The shower was still running when Brandon arrived at Sean and Jamie's room, making him sigh and slide down against the wall.

He was glad that he hadn't made irreparable mistakes but one mistake is one too many. One mistake could easily break the fragile bond he was developing with Sean, Jamie and the Others.

Scratching through his own, slightly damp hair, Brandon sat in the hallway, listening to the running water to give the Omega ample time to clean up and relax.

In the meantime, Brandon swiped over his phone, planning a few of the pack's future hunts and ordering some scouts to check out the prey in the woods.

While all of them loved to hunt, they couldn't do it on a regular basis without risking a massive drop in the native prey's population.

They always checked on the deer, elk and the few moose herds to make sure all the individuals were healthy, and their herds were thriving.

As a rule, they could only hunt those that were ailing and weak. Wild wolves would do the same, simply because healthy individuals would be too difficult to catch.

But with werewolves, they were capable of going after fully healthy animals. While they couldn't take down a moose by themselves, a pack wolf had more strength than a regular wild wolf and thus posed a greater risk for the wildlife decimation.

If they ran rampant and killed all the healthy animals, there would be nothing left for them to hunt. Their livelihood, their home, would become a desolate landscape.

Something that could happen as well, if his wolf misbehaved too often. The young Alpha could feel his wolf cringe at the thought, at the easy to understand comparison it made.

It knew instinctually why it needed to hunt the weak, just as why it needed to keep close relations with its pack. There were only a select few individuals that could endure a lone wolf lifestyle and even less who enjoyed it.

None of them are Alphas.

Brandon sighed, pocketing his phone once he was certain that Sean was dressed before standing and gently knocking on the door.

There was silence before, much to his surprise, the door opened.

Petrichor tingled his nose as Jamie arched a brow, damp towel resting on his shoulders whilst in the motion of tugging his shirt down.

Brandon swallowed, knowing that the presence of the Beta most likely meant that either Sean didn't want to see him or Jamie had decided that the young Alpha was too much of a risk to interact with the Omega.

He could feel Jamie's eyes resting on his bowed head, swore he could feel the suppressed anger and animosity crackle through the air.

"If you were hoping to talk to Sean, don't bother. The pup is out cold." Jamie stated after a tense silence, nudging the door open further whilst returning to the bathroom, silently inviting Brandon further in their room.

The young Alpha lowered his head, feeling a twinge of guilt at the tidbit of information. Of course he would be. Most omegas were capable of running for long distances, when trained.

And trained Omegas were found few and far between. Most of the Omegas didn't feel the need to venture too far outside of the inner circles of the pack.

They would go on runs, sure. But always accompanied by their mate within a group, or a few mated couples to protect them from any unwanted attention.

He should've realized before their run that Sean was anything but a trained Omega. Plus, he should've spaced out their runs, allowed the Omega plenty of breaks.

But his own eagerness to see the contentment and joy in Sean's eyes, to see the Omega discover new things, had made his beast push for more.

Using the Omega to satisfy his own need to see the contentment in Sean's eyes, the stunned awe at every new location revealed to the pup.

"Don't get your panties in a twist." Jamie drawled, towel drying his hair before he flung the towel perfectly into the laundry basket without a spare glance. "Sean should've piped up when it was getting too much."

The Beta's scent belied his words, still pulsing angrily through the room, making Brandon swallow thickly. He found his feet very interesting, struggling to find his words.

Because how on earth would one apologize for claiming someone without their explicit consent? A quick, shallow "Oh, I'm sorry." wouldn't do.

Still, it was where Brandon had to begin. So he swallowed with some difficulty before licking his suddenly dry lips.

"I came here to...apologize, actually. Firstly to Sean because I neglected his condition, pushed him over his limits."

Jamie walked out of the bathroom, padding towards the closet on bare feet. He plucked a pair of socks from the pile, door sliding shut behind him as he plopped on the bed with a look of boredom.

"Geeh, you think?" He drawled sarcastically, folding his now sock covered feet underneath him. "When I accepted going on a run and let Sean take the reins, I was under the impression that you'd accommodate for an Omega. Clearly I was mistaken."

Silence never felt as stinging and oppressing in that moment as Jamie rested his chin on the palm of his hand, staring slightly down from his elevated spot.

Brandon's wolf cowered at the barbed comment but knew he deserved it.

"Actually," Jamie pointed out while glaring down at the young Alpha, "I'm quite certain that I too would've had issues with the run, considering you didn't quite go out of your way to pick the easiest routes. It wasn't as much a tour of the territory more than a show of your physical condition."

The young Alpha swallowed thickly, repressing the whimper that his wolf released. Nothing that Jamie said was a lie, because he had come to realize the same, painful truth while he was seated outside, waiting for them to finish their shower.

As Brandon had been contemplating on why he had acted the way he did, a thought had presented itself. Especially after his fathers' scolding, having to be pointed at the fact that he insulted a mated Alpha and his pregnant Delta mate.

His Beast was and still is enamored with Sean. Had made it clear to Brandon that it wanted Sean as their intended Mate.

So it had seen Brandon give Sean time and distance and had taken it as a lack of interest from its human side. During their run, it had slowly, stealthily taken more and more control.

Deliberately choosing rougher terrain to plow through, jumping over boulders and fallen trees. All to impress the Omega at their side, to make Sean realize what a virile and competent Alpha they were.

To boast about his health, his strength and power. That he was a suitable candidate for the Omega's attention, his affection, his everything.

It hadn't stopped to consider the fact that wherever they went, the Omega had to follow. And sure, they had lead Sean around and shown beautiful parts of the territory.

But at what cost?

If they truly had made the run about Sean, they would've picked the most beautiful spots, yes. But he'd also make sure to find the easiest path to each and every location that wouldn't strain the poor Omega.

"I assume you also know of my behavior in the woods, when the patrol-" Brandon hesitated as Jaime didn't need to respond. The way his gaze turned ice cold, how his entire posture tensed was answer enough.

Especially so with the wave of petrichor that burned in the Alphas nose, momentarily depriving him of air. Gone was the pleasant odor that made him relax, be reminded of a gentle summer evening and a refreshing rain shower.

Instead, it was as if someone had taken the scent, manipulated it into a pungent perfume and decided to shoot it directly into the young Alpha's sinuses.

It stung, nearly making his eyes water as he swallowed through the burn, feeling momentarily breathless. Yet it left him feeling uncomfortable, to know he had caused this amount of distress.

Brandon swallowed his pride and sat down on the floor, lowering himself beneath Jamie's position on the bed. "I have no excuse besides a lack of control over my Beast."

There was a long, dreadful silence that continued until Brandon heard the Beta sigh. "Explain."

Brandon didn't look up, kept his head low to show his genuine remorse and current submission. "My Beast, I...we are... attracted to Sean-You- the community-"

The Alpha groaned rubbing over his face in frustration. "It's hard to explain. My Beast has eyes for Sean but I know that you are more than just the Omega aspect of you."

There was a soft hum, nothing that gave away a growing anger or resentment so Brandon continued, hoping he wasn't going to shove his own foot in his mouth. "While we share the attraction, I'm trying to... learn more about you, all of you, before I intended to make my interest clear."

This time Jamie snorted audibly. "All of us? Even the parts that you haven't met yet?" The beta stood from the bed, eyes blazing as he added "What if one of us is an Alpha and demands you to submit? Ever thought of that?"

Brandon swallowed because honestly, he hadn't thought of that. Alphas mating Alphas was... unheard of. Their Beasts would butt heads continuously until one became more dominant than the other.

Even with his own father, Brandon's Beast would challenge the older Alpha, could see the light flare in Ryker's eyes whenever he toed the line, intentional or not.

It was only thanks to both of their tremendous efforts to control their beasts that nothing had happened. Because there were more than enough packs where Alphas had free reigns to disagree, to let tempers reign free.

Those quarrels could turn from innocent bickering to unwanted bloodshed. To have the other, weaker Alpha submit by force, to show them their place.

But as Brandon thought about the idea, he felt no immediate aggression from the Beast. Mild unease and worry but a hint of intrigue.

"I would."

A shocked silence rang through the room. "What?" Jamie's voice was loud and clear as it vibrated through the air, the overwhelming chemical aspect of the Petrichor smoothing somewhat.

"I would." Brandon repeated, slowly raising his gaze to show Jamie his conviction. "Submit, I mean."

Surprise flowed through the Beta's eyes, a sudden flush rising on his cheeks as he observed Brandon. An emotion, unnamed but present, swam in his eyes before Jamie blinked. Suddenly, with two large steps, Jamie was before him.

Hands shoved against his chest and Brandon didn't respond as he was slammed on the floor on his back. Baring his stomach in blatant submission with Jamie hovering above him.

It was a forced submission that was often used as ultimate punishment for newly Presented Alpha pups. When they let their instincts rule their mind and behavior.

The young Alpha remembered his time spent with other young Alphas. Who always thought that turning another belly up was the ultimate sign of victory for the one left standing.

He recalled the playfights between Alphas and the instinctive deep growls they released the second anyone tried to shove them on their backs.

The volatile reaction that would instantly follow, a vicious retaliation to anyone who dared to force them into submission.

A weak Alpha is unworthy of their pack.

But what was weakness? Physical weakness? Brandon had encountered several female Alphas, all of whom were technically considered to be weaker than him.

The purist packs happily flaunted that statement as well. That no pack would ever follow a female Alpha because they were not born to lead, had not the physical strength to do so.

They were too emotional, too reactive, too sensitive. But then again... weren't they all, as Alphas? In fact, the female Alphas had it harder, having to deal with their estrus cycle on top of everything else thrown their way.

Both those females, taller and stronger than most, had shown the Alphas present in those studying halls, that they didn't need physical strength in order to subdue their enemies.

In fact, one of them already was a fully-fledged Alpha in anything but tutoring. Her own parents had died suddenly and left the pack deprived of leaders.

And without prompting, she had pushed her own mourning aside, using the pain and pressure of the moment to push through, all for the good of the Pack.

"Crying isn't becoming of an Alpha. A good Alpha would hide their weakness so others can't use it to their advantage." One of the young brats had sneered when she had been spotted with tears streaming down her cheek.

Instantly, her soft, repressed sobs had stilted and her eyes glowed with the presence of her Beast.

"Weakness? Tell me, oh powerful Alpha, how many are in your pack?" She snorted, shaking her head, "Oh that's right, it's your father's pack. What exactly is weak about showing my emotions, my mourning and frustration?" The female turned around, azure gaze ablaze with barely contained anger.

"While you pups are here playing pretend, I have one hundred and eighty-five pack members that rely on me. Wolves that impatiently await my return, which is why I don't spent the night here sleeping, because I know they will suffer in my absence. If showing my emotions makes me weak, then oh great and powerful Alpha, I truly do wonder what that makes of you."

She had shown all the male Alphas that were posturing against one another that, if they considered her to be weak, they were nothing more than second rank mutts at best.

Hormonal brats that foamed at the mouth for the position but would crumble under the pressure, while she stood proudly with her head held high.

Now, as Brandon landed heavily on his back with Jamie standing nearly over top of the young Alpha, he was grateful for that lesson.

Instead of snarling in protest or worse, retaliating at the disrespect for his position, he simply stayed on the floor. Because he realized exactly what this was.

A test.

Brandon could say whatever he wanted but if push came to shove, literally this time, it all depended on the reaction of his Beast.

And he could see that his reaction, or lack thereof, stunned Jamie. The young Beta was observing him, the caution and a hint of fear within his gaze disappeared and replaced with shock when Brandon stayed on the floor.

Submitting. An Alpha submitting to a Beta.

Brandon knew the reaction of some Alphas. They would've shifted the second their backs hit the floor, would have had their teeth wrapped around Jamie's throat for the disrespect before the Beta could squeak out an apology.

They would've shoved the Beta on the floor in a fearsome, brutal display of what they thought it meant to be Alpha. Instead of doing all that, Brandon had shown Jamie what he thought an Alpha was meant to do.

To put the needs of the pack first. And if the pack demanded the Alpha to submit, he would.

Without question.

Jamie's entire posture slackened as he stumbled back before dropping on the bed, burying his face in his hands.

"Get up. Please." He tacked on, allowing Brandon to slowly push back in a sitting position. The young Alpha rubbed his hands over his face before slowly getting in a more comfortable position.

He knew that this had been a sink or swim moment in their frail relationship but it was up to Jamie or whoever else was in charge, to decide on how Brandon did.

He allowed Jamie a moment to collect his thoughts as Brandon sat cross legged, sighing as he rolled his shoulders to release some of the built up tension.

"Why?" Brandon's head snapped up at the soft question coming from Jamie. The Beta slowly dropped his hands in his lap, gaze leveled on the young Alpha. "Why do you want to learn anything about the rest of us if your only interest is Sean."

Brandon shuffled uncomfortably on the ground, muttering something under his breath. When Jamie leveled a pointed glare in his direction, the young Alpha quickly amended. "I never said it was just Sean that I, we took interest in."

That drew a long, lasting silence to the room as Jamie blinked several times whilst processing the new information. Heat burned uncomfortably in the young Alpha's cheeks as he averted his gaze from the stunned Beta, willing the blush to dissipate.

Brandon slowly pushed himself on his feet, joints popping as he stretched before he smiled. Scent soft and gentle, voice pitched comfortingly low as he could smell the growing distress wafting from Jamie.

Yet he didn't speak. Knew that he shouldn't, as Jamie was contemplating on what to say. To provide Brandon with sensitive information about them as a community that could quite possibly ruin them if it saw the light of day.

"What do you want to know?" Jamie finally asked, rubbing a hand over his face at Brandon's surprised look. "It'll be easier to answer questions and avoid dipping into information you're not required to know by accident."

Brandon nodded before searching his mind for the first question to ask. He dampened his lips nervously, eyes flitting towards Jamie as he started, "You said you were the gatekeeper of the community. What exactly is Sean's role?"

At that, Jamie let out an amused little huff. "I could already tell that you assumed that Sean is the core, the host so to speak." Jamie shook his head, cracking his neck slightly. "Sean is an introject Alter."

Brandon nodded, glad to have a tidbit more information on the community. During his studying, he had read that Introject Alters were usually based off of a person, either fictive or factual.

It was why some communities referred to the Introject Alters as Copy Alters.

"Do you have an idea...-" Brandon started, pausing as he realized the question might touch a sensitive topic, but Jamie picked up on it.

"Who Sean based his traits on?" He shrugged, seemingly careless even though his scent thickened, turned chemical. "I don't really know for certain. Likely our Omega dad, maybe?" He waved his hand through the air as he added, "Honestly, there could be so many places, different omegas that inspired him."

Brandon swallowed thickly, alerted by Jamie's scent. The second he mentioned their Omega dad, it had soured with sadness, melancholy. And a slight bitterness to showed Jamie was hiding something.

Yet there was no anger behind the scent, nothing that accused the unknown parent. Even with them absent, it wasn't unheard of for wolves to travel, to leave their pack and search for others.

But the scent of melancholy was also enough to know that none of the community had contact with their parents anymore. And that simple fact saddened Jamie enough to turn his scent into something achingly sweet.

He wanted to know more, to pry deeper into the subject but knew from the slight twitch in Jamie's facial muscles it would be unwise to press further. So instead Brandon racked his brain for a different question, an opposite topic to discuss.

"If neither you or Sean are the host...then can I know who is?" Brandon posed the question hesitantly, feeling the blood pomp audibly in his ears and temples. His heart nearly skipped a beat when Jamie's expression darkened in a mix of unidentifiable emotions.

Jamie was quiet for a few moments, scent so pungent that Brandon had troubles breathing through his mouth.

"Royal. His... his name is Royal."