.12. Is she gone?

*"Zane, I strongly suggest you get back home instantly. I don't care about the school right now. I want you be here within fifteen minutes,"* the Alpha's voice invaded the young male's thoughts. His father sounded pissed off, but the collected way he spoke meant only one thing- someone was in great shit. And that someone was Zane.

The next Alpha in line tried to mind-link his father. He would attempt to convince the Alpha of how great importance the education holds. Truthfully, if he succeeded, it would give Zane more time. His father would calm down within a few hours, and the consequences wouldn't be so grand. The only problem was that his father closed their mind-link, blocking his son from any access to him.

*"Mother, can you tell father that I'll get back home as soon as the school ends? I don't see the point in missing out only because he's butt hurt,"* Zane mind-linked his mother. For a while there was no response, Luna kept quiet.

Just as the young man was about to reach out to his mother again, her voice boomed in his thoughts.

*"No, I can't. I can't believe you did that. Raising your hand at a woman,"* Zane's mother sobbed.
If there was one thing he truly hated- it was seeing his mother in pain.

*"I made a huge mistake, alright? The Omega explained that everything happened because of overheated discussion, damn it,"* Zane growled, trying his best to stay calm.

Luna kept quiet, Zane could hear muffled sniffles time by time, whenever his mother didn't have the strength to block him out.
He paced around the parking lot, massaging his temples and thinking about his next move. Since he technically abused Camilla, he might kiss his Alpha rank goodbye. For a moment, the young man thought about leaving the pack until his father would calm down.
But the idea was dropped faster than it invaded Zane's mind- he wasn't a coward. He wouldn't run away from his problems as that weak Omega did. He will stand up and face the consequences.

Zane shifted into his massive wolf and took off, choosing to use the shortcut. He lost way too much time while thinking about the next move, so now, he had to hurry.

*"Why did you slap her? She's a nice girl,"* Zane's wolf whined. He wasn't much of a talker, yet at times he did speak up, especially if he noticed any kind of injustice.

*"It doesn't matter how nice she is. The Omega tried to humiliate us in front of the majority of younger pack members. I had to make her shut up and show my superiority."* Zane grinned as he answered the question of his beast.

*"She had all rights to be upset. Come on, human, what the fuck is wrong with you? You turned her life into a living Hell since day one. She refused to share the bed with you- the girl had to quit her job. Her only fucking income. You made fun out of her and teased the girl whenever you could. You got her best friend on your side and made sure that she can't leave the pack. And now what? Slapping women and watching them break the ties with the pack? Woo-hoo, you're about to become the next level of an asshole Alpha,"* Zane knew that his beast did have a point. Since he met Camilla on that damn staircase, he has been acting weird. He didn't care if his presence made her feel good or bad. He was okay with the fact that he could affect her in any way.

*"If Camilla turns out to be your mate- I will laugh my ass off watching how you'll chase her tail like a madman. Imagine what could happen- an Omega voluntarily becoming a rogue, the Alpha's mate. She has no ties with this pack, and nobody can force her to stay around you until your birthday,"* the beast kept teasing Zane.
He knew how to get on the human's nerves, especially with such sensitive topics. Maybe one day, his human side will understand how stupid he used to be.

*"Shut it off!"* Zane yelled at his wolf just seconds before shifting back to his human form. The young man entered his parent's mansion completely nude. He didn't have an idea about the need to shift and run into a wolf form, so Zane didn't have any clothing.

His parents stood in the living room, both eager for their son to come home and sit down with them. Alpha and Luna decided that Zane has to take responsibility for his actions and think whenever the situation as such repeats. As a future leader, he had no right to attack weaker pack members. But that wasn't the only issue- Alpha had a problem with Zane hitting a woman. If there was such a situation with a male involved, Alpha wouldn't take it so seriously.
Women were more important to him- without mates, the males wouldn't be able to build families and have pups.
When Alpha Snow took over the pack, one of his first rules was about women- men were to protect, not to abuse them.

"You have five minutes to get to your room, dress up, and join us in my office. The time is running out," Alpha took his mate by her hand and led her away from the living room.
He knew that Zane wouldn't take his words seriously unless he spoke in a commanding manner.

The young male ran upstairs, grabbed the first t-shirt and shorts he noticed, and got dressed. He ran to the office like a wind.
Zane used to plainly ignore his parents and do whatever he wanted to. But not this time
This time Zane knew how badly he fucked up. As much as he wanted to forget what happened- he couldn't.

Zane noticed the look of pain and betrayal in Camilla's eyes the second she tried to notice Blake in that damn hallway. He saw her fear, when the male held her tightly, not letting go. He noticed the shock and hurt when Camilla understood that Zane had slapped her. Zane didn't intend to strike her so hard- she pissed him off, and he lost it. The young male never intended to split her lip and watch Camilla spitting her blood.
Zane ran his fingers through his hair in an attempt to calm down.

The young man left his room and went back downstairs, heading straight for his father's office. He didn't knock, just opened the door and slid inside. Zane approached the leather sofa and dropped his body on it lazily. His parents sat across the large desk, his father on the leather chair, and his mother on the Alpha's lap.

"Zane, we have to talk about your behavior. You're getting out of hand. As the days go, you seem to become more irresponsible. If you want to become an Alpha and lead the pack- you can't let your emotions rule over you," Zane's father spoke, shaking his head in disappointment.

"I get it; I fucked up. Listen, I didn't intend to hurt her in any way. We argued, alright? She said some pretty nasty things, and I snapped," Zane groaned, throwing his head back and staring at the dark ceiling.

"Alright, let me put this in another way. Maybe then you will understand what I meant. What would you say or do if you were to find out that I was abusing your mother? Let's say a couple of bruises here and there," Alpha and Luna had decided that this might be the best idea how to get to Zane. The young man didn't have a closer woman than his mother was.

"I wouldn't say much, but despite how much I love or respect you, father, I would kill you for ever laying a hand on her," Zane's eye's snapped to his parents. His gaze traveled over his mother's frame, looking if there was any trace about possible abuse.

"And yet you attacked a woman today. I don't care what Camilla said or how much she hurt you. She is the child of our friends. A child who has no one left. Despite it all- she is eager to learn and help people. Camilla has a bright future ahead, unlike the women you bring home every night," the Alpha sighed. Seeing the look on his son's face nearly made him give up.

Alpha opened his mouth to speak, but Luna placed a palm over it and smiled at her son. She shook her hands a bit- an action she repeated whenever something or someone made her jealous.
She took a deep breath and lifted her head a bit, locking her gaze with Zane's.

"I knew her parents. Camilla's mother used to be my best friend before she passed away. They weren't rich, but boy they did love each other more than anything on this planet. I promised her parents to protect the girl if something ever happens to them. And here we are, sitting in the cabinet because I couldn't hold the promise. I couldn't protect or hide her from my own son. I understand that there are many problems for teenage boys and girls to face- especially these days. But that isn't important, right? Money comes and goes, same for technique. But people stay- family, real friends, and mates. I'm not trying to play with fate, but imagine what was to happen if they let us out- roam on our own.
Soon you will find a mate, and I hope that will not be Camilla," Luna sighed, placing the head on Alpha's lap.

"I don't want a mate, mother. And we didn't gather here to speak about mates. I," here to find all information.

"Yes, we are here to speak about the importance of women in our lives, but you keep misunderstanding me. Of course, I would be happy to see my grandchildren grow." Luna sighed and kept talking.
"Without a woman, you will never become a father to your child. Women have to work twice as hard, ask permission wherever she goes. Without a mate, you will never reach your true potential as a leader. Without the woman's gentle nature, you will never learn how to love without demanding something in return. Zane, please, start thinking before you act. I lost my best friend's daughter because of you today. If only I would have known that children can be so vicious," Luna closed her eyes and pursed lips. Even if she had anything more to say- she wouldn't.

"Mother, I understood your point; there is no need to keep on repeating the same thing. I will learn how to control my emotions, especially bad ones. If that's all, I would love to get back upstairs," Zane groaned. He was a little surprised to see how Alpha let Luna take over the discussion with such ease. Of course, Zane hoped to find someone who will love him as much as his mother loved his father.

"Soon. Let's talk about punishments. Your birthday is in five days- until the party you can go to school only if you get back after it ends. If you know that you can't take it- stay home, locked in your room.
No need to attend school this week, but gaming consoles, too loud music, and annoying behavior isn't training. You cook, clean, and pick up after yourself," Luna didn't hesitate to point out his new chores.

Zane cleared his throat and looked at his mother as he whispered: "Is she gone?" Despite his young age, Zane knew how to sound serious. No one expected him actually to have questions about the young girl.

"Not yet, soon," Luna whispered.