... They didn't tell them about Miles. Seeing Corrigan's mark on his skin, the very same as their own, makes it even harder to deny. The pack hasn't been honest with them. Alpha hasn't been honest with them. They're pregnant with his child, and he's keeping things from them.
For as frightening and threatening as Miles is, for as much damage as he's done, there's no denying that claiming scar. He was abandoned. Cast aside. Would Alpha let that happen to them too? Would he ruin them? Knock them up and throw when away when he's bored?
But still... even as they wrestle with brand new fears and paranoid doubts, Kurt just can't forget the thrills and genuine joys of the last few months with the pack. They can't deny having felt special for the first time in their life. And they can't bring themself to believe sweet Benji knew what was happening. There's just no way. They shudder, all fear and revulsion and betrayal, fighting back tears as Miles embraces them.
"P-Please... Just p-please leave the antidote for Benji." Kurt feels sick, torn between two worlds, too hurt to see the real truth. "He's j-just a puppy, he d-doesn't deserve this..."
"Of course, of course," Miles coos gently, hands smoothing up and down Kurt's narrow back, taking advantage of their fraught state to enjoy the feel of them trembling in his arms. "I'll leave it for him, he'll wake up tomorrow with a bad headache, but he'll be just fine."
Cool fingers coming to cup Kurt's chin, Miles forces their gaze upwards, smirking deeper at the pain in their eyes. Could it really be this easy? Could he truly get away without having to face his old Alpha? "And in return, you'll come with me. I'll look after you. You can forget about everything that's happened. You can go home, Kurt."
No. The emotion, intense and focused and ferocious, rippling through the link, starles Miles momentarily -- that had been the cruelest, when that harmony, that sense of belonging, that connection had been closed off to him forever. If he was getting anything through it, it meant the wolf responsible was forcing him to hear. It was Benji.
Impossibly, absurdly, the young wolf was staggering to his feet, blood caked along his side, breath raspy and desperate, pupils dilated from the poison. But he still stood, shuddering all over, and bared his teeth in a ferocious snarl. He shouldn't be able to. He shouldn't even be able to breathe.
At least they succeeded. Benji won't die today. Miles' words make their stomach roil, twisting up in knots nearly too tight to breathe—they don't want to go with Miles, they don't want to go home, just as badly as they don't want to return to a lying Alpha. But at least Benji will be okay. They'll do what they have to so the pup will be safe, even if it means going with this man, this stranger with cold hands and cruel eyes and the soft, gentle words, and giving him what he wants.
But then the pack link shudders with that single intense emotion, cutting through everything else, nearly knocking the little human to the ground. The link is always overwhelming, when they first notice it, but this is something else, feral and near-desperate.
Even Miles felt it. That means the rest of the pack definitely did too.
"B-Baby, please! You're gonna hurt yourself!" they cry, watching in horror as sweet little Benji fights through the poison and the arrow embedded in his hip and snarls at Miles. He can barely stand, barely see, but he still looks moments from lunging for his throat. That must be so, so painful. It's sheer protective instinct that makes Kurt twist around in Miles' arms, trying to break out of his grasp so they can run to his side, not thinking that perhaps the stranger won't let them.
For a brief moment, Miles doesn't -- he tightens his grip, face curling in a snarl of his own, between indignant and shocked that the pup is back on his feet, even with poison coursing through his veins with every heartbeat. Those cold hands squeeze hard, feeling the delicate bones of Kurt's wrist grinding together, painting bruises into their fair skin. For an instant, Miles is ready to fight back.
But there's an echo of ferocious, murderous rage coming through the link, the pack hearing at last that something is wrong. A lone howl pierces the air, followed by another and another, a chorus of fury coming rapidly closer. And Miles is, at his heart, a coward.
So he releases Kurt, let's them twist away -- almost. In the heartbeat of time he has, he grabs their wrist, wrenches it up to his mouth and bites hard, filling his senses with the sweet taste of their blood. It isn't as deep or careful as a true claiming bite would be, but it's enough. Enough to let Corrigan know how close Miles was, how easily he could've stolen the pack's mate away. How foolish the Alpha had been.
"See you soon, Kurt," Miles murmurs through the mouthful of blood, before slipping back into the woods and out of sight, moments before the pack bursts into the clearing.
Kurt's howl of pain joins the chorus, sharp and distressed, splitting the air apart. Unlike the claiming bites adorning their neck, where the pain had been laced with true euphoria, a sense of belonging, Miles' teeth piercing their flesh is pure agony. His bite is unwanted. They don't belong to him, and yet he demands a piece of them Kurt has not consented to give and cannot take back. It's the worst pain they've ever felt.
They can't tell if the pain is what makes their knees buckle underneath them, or if Miles' threat is what sends them to the ground, but as soon as he lets go of them, they crumble. Sobbing into the grass, Kurt clutches their bleeding wrist, squeezing the wound tightly, hurt and frightened and betrayed twice over.
But they have to push through it. The pack link roars with fury, confusion, terror that's not their own, and Benji, poor Benji, they can feel his anguish, his guilt, and they know they can't let him face it alone. Kurt scrambles on their knees through the grass until they reach the youngest wolf, hands slippery with blood—the wound isn't clotting, why would it, Miles didn't want it to—cradling his snarling face, urging him to look at them. "B-Benji— i-it's okay puppy, it's okay, y-you're gonna be okay— please b-be okay. Naseer!"
The ground shakes as the pack shoots past bushes and trees, bursting into the clearing, finally. Kurt looks distraught, bloodied and weeping, reaching for Naseer, Corrigan, anyone. "He's hurt! P-Please, help him!"
Halfway between wolf and man, Corrigan is hit with too many things at once. The scents -- Kurt's blood, Benji's, the sharp acrid scent of poison and fear and terror, and over it, the bitter smell of his former packmate, something he'd hoped never to experience again. The sounds -- Kurt's helpless, terrified sobs, Benji's helpless whines as he crumples back down, pressing his big bloodied head against his mate's chest with a heavy sigh of relief. The sight, most of all, Corrigan's mate and his brother, both injured, both frightened, both calling out for him too late.
And worst of all, the knowledge that he can't do everything he wants to. He can't eviscerate Miles and help Benji and comfort Kurt at once. He freezes for a fraction of a second, then wrenches his gaze to the side, meets Leo and Kai's, chokes out a stricken: "Find him." The pair leap forward, not wanting to leave their mate any more than Corrigan does, but reveling in the potential chance to eviscerate their tormentor. The two wolves disappear into the brush, hot on Miles's trail, and Corrigan is on his knees, reaching out to gather Kurt close, cradling them to his chest, hand finding the bleeding wound on their arm and squeezing firmly to stop the flow of blood.
"I'm here, I'm here," he murmurs, his chest aching with regret and anguish at their pain. Benji is shivering now, shuddering as the adrenaline leaves his body, leaving it wracked with the poison. Naseer is already breaking off the arrow, leaving the tip embedded until they can safely extract it, putting pressure on the wound. The pup whines softly, big head in Kurt's lap, eyes flicking between his Alpha and mate.
Corrigan moves his free hand to stroke along Benji's cheek, through his bloodied fur, a soft tenderness he rarely shows to the other wolves in every movement. "You did well, you did so well, see? Kurt's safe. They're safe. You did so well, love. You did wonderfully, now let us help you, all right?"
They struggle a little as Corrigan pulls them towards him, away from Benji, but their squirming quickly subsides. The safety of Alpha's embrace soothes even the worst of their fear. Everything else—the upset, the feeling of betrayal—will come when it comes. Right now, Alpha is here to keep them safe. Nothing will hurt them here.
Benji whimpers with pain and relief both, letting his Alpha's tender praise anchor him as Naseer tends to his wound, smelling his blood. "Bush rope," he says, voice tight with barely controlled rage. "Not enough to kill him, but he'll be sick for days. We need to get them both home now." Exactly the kind of firm demand some consider unfit for a Beta to make.
"I t-tried— I tried getting th-the antidote, but he wouldn't... he wouldn't give it to m-me." Kurt sobs softly into Corrigan's chest, exhausted and in pain but so relieved Benji will be okay. "I'm s-sorry, Alpha, I'm sorry, I— I tried..."
Corrigan nods stiffly, already hearing the other two returning at the decision. Miles is long gone, and time wasted chasing after him is time they don't have. Better to draw back to the den, make sure Kurt and Benji are tended to and have time to heal. Later, Corrigan will hunt down Miles himself and tear him open. Slowly, savoring each moment, making him writhe in agony for what he'd done.
The rage bleeds into the link, and Benji whines piteously, so Corrigan let's it go, focusing instead on stroking his hand through Kurt's hair, kissing their forehead and teary cheeks again and again. "It's not your fault, beloved, you did nothing wrong," he murmurs, gently shifting to stand with his mate in his arms. Kai and Leo have reappeared, kneeling down to gently scoop up Benji's shivering frame, though they both pause long enough to rub at Kurt's back, their hair, needing the physical contact to soothe the anxious rage.
The Alpha waits for Naseer to follow suit, for the Beta to press a kiss to the top of the trembling human's head before focusing on Benji. Then he strides towards the cabin, cradling Kurt protectively close, wanting them safe and warm and no longer in pain. Their tears make his heart ache, but Corrigan knows it's better for his sweet mate to let the fear and panic out like this, rather than try to suppress their true feelings.
So he soothes them gently, let's them cling tightly to his broad chest and sob out their terror. "I'm so sorry, Kurt. I'm so sorry you had to face him alone. It'll never happen again, love, he's never going to touch you again."
They're not used to bleeding so much anymore. All the wolves are so diligent about tending to their wounds, whenever and however they happen, licking them clean and encouraging them to clot and scar so much faster than any human doctor. Kurt knows their body has changed over the months they've been with the pack. Their body heals so much faster now. Cuts and scrapes close over in a day now, barely leaving marks on their pale skin anymore.
But Miles... Something about the wound he left just feels wrong. Like their body rejects it. They're covered in their own blood, hands and chest and swelling stomach glistening with crimson red. It scares them more than it hurts. What kind of malice does it take to hurt someone like this?
They watch through terrified tears as the pack carries Benji away, hurrying towards the cabin so Naseer can patch him up. Leaving them with their Alpha. Kurt shudders in his arms, pain and fear and betrayal all wrapped up in one.
"Wh-Why didn't you tell me about him?" they sob against him, hands curling into fists, sticky with drying blood. They have many more questions, more accusations and doubts, but they're too hurt and scared and angry to sort through them right now. "If I— I-If I knew he was out th-there, I would've... I would've been m-more careful... I d-didn't know, Alpha."
Corrigan -- doesn't have an answer for that, and it's evident in how he pauses, how his firm stride fumbles a bit. Had he truly thought his presence, his sheer force of will would keep Miles away? Had he thought there was no possibility that evil could touch Kurt, simply because he didn't want it to?
Yes. Things had been so good, so peaceful and happy and complete that Corrigan hadn't let the thought of Miles even enter his head. He'd somehow believed that would be enough.
"I should've " he says finally, settling by the little dammed-up, deep portion of the river, Benji's sweet, wholehearted gift for Kurt. Benji, who is soaked with blood and whimpering in pain inside the cabin, because Corrigan hadn't thought to warn him or Kurt of the true dangers. It doesn't matter how or why it happened -- he's the Alpha. His whole reason for being is his pack, protecting and caring for it. No excuses.
So, scooping up the sunwarmed water, Corrigan starts to slowly wash away the blood. His instincts are demanding he lick the bleeding wound clean, but that would just encourage it to clot and scar, and he knows Kurt doesn't want that. If Miles mark is to fade, it must heal slowly. Still, he washes it as clean as he can, then guides Kurt to put pressure on it and lift it above their head to stop the bleeding. "I should've told you, Kurt. You're more than capable of handling that knowledge. I shouldn't have left you unprotected like that."
A pause, then Corrigan ducks his head, meeting the little humans teary eyes. "What did he say to you?" Miles has always fought best through words, sowing poison with half-truths and whispers. Corrigan knows he won't like the answer, but he needs to know.
"B-But you didn't." It's quiet and sullen, all Kurt can muster in response to Corrigan's admission as he cleans their wound. What else can they say? Yes, he should've told them. Corrigan agrees. Now all that's left is to pick up the pieces of their broken trust.
It's an awful feeling, not trusting the man they love. The man who saved them, who's treating their wound, whose child they're carrying, they don't trust him anymore. Because what if Miles is right? No one told them about him, just like he'd said. What if the rest is true too?
The thought of not being special to the pack makes their stomach bunch up.
Kurt meets their Alpha's gaze carefully, frowning up at him, even as they hiccup through the last of their tears. "Am I really y-your first mate?" they ask in response to his question, dreading the answer. "Th-The pack's, I mean. Or were there others before me? Are— Are you g-gonna get rid of me too, when you get bored of me?"
Their fingers dig into their wrist, hand clenched around the sluggishly bleeding wound held over their head, just as Alpha instructed. Even injured and suspicious, they obey his word. "Be honest with m-me."
Corrigan presses his lips together hard, swallowing back the impulse to snap back at Kurt, wanting to ask incredulously: Do you really think I'd do something like that? They're scared, they're hurt, they're not thinking clearly. He'd rather they be honest, as painful as it is, than bury everything they're feeling deep down, like they had at the beginning. Corrigan's worked too hard to build the tenuous trust, he's not about to break it by being thoughtless.
So instead he focuses on washing off all the blood he can, watching the water grow pinkish from how much there is. He takes over the grip on the wound, grip firm, pressing down on the wound. "Miles is the best sort of liar," he begins, slowly. "Because he takes a tiny fragment of truth and twists it into something he can use as a weapon."
Exhaling slowly, Corrigan meets Kurt's eyes, his own soft, solemn. "You're our first true mate. The first one where we all felt it, where we knew it was right from the very beginning. But we did try, once before, to make that connection. It didn't work." Before they can get upset, before they can spiral, he adds: "We tried with Benji, when he first joined the pack. It was -- incredibly painful for him, feeling like he was a failure, like he wasn't good enough. When you joined us, you already felt that way. We didn't want to make it worse."
He lets it linger in the air, then, softer: "Does that make sense? Why I didn't tell you everything right away?"
They listen intently, eyebrows still furrowed, clinging to his every word even as they fight to stay cautious and guarded, still feeling like they have to protect themself. As much as Kurt wants to believe him, he could be lying. Trusting too easily is what got them into this mess, after all.
But he's their Alpha. Something in their bones insists he can be trusted, must be trusted. He's the center of their universe, the one piece holding everything else together. Miles even insinuating that Corrigan lied to them made their whole world crumble. If they can't trust their Alpha, they can't trust anyone.
"Benji..?" They never would have guessed. Even though he's the youngest, he fits so seamlessly into the pack, as if he's always been with them. Kurt can't even imagine how painful it must have been for everyone, but especially Benji, trying and failing to establish that mating bond. They didn't even know you could fail at that.
They're quiet for a while, slowly digesting his words, nodding softly with confirmation. It does make sense why he didn't tell them all of this. But it still doesn't explain the pivotal issue: "Why did you get rid of M-Miles, then? I thought th-the pack was a bond for life..."
"Mmmmhm." Corrigan lifts his hand slightly, examines the marks on Kurt's wrist, brow furrowing deeper. Unlike the marks covering their neck and shoulders, these are ragged, clumsy, more about violence than making a permanent connection. But at least the bleeding's starting to slow. He guides their arm to submerge in the water, letting the coolness of it help the wound begin to clot, moving on to carefully combing dried blood out of their long hair. "It took Benji a while to understand that it wasn't a failure, not really. He's still part of our family, just not in the way we thought he would be."
It's a bit of an understatement -- the pup had been devastated by his apparent inability to be what the pack needed, aware from the beginning that the calming, centering effect of a true mate wasn't something he could do. Of course that hadn't mattered, not to Corrigan or Naseer, or Leo and Kai, for all their teasing. He was still theirs, like they were each other's.
But Miles...that had been another mark against him, his active attempts to freeze Benji out of the pack, constantly picking at and belittling the youngest wolf. This, coupled with his perpetually undermining and disregarding Naseer's authority, had led to that final confrontation, that final challenge. Corrigan doesn't like thinking about it, any of it, the pain it had caused his pack as he tried and tried to smooth things over with Miles -- because Kurt's right. A pack bond is for life.
"He caused too much pain to stay," he says finally, looking down at the jagged bite mark, submerged beneath the water, violent and cruel on his mate's delicate wrist. "The difference is that Benji's role changed, and he changed with it. When things began changing for Miles -- when the pack grew, and his role in it became altered from what he thought it should be, he rebelled. He fought against us, instead of growing with us." More than that, he seemed to enjoy causing the chaos, the dissent. It seemed to delight him.
Corrigan lifts Kurt's hand from the water, examining the wound, then pressing his lips to it, gently. "He's the sort of person who would hurt you. He's always been that person. I couldn't have that in my family, not back then, not now."
Miles fought them. He wanted no true part in a pack growing out of his set, narrow views of what it should be. Kurt can tell there's more that Alpha isn't telling them, the link tender with painful memories they can't parse, but they don't need to know more than what they already do. He's the sort of person who would hurt them. He's a liar, a manipulator, a bully. He never cared about their safety with the pack, or their dignity, or them being treated like a plaything. All he wanted was to use them to hurt the pack.
And he succeeded.
Kurt has never felt so stupid. Shame and guilt settles heavy in their stomach, an unbearable weight. They'd played right into his hands, they'd believed him, not even stopping to consider his true motive. Revenge on the pack that exiled a monster. They're such an idiot.
"He... He wanted me t-to go with him," they confess, curling into Corrigan, seeking his comfort. That gentle kiss to their throbbing wound nearly makes them unravel. "He said he'd t-take me home, he'd take care of me... b-before you threw me away like another whore." That word still hurts. It's different when Alpha calls them needy, greedy, a pretty little wolf slut, because he knows them. Miles doesn't. He hasn't seen them at their smallest and saddest, he hasn't seen them grow from a terrified young human to a confident, playful mate. To him, they're just a whore.
"He'll come back. When he bit m-me, he said he'll see me soon... He knew my name." A terrified shiver goes through them. "Wh-What do we do, Alpha?"
A hot, blinding flash of rage flickers through the pack link, enough to catch the attention of the other wolves, who've been tending to Benji's wounds -- but it passes, and Corrigan focuses hard on projecting calm, control, peace. It doesn't matter that he wants to find Miles, even if it takes all night, wants to tear him into little pieces while he's still alive and sniveling. How dare he. How dare he.
But Kurt's the priority, Kurt is there shivering and sniffling and curled up against his chest. That's where Corrigan's attention needs to be. He kisses their wrist again, scoops them back into his arms, into his lap, kissing their neck and cheek and temple, like he can chase away the cruel, hateful words with his touch alone. "If he comes near you, I'll kill him." It's matter-of-fact, because of course there's no other option.
The fact that Miles knew their name is -- troubling, though. He's been banished from the pack connection, he's not come close enough to catch any of the wolves's attention with his scent, how does he know who Kurt is, beyond far-off glimpses? Had he been sniffing around the human settlement, asking questions about the missing, presumed-dead youth who'd vanished into the woods months ago? It seems far-fetched, but not impossible.
Corrigan hates the idea, but further investigation is needed. Miles is a good liar, and he can easily stir up a mob mentality among the villagers, and maybe mount an attack that way, since he can't defeat the pack on his own. There's a lot to think about, a lot to plan -- but Kurt is exhausted and their wrist is still sluggishly bleeding, so Corrigan stands carefully, wanting to get them inside and warm. "But he isn't going to get anywhere near you. We'll act first, we'll make sure." Bold promises, but if the Alpha says it, it'll be so. "I'm not going to let him hurt you again, Kurt. I promise."
His words should terrify them. The last thing they want to consider is their beloved Alpha—and he is beloved, that brief moment of doubt be damned—with someone else's blood on his hands. Especially for their sake. Taking a life for any reason should be reprehensible, unforgivable.
But Miles hurt them first. Miles threatened the safety of their pack, their family, their baby. Miles almost killed Benji. There's no part of them that aches at the thought of Miles meeting his end at Corrigan's hand.
"Th-Thank you," they whimper into his neck, curling up in Alpha's strong arms, letting him carry them back to the cabin. Letting him protect them. Nowhere feels safe right now, not the woods, not even the cabin, nowhere except Corrigan's embrace. Nothing can ever hurt them here. They know that as long as he's near, they'll be safe.
Which just makes the fact that they ever doubted him hurt even more. If Miles could poison their mind so quickly, make them even consider turning on their Alpha and leaving the pack with just a few well-placed words, what else could he be capable of? How many could he manipulate to do his bidding? Has he been to the village? Has he asked around about them? Has he spoken to their father..?
"I'm so sorry, C-Corrigan..." Kurt's arms loop around his neck, holding on tightly. "I-If the pack is at risk b-because of me, I..."
"Hey." Corrigan's voice is soft, but firm, pausing in the doorway of the cabin to lean back, prompting Kurt to look up at him. He meets their eyes, his own intent, focused. "You have nothing to apologize for, beloved. You didn't do anything wrong." The Alpha leans forward, rests his forehead against his mate's, breathing in their scent, grounding himself in it. The fact that someone so small, so delicate and seemingly fragile has become the center of his universe -- the beating heart of his pack -- is still a marvel to him.
"There's nothing we wouldn't do for you, Kurt. No risk we wouldn't take to keep you safe." He nudges the door open with one hip, kissing their nose as the warmth of the cabin surrounds them. "And we're glad to do it, whether you ask it or not. It's what we've all dreamed of, for years and years."
The fire is roaring, the furs from the couch spread out on the floor so a bandaged (and heavily medicated) Benji can lounge in them, still wolf-shaped, with his tongue lolling out as Kai (of all people) rubs at his ears. There's stew bubbling softly, and Leo making himself useful by fussing over Naseer, for being such a good doctor. All of them perk up at Kurt and Corrigan's arrival, the wave of adoration saturating the pack link as they do.
Smiling against his mate's temple, Corrigan adds, softly: "We came alive when we met you, Kurt. You're the heart of us. Both of you." This is said with one hand coming to rest on their stomach, softly, reverently.
Any lingering remaining doubts are wiped away by Corrigan's gentle words. The warmth of his voice, his gaze, his emotions through the pack link permeates everything else, leaving the little human shivering in his arms. He really does love them. He'd do anything to keep them safe.
They all would. Kurt sees how each pack member lights up when they're carried inside, feels how much they all love them, unconditionally. No one blames them for what happened today. Part of them doubts they'll ever truly get used to being loved so fully, so completely, by so many.
But they couldn't ever doubt the sincerity of their love. Both for them and their child, growing somewhere right under Alpha's warm palm. They'll never doubt it as long as they live.
"M-Me too." Their own hand comes to rest atop Corrigan's. "I feel like... like I wasn't living before you found me. I'm s-so happy," they manage, brittle with lingering tears, but still resolute. This is where they belong. Where they'll always belong.
"I can't wait t-to meet them," they say as they're carried into the warmth, closer to Benji, to everyone. Their fingers lace with Corrigan's over their stomach, thumb gently caressing his knuckles. "I want them to feel this love too. T-To be part of our family."
Corrigan smiles against Kurt's hair, feeling some of his terror from earlier begin to ebb away. Hearing Benji's stricken cry through the link, bursting into the clearing to see him convulsing and bleeding, and Kurt terrified and sobbing -- it had been the most frightened the Alpha had ever been. Everything he cares about in the world is in this little cabin. His soul is cuddled up in his arms.
"I can't wait to love them. Like I love you," he murmurs against Kurt's temple, a soft, fervent sound. Corrigan tends to show his adoration in more nonverbal ways, so actually saying the words is big for him. But he means them, with everything in him.
Kneeling down, Corrigan doesn't fully release his little mate, but he lets them turn in his arms, smiles as Benji groggily lifts his big fluffy head. "See, pup? They're safe. You kept them safe. You did so good, so so good." The wolf doesn't look wholly convinced, nuzzling at Kurt's hands with a soft, anxious whine. He's always been the most unsure, the most in need of reassurance.
Kurt doesn't need to be told. They can feel Corrigan's love for them in everything he does, like a shot through the pack link every time he looks at them. And yet... there's something about hearing the words spoken aloud that wrenches at their insides, heart squeezing tightly in their chest.
Before the pack took them in, no one ever told them they loved them.
They carry that emotion into caring for Benji, pouring all their love into reassuring the pup, twisting in Alpha's lap to face him fully. They'll never tire of reaffirming how well he's done—especially now, knowing how he came into the pack, the guilt he must carry. He completes the pack. He deserves to know that, to feel that.
"It's okay, puppy, I'm okay. Y-You saved me, sweet-bee," they coo, caressing his anxiously twitching muzzle, petting the sweat-damp fur over his brow. They let him sniff at the wound on their wrist, showing him they can still move their hand freely, despite the pain. "You were so brave out there, baby. P-Pushed through all that pain to save me. You're amazing."
Kurt glances at Naseer, then over their shoulder at Corrigan, those big sad eyes beseeching him. "D-Does he have to stay wolf to get better? I wanna kiss him," they admit, blushing.
The blushing, even after all this time, has Corrigan nuzzling the back of Kurt's neck in amusement. Their question, on the other hand, has him hesitating -- not because transforming could hurt Benji, necessarily, but because a wolf hides pain so much easier than a human does. But Benji's already leaping (metaphorically) to comply, shivering out of his canine form into his two-legged, less furry one.
The difference is -- notable. There's a grey, ashy undertone to the pup's skin, his eyes bleary, his floppy hair stringy with sweat almost immediately. Benji isn't great at hiding his emotions either, and every tiny movement has him wincing, breath hitching in pain. The bandage on his hip and thigh seems more dramatic too, stark pale against his shivery skin.
But he props himself up on one elbow, with an effort, turning to nuzzle at Kurt's palm, reaching out to grab at their good hand, his eyes teary and anxious. "Y-You're -- okay? Really okay? The baby's okay?" Benji's expression goes stricken, drugged out and a bit more emotional than normal. He stamners out, "He -- hurt you, I let him hurt you, I'm so s-sorry, Kurt..."
He looks like he's in so much pain. But Kurt doesn't let that deter them, scooting out of Corrigan's lap so they can be closer to him, kneeling before their ashen, injured mate. "The baby's okay," they hurry to say, taking Benji's hand and pressing it to their stomach. They don't know if he can sense the pup growing inside them, but they hope he can.
"See? We're okay, both of us. I-If you hadn't been there, he would've hurt us so much worse. P-Please don't blame yourself. You saved us, b-baby." And they'll keep telling him that until he believes it. There's no part of Kurt that blames him. The only one in the wrong here is Miles.
Cupping his face, they lean down and press their lips to his, a slow and careful kiss overflowing with love. Even shivering with pain and exhaustion, kissing Benji feels so good, so safe and comforting, making their heart sing. "Try to relax, sweet-bee, get some sleep. I'm not going anywhere, okay? Can we get him some furs? He's shivering." Kurt's going to be glued to his side until he feels better, they can already tell, bossing around the rest of the pack while they pamper Benji back to normal.
Benji's still shivering, but he relaxes as soon as his shaky hand is pressed to Kurt's stomach -- still only slightly rounded, barely showing. He can't feel the pup the way Corrigan can, not yet, but he feels Kurt's reassurance, their love and gratitude and warmth. So he exhales and nods, palm soft against their belly when they lean down to kiss him, the tension ebbing away like water. "Okay," he manages, breathless, pressing his forehead to theirs for a moment. "Okay. Love you. I love you so much." Unlike Corrigan, Benji's always been free with the words, but that doesn't make him mean it any less.
For all his huffing, Kai is always the first to obey -- especially when Kurt's the one bossing the pack around. He's already grabbing a heavy bearskin, draping it carefully over Benji and tucking him in with clumsy gentleness. "You're gonna spoil him, babe," he teases, reaching out to tug gently at Kurt's braid, his hand lingering on the side of their neck. He doesn't verbalize it -- Benji and Naseer are really the only ones good at saying what they're feeling -- but it's evident in his touch that he's just as terrified as the rest of the pack. There's plenty of room in the cabin to spread out, but the wolves have drawn close around their mate, wanting to be within arm's reach, wanting to keep them safe.
Benji is happy to curl up with his head on Kurt's lap, nuzzling at their thigh with sleepy affection, only squirming a little when Kai wiggles under the bearskin behind him. "Dumb puppy," the older wolf murmurs, kissing the back of Benji's neck with evident affection, and only begrudgingly scooting over to make room for Leo. The whole pack seems torn between whether to smother Kurt or Benji with attention, and the obvious answer is, of course, to do both.
"Well, if I won't spoil him, who will?" They say that, but Kai is already well on his way to spoiling Benji rotten, overwhelming the young wolf with physical affection the way only Kai does best. Cuddles and kisses under the warm, heavy bearskin, those big protective arms wrapping around his shivering form. All of them, the whole pack, make sure Benji is crowded with love as he drifts off to sleep in their lap, the two youngest surrounded by protection and affection and warmth.
In the end, Kurt does end up spoiling him the most though. They don't leave his side through his whole recovery, as the poison leaves his body and his wound sluggishly heals alongside their own. Even Alpha starts getting a little jealous of how much attention they pay to Benji, especially as his hip heals enough to repay them in more... impactful ways. Some days they stay wrapped in his embrace for hours and hours, ankles locked behind his back as he fucks them stupid.
Kurt couldn't be happier, of course. Seeing and feeling his confidence return the more time he spends inside them is the best reward a mate could ask for.
But it takes more than one young wolf to satisfy the increasingly demanding, increasingly pregnant pack mate. The more their stomach grows, the more their body changes, the more insatiable Kurt becomes. When their needs aren't met, either because of hunts or chores or their mates needing ludicrous things like sleep, all they're left with are the aches and pains that come with pregnancy, their body feeling too stiff and heavy and tender without any distractions. And that just won't do.
So they're moodier now. Crankier. Enough to huff indignantly while trying to shake one of their mates awake one morning, sick of waiting all alone. "Come on... Come on, wake up already."
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For as frightening and threatening as Miles is, for as much damage as he's done, there's no denying that claiming scar. He was abandoned. Cast aside. Would Alpha let that happen to them too? Would he ruin them? Knock them up and throw when away when he's bored?
But still... even as they wrestle with brand new fears and paranoid doubts, Kurt just can't forget the thrills and genuine joys of the last few months with the pack. They can't deny having felt special for the first time in their life. And they can't bring themself to believe sweet Benji knew what was happening. There's just no way. They shudder, all fear and revulsion and betrayal, fighting back tears as Miles embraces them.
"P-Please... Just p-please leave the antidote for Benji." Kurt feels sick, torn between two worlds, too hurt to see the real truth. "He's j-just a puppy, he d-doesn't deserve this..."
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Cool fingers coming to cup Kurt's chin, Miles forces their gaze upwards, smirking deeper at the pain in their eyes. Could it really be this easy? Could he truly get away without having to face his old Alpha? "And in return, you'll come with me. I'll look after you. You can forget about everything that's happened. You can go home, Kurt."
No. The emotion, intense and focused and ferocious, rippling through the link, starles Miles momentarily -- that had been the cruelest, when that harmony, that sense of belonging, that connection had been closed off to him forever. If he was getting anything through it, it meant the wolf responsible was forcing him to hear. It was Benji.
Impossibly, absurdly, the young wolf was staggering to his feet, blood caked along his side, breath raspy and desperate, pupils dilated from the poison. But he still stood, shuddering all over, and bared his teeth in a ferocious snarl. He shouldn't be able to. He shouldn't even be able to breathe.
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But then the pack link shudders with that single intense emotion, cutting through everything else, nearly knocking the little human to the ground. The link is always overwhelming, when they first notice it, but this is something else, feral and near-desperate.
Even Miles felt it. That means the rest of the pack definitely did too.
"B-Baby, please! You're gonna hurt yourself!" they cry, watching in horror as sweet little Benji fights through the poison and the arrow embedded in his hip and snarls at Miles. He can barely stand, barely see, but he still looks moments from lunging for his throat. That must be so, so painful. It's sheer protective instinct that makes Kurt twist around in Miles' arms, trying to break out of his grasp so they can run to his side, not thinking that perhaps the stranger won't let them.
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But there's an echo of ferocious, murderous rage coming through the link, the pack hearing at last that something is wrong. A lone howl pierces the air, followed by another and another, a chorus of fury coming rapidly closer. And Miles is, at his heart, a coward.
So he releases Kurt, let's them twist away -- almost. In the heartbeat of time he has, he grabs their wrist, wrenches it up to his mouth and bites hard, filling his senses with the sweet taste of their blood. It isn't as deep or careful as a true claiming bite would be, but it's enough. Enough to let Corrigan know how close Miles was, how easily he could've stolen the pack's mate away. How foolish the Alpha had been.
"See you soon, Kurt," Miles murmurs through the mouthful of blood, before slipping back into the woods and out of sight, moments before the pack bursts into the clearing.
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They can't tell if the pain is what makes their knees buckle underneath them, or if Miles' threat is what sends them to the ground, but as soon as he lets go of them, they crumble. Sobbing into the grass, Kurt clutches their bleeding wrist, squeezing the wound tightly, hurt and frightened and betrayed twice over.
But they have to push through it. The pack link roars with fury, confusion, terror that's not their own, and Benji, poor Benji, they can feel his anguish, his guilt, and they know they can't let him face it alone. Kurt scrambles on their knees through the grass until they reach the youngest wolf, hands slippery with blood—the wound isn't clotting, why would it, Miles didn't want it to—cradling his snarling face, urging him to look at them. "B-Benji— i-it's okay puppy, it's okay, y-you're gonna be okay— please b-be okay. Naseer!"
The ground shakes as the pack shoots past bushes and trees, bursting into the clearing, finally. Kurt looks distraught, bloodied and weeping, reaching for Naseer, Corrigan, anyone. "He's hurt! P-Please, help him!"
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And worst of all, the knowledge that he can't do everything he wants to. He can't eviscerate Miles and help Benji and comfort Kurt at once. He freezes for a fraction of a second, then wrenches his gaze to the side, meets Leo and Kai's, chokes out a stricken: "Find him." The pair leap forward, not wanting to leave their mate any more than Corrigan does, but reveling in the potential chance to eviscerate their tormentor. The two wolves disappear into the brush, hot on Miles's trail, and Corrigan is on his knees, reaching out to gather Kurt close, cradling them to his chest, hand finding the bleeding wound on their arm and squeezing firmly to stop the flow of blood.
"I'm here, I'm here," he murmurs, his chest aching with regret and anguish at their pain. Benji is shivering now, shuddering as the adrenaline leaves his body, leaving it wracked with the poison. Naseer is already breaking off the arrow, leaving the tip embedded until they can safely extract it, putting pressure on the wound. The pup whines softly, big head in Kurt's lap, eyes flicking between his Alpha and mate.
Corrigan moves his free hand to stroke along Benji's cheek, through his bloodied fur, a soft tenderness he rarely shows to the other wolves in every movement. "You did well, you did so well, see? Kurt's safe. They're safe. You did so well, love. You did wonderfully, now let us help you, all right?"
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Benji whimpers with pain and relief both, letting his Alpha's tender praise anchor him as Naseer tends to his wound, smelling his blood. "Bush rope," he says, voice tight with barely controlled rage. "Not enough to kill him, but he'll be sick for days. We need to get them both home now." Exactly the kind of firm demand some consider unfit for a Beta to make.
"I t-tried— I tried getting th-the antidote, but he wouldn't... he wouldn't give it to m-me." Kurt sobs softly into Corrigan's chest, exhausted and in pain but so relieved Benji will be okay. "I'm s-sorry, Alpha, I'm sorry, I— I tried..."
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The rage bleeds into the link, and Benji whines piteously, so Corrigan let's it go, focusing instead on stroking his hand through Kurt's hair, kissing their forehead and teary cheeks again and again. "It's not your fault, beloved, you did nothing wrong," he murmurs, gently shifting to stand with his mate in his arms. Kai and Leo have reappeared, kneeling down to gently scoop up Benji's shivering frame, though they both pause long enough to rub at Kurt's back, their hair, needing the physical contact to soothe the anxious rage.
The Alpha waits for Naseer to follow suit, for the Beta to press a kiss to the top of the trembling human's head before focusing on Benji. Then he strides towards the cabin, cradling Kurt protectively close, wanting them safe and warm and no longer in pain. Their tears make his heart ache, but Corrigan knows it's better for his sweet mate to let the fear and panic out like this, rather than try to suppress their true feelings.
So he soothes them gently, let's them cling tightly to his broad chest and sob out their terror. "I'm so sorry, Kurt. I'm so sorry you had to face him alone. It'll never happen again, love, he's never going to touch you again."
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But Miles... Something about the wound he left just feels wrong. Like their body rejects it. They're covered in their own blood, hands and chest and swelling stomach glistening with crimson red. It scares them more than it hurts. What kind of malice does it take to hurt someone like this?
They watch through terrified tears as the pack carries Benji away, hurrying towards the cabin so Naseer can patch him up. Leaving them with their Alpha. Kurt shudders in his arms, pain and fear and betrayal all wrapped up in one.
"Wh-Why didn't you tell me about him?" they sob against him, hands curling into fists, sticky with drying blood. They have many more questions, more accusations and doubts, but they're too hurt and scared and angry to sort through them right now. "If I— I-If I knew he was out th-there, I would've... I would've been m-more careful... I d-didn't know, Alpha."
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Yes. Things had been so good, so peaceful and happy and complete that Corrigan hadn't let the thought of Miles even enter his head. He'd somehow believed that would be enough.
"I should've " he says finally, settling by the little dammed-up, deep portion of the river, Benji's sweet, wholehearted gift for Kurt. Benji, who is soaked with blood and whimpering in pain inside the cabin, because Corrigan hadn't thought to warn him or Kurt of the true dangers. It doesn't matter how or why it happened -- he's the Alpha. His whole reason for being is his pack, protecting and caring for it. No excuses.
So, scooping up the sunwarmed water, Corrigan starts to slowly wash away the blood. His instincts are demanding he lick the bleeding wound clean, but that would just encourage it to clot and scar, and he knows Kurt doesn't want that. If Miles mark is to fade, it must heal slowly. Still, he washes it as clean as he can, then guides Kurt to put pressure on it and lift it above their head to stop the bleeding. "I should've told you, Kurt. You're more than capable of handling that knowledge. I shouldn't have left you unprotected like that."
A pause, then Corrigan ducks his head, meeting the little humans teary eyes. "What did he say to you?" Miles has always fought best through words, sowing poison with half-truths and whispers. Corrigan knows he won't like the answer, but he needs to know.
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It's an awful feeling, not trusting the man they love. The man who saved them, who's treating their wound, whose child they're carrying, they don't trust him anymore. Because what if Miles is right? No one told them about him, just like he'd said. What if the rest is true too?
The thought of not being special to the pack makes their stomach bunch up.
Kurt meets their Alpha's gaze carefully, frowning up at him, even as they hiccup through the last of their tears. "Am I really y-your first mate?" they ask in response to his question, dreading the answer. "Th-The pack's, I mean. Or were there others before me? Are— Are you g-gonna get rid of me too, when you get bored of me?"
Their fingers dig into their wrist, hand clenched around the sluggishly bleeding wound held over their head, just as Alpha instructed. Even injured and suspicious, they obey his word. "Be honest with m-me."
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So instead he focuses on washing off all the blood he can, watching the water grow pinkish from how much there is. He takes over the grip on the wound, grip firm, pressing down on the wound. "Miles is the best sort of liar," he begins, slowly. "Because he takes a tiny fragment of truth and twists it into something he can use as a weapon."
Exhaling slowly, Corrigan meets Kurt's eyes, his own soft, solemn. "You're our first true mate. The first one where we all felt it, where we knew it was right from the very beginning. But we did try, once before, to make that connection. It didn't work." Before they can get upset, before they can spiral, he adds: "We tried with Benji, when he first joined the pack. It was -- incredibly painful for him, feeling like he was a failure, like he wasn't good enough. When you joined us, you already felt that way. We didn't want to make it worse."
He lets it linger in the air, then, softer: "Does that make sense? Why I didn't tell you everything right away?"
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But he's their Alpha. Something in their bones insists he can be trusted, must be trusted. He's the center of their universe, the one piece holding everything else together. Miles even insinuating that Corrigan lied to them made their whole world crumble. If they can't trust their Alpha, they can't trust anyone.
"Benji..?" They never would have guessed. Even though he's the youngest, he fits so seamlessly into the pack, as if he's always been with them. Kurt can't even imagine how painful it must have been for everyone, but especially Benji, trying and failing to establish that mating bond. They didn't even know you could fail at that.
They're quiet for a while, slowly digesting his words, nodding softly with confirmation. It does make sense why he didn't tell them all of this. But it still doesn't explain the pivotal issue: "Why did you get rid of M-Miles, then? I thought th-the pack was a bond for life..."
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It's a bit of an understatement -- the pup had been devastated by his apparent inability to be what the pack needed, aware from the beginning that the calming, centering effect of a true mate wasn't something he could do. Of course that hadn't mattered, not to Corrigan or Naseer, or Leo and Kai, for all their teasing. He was still theirs, like they were each other's.
But Miles...that had been another mark against him, his active attempts to freeze Benji out of the pack, constantly picking at and belittling the youngest wolf. This, coupled with his perpetually undermining and disregarding Naseer's authority, had led to that final confrontation, that final challenge. Corrigan doesn't like thinking about it, any of it, the pain it had caused his pack as he tried and tried to smooth things over with Miles -- because Kurt's right. A pack bond is for life.
"He caused too much pain to stay," he says finally, looking down at the jagged bite mark, submerged beneath the water, violent and cruel on his mate's delicate wrist. "The difference is that Benji's role changed, and he changed with it. When things began changing for Miles -- when the pack grew, and his role in it became altered from what he thought it should be, he rebelled. He fought against us, instead of growing with us." More than that, he seemed to enjoy causing the chaos, the dissent. It seemed to delight him.
Corrigan lifts Kurt's hand from the water, examining the wound, then pressing his lips to it, gently. "He's the sort of person who would hurt you. He's always been that person. I couldn't have that in my family, not back then, not now."
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And he succeeded.
Kurt has never felt so stupid. Shame and guilt settles heavy in their stomach, an unbearable weight. They'd played right into his hands, they'd believed him, not even stopping to consider his true motive. Revenge on the pack that exiled a monster. They're such an idiot.
"He... He wanted me t-to go with him," they confess, curling into Corrigan, seeking his comfort. That gentle kiss to their throbbing wound nearly makes them unravel. "He said he'd t-take me home, he'd take care of me... b-before you threw me away like another whore." That word still hurts. It's different when Alpha calls them needy, greedy, a pretty little wolf slut, because he knows them. Miles doesn't. He hasn't seen them at their smallest and saddest, he hasn't seen them grow from a terrified young human to a confident, playful mate. To him, they're just a whore.
"He'll come back. When he bit m-me, he said he'll see me soon... He knew my name." A terrified shiver goes through them. "Wh-What do we do, Alpha?"
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But Kurt's the priority, Kurt is there shivering and sniffling and curled up against his chest. That's where Corrigan's attention needs to be. He kisses their wrist again, scoops them back into his arms, into his lap, kissing their neck and cheek and temple, like he can chase away the cruel, hateful words with his touch alone. "If he comes near you, I'll kill him." It's matter-of-fact, because of course there's no other option.
The fact that Miles knew their name is -- troubling, though. He's been banished from the pack connection, he's not come close enough to catch any of the wolves's attention with his scent, how does he know who Kurt is, beyond far-off glimpses? Had he been sniffing around the human settlement, asking questions about the missing, presumed-dead youth who'd vanished into the woods months ago? It seems far-fetched, but not impossible.
Corrigan hates the idea, but further investigation is needed. Miles is a good liar, and he can easily stir up a mob mentality among the villagers, and maybe mount an attack that way, since he can't defeat the pack on his own. There's a lot to think about, a lot to plan -- but Kurt is exhausted and their wrist is still sluggishly bleeding, so Corrigan stands carefully, wanting to get them inside and warm. "But he isn't going to get anywhere near you. We'll act first, we'll make sure." Bold promises, but if the Alpha says it, it'll be so. "I'm not going to let him hurt you again, Kurt. I promise."
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But Miles hurt them first. Miles threatened the safety of their pack, their family, their baby. Miles almost killed Benji. There's no part of them that aches at the thought of Miles meeting his end at Corrigan's hand.
"Th-Thank you," they whimper into his neck, curling up in Alpha's strong arms, letting him carry them back to the cabin. Letting him protect them. Nowhere feels safe right now, not the woods, not even the cabin, nowhere except Corrigan's embrace. Nothing can ever hurt them here. They know that as long as he's near, they'll be safe.
Which just makes the fact that they ever doubted him hurt even more. If Miles could poison their mind so quickly, make them even consider turning on their Alpha and leaving the pack with just a few well-placed words, what else could he be capable of? How many could he manipulate to do his bidding? Has he been to the village? Has he asked around about them? Has he spoken to their father..?
"I'm so sorry, C-Corrigan..." Kurt's arms loop around his neck, holding on tightly. "I-If the pack is at risk b-because of me, I..."
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"There's nothing we wouldn't do for you, Kurt. No risk we wouldn't take to keep you safe." He nudges the door open with one hip, kissing their nose as the warmth of the cabin surrounds them. "And we're glad to do it, whether you ask it or not. It's what we've all dreamed of, for years and years."
The fire is roaring, the furs from the couch spread out on the floor so a bandaged (and heavily medicated) Benji can lounge in them, still wolf-shaped, with his tongue lolling out as Kai (of all people) rubs at his ears. There's stew bubbling softly, and Leo making himself useful by fussing over Naseer, for being such a good doctor. All of them perk up at Kurt and Corrigan's arrival, the wave of adoration saturating the pack link as they do.
Smiling against his mate's temple, Corrigan adds, softly: "We came alive when we met you, Kurt. You're the heart of us. Both of you." This is said with one hand coming to rest on their stomach, softly, reverently.
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They all would. Kurt sees how each pack member lights up when they're carried inside, feels how much they all love them, unconditionally. No one blames them for what happened today. Part of them doubts they'll ever truly get used to being loved so fully, so completely, by so many.
But they couldn't ever doubt the sincerity of their love. Both for them and their child, growing somewhere right under Alpha's warm palm. They'll never doubt it as long as they live.
"M-Me too." Their own hand comes to rest atop Corrigan's. "I feel like... like I wasn't living before you found me. I'm s-so happy," they manage, brittle with lingering tears, but still resolute. This is where they belong. Where they'll always belong.
"I can't wait t-to meet them," they say as they're carried into the warmth, closer to Benji, to everyone. Their fingers lace with Corrigan's over their stomach, thumb gently caressing his knuckles. "I want them to feel this love too. T-To be part of our family."
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"I can't wait to love them. Like I love you," he murmurs against Kurt's temple, a soft, fervent sound. Corrigan tends to show his adoration in more nonverbal ways, so actually saying the words is big for him. But he means them, with everything in him.
Kneeling down, Corrigan doesn't fully release his little mate, but he lets them turn in his arms, smiles as Benji groggily lifts his big fluffy head. "See, pup? They're safe. You kept them safe. You did so good, so so good." The wolf doesn't look wholly convinced, nuzzling at Kurt's hands with a soft, anxious whine. He's always been the most unsure, the most in need of reassurance.
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Before the pack took them in, no one ever told them they loved them.
They carry that emotion into caring for Benji, pouring all their love into reassuring the pup, twisting in Alpha's lap to face him fully. They'll never tire of reaffirming how well he's done—especially now, knowing how he came into the pack, the guilt he must carry. He completes the pack. He deserves to know that, to feel that.
"It's okay, puppy, I'm okay. Y-You saved me, sweet-bee," they coo, caressing his anxiously twitching muzzle, petting the sweat-damp fur over his brow. They let him sniff at the wound on their wrist, showing him they can still move their hand freely, despite the pain. "You were so brave out there, baby. P-Pushed through all that pain to save me. You're amazing."
Kurt glances at Naseer, then over their shoulder at Corrigan, those big sad eyes beseeching him. "D-Does he have to stay wolf to get better? I wanna kiss him," they admit, blushing.
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The difference is -- notable. There's a grey, ashy undertone to the pup's skin, his eyes bleary, his floppy hair stringy with sweat almost immediately. Benji isn't great at hiding his emotions either, and every tiny movement has him wincing, breath hitching in pain. The bandage on his hip and thigh seems more dramatic too, stark pale against his shivery skin.
But he props himself up on one elbow, with an effort, turning to nuzzle at Kurt's palm, reaching out to grab at their good hand, his eyes teary and anxious. "Y-You're -- okay? Really okay? The baby's okay?" Benji's expression goes stricken, drugged out and a bit more emotional than normal. He stamners out, "He -- hurt you, I let him hurt you, I'm so s-sorry, Kurt..."
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"See? We're okay, both of us. I-If you hadn't been there, he would've hurt us so much worse. P-Please don't blame yourself. You saved us, b-baby." And they'll keep telling him that until he believes it. There's no part of Kurt that blames him. The only one in the wrong here is Miles.
Cupping his face, they lean down and press their lips to his, a slow and careful kiss overflowing with love. Even shivering with pain and exhaustion, kissing Benji feels so good, so safe and comforting, making their heart sing. "Try to relax, sweet-bee, get some sleep. I'm not going anywhere, okay? Can we get him some furs? He's shivering." Kurt's going to be glued to his side until he feels better, they can already tell, bossing around the rest of the pack while they pamper Benji back to normal.
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For all his huffing, Kai is always the first to obey -- especially when Kurt's the one bossing the pack around. He's already grabbing a heavy bearskin, draping it carefully over Benji and tucking him in with clumsy gentleness. "You're gonna spoil him, babe," he teases, reaching out to tug gently at Kurt's braid, his hand lingering on the side of their neck. He doesn't verbalize it -- Benji and Naseer are really the only ones good at saying what they're feeling -- but it's evident in his touch that he's just as terrified as the rest of the pack. There's plenty of room in the cabin to spread out, but the wolves have drawn close around their mate, wanting to be within arm's reach, wanting to keep them safe.
Benji is happy to curl up with his head on Kurt's lap, nuzzling at their thigh with sleepy affection, only squirming a little when Kai wiggles under the bearskin behind him. "Dumb puppy," the older wolf murmurs, kissing the back of Benji's neck with evident affection, and only begrudgingly scooting over to make room for Leo. The whole pack seems torn between whether to smother Kurt or Benji with attention, and the obvious answer is, of course, to do both.
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In the end, Kurt does end up spoiling him the most though. They don't leave his side through his whole recovery, as the poison leaves his body and his wound sluggishly heals alongside their own. Even Alpha starts getting a little jealous of how much attention they pay to Benji, especially as his hip heals enough to repay them in more... impactful ways. Some days they stay wrapped in his embrace for hours and hours, ankles locked behind his back as he fucks them stupid.
Kurt couldn't be happier, of course. Seeing and feeling his confidence return the more time he spends inside them is the best reward a mate could ask for.
But it takes more than one young wolf to satisfy the increasingly demanding, increasingly pregnant pack mate. The more their stomach grows, the more their body changes, the more insatiable Kurt becomes. When their needs aren't met, either because of hunts or chores or their mates needing ludicrous things like sleep, all they're left with are the aches and pains that come with pregnancy, their body feeling too stiff and heavy and tender without any distractions. And that just won't do.
So they're moodier now. Crankier. Enough to huff indignantly while trying to shake one of their mates awake one morning, sick of waiting all alone. "Come on... Come on, wake up already."
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