---Seth's POV---

We had all been lounging in the entertainment room, watching a movie and pondering of ways to make Zayne relax around us when Alpha Lee rushed inside, slamming the doors open as he looked around frantically.

"Alpha?" I asked nervously, scrambling back up from the floor after jolting down the seat from the resounding bang from his entrance. "What's wrong?"

His eyes scanned the room before he groaned and shook his head. "Julia went to wash the pup but Zayne slipped out of her hands and fled the room. He bolted and is somewhere around the house but I can't find him."

It was clearly evident how our little Omega had the whole pack feeding from his tiny paw; every single one of us had jumped up halfway through Lee's explanation before we all split up, Greg and Dimitri shifting into their wolves to track the little wolf's scent inside while Terrance and Dorian dashed outside to make sure Zayne hadn't run out.

"Everyone, split up, use your senses and make sure to close the rooms you've checked. Call out if you find anything." Marcus ordered, seeing that Lee had already darted after Terrance and Dorian.

I sighed heavily, shaking my head. Why hadn't I see this coming? I mean, of course the guy was going to be terrified the first few days and he was going to suffer from serious flashbacks...

Listing intently, I only heard the rushed clicking of wolf claws and the stomping of feet against the wooden floors before I glared and shook my head. "Guys, if Zayne is hiding, do you really think he's going to come out when you guys are stomping around like murderous giants?"

All sound stopped instantly, I even heard a few silent whines and thuds when some of the wolves skidded to a halt, colliding with the walls.

"Uh...we didn't...think about that?" Sebastian offered sheepishly as I quietly tapped through the house in my small wolf form; it was the body I was most accustomed with. Everyone continued their search, but luckily, they listened and were less maniacal and loud when they did.

If only we could connect to him through the link and ask him where he is, why he's hiding...

"SETH! You're a bloody genius!"

I yelped and stumbled over my own paws when Wyatt's voice pierced through my head before I shook it with a whine. "There's no need to screech Wyatt, we can all hear you perfectly fine." I grumbled, even earning some agreeing growls from the others.

"Oh hush you." He sassed, popping his head out of a door across the hall and winked at me. I just scowled and shook my head, though a little wolf smile slipped on my muzzle. Wyatt was a nice guy and one of the first ones to get through to me. I'm sure he'll be a great help with Zayne.

"Don't you see?" Wyatt asked through the link as he went back in his room to look for Zayne. "If we can connect Zayne to our pack link, then we'll be able to hear his thoughts, like he could hear us. It'll be much easier to get through to him."

Hmmm...true....but I paled when I realized why this would be Zayne's nightmare.

"The ritual..."

I heard a few whines through the link as Terrance cursed up a storm outside, along with Marcus and Sebastian. Normally, when a new wolf gets accepted into the pack, they submit to the Alpha in wolf form, who will answer the gesture by gently biting the wolf to permanently mark it with the pack scent.

Most of the pack scent is rubbed on though, but I fear both will be too much for Zayne to handle. I mean, the bite wouldn't even pierce the skin, its more like when a mother would carry her pup, but I fear that Zayne might panic and be caught in a nightmare.

We all heard Lee's voice as he sighed and spoke in a deeply troubled tone. "I guess it's a necessary evil we have to go through." I cringed when I heard the self-loathing and pain in his voice at the thought of having to force Zayne to do this.

"Guys...I found him and I hate to say it but he's fucking adorable." Greg muttered through the link before we all followed his thoughts to the laundry room and stopped. I could feel my tail starting to wag and had to shake my head and dodge Marcus and Dimitri's tails as they nearly slapped in my face from their excited wagging.

Zayne was almost completely buried in our laundry, slightly sliding out of the heap. All we saw was his furry head and one of his tiny paws sticking out of our clothes as he slept there. 

Everyone was pushing and shoving to get inside, wanting to look at Zayne but they all froze as Zayne yawned, flashing his teeth and pink tongue before he rolled on his side and promptly slid down.

I held my breath like the others before nudging Marcus happily when Zayne huffed in annoyance and without opening his eyes, nuzzled his way into a discarded shirt until we only saw his fussy bum and tail sticking out.

Even Greg was grinning and that bastard was moody as hell. His eyes flashed in my direction, obviously having heard my thoughts but surprisingly, he only flipped me off before looking back at Zayne with a soft look in his eye.

The little omega didn't even had a clue he was the center of attention but when Greg went to pick him up, he paused for a moment before glancing at Lee.

"Alpha, I think its best if you pick him up in your wolf form and carry him to one of the rooms. Avoidance isn't going to help, I mean sure, we can't force ourselves on Zayne but if we leave him on his own, he'll constantly hide and run away. He needs to learn that being around us is good."

Lee frowned, still in human form as he stepped forwards, everyone else staying back, though I'd love to give Zayne a good belly scratch with the way he rolled over, one paw slightly kicking at the shirt.

"Look at him sir, his wolf is relaxed. He wants a pack, hell, he'll probably desperately needs one. But he's too scared to take the initiative. If you pick him up, he'll be marked as pack without having to be dominated at all; he's already in a submissive position. I think it'll be easier on him than having to wake up and wonder what we're up to."

---Lee's POV---

I could feel every thought of my pack; their emotions were my emotions. Their doubts, fears and hopes all flooded the link before I managed to push past them. My own wolf was hesitant to do what was needed but...

My eyes stayed on the small Omega as it huffed in its sleep, for once carefree and seemingly happy, more relaxed than I've ever seen him. Curiosity was pulling me forwards until with a sigh, I shifted and stood a breath away from Zayne.

Opening my jaws, I hesitated above the boy's scruff, swallowing down the whimper of protest. This was meant to help Zayne, not harm him but there was a niggling thought in the back of my mind, telling me that after this, Zayne was going to be even more afraid of me.

But if it helps him to get in touch with our pack...

With that, I leaned forwards and grabbed Zayne's soft skin, instantly rousing the pup and making it yelp in fear but luckily, he didn't trash around in my hold. Instead, he acted like a true newborn pup would and curled in on himself, hanging motionless between my jaws.

I could already sense a new presence in the link, though very weakly. Wagging my tail softly, I turned and gently carried Zayne out of the room, rolling my eyes as the others started arguing on where Zayne should sleep, or rather in who's room.

Zayne's ears flattened but I did catch his surprise when Dorian crawled forwards, making sure he was lower than the pup before he licked the pup's muzzle, wagging hesitantly.

...is he doing...

My ears perked up at the faint thought, catching the others' attention before they started wagging and rushed out the room to prepare Zayne's. With another huff, I carried Zayne upstairs, knowing that even though the pack was playfully arguing, they would respect my decision.

When I went into the hallway of the unmated wolves, I noticed Wyatt huffing sadly but he nodded in understanding; if I would place Zayne with mated couples, he would unintentionally be pushed to the back. A mate would always take first place, no matter what.

Well, it wasn't like he lived on the other side of the country...

"Where are they taking me? Shouldn't have slept on their clothes.

Stupid, stupid mutt.

Useless."

I nearly dropped Zayne as his thought filtered crystal-clear through my mind, and judging from the slack jawed expression of everyone else, the whole pack had heard his thoughts of self-disgust.

"Zayne?"

The omega winced, tail tucking in further before whimpering as I slowly placed him on the bed. I thought his thoughts would stop at that but felt my wolf wince and crawl away to the deepest crevices of my mind, trying to hide from the loathing and pain that emanated from Zayne's fearful thoughts.

"I'm on the bed. Nonononono, I'm not supposed to be on the bed, not my place. Beds are for wolves not mutts. I'm gonna get punished!"

"Zayne? Sweetie, relax. You're allowed on the bed." Wyatt whispered, clearing his throat as it clogged with emotion. It didn't matter; Zayne was still shaking on the bed, flattening himself as if he wished to disappear from view.

"Crate. I sleep in a crate. Not allowed on the bed." Zayne whispered in our minds, almost as if he was trying to convince us, telling us that we were making a mistake. This was going to be a lot harder than we thought.

"Why do you sleep in a crate, Zayne?" Marcus grumbled, eyes flashing with barely withheld anger. Greg shifted in his wolf and slowly ventured to the bed, hesitating for a moment before hopping on and curling around Zayne so the Omega's head rested on Greg's hip in a wolf embrace.

"Its my place."

Marcus frowned, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. "And who told you that was your place, Zayne?"

"Alpha."

"The Alpha?" Marcus, Dorian and Wyatt echoed out loud as the pup shivered, closing his eyes and whimpering fearfully when Greg acted very unusual and started cleaning the little mop of brown fur atop his tiny head.

"Alpha, Beta. War wolves. Pack."

Now my wolf wasn't hiding anymore; it was fuming, eager to run out into the night to tear out the throats of those wolves that dared to call themselves werewolves. Terrance was glaring at the wall before he shared a look with me.

"I think its time we get in contact with the rest of Pack Law. But first we need to learn what Zayne's been through."

I nodded in agreement, though I just knew that none of us were going to like what Zayne had to tell us.