Chapter 10 - Ignorance is Bliss

---Zayne's POV---

The shivering in my body didn't stop, though my heartbeat was starting to slow down again. The wolves hadn't attacked yet , even though they had snarled and paced the room for some unknown reason.

I squinted my eyes when a rough tongue lapped over my fur again, making me whimper at the thought of being so close to the wolves' teeth. My whole body was tensed, muscles quivering in fear for that moment where the wolf would lash out and bite, a moment that was sure to come.

When nothing happened, I risked opening my eyes. I was still wrapped up in that wolf's embrace, my head resting on his hipbone as its body circled around mine. I had to admit, it felt rather warm, soft and cozy.

It was...weird.

One of the men sat down on the bed, curly hair bouncing slightly with the motion as he sighed deeply. I could detect the confusion and pain in his eyes, my own body stilling as he slowly reached out.

He's going to hit me...

I was surprised when I felt fingers rubbing softly over my ear, halting momentarily when I let out a soft yelp when they brushed on the edge of my still healing wound.  To my surprise, he didn't reach out to pinch the wound or laughed at my show of weakness. Instead, he handled my ear with care, softly picking it up as if he was examining the wound.

"Does it still hurt you Zayne?" The male asked, making me flicker my ears slightly. Does what hurt? And why would he care? My former pack never cared if it hurt or not, on the contrary. The more it hurt for me, the better I would've learned my lesson.

When venomous snarls rang through the air, I flinched, ducking as I saw several of the men balling their fists, the look in their eyes reminded me all to well of the same look I got when the Alpha or Beta were in a foul mood.

I watched, fearfully, as the wolves growled and snarled, snapping their jaws before they seemed to calm down. At least, on the outside.  The male beside me took the moment of silence as the time to introduce everyone in the room, including the three she-wolves that just stepped in.

My stomach twisted and churned with nerves, having so many wolves around but I relaxed a tiny bit when I spotted Mike walking in along with one of those huge wolves. My head tilted to the side, slightly curious.

Why is Mike limping?

Mike flushed brightly while a few snickers and barely hidden coughs rang through the room, the man behind him hugging him closely. I think the man, Terrance, was smirking quite proudly but I shook my head after a moment.

"Uhm, let's not talk about that, shall we?" exclaimed a flustered Mike, waving his hands wildly before glaring at the amused Terrance, who gave the boy a cocky wink. Mike blushed even worse and grumbled under his breath, though he didn't try to escape Terrance's hold.

"They're mates Zayne. Do you know what mates are?" Wyatt asked as he sat down beside Greg, the wolf around me. I nodded, thinking back at what I've learned from my older pack, though I didn't like the idea of Mike being mates with Terrance. That seemed to shock the big guy, since he looked in my direction.

I could almost sense him questioning me why I didn't like their paring but it wasn't like I could change anything anyways, just like those mates in the pack. My mind drew back to the countless of boys and girls who were chosen to be another's mate and were forced into the relationship to keep the pack strong and pure.

Everyone in the room could clearly read my thought as the disgust and anger was clearly visible on their faces until Wyatt cleared his throat. "No Zayne, that's not how it works. What your pack did is cruel and despicable. A mated pair are soulmates, they're destined to be with each other. Both of them consent to the relationship, it isn't forced like with your former pack."

Weird...

I was so lost in thought that I didn't realize Wyatt coming closer until he lifted me up and tucked me against his chest, moving out of the room. Flattening my ears, I trembled more and more as I realized he was taking me to the bathroom.

"No bath."

Wyatt chuckled slightly, along with a few others as they followed us. "You really need a bath Zayne, it'll do you some good." He replied, feeding the fear that was bubbling up inside. I didn't want a bath, not again.

My breathing was already accelerating as Wyatt's mate Sebastian walked past us, opening the door while another male, Marcus, was twisting the knobs on the faucet to flood the bath with water.

When my eyes landed on the steam and vapor rising up from the ceramic surface, I started flailing in Wyatt's arms, not caring that my claws were probably scratching his skin open. All I knew was that I had to escape.

"Zayne, shh, calm down, its just a bath." Wyatt tried to sooth, wincing as I managed to scrambled up on his shoulder before I was caught in another pair of hands and carried closer to the bath.

The voices around me were blocked out the closer and closer I got to the water until my memories flashed to the surface as soon as they held me above the tub, intending to set me in the scalding water.

---Flashback---

I shivered in fear, wanting to hide from the Alpha's glacial stare as he slowly sat up from the couch. The she-wolf holding me was trembling violently, averting her gaze from the Alpha as he stood and slowly stalked closer.

"Didn't I order everyone from this pack to not interact with the mongrel?" the she wolf nodded sharply, trembling in fear as the Alpha circled around us, his eyes daring me to flee, just so he could punish me harder. "Then why is that filthy mutt out of its cage?"

The snarl caused both of us to flinch before the she-wolf stuttered, "I-I m-mean no disrespect, S-Sir. I m-merely wanted to b-bathe the pup." The Alpha stopped, tilting his head slightly before his eyes flashed with that maleficent gleam in his eyes, a look I knew all too well.

"You wished to bathe the Omega?"

She nodded again, clearly happy that our Alpha wasn't lashing out like she expected him to, but I was trembling in fear and looking for a way out. That look in his eyes-

"Please, allow me." He growled, extending his claws before they pierced through my scruff. I howled in pain, hanging frozen in the air and whimpering as every step he took was causing me to flail from left to right, tearing at the wound and distributing the venom through my veins.

The bathroom door cracked as it slammed against the tiles when the Alpha shouldered past it, heading towards the shower. I winched and closed my eyes as he slammed the door open and threw me against the wall.

My vision blackened for a moment, limbs shivering beyond my control as a trickle of blood escaped my nose. My head was pounding with the pain of being thrown so harshly and the Alpha's venom before I managed to scramble away, pressing myself in the farthest corner of the tiled shower.

The Alpha only smiled wickedly, turning knobs and pressing button as I heard the boiler puffing to life. I could also see the Alpha turning the knob that regulated the heat and I expected him to put it on freezing but didn't understand why I could see the blue, indicating cold.

Wasn't that supposed to be on top if he was going to-

My mind made the connection just as the Alpha turned the water on and closed the door. Burning hot water shot down from the massive rain shower overhead, scalding my skin as it soaked my fur and made contact with my body.

I cried out and ran to the other side but it was impossible to avoid the burning water from above, not to mention the streams shooting from the small jets build into the wall. Instincts were taking over as my wolf desperately threw itself at the glass door again and again, trying to knock it open and avoid the pain.

It was hopeless, since the Alpha was standing against it, holding it shot and preventing me to avoid my punishment. All I could do was shiver and whimper in pain, hoping that everything would soon be over.

---End Flashback---

I was shivering badly, my eyes closed as I panted. Fear forced my heart to pound away in my chest, as if attempting to outrun the dread and nausea that was bubbling up inside me.

Something soft poured over my back, making me flinch before I realized that I was suspended in warm water, not burning hot like I expected, but nice, warm water. Someone was softly calling my name, fingers combing through my soaking fur before I hesitantly opened my eyes.

My eyes first landed on the wet surface underneath me, realizing that one of the wolves had jumped into the bath with me, allowing me to lay over a muscled chest as his hands softly worked through my tangled fur, spreading soap and removing knots as they went along.

"We're here Zayne. Listen to my voice and calm down. We're not going to hurt you and we'll never allow anyone else to harm you anymore. We're not like your old pack love." His voice rumbled through his chest, sending soothing vibrations through me as I slowly relaxed.

Several of the pack members stood around the tub, Wyatt hiding his face against Sebastian's chest as he sobbed. Several others were close to tears as well, watching how Marcus bathed me.

On trembling limbs, I pawed through the water until I was able to hide my muzzle under Marcus' chin, sighing at the soothing darkness as I surrendered.

Do what you want with me...I'm tired of fighting to survive.