True mates Book Two of Ozark Wolves

Alexandria had fallen asleep on William before they reached the dock. Rick nosed the boat into the housing space for the boat. Then jumped out to tie it down with Quincy. William gently lifted Alexandria to cradle in his hands as Quincy unlocked the truck. Rick opened the passenger side door so William could put her in the seat. He buckled her seatbelt and kissed her neck gently. She smiled and shifted a little a the touch of his lips. His heart fluttered and his blood heated. Moon she was a beautiful, adorable little creature. He secured her door gently so he did not wake her.

"What the hell were the tears for?" Quincy asked accusingly.

"The fuck should I know?" William snapped back. He had been wondering that the whole ride. He had no idea what he had done. He had apologized. Asked what she had been thinking. Multiple times.

Rick rolled his eyes. " Those tears were muti fascited." He informed both his brothers. He met William's eyes. "You told her about Maria?"

"Well yes." William said. "I was still angry about her setting a damn trap for us. I was, oh," William's face turned to horror.

"Who was the last one to take the boat out?" Rick asked.

Quincy's eyes widened as dawning lit his eyes. "Great job, asshole. Even if she was developing feelings for us you done fucked that up." Quincy had to walk away before he punched his brother.

"But she does." Rick said to Quincy's back. "That was the second set of tears. Thanks to this asshole, she has concluded she is not good enough for us."

Quincy stopped in his tracks, turned on his heel and marched back up to William. "Happy?"

"No." William replied miserably. "I plan to make it up to her tomorrow."

"How the hell are you gonna do that?" Quincy asked his hands still balled into fists at his sides.

"Horseback riding. Or hiking whichever she wants." William replied. "Picnic lunch either way." He glanced at Alexandria in the truck and a drop of sweat rolled down her forehead. "We need to go. She is getting hot in there."

"Fine. But she better be smiling and on cloud nine when she gets back or I will beat your fucking ass, brother." Quincy agreed. He picked up the cooler and put it in the back of the truck before opening the driver door and climbing inside to start the truck and the air conditioning.

William glanced at Rick. Who shook his head. "He will be alright." Rick said and smiled. "So will she."

"Is that going to be enough?" William asked walking to the driver side to get behind Quincy.

Rick laughed and shook his head. "Not by a long shot. But we all have to pitch in with that. Get your ass over here and sit behind her."

The smell of cooking food pulled her from her dream. She did not open her eyes right away since they were crusty from the salty tears. First she needed to know where she was. There was leather under her bare skin. Something warm and that smelled like William was covering her. Those two together told her she was on the couch in the living room. She wanted to cry again at the kindness of him letting her use his blanket. Was it not bad enough that he was stuck with her. She caught Rick's scent close to her. She opened her eyes before the tears could form. She would cry in the shower. She had shed enough in front of them. She sat up slowly to make she had her bearings right.

"Have a nice nap, love?" Rick asked from the chair next to her. She nodded. Not trusting her voice. "Good. Your duffle bag is already up stairs for you. Go and shower and change dinner will be ready shortly."

"My purse?" She croaked and winced.

"With your duffle, love." Rick said with a small smile. He lowered his head back to his laptop resting precariously on his folded legs. She stood and folded the blanket taking it with her to place on William's bed. She glanced at the kitchen. Quincy was in the kitchen chopping some vegetables and putting them in the frying pan.

"Hello, honey. Hope you like chinese." He said with a grin. "It's my specialty." She smiled and nodded though she had never had that before. Then walked up the stairs to the second floor. She expected to see William up there but he was not. She laid the blanket down and continued on her way to her room. She grabbed her duffle and went to her bathroom.

She started the hot water for her shower. Stripped out of her suit and climbed in. To wash the outdoors off and the salt of the tears away. He wasn't there. William wasn't home. Pain again stabbed her chest. She was not worthy. For any of them. So why was she still here? Why were they still being so kind? Because they were stuck. As long as the bond remained they were stuck. But they did not want out. Had made it clear that they did not. But if she wasn't worthy, why? Why keep her?

They do not know if they will get a second chance. That was the only logical explanation. Their line would end with them if they did not keep her. So she would be kept to give them children. No love. Kind and caring. Protective and possessive. But no love. Is that so bad? She asked herself. She did not have any of that her whole life. Her needs met but not in kindness. No soft words of encouragement. No protection from anything. She let her tears fall and her heart break. This was better. She would make this work. She had to. If they never loved her then she would be alright. She would be protected and cared for. And really what more could she ask for?

Rick listened carefully to the sounds coming from the bathroom upstairs. The water changing in rhythm as she washed the lake off. Underneath that though were soft sobs. He nodded to Quincy who frowned at the frying vegetables in the pan he was stirring. He added sauces and then the pork he had fried just a little bit ago back into the mix. Fuck you, William, he thought. He still wanted to beat the shit out of him. "What do we do?" Quincy asked anger lacing his voice.

"Just keep doing what we have been. He hurt her but she has not packed her stuff." Rick replied a note of sadness in his own. "We will have a nice sit down supper and then she will go to Andrea and our mother."

"Do you think she will talk to them about what she is feeling?" Quincy asked though he wished she would talk to them instead. Tell them what was on her mind. Assuage any misconceptions.

William walked in then with the drafting paper and new pencils for the new pack house blueprint. He looked to the couch. Panic widened his eyes. "She is in the shower. Crying again." Rick and Quincy said together.

"Fix this shit or so help me," Quincy fumed.

"I promise, she will be a very content female tomorrow." William promised. "Dad is on board for the new pack house. Where is the blanket?"

"She folded it neatly and put it on your bed." Rick replied an edge of frustration in his voice. "Probably thought you would blow a fuse if she left it down here." He got to his feet. "I will not have her walking on eggshells. This is her house too."

"Of course it is." William shot back. "I feel like shit enough without you two busting my balls. I told you I would fix this and I will." The water above stopped running at the tail end of his statement. "I will start the blueprints tonight." He said forcing his voice to casual and calm.

Alexandria dried her hair and body, lotioned and donned the undergarments and dress. Remembering how happy she had been yesterday. All gone. She would find contentment if it killed her though. She exited the bathroom after hanging her towel to dry. Grabbed her laptop and her purse. Then headed down the stairs. William was at his drafting board. Attaching fresh graphing paper by using the small tabs in the corners.

"Hey, sugar," He greeted her with a smile. Her eyes were still red. Pain pierced his heart. He had really hurt her. Moon he felt like shit. Had felt like shit since he had left. Talking to his father had not helped. Explaining without his mother present so he did not have to take an ass whooping from her. His father had been less than pleased. "What is your plan?" Marcus had asked angrily. "I raised you to more sensitive than this."

"I want to tear down the old pack house and rebuild. The guys and I want our own rooms, we will need room for a nursery and I am sure that Alexandria would appreciate a room with a door." William had started.

"That is the future, what is your plan to fix this now?" Marcus asked. Usually a very patient and understanding male to see Marcus angry was a rare thing. And Marcus was angry.

"Tomorrow I want to take her horseback riding or hiking. Picnic lunch." William answered.

"And if she refuses?" Marcus asked. At William's dismayed look added. "She has the right to refuse you. Especially now that you fucked up."

"Then it is up to her. But I will not stop." William replied. "I will keep trying until she gives in."

"Food's up, William," Quincy said from the kitchen. Pulling William from his thoughts.

"Thanks," William replied. He had meant to reach for her as she had descended the stairs. Had intended to stop her and kiss her forehead tenderly. He looked at the paper in front of him. He had already started the perimeter.

Rick and Alexandria got up from the couch and set their laptops on the coffee table. Hers was open to the website for the Missouri Education website. He could see she was halfway down the page already. He breathed a sigh of relief. She was not going to leave then. At least not yet. He had time to fix this.

As she had that first morning at breakfast when she had first arrived she took little of their food onto her plate. Both because of her nervousness about being with Andrea and Margarette and because she did not feel that if they wanted her there she should continue taking from them.

Rick had been sweet and patient as always in showing her how to fill out the registration information. Each touch was torture. Her body responding to his caress like a match to gasoline. Quincy making small jokes that made her smile and giggle a little. But William. He had not even really looked at her. Had greeted her and then gone straight to work on whatever he was doing now. She was afraid to ask since he seemed so intent on what he was doing. Afraid that he would bark at her if she interrupted him.

Rick and Quincy shot William dirty looks through the meal. She did not take enough food. Barely looked up. It was the first breakfast all over again. The meal was done by five thirty leaving plenty of time for clean up. Rick grabbed Alexandria's hand before she could exit the kitchen after dropping off her plate, cup, and fork. "Nope. You got out of making supper because you were asleep." He said pulling her back against him. His arms around her waist. "Help me with the dishes, please?" He asked in her ear. Then pressed a tender kiss to the back of her neck. She shivered in his arms. Making him smile. She nodded and he let her go. "Thank you." He said.

Quincy all but shoved past William to go up the stairs to his computer to enter in today's receipts and check his emails. He had never been so angry with his brother. William looked over at Rick and then up to Quincy. Neither of them looked at him. He had really fucked up. He approached the partition to the kitchen and asked Alexandria. "Would you like to go horseback riding or hiking tomorrow?" She looked up at him in surprise. Then wariness filled her eyes. She shot a glance to Rick who was putting way too much attention into the plate he was scrubbing. Not looking at her. Her decision.

"I have never even seen a horse." She said softly. Yet another thing she was sure that Maria had probably done. She pushed her resentment down.

"Okay," William replied uncertain as to whether that was a yes or a no. So he waited. His patience on a thread.

"The horseback riding sounds lovely, thank you." She finally agreed. If he wanted to kill her why not just stab her in the heart. Much faster. But she supposed a riding accident would keep suspicion off him. He grinned and walked away. Her heart skipped a beat.

"That is a lovely idea." Margarette said. "William is an expert horseman." The meeting with Andrea and Margarette was coming to a close.

She had asked about the words for binding the call. Margarette and Andrea had shared a look and then met her eyes. "Your idea or theirs?" Andrea asked cautiously.

"I told them two nights ago that I wanted to stay, William mentioned the phrase." Alexandria replied. Margarette's eyes hardened just a little. Andrea's eyes filled with concern. "He asked me about it after you and Father left." Alexandria added for Andrea's sake.

"Is that what you want?" Margarette asked before Andrea could respond. "If you decide that this is not what you want it will tear you apart to sever the bond."

"I am firm in my decision, Margarette." Alexandria replied. "This is what I want."

"Very well." Margarette replied and nodded to Andrea. "I do not see any reason in waiting. Though I am surprised since Rick had told me that they had decided to wait until after you had at least completed your training and your high school education."

"It is a simple phrase really." Andrea started. "You have say it where they and their wolves can hear you. I accept the call of your wolf to mine. I accept you as my mate. You say their names individually. My Alphas." Alexandria committed that to memory. "Say it when you are ready, daughter." Andrea said meaningfully. Alexandria nodded. "Alright." Andrea pulled Alexandria into a hug. "Same time tomorrow. And go over your lessons from today."

"Yes, Mother." Alexandria replied and thanked Margarette then left.

Both females looked at the third floor where Marcus was working. Margarette narrowed her eyes. "I will find out what happened." Andrea nodded but did not hide the worry in her eyes.