Chapter 36 - Family bonds

---Zayne's POV---

I was confused.

All my life I had been so sure that my parents got rid of me. That Anton's words were true; they never wanted me and gave me up to live their own lives. She knew of what would happen but yet, didn't care.

That's what I was told over and over again as Anton sneered and spat at me, launching punch after punch. I even saw him fight with his sibling, saying something about the lack of use of a male pup. That he should've left the female alive.

Now I knew he had referred to my sister and had spoken out about the fact that the Beta should've killed me and not Samantha.

Sure, I didn't understand why A-Audrey never spoke up about me. Or my siblings... Siblings.... I wonder where they were.

Rolling on my stomach, I huffed slightly before scratching at my ear, my wolf whimpering softly until Marcus' hand brushed gently over my back. It arched on its own accord as his nails gently scraped over my back, a low chuckle slipping from his lips.

"Its okay Zayne... everything will turn out to be fine, you'll see." He assured while pulling me closer so I was curled up against him. My wolf quickly rolled on its back, paws slightly scratching at Marcus until he got the hint.

Nnnnnn.....belly....rub.......

The scratching and loving made me calm down slowly as Marcus seemed deep in thought. After Audrey's reveal, she and Quinton had left to get some rest after the long journey here.

Still...why didn't she say anything? I mean...if she spoke up about what happened....about us...

Marcus sighed deeply beside me, making me look up at him. "Its not that simple darling and I don't know for sure. I think that Audrey was under influence of the Alpha command, much like you and the pups were. Even if she wanted to reveal what was happening at her old pack, she couldn't."

Tilting my head, I nodded before rolling on my belly and rested my head on his thigh. "What about me? About keeping me and my siblings a secret from everyone? She could've spoken up during all these years..."

"True," Marcus nodded. "She should've. Truth is, she probably had no idea you were still alive in the den. The Beta had already found out and was digging into the den. Most likely warned the rest of the pack too. Since the Alpha was gaining on her and after watching one of her pups murdered right in front of her... I guess she assumed the Alpha visited the den first."

I shivered, whining lowly in my throat as I curled up. Honestly, I couldn't remember anything from that time. All I remembered was the contempt and disgust on Anton's face every time he spotted me, how he sneered about my mother and how she should've been in my place.

She could've told dad...

Again Marcus nodded, stretching out on the couch and pulling me with him. I playfully nipped at his chin and was rewarded with a playful growl before I was squished against him.

"The bond between a mother and her pups is extreme. Especially with newborns. I don't condone what she did or understand why she waited so long Zayne. But having a bond broken so brutally with her pup, witnessing it... The maternal bond is said to be stronger than the mating bond..."

Marcus's fingers traced through my fur absentmindedly as he continued his explanation. "Personally, I think her mind fractured at the death of her child. Losing a pup so young, especially with her first litter and knowing there was no hope for you...She must've went into an extreme depression."

My ears flattened against my skull as I looked away. I still didn't understand but... I could hardly imagine the bond between Marcus and I snapping. If what he said was true, then the bond between my siblings, me and my ... mother... was stronger than that.

I whined out my stress and felt Marcus rub over my head. "No words can describe a mother's tears Zayne. Let's just leave it at that." My mouth opened about to coplain but before I managed to let one whine slip from my lips, we heard a loud bang inside the house followed by a ferocious roar.

"What the hell-?" Marcus snapped, vaulting up instantly as he held me close. My heart thudded in my chest as the rest of the pack popped their heads up, confused, wary and curious all in one.

"What was that bang? "

"What's going on?"

I spotted Terrance and Logan wolfing out, gathering close to their mates and growling warningly, as if preparing for any kind of danger. Alpha Lee's voice cut through our distress, but it only served to make me even more confused.

"I told Quinton about Zayne, how we found him and what that pack did to him." His voice whispered through the link followed by another anguished howl. The doors barged open and I nearly wet myself as Quinton's large wolf came charging through, grinding to a halt in front of me.

There was a blurry of movements and suddenly I was firmly placed in between two massive paws, clawing at the floor as Quinton's wolf was insistently licking all over my fur. Whimpers and pained whines slipped from him while I squirmed, desperate to get away.

"Marcus!"

My mate simply chuckled in amusement but froze when my body started to freeze whenever Quinton's muzzle bumped into me. I could already hear a few wolves groan as Marcus bolted up and shoved Quinton off me.

By the time my dad's wolf skidded to a halt, I was already shifted back, shivering and panting on the spot. Marcus was leaning protectively over me while Quinton was snarling, snapping with his teeth.

One look at me as I whimpered, and the large wolf shifted back to reveal my fuming father. "You...You actually mated my boy? How dare you!" Marcus scoffed and rolled his eyes. "We are born mates. The decision whether or not we mate isn't up to you or me. It will always be Zayne's choice."

He looked down at me, smiling as Wyatt handed me a glass of water and a few pills, which I eagerly took. Now that my dad was calming down, there was no doubt he could scent my heat in the air.

Argh! This is so embarrassing!

Quinton started pacing, ignoring the fact that he was naked until someone threw a pair of pants at him. "What happened to Anton?"

"He's alive, awaiting execution."

The feral and dark look in Quinton's eyes as he slowly glared at my mate, had shivers running down my spine as I whimpered and hid my face. His words were garbled, warped as his wolf spoke through him, snarling and snapping with his teeth.

"He's mine. I want to kill that bastard myself, rules be damned." He added with a vicious sneer as Lee stepped up to protest. "What he did to my pup wasn't according to the rules either. A Rogue, slaying an Alpha to take its place? Forcing my mate in an arranged mating?! Torturing my pup for the simple fact that it is MINE?!"

I yelped as the small side table was thrown straight across the room, smashing into pieces. The sound seemed to break through, as my dad took a few deep and calming breaths before glancing up.

"Does Audrey know?"

Lee sighed deeply, scratching at his stubble. "I was hoping you would...inform her." Quinton growled lowly before disappearing in the hallway. My heart thudded against my chest as Marcus grabbed a hold of me and sighed deeply.

"So...now that your parents are here..."

I huffed, nuzzling under his throat as I frowned slightly. Somehow, I was comfortable enough to refer to Quinton as my dad, as he had no part of what happened. But Audrey... I don't know.

"You don't have to forgive at this very moment Zayne. Both of you went through too much. She's your mother, but at the moment, she's not our mom." My wolf whispered softly, making me curl up against Marcus as I whined.

Family is confusing!

---Marcus' POV---

I chuckled, hands brushing gently over Zayne's arm as Wyatt threw a soft fleece blanket over his body. The medicine were making the little Omega drowsy and combined with the exhaustion of his head and the drama with his parents, Zayne was out cold.

Eyes flitting upwards, I felt my smile drop as I focused on our Alpha. "When is the execution? Anton deserves to die in the cruelest way possible." Lee nodded, scratching uncomfortably at the back of his neck while he glanced in the direction that Quinton disappeared.

"A few days, give or take. Packs had to sent representatives, some Alphas even agreed to journey over to watch and participate. Everyone was horrified to learn what happened to Zayne and the rest of his pack... Nobody wants to make the same mistake again."

My body slowly relaxed at that. I too wanted a piece of Anton and my wolf snarled at the thought, eager to sink its teeth into the vicious Alpha. But I had a feeling that Quinton was going to participate as well and shred Anton to pieces before anyone else got a shot.

"You think your brother is capable of killing Anton on his own?" I questioned, lowering my voice as Zayne's brows furrowed before he buried his face against my collarbone with a sleepy grunt.

Lee gave me an incredulous look before he scoffed. "Are you kidding me? As soon as I told him the truth, showed him the memories we saw through Zayne... I almost pissed myself and I've known him for years. I've never seen him that angry before."

I nodded, understanding what he meant. Quinton was the definition of a gentle giant, who wouldn't hurt a fly. But mess with his family and offspring, and you'd wake the monster.

"Demons run when a good man goes to war..."Mike murmured from his position from Terrance's lap before his eyes widened. "Holly shit...that poem fits everything happening so far!"

When nobody really responded except with confused glances, the boy crossed his arms with a scoff. "Seriously, none of you watched Doctor Who? You guys suck."

Terrance squeezed the boy's hip softly before drawling, "Well, what was this oh so famous poem then?"

Mike shot his mate a playful glare, before tapping his fingers against his knee. He looked thoughtful for a moment before he recounted, "Demons run when a good man goes to war. Night will fall and the sun will drown, when a good man goes to war.

Friendship dies and true love lies, Night will fall and the Dark will rise when a good man goes to war. Demons run, but count the cost. The fight is won, but the child is lost."

The whole room was silenced, not a breath or whimper heard. It did sound as if the poem was written based on what happened. I could see why Mike found it so fitting for the situation.

Ever the tactless one, Terrance chuckled before patting his mate's knee. "Nice poem darling but I doubt it has anything to do with all this. Now, let's just relax and watch a movie, unless someone else wants to take the spotlight?"

Mike wacked Terrance in the arm, causing the grown man to whine like a kid as they bickered but both quieted down as Alice cleared her throat with a shy yet hopeful grin.

"Well, since everyone is sharing, there is in fact something I'd like to say..." She glanced at Logan, who frowned slightly as she leaned closer. At first he seemed confused, but as he inhaled, he suddenly paused, faceplanting against her throat and inhaled deeply.

I grinned as he slowly leaned back, eyes shocked and a slow smile slipping on his face. "You're shitting me... are you.... Really?!" Alice nodded, happy tears slipping from her cheeks. "I'm pregnant."

Zayne starled awake in my lap as Logan bounced up, howling from the top of his lungs. "Yeah! My boys can swim baby! My boys can swim! Dayum! I'm gonna be a daddy! And you're gonna be a mom! Oh my god, wow, a dad..."

He dropped on his knees in front of his mate, nuzzling her stomach through her shirt, growling happily. And just like that, the tension in the air dissipated as the big, hulking Logan started sobbing in joy while rubbing his cheeks over Alice's stomach.

She didn't laugh at his tears or even made a notion of them. Instead, she simply comber her fingers through his hair, smiling as everyone congratulated the couple on the good news.

"What wrong?" Zayne asked sleepily, yawning halfway through. I grinned and shook my head, placing a tender kiss on my mate's forehead.

"Nothing is wrong darling. Everything is...perfect. Things are finally looking up." He didn't seem to understand but smiled sleepily, yawning again before he cuddled closer and slipped back into his slumber.

I noticed everyone slowly slipping out of the room to give Logan and Alice some privacy. Standing up, I followed their lead and slowly made it back to our room, where I tucked Zayne into bed and cuddled up behind him.

We might as well sleep in today...the next few days were going to be hectic. And I was quite certain that none of us were going to miss out on Anton's execution.

My wolf let one last sleepy snarl before we succumbed to sleep, joining our lovely mate in the land of dreams. We would deal with Anton when the time comes. But for now, I just wanted to relax and cater to Zayne's ever need and urge.