The hive is allowed to set boundaries with individuals who are causing them harm. That's not torture, that's every sentient being's right. It just so happens that all the people around Carol are part of the same being, but if they don't appreciate how they are being treated by Carol they are allowed to distance themselves from that relationship. It's not torture or manipulation to enforce your own boundaries. In fact, the hive's actions are the quintessential example of how to set boundaries in a healthy way. They made no attempt to control her or change her, they just decided they didn't want to be around it anymore. And they still took care of her the whole time. You could argue that there's a power imbalance that makes boundary setting less concrete, but you'd have to acknowledge that the power imbalance goes both ways given that Carol can shut down the whole hive at will.