Blaine yipped happily as he tottered after his older brother. Romping outside was wonderful. Being in the woods with his pack was more thrilling than hed ever dreamed. He was six now. His parents had finally deemed him big and strong enough to go out with them. As he stumbled, his mother nudged his hind leg and set him right.

Careful, she chided.

Blaine squeaked in excitement and bound around her legs. It wasnt his first transformation. Hed been transforming since his birth, but it was the first one outside with his pack, instead of locked in their mansion with only his mother or father or brother for company all evening.

Play! Wanna play, Coop!

Cooper growled as Blaine tried to hop on his back and knocked him sideways. Get off, kid. Ill play later. Miranda and me have other things to do.

But–

Cooper raced off with Miranda when they reached the lake and Blaine didnt understand it. His brother loved to play with him? So what if he was a decade older? Cooper always made time for Blaine.

Mama, play?

A high yawn escaped his mother as she stretched and settled down beside the lake. Later, sweetheart. Its time to relax until the moon is higher. Come, its time to nurse and then well nap until its time.

Blaine gave a pitiful little squeaking growl, but his mothers paw closed around his belly and pulled him to her stomach. As he nursed, Blaine pouted and whined. What good was it to be an alpha if everyone always told him what to do?

As his mother drifted off, Blaine settled down against her, frowning and wishing he could be out running. Everyone was so boring outside. They were all relaxing and snoring and cleaning their paws. At least when hed been stuck inside hed gotten to play with his human toys. After what felt like hours, Blaine glanced at his mother, then eased himself away from her. If she wouldnt play with him, then hed just go find someone who would. Cooper was out there somewhere with Miranda. His brother would have to play with him once he found him.

Nose to the ground, Blaine sniffed and snuffed and followed the trail as best he could, away from the lake and downhill into the forest.

Blaine hobbled and tumbled his way through the fallen leaves, broken branches, and rabbit holes. Hed show his brother for running off and leaving him with a bunch of sleepy adults. At the bottom of the hill, Blaine paused and sniffed for a long time. His brothers scent went one way, left toward what smelt like more water, but there was a second scent, stronger and lovely like the vanilla tea Mama always made him drink the mornings after their transformations.

He followed the new scent, shuffling through soggy leaves and broken twigs as the moon rose higher in the night sky. It grew stronger the further he went and Coopers scent all but disappeared. Finally he reached a break in the trees. The smell had led him to the edge of a small clearing and sitting next to a little pond across from him was a wolf pup pawing uncertainly at a butterfly.

I found you! Blaine squeaked, bounding towards the other pup. It was a boy pup, another werewolf. He could smell it. Youre the smell I followed.

The other pup backed away from his enthusiasm, hunched down and bared his teeth fiercely.

Blaine paused and stared at him. But the other boy continued to show his teeth and back away.

No, I wanna be friends. Blaine pawed the air between them hopefully. Play.

Slowly, when it became obvious Blaine wasnt going to pounce or harm him, the other boy eased his front away from the ground and looked him over.

Who are you?

Im Blaine and Im six and a half!

The other pup stared at him and sniffed closer until he could circle Blaine. Blaine scratched himself nervously until the other boy stopped.

You smell safe. The other boy stopped in front of him and pawed the air between them. Im Kurt. Ill play with you.

Blaine yipped and darted around the clearing. For hours they chased each other around, wrestled, bound through piles of leaves, and finally rolled around on their backs together until they were both sleepy.

I should head back to Mama soon, Blaine yawned and rolled towards Kurt. Shes probably worried.

My Daddy and Mommy probably are, too. Kurt stretched his little legs and let Blaine cuddle against him. Daddy worries cause Im their only pup and its all up to me when theyre old.

Youre an alpha, too? Blaine rolled right into Kurts legs and licked his chin and nose. Im going lead Mama and Papas pack some day.

Kurt? Kurt, where are you?

They both jumped up at the howl and Blaine cowered down in the leaves. Kurt was trembling, too, as a proud, stocky alpha male entered their clearing.

Kurt, weve been looking all over. Its time to– who are you?

The big wolf gnashed his teeth and growled as Blaine covered his eyes with his paws and whined.

Daddy, this is Blaine. Hes an alpha, too!

Kurts dad. Blaine squinted through his paws up at the huge wolf. His ears had started to rise up and Kurts dads teeth stopped snapping at him. The older wolf looked between them before another howl rent the air.

Blaine? Blaine?

Mama! Blaine sat up and tried to howl in reply. All he managed was a high, shrill like whistle. Kurts dad growled fiercely and protectively tucked Kurt behind him as Mama charged into the clearly.

Blaine, there you are. How could you wander off like that? She dropped down and picked Blaine up by his scruff before she caught sight of Kurts dad. Blaine yelped as he was let go suddenly, and his mother leap over him and growled at Kurts dad.

They snapped their teeth and growled as Blaine tried to stop her and Kurt yipped at his daddy.

Mama, no! But she didnt listen. Neither did Kurts dad.

They backed away from their parents and Kurt darted to his side, burying his snout in Blaines fur and whining. The sound made their parents pause and look towards them. Blaine licked Kurts ear and nuzzled him.

Blaine, honey, whats this all about?

Wanna play with Kurt. Blaine boldly pawed the air towards both of them until Kurt looked up. Kurts my friend.

Their parents looked at each other in alarm, and slowly scooped each of them up by their scruffs. The moon was sinking below the tree lines when one of them finally spoke.

Theyll never agree to this. Kurts dad sat his boy down and licked his forehead.

I dont think we can stop them, no matter how badly we want to. Blaine was set back on his paws and he scampered over to Kurts warmth. Sweetheart–

Kurts my favorite. Blaine took a strong sniff of his fur and yipped. Can we play every full moon?

Please, Daddy! I wanna play with Blaine!

Come, well talk it over with your mother in the morning.

Kurts dad picked him up again and hurried off.

Mamas teeth closed around Blaines neck and he was hoisted up and carried away back to the lake. In the morning, when they were all human once more, Blaine heard his parents arguing over his nighttime venture with his new friend. He didnt understand the problem. Kurt was amazing. They were going to be friends for the longest time.

"Blaine?" His father appeared in the kitchen where Blaine was twirling his spoon through his oatmeal. "Listen, about this boy you met–"

"Hes so great, Papa!" Blaine beamed and accidentally flung oatmeal across the table. "And he likes to play with me and hes got super soft fur and guess what? Hes an alpha, too! We can be alphas together."

"Thats, well, son…"

"And we can be best friends forever like you and Mama and I bet he likes piano, too!"

His father wilted in the doorway and disappeared, calling for his mother. Blaine didnt know what they said next, but when his father came back, he gave him the best news Blaine had ever heard.

"Im going to go with you to meet with Kurt next month, okay? Me and your Mama. Well talk with his parents and work some play dates out, not just as wolves."

Blaine beamed and knocked his bowl of oatmeal off the table as he vaulted into Papas arms.