Chapter 14 - New additions

---Marcus' POV---

I know I shouldn't but when Zayne accepted the petting and even slowly relaxed, settling down to enjoy our love, man... Hearing a soft chuckle, I glanced up at Wyatt as he shook his head and grinned back.

Yeah, my face was splitting apart by the huge grin I was sporting, not to mention the smug smirk my wolf held. He was more than proud that we were able to get through to Zayne, to let the little Omega trust us.

Zayne huffed softly, a barely noticeable whine slipped from his lips when Sebastian gently rubbed over his stomach. Even know, with the pup slowly relaxing and accepting us, it was still afraid.

I sighed deeply, the elation slowly simmering away. It was probably a trait that wasn't going to leave Zayne. He'd always stay hesitant of strangers; I just hope he was willing to completely trust his pack.

My fingers traced through the pup's fur, feeling the soft and fluffy hairs tickle my palm. His wolf had retained almost everything from puppyhood, from the soft, silky fur down to his size.

Cute.

Zayne's ears twitched, as if reacting to my thoughts before he glanced up. His ears flickered upwards, though the tip of his right one uselessly flopped forwards, heightening his overall cuteness and unintentionally making my wolf growl with protectiveness.

"Zayne's past is going to stay in the past. No-one is going to touch our little Omega." He snarled through my head, whining when Zayne's golden eyes widened slightly when a door opened nearby.

Instantly, the formerly relaxed pup in my arms was one shivering fluffy ball of fearful nerves as it sniffed at the air and whined. Frowning slightly, I followed his example and understood why he was so tense.

"The Southerners have arrived." Wyatt mumbled as he stared at the hallway while I rolled my eyes. "With a lot of unnecessary noise." I added, glaring at the gathering of wolves as they shook their fur and padded into the room.

They stopped at Zayne's fearful whimper, ears pitching and tails starting to wag when their eyes landed on our Omega. They went to walk forwards but stopped instantly when Zayne whimpered and shook, scrambling to hide from the pack of strangers.

I don't know why but after a nudge from my wolf, I allowed him to be in control and shifted, surprising the already startled Zayne before I gently picked him up by the scruff. When Zayne instantly stilled, I jumped back on the seat that he jumped from and laid him beside me before gently grabbing his muzzle in my jaws.

Zayne whimpered softly, his racing heartbeat slowly calming down as his wolf recognized the instinctual behavior. It was a sign from my wolf to his that he could trust me; even if he were in a vulnerable position, I wouldn't harm him in any way.

I ignored the other wolves walking around the room while their Alpha walked in, chatting with Lee. All of my focus was on Zayne as I slowly released the pup and started grooming his fur, further relaxing him.

The grooming stopped when one of the other wolves, which I knew to be Xavier, dared to come closer in an attempt to sniff at Zayne. My tongue flicked over my canines as I bared them, ears flattening aggressively while a low, warning growl rumbling through my chest while Zayne crawled up against me and hid his tiny head.

Xavier got the message and I stopped snarling as soon as he backed off. With one last glare and a snort, I gave Zayne a reassuring nudge with my nose and grinned when the little Omega cautiously peeked its head out of its shelter.

I could tell that they all wanted to come over and meet Zayne, his charm already succeeded in wrapping them around his little paw. As soon as his wet little nose and golden eyes peered above my back, the others were all wriggling on the spot, begging to have an Omega's attention.

"Right, you guys haven't met our newest addition yet. Southern Pack Law, meet Zayne." Lee said with a little wave to the skittish youngsters, who instantly flattened his ears at all the attention.

The Southern Alpha hummed, shaking his head with a grin. "Damn, its been years since I've seen an Omega. Is this-?" He paused, eying Lee grimly when our Alpha nodded his consent. "No wonder the poor thing is shaking."

He walked closer and stopped, kneeling down from his impressive height as he smiled at Zayne. "Hey little guy, there's no need to be shy. I'm Callum and these here are my pack mates." Callum said with a wide gesture to the six wolves that stood in a circle, wagging their tails.

I looked down, mentally laughing when Zayne let out a soft whine and unconsciously nuzzled my fur. Callum seemed to understand Zayne's reluctance to meet his gaze or even look at his pack, though I did detect a flash of sadness followed my anger.

The anger wasn't aimed at Zayne; it was to his old pack and my wolf growled in my mind at the thought that we had even more allies. As Callum stood up, Zayne instantly flattened his ears, pressing down against me in a sign of submission.

Like I said...it's going to take a looooooooong time before Zayne can look at a stranger without feeling the immense need to submit.

Alpha Lee frowned, shaking his head before glancing up at Callum. "You never told me why you wanted to meet us personally." Callum's face softened, his grey eyes dropping to his hands, which were.... holding his jacket?

I didn't understand but when he slowly pulled the leather from his body, we heard several whines and whimpers going through both packs. When Callum held his hands out to Lee, I had to bite back a whimper of my own.

A teeny, tiny white wolf pup was nestled in his enormous hands, making him seem even more fragile. The pup grunted in annoyance at the loss of heat before it shivered and rolled on its side.

"We...found his mom a few months back." Callum broke the silence, his voice oddly fragile. "She was pregnant but mumbling incoherently, speaking about abuse and forced matings. She died giving birth to her son."

I lowered my head, mourning the young woman. Callum mentioned forced matings and everyone knew that any offspring coming from such bindings were rare for a reason. The wolf of the forced mate would try and reject the child but if that was impossible, it would give up and slowly wither away.

Her death had been sealed the moment she conceived her child.

"H-How old-" Wyatt stuttered, clutching Sebastian's hand as he stared at the little pup in Callum's hands. Every muscle in the powerful Alpha's body tensed before he snarled, "She was 15."

Silence. Utter and deadly silence clung to the air as everyone stared at the sleeping little pup. Nobody even dared to breath at the thought of the horror that was forced on the child's mother.

A forced mating at the age of fifteen? What kind of monsters would do that?

"Do you have any idea where she came from?" Lee asked, fists clenched beside his sides and his wolf pushing to the forefront. Callum shook his head regretfully and smiled when the pup wriggled in his hold.

"No, nothing came up. We tried to search for any name she said but we only know hers. Clair."

A shocked whimper stunned everyone before all eyes focused on a little omega that was staring at the pup.

"Zayne? Do you know someone by this name?" I asked softly, feeling him starting to shake in fear, his mind slowly clogging with fearful memories of his past.

---Zayne's POV---

Clair.

Clair.

Nonononono. She's dead? She can't be dead!

I was struggling with the information, as well as the knowledge that the only one of my pack who was decent enough to sneak me treats, even if she would be punished for it, was now dead.

My mind remembered how our Alpha had tossed her to the Beta, a reward for him for being so loyal. At the same time, he was punishing her for refusing to attack me. I whimpered and shivered when I felt a coarse tongue rub over my head before I realized Marcus was cleaning my fur, trying to reassure me.

"Zayne?"

I shivered, leaning into the touch as my wolf howled inside, mourning the loss of his pack sister. Marcus' own wolf reached out, comforting both of us. She had snuck out at night, past curfew and gave me half of her food. "You need it more than I do." She would whisper when I refused to eat.

When she was one of the wolves that needed to attack me, she refused, saying that what the pack did was horrible. The Alpha had sneered at her and shared a look with his Beta before she was dragged of the field.

That was also the last time I saw her. The fear and despair in her eyes as she struggled against the Beta's hold but when she looked my way, I saw a fierce determination and loyalty.

"It's okay Zayne. We'll find your pack and punish whoever did this to you...and her." Marcus whispered in my ear, making me open my eyes. I was so out of it that I hadn't even realized that he shifted.

"Pack. She was a part of my old pack. Given away to the Beta."

"The Beta?" Lee snarled, making me wince and flatten my ears as I whimpered my agreement. The alpha was positively fuming and I felt the need to hide, to crawl away so I wouldn't be harmed.

Marcus's hand rubbed over my ear, frightening me at first before I felt the knots of tension slowly drain away. Nothing's going to happen, I hope. I tried to reassure myself and felt a gentle squeeze as Marcus smiled down at me with pride in his eyes.

"You see Zayne? They aren't anything like that pack."  My wolf whispered lovingly and I felt a wobbly smile form on my lip as I glanced at the little pup.  It was tiny, even smaller than I...was it going to be an Omega as well?