Brandon could feel his heart racing within his chest, beating against his temples as he remained seated on the bed. Honestly, he couldn't take his eyes off of Lobo as the lycan eyed him with a slight smirk on his face.

Mark me...

Marking was a serious request and not something to joke about. Plus the young Alpha had a feeling that even though this Alter was new, he wouldn't jest about such a sensitive thing.

So either he's testing me, or...

Brandon swallowed thickly, much to the amusement of the lycan that slowly approached the bed. Like a predator hunting down their prey.

And Brandon could sense that he had to be careful with his answer. That the way he responded now could ruin everything they had built so far.

"May I know the reason behind this sudden desire to mark me?" Brandon questioned after taking a deep breath and steeled his resolve.

Lobo hardly seemed surprised, momentarily halting his approach as he hummed pleasantly. "Several, really. For one, you're an Alpha my family can trust. An Alpha that has shown a willingness to submit when required but to take charge when needed."

"You've won the trust of Sean and Noah and have even been left alone with the latter." Lobo huffed, pointing at the young Alpha who couldn't help but blush. "I'd be a fool to let such a precious wolf slip from our grasp."

Brandon could feel his face heat up even more before he pursed his lips. "I wouldn't mind a temporary mark but..."

"Temporary mark?" Lobo paused, making Brandon lick his lips as he realized that the community's knowledge about marks and mating, probably the entire werewolf biology, was extremely limited.

Tapping against his skin where one would normally mark one another, Brandon took a deep breath before starting his explanation.

"Most matings take a while to conclude. While there are the rare cases where mates are selected and mated within the first few days, nowadays things are different." Brandon frowned, going through his memories about everything he was taught about markings and mating bonds.

"Temporary marks are given at the start of a mating or to show interest in someone. One of the individuals marks the other to show they're dating."

Lobo hummed thoughtfully, listening intently to everything Brandon said. "I'm guessing they're temporary because they heal over?"

The young Alpha nodded in response. "Three to four weeks, depending on how deep the bite was and how many pheromones were released." He motioned between them as he added "If the relationship goes well, the couple would proceed to mark one another, making them betrothed. They can choose to make the marks permanent whenever they feel they are ready for that step."

"Then I don't see a problem for me to mark you." Lobo grinned lazily, allowing Brandon to catch a glimpse of his teeth. Taking a teasing step closer and chuckled when Brandon blushed vibrantly. "Unless there's more to it."

The man's chuckle made Brandon nod quickly, mouth dry as he tried to focus on his explanation. "Like I said, I don't mind temporary markings..."

"But?" Lobo raised a brow as Brandon paused, arms crossing as he took the last two steps that separated them. At this point, Brandon had to slightly spread his legs as Lobo stood between them, a spark of intrigue flashing through his mind as his own Beast huffed.

It was rather surprising his wolf wasn't raising its hackles at the slight domineering behavior from Lobo but then again... it had shown it wouldn't lash out towards the community.

Yet it too showed a sense of hesitation, one that Brandon shared as he sighed out a soft breath.

"We've known each other for... five minutes." Brandon pointed out with a look of his watch. "While I understand your reasoning for the mark, I feel that it would be disrespectful to ignore what the rest of the community thinks."

There was a moment of silence before Lobo's lips split in a soft smile. Backing up a few steps as he chuckled and nodded his head.

"While I doubt the rest of my family would protest much, you do have a point. Which once again, makes me want to mark you even more."

Tilting his head, Brandon felt slightly confused before Lobo understood and explained. "Your interest in Sean was very clear. A lot of wolves wouldn't have minded and accepted a mark instantly if that meant they could have Sean."

"But you paused and considered what the others wanted instead what you desired." Lobo growled lowly in his throat, eyes distant for a moment as if reliving a memory. "I find it rather unique to witness an Alpha thinking of others besides themselves."

Brandon couldn't help but chuckle, gaining Lobo's attention even more. The young Alpha waved his hand through the air and motioned at the packhouse beyond Lobo's room. "You need to come out more often then. There are plenty of Alphas here that live to serve, not be served."

A low sound escaped from Lobo's throat as he hummed thoughtfully. "Sounds promising. But how would the pack react to me?"

That-

It was a question Brandon couldn't fully answer. Certainly Jamie had been posing as Sean's sibling but if another identical person would appear, there would be a lot of questions.

Then again, Noah had already revealed themselves. Whilst it might not be to the public, his scent had been out in the open for the pack to smell.

Anyone could've picked it up and Brandon was quite sure that a few had and were already questioning what it entailed.

Perhaps it is time to present the truth to the pack... Lobo certainly would make an impression on the pack and scare off anyone who'd even think of accusing their little community.

"They would be startled." Brandon couldn't deny the truth, nor did he wish to lie and break the trust between them. "Some may feel tricked, others might feel distrustful. But anyone who can't get over their initial feelings would be a hypocritical fool."

"Oh?" Lobo glanced down at Brandon, eyebrow tilted as his ozone scent grow a hint stronger. "Why's that?"

Brandon's smile was self deprecating as he placed a hand to his own chest. "Because we all share our mind with the beast inside. Sometimes lose control to our other half, make decisions that affects one or the other. Anyone who keeps looking down on you because of your condition are ignoring that on a base level, we're not that different."

The young Alpha's heart twitched, skipping a beat when Lobo offered a genuine smile. Cheek dimpling slightly before the man chuckled and cleared his throat.

"You never told me what makes a mark permanent." The lycan mused, eyes flitting over Brandon's face as the young Alpha could feel it heat up once more, especially when Lobo added "What would I need to do to make a temporary mark permanent?"

Brandon stammered for a moment, attempting to find a way to state the obvious to the currently oblivious lycan. But there was really no way to sugar coat it.

He sighed, rubbing his hands over his face and looked Lobo straight in the eyes. Watching as the corners of the lycan's eyes were crinkled in amusement, nostrils flaring to catch Brandon's scent.

"Sex."

A single word, yet it had so much power. Perhaps Brandon noticed that Lobo's smile became thinner, toothier than before. Perhaps it was the ozone that instantly shot through the room with chemical potency.

Most likely, it was the way Lobo's azure gaze turned golden instantly. Brandon instantly knew the Lycan was close to shifting on the spot, to lashing out at any perceived threat.

The only reason he hadn't done so, was because Brandon had merely answered Lobo's own question. And Brandon's own sandalwood scent was soft and calm without a hint of arousal.

Brandon had a feeling that, if there had been even a single pheromone indicating any sexual arousal from his part, Lobo would've had no qualms with sinking his claws through Brandon's throat.

As it was, the lycan was taking deep breaths to control himself as Brandon hesitated before swallowing thickly. "We don't know exactly why but certain pheromones are only released during intercourse. If mated pairs mark each other then, the mark becomes permanent."

"However, this can only happen with consent of both parties. Forced mating marks never become permanent marks, instead becoming thick scars... like Sean's."

Brandon could hear his own heartbeat pulsing in his ears but he had made a decision to be honest. When he had been bathing Sean, he had more than an eyeful of the scars that littered his body.

Sure, Brandon had kept strict control over himself and hadn't dared let his eyes stray beyond Sean's chest. But the vicious marks that were barely visible against his pale skin had crisscrossed all over his neck.

Allowing Brandon to realize there had been multiple marking attempts, all of which had failed. And those attempts were the exact reason Lobo's clothes were protesting audibly as the Lycan struggled to maintain his shape.

It was a terse silence where Lobo's gruff breathing made Brandon shiver before the lycan managed to relax with a deep sigh. "Apologies."

Brandon simply nodded because honestly? He was stressed and scared. He might be an Alpha but Alphas and Lycans were leagues apart.

If Lobo wanted him dead, all Brandon could do was fight for life... like a fish caught by a fisherman. It would be a useless struggle.

"Permanent marks are out of the question." Lobo's snarl rolled through the room, another snorted breath following to alert anyone the beast was right underneath the skin. "For now."

Brandon's head snapped up in surprise, stilling as Lobo's nose almost brushed against his. The Lycan's gaze was still intense but no longer murderous.

"However," The beast purred, hands digging into the bedding on either side of Brandon's hips. "It would be my pleasure and an honor if you'd accept a temporary mark."

Sandalwood exploded through the room as Brandon's flush reached nuclear proportions. He swore that if he were standing naked in front of a mirror, he'd be flushing down to his navel!

"The- The others-" The young Alpha stammered, making Lobo chuckle, slowly crawling on the bed as Alpha Brandon scrambled back.

The Lycan easily replied, "Sean has already claimed you as his Alpha. Multiple times now, I believe. And if Jamie didn't feel anything for you, he'd never had allowed you to nest with Sean in the first place." The Lycan's palm landed beside Brandon's heated face against the pillow, hovering mere inches above the Alpha.

"And Noah sees you as family from the brief contact you two had. None would protest against you being marked by us." Lobo concluded as he stared down at the Alpha in his bed.

The young Alpha managed to find his voice, hesitantly croaking "Noah should be informed before I were to ever mark any of the community. Even if another Alter takes over, the scar of the marking will remain."

Lobo nodded, long hair draping around them like a curtain. Shielding them from the world around them as the Lycan and Alpha shared the same air.

"Of course. The pup has been bombarding me with questions the moment I became aware of the others. Noah will be informed long before he comes out again." Lobo reassured before smirking once more. "So... about my mark..."

Brandon relaxed against the pillows as his own Beast basically rolled over and bared its belly to the superior being above them. "I accept."

The young Alpha didn't really know what he had anticipated. For Lobo to lunge for his throat and sink in his fangs the second he had consent, probably.

Instead, Lobo smiled and pressed a light kiss to Brandon's forehead. The surprisingly tender gesture made Brandon's heart stutter and skip several beats before racing as Lobo's body lowered against his.

Brandon's breathing hitched as the Lycan was true to his words, gently cradling Brandon's face between his hands. Tilting his head up and to the side to bare the young man's throat to his gaze.

A hot tongue laved over his shoulder, preparing the skin for what was to come. The young Alpha's fingers curled into the bedding, struggling to keep his hands to himself as he certainly didn't want to give Lobo the wrong impression.

All the young Alpha could do was pant heavily, waiting in anticipation for the moment he'd be marked.