His father was remarkably quiet, gently inspecting the teeth marks on Brandon's throat. The young Alpha was slightly nervous at the glint in his father's eyes but Ryker hadn't said a word after they explained the situation.

Eventually, the Pack Alpha sat back and sighed, taking in a deep breath. "Well at the very least it's not a Claim as we thought." Ryker sighed in relief, gently applying a bandage to the injury.

Brandon winced at the slight ache but smiled, noticing how Jamie looked incredibly remorseful. "So from what I can understand, this Alter has been out before."

Ryker and Jamie shared a look, to which Jamie slowly nodded and sat down. Brandon's father gave the young Beta a gentle pat before turning to his desk.

"Several months ago, we were contacted by the Lycans as they had picked up a trail. Corrupted who had been hiding in plain sight."

Brandon's mouth suddenly dried up, swallowing with some difficulty as he glanced at Jamie. The Beta simply remained seated, face buried in his palms as the man sighed tiredly.

"He knows more of it than I do." Jamie's voice was muffled against his hands, making Brandon frown and look up at his father as Jamie added, "The unknown Alter was in charge."

Ah.

Alpha Ryker's smile was kind but Brandon wasn't oblivious to the seriousness and disgust that flittered through the Pack Alpha's eyes. "Several of the neighboring Pack Alphas agreed to aid and we sent out our own team. You remember this?"

The young Alpha sucked his teeth, eying the ceiling as he thought back to several months back, trying to remember anything specific. Sure there were several groups sent out between now and then, but there wasn't any big commotion-

As if a puzzle piece slid into place, Brandon saw his memory in a new light. A pack meeting with the neighboring pack Alphas, to which Alpha Ryker had selected several Enforcers to come along with him.

Which wasn't unusual in itself. Enforcers were Alphas who gave up any claim to rank, territory or legacy and instead trained their minds and bodies to become the protective barrier that stood between their packs and any perceived threats.

Usually these Alphas were unique in the sense that their inner Beast had blended completely with their human self. There was no split identity but one unified force with one goal in mind : Protect the pack.

These trained Enforcers often went on bootcamps, training under the authority of different Alphas to make sure they would never snap.

And after they had succeeded their training, these Enforcers were the unshakable core that protected the Pack and their Alpha. Even if it meant risking their own lives.

Brandon blinked, accepting the papers his father handed to him. As he suspected, they were the missing introduction papers that had been stored away.

Along with a report of the events of that day.

And one look at the papers made Brandon stagger back, grateful that there was a seat underneath his ass when his knees gave out.

His eyes flew over the elegant writing of his father, not understanding the sentences for a brief moment before starting over again the moment his father spoke aloud, stating the report word for word.

"Four Pack Alphas each with four enforcers arrived on the scene, met by three Lycan representatives. As planned, we approached with the intention to ambush and capture any Corrupted, bringing them into justice under the Lycan jurisdiction."

Ryker sighed as Brandon's eyes flitted to him. "We found three Corrupted eviscerated. Bits and pieces strew across their bunkerlike shelter, blood and grime everywhere along with the putrid stench of fear."

"Two other Corrupted survived while the remaining one was being torn limb from limb by an unknown Lycan."

Brandon's throat throbbed, a shiver dancing over his spine as his nape prickled with a sudden awareness. His beast paced back and forth as he made multiple realizations.

Royal... Sweet, innocent Royal had Presented as an Alpha. Undoubtedly the Corrupted would've lashed out in brutal fashion, would've made Royal regret being born.

The young Alpha could only imagine the hope Royal must've had. To awaken as something submissive, something that wouldn't draw the ire of the Corrupted.

Something that would hopefully stop the endless abuse.

Instead, the Corrupted had laid eyes on a young, fresh Alpha and had mercilessly dominated him. The only thing Brandon didn't know with certainty, is whether or not Jamie and Sean had been created that very instant, or after a while of abuse.

No... it would've had to be almost instantaneously. For Royal's mental health to finally shatter into an unknown amount of fragments, for the young boy to sink into the depths of his subconsciousness to hide from the torture.

And then Sean had emerged, giving the Corrupted what they wanted, in the hopes of protecting Royal from any further harm. But in order to protect the Omega, a Beta was born as well, hiding in plain sight.

But Royal's Alpha couldn't just disappear like Royal had. The young Alpha wolf would've been more than confused, being thrusted into existence and then shoved into an abyss known only to Corrupted and Lycans, fed only with memories of darkness, horror and abuse.

"Royal's Alpha survived corruption... and took revenge." Brandon whispered, looking at Jamie's exhausted expression. Ryker nodded solemnly, sighing as he motioned to the distressed Beta.

Jamie cleared his throat, rubbing his hands together in thought. "I got partial awareness at that point. Managed to push through the seething rage and disgust, wrangled the Lycan...well, not under control, but enough to have them calm down and not try to attack the gathered and innocent wolves."

The young Alpha could only imagine. A freshly awakened Lycan, who's first encounter was with the Corrupted who had attacked and defiled him?

Things would've been a blood bath. That Lycan wouldn't stop until every single wolf that laid hands on him, was splattered across the floor.

"Remember Enya's scar?"

Brandon's eyes snapped to his father's, shivering as he remembered all too clearly.

The leader of the Lycans, a powerful being who couldn't be touched even by her own kin...scarred from brow to chin. Barely missing her eye and she had never commented on whom had landed the blow.

One quick glance at Jamie revealed an embarrassed Beta, scratching at his jaw as he stated "Like I said to the Lycans, I was tossed into awareness after they showed up. One moment I was being, well..." Jamie trailed off, clearing his throat before finishing, "The next thing I was standing outside, only covered in gore and multiple Lycans hovering over me."

"How terrified must Jamie and Sean have been? To first be abused by Corrupted, only to lose awareness and wake to a swarm of Lycans pinning you down..."

The young Alpha shivered, feeling his admiration for Sean and Jamie grow. Just imagining being pinned down by multiple Lycans, who perceived you to be a threat was enough to make his own beast whimper pitifully.

"It took the Lycans a bit to realize the unique nature of Jamie, Sean, Royal and their Lycan friend..." Ryker stood up, patting Jamie on the shoulder. "But they soon accepted Jamie and the community for what they are. Even if a part of that community is a Lycan who hasn't emerged again... until now."

Brandon smiled gently at Jamie when the young Beta looked up. Jamie could only offer a hollow one in return, shaking his head as he sighed, "I haven't really sensed anything from him. No emotions, no intents, nothing. All of a sudden it was just... darkness, as if we went to sleep."

"And you can't control it? Like..." Brandon struggled to find the correct words. "Not control the Lycan but.. can you make him the conscious one at will or does it just happen?"

A thoughtful frown settled on Jamie's face. "I haven't really put any effort into switching with him, if that's what you mean. Plus a forced switch isn't ideal to begin with. It can happen when stronger Alters jump in front of a weaker one, but it can happen with consent of all the alters, if conditions are met."

The young Alpha barely resisted the urge to palm his own face at his own stupidity. After all, you could only get consent from the other Alters if they were aware of each other.

"Yeah, he didn't quite react to your or Sean's names when I mentioned them, though he did remember dad's name." The revelation wasn't shocking, nor did Ryker or Jamie act surprised to the information.

Both just seemed tired, especially Jamie.

"Explains why the Lycans are so interested in the community." Brandon realized, huffing with amusement as he shook his head. "Most if not all Lycans join their pack voluntarily, though there are a handful who prefer to roam to their heart's content."

"I mean, you guys landed a blow on the Lycan." Brandon grinned, feeling a boyish excitement and awe as he stared at Jamie. "You guys are awesome."

Petrichor sweetened as Jamie's cheeks flushed bright red, much to Brandon's intrigue. Yet his heartfelt compliment was clearly appreciated, as the Beta chuckled awkwardly and scratched his nape.

"I'm not awesome... I'm just...damaged goods." Jamie murmured mostly to himself, stilling when Brandon's sandalwood scent turned bitter with anger.

The young Alpha merely sighed and shook his head. "Whatever those Corrupted bastards told you, was all filthy lies meant to manipulate and hurt you guys. Absolutely nothing they said should be respected or remembered. They aren't worth of your time, attention or affection." Brandon growled, surprising himself even.

Apparently his Beast didn't mind the sudden revelation of a Lycan's presence at all. In fact, it seemed more than a little intrigued and equally willing to submit to it, if it was demanded of them.

Jamie might be worried if they were worried to be loved, but Brandon started to wonder if he was actually good enough for their community.

After all, what had he to offer to them besides being an Alpha who was following the footsteps of a greater Alpha before him?

He was a single Alpha, still young and learning the ropes. All he could do, was offer the best of him to Sean, Jamie, Royal and everyone else in their tightly knit community and pray it was enough.

"If you're going to try and switch out with our Lycan friend-" Ryker interrupted Brandon's internal musing with a kind smile to both young adults, "I would prefer if you informed us about it."

Jamie nodded quickly as Ryker added "After all, if your Lycan self was unaware of your situation, they might lash out to others. Though judging how he treated Brandon while being in a, to them, unknown Alpha's lap... I'm not too worried."

He was right, as usual. Brandon grinned proudly at his dad, who simply ruffled through his hair, repeating the same gesture with a surprised Jamie.

If the Lycan had truly felt it was in danger, it wouldn't have thought twice and ripped Brandon's throat out.

The mere fact that it showed remarkable restraint only meant one thing.

It had been out before, without Jamie's or Sean's knowledge. Probably during the night, when they were asleep and unconscious.

As Brandon relayed this to Jamie, the Beta's eyes widened before he hummed in agreement. Things didn't quite add up. Why wouldn't the Lycan attack after waking up in a supposedly unknown area or lash out against anyone it encountered?

Why had it been remarkably calm and had simply latched onto Brandon's throat without ripping him to shreds?

It knows my scent. At the very least recognized it on Sean and Jamie's clothes, recognized I wasn't hostile.

Which posed the next simple yet difficult to answer question; How much did the Lycan actually know about their own situation?