One

Chapter 31

His body hurt, muscles twitching and protesting whenever he attempted to move. Brandon could feel the covers cling to his skin, felt disgusted with the amount of sweat he was losing.

He wanted to bathe and freshen up but at the same time, his entire body was incredibly sore. Almost as if his wolf had just awakened and forced him to undergo a rut.

Flashes of a memory sparked through his mind, making Brandon sigh softly in frustration at himself. He should've remembered that when one marks their intended, even with a temporary mark, the strongest ranking would still flood the body of the other with pheromones.

They didn't quite know why the highest ranking would alter the body of those they marked. Perhaps it was an attempt to balance out the pheromones between the pair and settle a ranking system.

However, most of the doctors agreed that the reason was simpler. Such an event already happened, when an Alpha appeared among gestating fetuses and released pheromones naturally.

Those that adapted and managed to block out the pheromones became Betas. Naturally resistant against the Alpha's pheromones and attitude, capable of handling an unruly Alpha if needed.

However, those who struggled or failed to resist the surge of Alpha pheromones, were the ones who became Deltas and Omegas.

As the doctor's pointed out, nothing stood above a Lycan. If a Lycan marked an Alpha, they would alter their bodies through the unnaturally potent pheromones surging through the Lycans.

Those wolves had survived Corruption after all. It left a mark on the former Alpha, empowering them in ways none would've expected.

Even if he was an Alpha, Brandon's body couldn't withstand the potency of Lobo's pheromones and had to adapt to them. Brandon might've forgotten about that fact but he wasn't upset.

If that's all it takes to bond with the Community...

As Brandon sighed and tried to roll over, his ears detected murmuring voices. Though he realized he was laying in his bed, Lobo's scent and presences soothingly close, he could hear the others.

Wait-

It wasn't that he heard the rest of the pack or his parents murmuring on the link. From the opposite direction he heard other murmurs. Familiar voices chattering with one another.

As he focused on those voices, he could feel the connection open up until he found himself within a clearing of the forest. A river cascading through the middle of the grassy fields and cabins littered across the meadow.

When his mind made the connection, he was shocked to find out it was the Community he was sensing. Due to Lobo's mark on him, making them a temporarily mated pair until the deal was sealed with a permanent mark, Brandon had gained a stronger mental link with Lobo.

And through him, with the rest of the community. Unexpectedly, the young Alpha now had access to the Community's shared mindscape.

Brandon could feel all of the Alters, even those he hadn't met yet. His own Beast was already roaming through the grasslands, tail wagging rapidly as it crawled up to the nearest Alter, displaying its belly to soothe any anxiety.

Jamie was the first to accept the offering, scratching through the Alpha Beast's soft fur and Brandon couldn't help but grin as Noah squealed in excitement when his Beast licked at the Little one's fingers.

Whining like a little pup, eager to play and bowing like a pup to invite Noah to play. Soon enough the pair was romping through the field, joined by a second wolf.