Chapter 58

Kevin was already in the bathroom, Todrick beside him filling the bathtub with ice. Scott eyed the bathtub nervously, but didn't quite look afraid. Mitch was now at Avi's side, holding onto his arm instead. "Please, please, please! Don't do this! It's not fair!" "Be quiet!" Avi snapped, causing Mitch's hands to flinch away from him. "You made your bed. Now you can lie in it." He turned to Scott. "Strip. Now." Kevin grabbed Todrick's hand, though his face was full of sympathy for Scott. "Alpha, are we free to leave?" "Yes. Thank you for helping me. I'll see you in the morning." Mitch turned to see Scott making a pile of his clothes beside himself on the bathroom counter. He hurried over. "You can't do this, Scott. It's not fair to you. It's already cold outside! You'll freeze in there!" "It's keeping you out of a punishment, and hopefully it'll keep you out of future punishments as well, so. I'm doing it." Mitch shook his head slowly, and turned to leave the room. "I can't watch you do this to yourself." Avi snagged his wrist in a heartbeat. "Yes you can. And you will. Because I, the big bad Alpha, am making you." Mitch's eyes began to fill with tears, and he shook his head quickly. "Please don't do this." Avi held a hand out toward Scott, halting him from taking off his boxers. "Stop for a second." Mitch kept his eyes locked with Avi's, knowing better than to look away. "Sir, please. This will only knock his self-esteem down even more." "You should've thought of that before you decided to lie to him." "That's not fair. How could I have possibly known you'd punish him in my place?" "Had you known, you'd have made a different choice?" "Yes, Sir. I would've." "Then that will be the rule from now on. If you do anything that deserves a punishment, I'll punish your Alpha. Sound fair?" "Well, no. But I don't really have a choice, do I?" "Nope." Avi pushed Mitch aside, and then gestured Scott to walk forward. "Come on, let's get this over with." Mitch moved to be back in front of him though. "But you just said--" "So? You still deserve a punishment for what happened today." "But why does it have to be this punishment? Where I have to sit here and watch him suffer for ten minutes?" "Because Omegas don't get to choose their punishments, Mitchell. Now sit down and be quiet." "But I--" "Mitchell!" Mitch pouted at him, and turned to hop up and sit on the bathroom counter. Avi turned back to Scott. "Since this wasn't your fault in any way, and you don't deserve what is about to happen... I'll cut you down to five minutes." Scott glanced over at the ice bath, trying to suppress a gulp. "Okay." Avi briefly looked at Mitch, and then took a step toward Scott. "Listen.. If you really don't want to do this, I won't force you to." "No, I can do this. I have to." "No you don't. That's what I'm saying to you. I could just as easily turn around and throw Mitchell in." "No, it's... It's okay. I understand why we're doing this, and I agree with it. So I'll do it." Avi eyed him nervously, but nodded slowly. "Fine. In you go, then." Scott nodded, pulling his last article of clothing down a little, before he stopped. "Would you guys turn away for a second?"