Chapter 25 - Little paws, big duties

---Zayne's POV---

My paws twitched along with my ears as I heard a few tired huffs and wolves grunting when a door slammed shut. I managed to pry an eye open but when I just saw Callum smiling and motioning to stay down and sleep, I closed my eyes and wiggled on the spot.

My mind provided me with memories of the whole pack ending up playing and mock fighting and though I had felt really hesitant and had often cowered back when one of the adult wolves had stumbled into me, my wolf had pleaded to join in, relax and play.

Rolling on my other side, I stilled when I felt a cold nose rub against mine. Blinking tiredly, my muzzle pulled open in a happy grin as I recognized Marcus' wolf and felt the reassuring weight of his paw on my shoulder.

My tail thumped against the floor when Marcus huffed in his sleep, using his paw to draw me closer and pull me in his embrace. I felt a relative new feeling rush through my veins while my wolf took over and happily started grooming Marcus' fur.

Is this what happiness feels like?

My tongue paused mid lick when Marcus groaned slightly but my tail picked up speed when he simply rolled on his back, belly up and inviting me to continue grooming. With a small yip, I crawled a bit closer and licked happily at his muzzle and throat.

"Cutie..."

Wyatt's voice rang through my mind, making me stop for a moment to turn my head. Everyone was slowly waking up, Wyatt trapped under Sebastian's paws but looking at me with perked ears. His tongue flopped out and he gave a silent woof before cuddling up to his mate again.

Marcus chose that moment to start huff and flop back on his side, tugging me closer and started grooming me as well, even if his eyes were still closed. I happily let it happen, feeling my wolf shake in excitement and my tail flopping around like crazy.

"Our mate!" my wolf shivered, making me happily squirm and return the loving gesture of grooming Marcus's fur while the gentle giant slowly slipped back to his slumber.

I licked my lips, spotting Mike lying on the couch, barely visible under the massive form of Terrance's wolf. The rest of the wolves were sprawled in the room, belly up or flattened on their stomach, snoring heavily.

How did I sleep through this noise?

A small whimper disturbed the wolves slightly; some sleepily pricked their ears up or moved to get up but seemed too tired to sit up all the way, eventually deciding nothing was wrong. My eyes found the source of the whimper though and eyed the two pups that hopped over adults and tenderly tiptoed past the sleeping pack.

Tilting my head slightly, I slowly yawned and stretched my body, clawing at the floor before I made to slip out of Marcus' embrace. I froze, paw still slightly lifted when Marcus let out a sleepy growl, prying his eyes open and blinking tiredly.

"Go back to sleep... I'm fine, just stretching my paws."

He shook his coat and blinked a few times before yawning, flashing his canines in the process. He hopped on his paws, giving me a gentle nuzzle and lick before strutting to the kitchen. I waited for a moment before going to the kids, wondering why they were so drawn to me in the first place.

Their tails were tucked in, the little girl shaking where she stood while her older sibling stood protectively over her, hackles slightly raised. It only made him look cute instead of ferocious, as it provided a whole new level of fluff in his neck.

...need help...

My ears shot up at the nearly inaudible voice before I slowly got closer to the pups. Lowering myself on my belly, I huffed happily when the pair got closer and relaxed enough to sit down.

"Please, help us..."

"How? Help you with what?" I asked curiously while yawning to relieve stress. I was a new member of this pack, so why would these pups come to look for my help? The pups shook at my question, the she-wolf actually whimpering and only settled down when her brother licked her and gently grasped her muzzle between his teeth.

"The alpha..." she whimpered pitifully, closing her eyes and allowing the gesture of her brother to take effect. I felt a whimper of my own bubble up before something caught my scruff and for a moment, I panicked but quickly calmed down when a human Marcus settled me down in his lap and soothingly petted through my fur.

"What's going on here?"

I glanced at the pups before looking up at my mate. "They need help, something about the former Alpha but they haven't told me what..."

Marcus turned to the pups, offering them a warm smile that seemed to slowly settle a bit of their nerves. As they slowly settled down, they seemed to talk to each other before the young male crawled a bit closer and lowered itself completely on the floor.

"The alpha...he decided the pack has grown too big and feels that we need to stay hidden. I don't know why though." The pup spoke with confusion laced in his voice and I watched the frown deepen on Marcus' expression.

"Too big? A pack can never get too big and even if the alpha can't handle it, they just allow their members to transvers to a different pack, or they join up with another small pack to have multiple rules. " He mumbled to himself, shaking his head before he seemed to realize something.

Eyes narrowing, he glanced back at the pups and tired his best to stay calm and collected while I started to have a sick feeling in my stomach. Why would pups run away from the pack? Only I had been abused, and that was only because I was an Omega.

"What is the alpha planning to do about the pack? He can't stop it from growing bigger..." Marcus stated with a scowl, making the pups shiver and cuddle together with a whimper.

"He's maintaining pack numbers by killing the pups."

My eyes widened, body growing numb as I distantly heard Marcus' angry snarl before he shifted, the rest of the pack in an uproar at the disgusting news. All the while I heard that awful news repeating in my head.

He's killing the pups... all those innocent little pups, lost. There were four pregnant she-wolves... would he try and kill them as well or end the lives of their pups prematurely?

I wanted to help but the command of the Alpha to never speak about the pack and its location where weighing heavily on my mind. But I struggled; I fought, scratched and clawed at the overburdening pressure of his silent command in my mind.

Why would I respect and listen to such a deranged Alpha? He isn't worthy of my obedience or silence! If I've learned anything from this pack, its that we can choose our own alpha and don't have to listen to his every whim or command.

My paws started to carry me away, much to the astonishment of the pack. As I turned the corner, I heard several of them follow me, the little pups scampering along side me as we made up our minds.

We were the only ones that could help the helpless pups back in our former pack.

Consequences be damned.

---Marcus' POV---

My claws slid over the polished floor as I chased after my mate, a niggling fear in my head blaming my outraged shift as the reason why he was running away. The rest of the pack seemed confused but ran after the pups as well, wondering what was going on.

Did I scare Zayne with my outburst? Have I pushed him too far?

Surprisingly, he didn't ran outside but rather ran to the warroom. I slowly skidded to a halt, ears twitching as I felt even more confused. What was going on here?

My confusion didn't last long as Zayne hopped on the chair and then on the table, pawing at the map. He seemed to struggle with himself, his movements jerky and little muffled whines slipping from his lips.

"I think he's fighting against his Alpha's command...."

Hearing my thoughts, Alpha lee quickly walked into the room and opened the map before gently helping the two other pups, which were frantically trying to get on the table as well.

The whole room was silent as three pairs of tiny paws danced over the map, two pairs of blue eyes and one golden pair aimed at the map with burning intensity. Not one wolf dared to breath or move a muscle, watching as these tiny wolves were fighting the unrelenting force of an Alpha's command in an attempt to show us the way to their former pack.

What they must be feeling was comparable to trying to stop a semi truck going 60 mph with your bare hands. It would crush your mind under a painful barrage until you relented but still these pups were fighting against it.

A whimper echoed through the room as the she-wolf pup dropped on the map, panting in exhaustion. Her sibling was wobbling on his paws and I growled lowly, shifting on the spot as I noticed a crimson trail dripping out of Zayne's nose.

Zayne paused, paw lifted in the air before he slowly placed it down with purpose, shaking all over his body as the drip of blood became a trickle. I reached forwards and grabbed him in my hold, cooing and relaxing my mate as he finally sighed, stopping his fight against the command.

My eyes were hard and burning as I glanced up at the others. Terrance, Brandon and Dylan were already looking at the location Zayne had identified as the spot where his former pack resided and I could feel the bloodlust growing stronger in their wolves.

A wicked smirk slipped on my face, no doubt scaring to watch but I didn't care. My wolf was snapping his teeth, foaming at the mouth as he growled lowly. We were both more than ready to rid the world of the abomination that was Zayne's former Alpha.

But now my mate needed me, and I quickly rushed Zayne through the house in search of Alice. Fighting a command wasn't without risk and though I knew my little omega was safe, it never hurt to make sure he was completely fine and would recover without issue.

"He's exhausted but fine Marcus. All he needs is some TLC and he'll be as good as new." Alice said tiredly as I inquired for the third time if Zayne was going to be okay. I huffed and held onto my mate before laying him in my bed, happy as he shifted back to his human form.

I quickly grabbed a hand towel and after I held it under the tap, I dapped the blood under his nose away before tossing the towel somewhere in the room and cuddled up to my adorable yet brave mate.

"I'm so fucking proud of you." I whispered in his ear, feeling my heart thump and skip a beat as he happily purred and nuzzled closer against my throat.

The pack was busily preparing for a long due intervention, soon enough we would gather the whole pack and might call in the aid of the rest of Pack law but for now, my whole world existed out of Zayne and nothing else.