commented casually.  “Between the two of us, we will definitely be working two jobs until we strike it big on Broadway.” 

Kurt gave a canine snort at that, flicking a soft pink tongue out, licking deep into Blaine's ear.  “Ewww” Blaine cried, shoving Kurt away, only to land on his own butt when the several hundred pound animal didn't so much as shift.

“Really, Kurt?!  Really?  Don't ever do that again!” Blaine declared, rubbing at his ear to dry the wolf spit out of it.  Kurt's jaw dropped in a wolf grin. 

“Well, this is much better,” Shawn commented from his spot in the gazebo.  “I've never seen him that bright.  Maybe now I can get him to take decent care of himself.”  Shawn stood, stretching his hands over his head and rolling his shoulders.  Kurt wasn't the only one looking more relaxed, Blaine noticed.

“As touching as all this is, we should probably get you back to school before you miss yet another class, Blaine.  The school nurse will vouch for us, but there's no reason for you to miss school and Kurt needs to eat something if he wants to change back comfortably.  Trust me, you aren't ready to see that, yet.”

Blaine nodded, reaching out a hand to use Kurt's back to push himself to his feet.  Kurt didn't seem to mind, rising gracefully to all fours once Blaine was upright. Shawn nimbly jumped the tall railing and landed silently beside them, laughing when Blaine jerked back at the sudden movement. 

He wasn't laughing when Kurt swiftly bit him.  Shawn yelped and swatted at Kurts white muzzle. Kurt dodged easily, an unrepentant look on his lupine features.  Blaine stared at the toothmarks in Shawn's arm as they healed before his eyes.  Shawn let Blaine watch, flexing his bicep and winking.  This time he managed to dodge Kurt's quick lunge. 

“The school nurse knows about werewolves?” Blaine asked as they headed back down the path towards Dalton.  Kurt paced silently next to him, brushing up against his side as they walked.  Blaine reached over to run a hand through the silky fur, leaving it there when Kurt leaned more heavily against him. 

“Of course she does,” Shawn replied.  “She's two natured herself.  Most of the staff is aware, either by virtue of their nature or are blood kin.  THe school was created for our kind.  Thats the original reason for the no harrassment policy.  We needed a place where the young wolves could attend without the stress of a typical highschool.  Its hard enough to stop going wolfy at the drop of a hat without the drama of public school to deal with.  Welcome to the Dalton Pack, Blaine Anderson,” Shawn grinned. 

Kurt snuffed happily next to him.  Blaine didn't try to fight the sheer joy and contentment filling him as they walked through the quiet forest.  Things were certainly going to be different, but as long as he had Kurt with him, Blaine thought he could take on the world.  Glancing down at Kurt, Blaine wondered if he could get away with having the Warblers do ‘Werewolf of London' for regionals.  The look on Kurt's face would be priceless.  Blaine couldn't wait.