One

Chapter 22

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."