True mates Book Two of Ozark Wolves

Alexandria led the males deep into the forest. Trying to lead them as from the pack as possible. She would strike there. Her spot already picked out. No sense wasting her precious time. Get the mission completed and get back home. She was so lost in her thoughts of how she would end the three chasing her, she did not notice the red and black wolves flanking her. Until they both cut off her path. She skidded to a stop all four paws working to keep her from falling nose first into the fur of the red wolf.

The red wolf bared her teeth and growled low. Commanding. Despite herself Alexandria felt herself bow before the female. The male huffed and sat on his haunches. His eyes over Alexandria's shoulder. The three males approached from behind slowing when they saw their parents with their mate. The brindle one grinned at Alexandria. She rolled her eyes but otherwise could not move. Two other wolves joined them. All carried her weapons in their mouths. Three knives and a pistol. The black wolf growled menacingly at the gun. He picked it up in his mouth carefully and walked to the small stream they had stopped next to and dropped the disgusting thing in it. Alexandria groaned.

The three behind her moved to flank her. To show ownership of her. The red wolf growled in protest but the three yipped and yowled. Alexandria had no idea what was being said. She was still in the bow her eyes watching the black wolf who did nothing to interfere with his mate and their cubs. He seemed to be listening to both sides of the argument. Finally, the red wolf closed her eyes and nodded. Looked to her mate and he joined her rubbing his side against hers. In comfort. He was comforting her for making the decision she did. Whatever the hell that was. The two trotted off in the direction of the compound. But Margarette's voice was heard not too far away.

"I will have your car brought to the lands, Alexandria. Welcome to the family for what good that will do us all." The female's voice was cold as ice. "Hurt my sons and I will kill you." The brindle wolf had moved to defend Alexandria from his mother is need be the other two looked at each other and then at Alexandria. The three took up positions next to and behind her turning her with their bodies back to the compound. The one behind nudged her his nose to walk.

This was not at all what she had envisioned. Was she a prisoner then? Margarette had said 'welcome to the family' did they accept her as mate then? Would she expected to fear hit her for the first time in her twenty-five years. True fear. To lie with the males. To be their true mate in all things. She had seen how that went in the compound she was from. It had grossed her out to hear it down the hall from her own room. Several times she had considered just moving to another hall.

William pushed her along from behind. The scent of her fear filling his lungs. Oh, now she was afraid. He would have laughed. Stupid bitch had thought she could get the drop on them. They had known where she was the whole time. Her scent strong on the wind.

Quincy had moved to protect her if need be from their mother. Yes she had every right to be angry. But she was no longer Luna. She had to let the Alphas decide. She had to let her sons be adults.

Rick smelled the female's fear and wished he could take it away. She had nothing to fear from them. They would care for her and make sure she stayed safe. The fact that she had been leading them into an ambush hurt him deeply. That she would not even give them a chance stung. What the hell had she been told of their pack? Time and patience. Just as their father had with their mother. Time and patience. Love and understanding.

Once back inside the compound John and Joseph counted heads. The gates closed automatically and she was led by the three to the pack house. Their house. The door opened for them and Margarette stepped out to hold the door dressed in black jeans, t-shirt with a metal band logo on the front and combat boots. She also had her bowie knife strapped to her hip her skinning knife to her thigh. She was beyond furious. Her stare as hard as stones followed Alexandria. "For now your clothes are on the top floor. Past the Alphas' room just continue up the steps. It is between you and them what happens now." Margarette said as the black and grey wolf walked past followed by her last son William. "I know you three will do right. We have raised you well. But be careful as well." William nodded and licked her hand then followed his mate inside.

Margarette sighed and looked to Marcus who had stayed in the shadows of the veranda. "Come, love," he held out his hand to her. "I have thinking of you and our tub all day. The pieces are in play and tomorrow will arrive with more in store." She nodded and took his hand though she cast one more look at the closed door that separated her from her sons. "They will be fine. She is one and they are three. Let them get settled. This is now their responsibility and their alone." He pulled her along to the edge of the woods then turned to the east and down a hill to a clearing where her dream house stood. Once out of sight of the pack house Marcus pulled her up into his arms and kissed her. He did not stop until her heart was like a runaway train and her breathing came in harsh gasps. Marcus carried Margarette up the steps and into their home. He would make her forget the girl and their Alphas in ten seconds.

Inside the pack house it was tense. She made her way still in wolf form up the steps to the top floor. She had no real cover here. A bathroom with a toilet and a shower, a walk in closet where her bags had been set. But the main room was completely open. The huge soft looking bed on the other side nestled close to a huge circular window that overlooked the woods to the east.

She stayed in the closet to shift and put on her soft fluffy robe. Then crept into her bathroom.

The triplets had already shifted and were in various states of dress. Rick liked to run around shirtless. William preferred pajama pants and a t-shirt. Quincy preferred his boxers only with a robe over that if he was cooking. The three sat in the living room. They waited patiently for the shower to stop and then her footsteps back from the bathroom to the closet that closed behind her. Rick did not like that she felt she had to be so modest. William thought it a little over the top. Quincy was grinning at the hilarity of it since she would eventually be sharing that huge bed up there with the three of them anyway.

Her footsteps on the stairs brought their heads up. She was dressed in jeans and a t-shirt. Though the shirt was like three sizes too big. "Come down and join us. We have much to talk about." Rick said gesturing to the chair they had set up for her on the opposite side of the room from the three of them. Space. She would need space and time to get used to them.

"You are not angry?" She asked as she tiptoed around the couch. Staying as far from them as possible. But they did smell good. All three had the clean scent of pine. Pine and hemlock.

"Do not be so sure of that," the one to the far left replied. "I am pissed as hell. You should be spanked for that stunt in the woods." He crossed his massive arms over his wide chest. "Thankfully for you I am overruled for now."

"Patience and understanding, William," the one to the far right replied to his brother. "I found it funny that you thought it would work. Your scent had been driving the three of us nuts since we arrived. Mother was spitting nails by the time the ritual actually started. Father had already made the arrangements for the pack to split before the ritual so we had no idea that was coming."

"In short, love. You never stood a fucking chance." The middle one said. "So the choice then falls to you as is our custom. Stay and be mate to us three or leave and never come back." His tone was serious but his eyes were kind. "But be warned. If you choose to stay you will be watched. You will not be allowed out of the compound and we will be expecting you to comply with our customs and rituals."

"We want no decision now. The three of us are exhausted from the days' events and wish for only quiet and food. You may do as you please in the house. But remember little one. There are three of us and only of you and while Mother has the most weapons of any in the compound we are all armed to the teeth." The one on the left grinned his canines elongating.

"William that is not nice." The one on the right chided. "He is an ass. I am Quincy and this is Rick." He said introducing himself and then his brother with a flick of his brother's ear.

"It will take me time to tell you apart I am afraid." Alexandria said. Her head was swimming from being on a swivel as they had spoken.

"Not really, love," The one in the middle said. "William is eldest by six seconds," he laid his hand on the one to his left, "and has a mild fascination with being a dom. He will not hurt you though you may want him to if that is what you are into. Quincy is next by five seconds," he laid his hand on the arm of the one to his right, "he likes to joke and play. Do not be surprised if a rubber snake ends up in your bed or in your shower. He also likes to tickle and make you squeal. I am the romantic. Bubble baths and soft music are my style. Also when dealing with us on the daily. You will figure that out."

Alexandria was starting to get a picture of what life here would be like and she was terrified. They would overwhelm her. "Do you sit in the same way?" She finally asked to try and get a grip on the reality she had slipped into.

"Yes," they said in unison. "Mom and Dad figured that out by the time we could crawl. If one of us ended up in the wrong crib they knew it."

"That will make things a little easier." She said. Though all she wanted to do was run. Far away. This was way more than she had in mind for. Had Father set her up? They got up as one and walked to the kitchen to fix sandwiches. Leaving her there with her thoughts.

"What is your preference, love?" Rick asked from the kitchen the three looking at her expectantly. Her heart skipped a beat and her face flamed. They wanted that? She was damn virgin had they not considered that? "In sandwiches, love." Rick grinned.

"I will make my own thank you." she replied her voice a little cold. She wanted nothing from them. They shrugged and worked cohesively to make their sandwiches and pull out beers. Three different bags of chips were opened in three different flavors. So they were different in tastes but everything else was identical. William was a Memphis barbeque style male. Quincy put Funyons on his fingers and then on his plate. And Rick placed Cooler Ranch Doritos on his plate. None of these things she had ever had. She had not even known what a Funyon was until she stopped at her first gas station outside the compound.