True mates Book Two of Ozark Wolves
Chapter 14: Seth?

"The council has no problem with our decision." Rick said as William led Alexandria down the stairs. He pulled out a chair from the desk hidden by the drawing board. She looked at the blueprint.

"A nightclub?" She asked eyeing the angles and the bar layout. Not bad really.

"How do you know what a nightclub is?" William asked surprised. "Music is foreign but a nightclub blueprint you recognize."

"In that form yes. I studied those after I learned to read. Mostly the ones of the facilities. I was looking for where the mothers were housed." Alexandria said softly. William looked to his brothers with raised eyebrows. They looked just as confused. "I never met my mother okay."

"You didn't ask?" Rick asked from his bed. He was still typing on his phone.

"Of course I did. I never got an answer." Alexandria replied. "Are you going to build that?" She nodded back to blueprint sick of revealing so much of herself to them.

"No. I work on commission. My client has a set of investors." William replied. "He will hire Dad to do the construction. Once Dad fully retires his construction company will go to me." He smiled at that. "I could go into business for myself. But this way the pack benefits two fold for now." He slowly reached past her to open a drawer with a set of earbuds attached to a CD player. "It's old but still works." He pulled a bottom drawer open and it was full of CDs. Not organized at all. "Take your pick and I will show you how to work the player.

"I can read," She snapped. Then recoiled. "Sorry." William dropped to his haunches in front of her.

"Nothing to be sorry for. I have a tendency to be condescending, don't I?" He smiled. Her heart stopped. It actually reached his eyes. His beautiful eyes. "Breathe, sugar." He said with a chuckle. And stood back up to return to his drawing board. "Tag."

She was still reeling when Rick took his cue. He sat on the floor at her feet and pulled out a handful of CDs and handed them up to her. He paused and laughed. "Alanis Morissette? Which chick was that?"

"Two dates that's who." William grumbled. "I forgot I even had that. Girl left it my car."

"Girl have a name or was it not worth remembering?" Alexandria asked curious about the escapades of William the Conqueror.

"Alexis. She was nice but way to, well, she was human." William shrugged. "Our parents encouraged us to play the field. Mostly Mom. I think she was concerned that even though they had given us quite an education about the goings on between a male and female early on that we would be...Rick?" He passed the buck.

"Insensitive to the needs of a female?" Rick finished with his own question. William nodded.

"So what base have you gotten to?" Alexandria asked as she flipped through some classical music. That looked interesting. All three looked at her and then at each other. Then shook their heads.

"Nope," They answered in unison. She gritted her teeth. She picked one that had a goat's head on the cover. Interesting. She put it in the player. William tried to get Rick's attention before she hit play but it was too late. Her ears were filled with the first cords of a heavy guitar and then a hard drum roll. Her eyes widened and she grinned. The triplets groaned but she did not hear it. She was completely entranced. She closed her eyes and let the music hold her.

"I'll text Mom and tell her that her future daughter in law is a death metal fan too." Quincy said laughing. "She will love it."

"That is not just any death metal. That is the Greek gods with the orchestra and choir." William replied not amused. It was nice to see her happy though. She was really enjoying the music. He put in one of his own earbuds and hit search on his music app for the group. Brought up the album and played it.

"How long has it been since you listened to anything Mom gave you?" Rick asked doing the exact same thing.

"Five years at least." William admitted. "You?"

"Same. She so was hoping one of us would share her taste. Dad does to appease the beast in her I think." Rick answered. "Quincy?"

"Last week assholes. I actually went to a local concert. Mosh pits are a blast in case you didn't know." Quincy replied. "Took pics and sent them to Mom."

"Of course they are when you are the biggest most unbreakable being on the floor." William replied. "You didn't hurt anyone did you?"

"No. It was a club exclusively for us." Quincy replied. "You would know if you weren't so fucking uptight all the time." The two brothers looked at him confused. "What she has earbuds on."

"That was not safe, brother," Rick said. "I had heard rumors of our kind going missing after going there."

"I got hit on more than usual. But I was there to enjoy the music and a drink not to get laid." Quincy replied. "Besides even there I was armed. I took the necessary precautions. Seriously Rick you can be just as bad as he is with the worrying."

"We all know what happens when one of us gets hurt." Rick replied. Remembering his broken arm and how all three of them had cried.

"What happens?" Alexandria asked having pulled the earbuds off sensing something wrong between the three.

"The other two feel it." William replied. "It's a thing with us."

"Oh," she said and set the earbuds down on the desk. She was tired and wanted to go to sleep. Or at the very least lie down with something warm, or someone. She retracted that thought.

"Done with that?" Rick asked. She nodded. "There is more here."

"Thank you, but I really am tired and Margarette did invite me to coffee in the morning." Alexandria said with a yawn she covered with the back of her hand. She stood and teetered on her feet a little. Rick gently grabbed her hand. She only flinched a little. His hand so warm on hers.

"Yeah, love," He said with a smile. "You look tired now. Can you make it up the stairs?"

"I think so." She said and moved carefully around him and William. Though he touched her hand as she passed him.

"Good night, sugar." He said softly in her ear. She shivered. Quincy was at the bottom step that led from the landing of the second floor to the next step on the way up to the loft. He took her hand from Rick and kissed it gently. The feel of his breath on her hand made her arms break out in goosebumps and her body to liquify in the strangest way.

"Good night, little one." He said and watched her go up the stairs to make sure she did not slip. They all listened to the squeak of the bed as it gave under her weight and then for the soft even breathing of sleep to overtake her. "I need another shower. Cold this time." Quincy groaned and marched back to the bathroom.

"Remember you have shopping with her after she sees Seth." William reminded him. A groan was heard as the door closed behind him.

"There is going to be no water left for even drinking." Rick chuckled. William smiled in return then gave his attention back to his blueprint.

Rick leaned back on his bed to relax. Though he was anything but. "How long until she agrees do you think?"

"Longer than any of us would like." William replied. "We have a built in ice maker in the fridge you know." He added tauntingly.

"How are you so cool over there?" Rick asked sitting up. "You had her all day and then that scene upstairs."

"Control, brother." William replied. Though his blood was humming just as thick and hot as his brothers'. He was about to say something else but a soft cry from the loft stopped. He sighed and set down his pencil and ruler. "Quincy."

"Yep." The door opened to the bathroom and as he was toweling his hair once again. The three returned upstairs to calm her. "How long will these last?" Quincy whispered.

"Depends." Rick whispered in response. "A lot of the time. They never go away." They took up the same places they had the night before. Caressing her gently. She sighed. Her eyes fluttered and then closed with a small smile on her beautiful, kissable mouth. William leaned his head on the headboard. Quincy and Rick settled their heads on the mattress next to her head on William's lap and the soft breath of sleep crept over them. It had been a fucking long two days.

Alexandria sighed and tried to stretch as she woke. Two immovable objects were on either side of her. She moved her head and a hand caressed her cheek. "Don't panic. You had a nightmare." William said in soft deep tones. She looked up at him the panic faded immediately.

"That's nice and all but I need to use the bathroom." She squeaked. William smacked his brother's shoulders.

"She's awake." Rick and Quincy jumped from the impact of his assault and they both rolled off the sides of bed with a yelp. She giggled then rolled to sit up. She put her feet on the floor then tiptoed over Quincy's prone form on the floor.

"Morning, Alexandria." Quincy said as he tried to look anywhere but up the hem of that shirt she was wearing. He did not succeed though. And the sight was delicious.

"Morning, Quincy," She greeted as she moved quickly to the bathroom and closed the door.

"Well?" William and Rick asked curiously. Rick having recovered for the shock of landing on the floor. He pulled himself to his feet using the bed and sat on the edge to rub his shoulder that had hit the hardwood first.

"Just the shirt, brothers. Just the shirt." Quincy said quietly. "This day is going to be hell."

"Yep." William and Rick grinned at their brother. Out of the three, Quincy had the highest number of one night stands since the age of sixteen. Not for a lack of attention. William and Rick were just pickier with their selection. Quincy enjoyed the whole menu.

"Best get some coffee." Quincy sighed and did a kick up to the balls of his feet and started down the stairs. "After I drown myself in the ice maker."

Alexandria took her time in the bathroom. Her clothes were still by the window. They had slept with her. In the bed. Her head had been in William's lap. His touch so gentle when he brushed her bangs from her forehead. The warmth and security she had felt with Rick's and Quincy's arms around her. She remembered waking for a second when her space had first been invaded. Then the feeling of pure bliss when she recognized their scents. Her wolf calm and relaxed. All but nuzzling close to theirs. Seeking the comfort. A knock on the door made her jump. "Yes?" She asked.

"You forgot your clothes, love." Rick said. She could hear the smile in his voice. She pulled the door open enough to grab her items from him really fast and closed the door.

"Thank you." She said. "I will be out in a minute."

"Good, Mom is blowing up our phones. Seth arrived an hour early." Rick replied. "Breakfast is served at her house. We will meet you downstairs."

She took her time getting dressed. She combed her hair thinking that perhaps she would let it grow out. The style was what Father had approved of. Now it did not matter. She brushed her teeth meticulously. Then used some of the lotion that William had purchased for her. Jasmine and coconut water. That must be what she smelled like to them. Where as they smelled like pine and fresh rain to her.

As promised they were ready and waiting for her by the door when she came down. The appreciative look in their eyes as they looked her over made her blush. They were not even trying to hide their attraction. Twenty-four hours and the gentlemen were gone. How long until they pounced? She was looking at the floor when she approached them. Unsure. She was wary. Rick reached for her hand and she forced herself to relax.

"Talk to us, love." Rick coaxed as he took her right hand and Quincy took her left. William opened the door to the porch. The air outside was humid and warm. The scent of the woods that surrounded the compound stung her nose with all the different flowers and tree sap. The facility had always had a clinical smell. Even outside had not been free from it.

"Just a little nervous at seeing Seth after so long." She replied.

"Understandable." William responded. A hand on the small of her back as Quincy and Rick stepped out first, then her, then William who closed the door.

"I am not sure if I will remember her, Margarette. It has been so long and I have tried to forget that place." Seth said over a cup of coffee. He sat across from Margarette and Marcus at the dining room table.

"No worries if you don't." Margarette replied kindly. Seth was still amazed at how kind she was. She had the means and opportunity to see him and the other three boys he was with kicked to sludge and dumped in the woods. But instead had seen them adopted into good packs and taught well. He had chosen to become a librarian like her. Books were comforting. He had developed a passion at his new home where he was encouraged to read. To educate himself.

"I am sorry I did not bring Jessica along. She would have loved to see you." Seth said. "She wanted to have the house to herself with the teens at friends this weekend." The front door opened to allow Rick then Quincy inside. Seth's face drained of color.

"Alexandria?" He asked. "I hope you did not think I would know you. For I do not." He felt horrible when tears sprang to her eyes.

"I remember you." She said softly. "You and my father."

"Quentin?" Seth replied. "He was not your father, kid. He was a mechanic. That was the only reason he was not with the other adults. He was good at keeping the cars going. But he was a nasty male." He looked to Margarette. "You know the type."

"Yes." Margarette replied narrowing her eyes. "I know the type."

"I don't know what has been planted in your head, kid. But I do not know you." Seth said sadly. "I hung around with Quentin mostly to keep him from doing stupid shit. But that was all."

"So my parents?" She asked. Truly confused and upset. So it was all made up. The memories. Her. Everything.

"Alexandria, any child that comes from that place has no clue who their parents are. Malcolm wants it that way." He looked to the triplets. "I am sorry. I wish I could help."

"Hey, just glad to see you, man." Rick said and put out his hand to Seth. "Why so early though?"

Seth took the hand offered with a grin. "I have three other stops to make and my mate told me not to be back until after sunset. She has not had the house to herself in like ten years. I left her with a bottle of wine, roses, and a promise. The kids are out with friends for the weekend. Not due back until tomorrow." Seth grinned. "Should we go over the paperwork, Margarette?"

"Of course. Let's go to the library. The walk should be lovely this morning." Margarette stood with Marcus at her side. Then as she turned to the backdoor. "Pancakes, bacon, eggs, sausage, and all fixings are in the fridge. My kitchen better be clean when I get back."

"Yes, Mother." The triplets said in unison as Margarette, Marcus and Seth left through the back door.

"I am not hungry," Alexandria replied as Quincy and Rick moved to the kitchen to pull out all the food.

"Quincy. Pop-tarts." William said with a wink to her.

"Blueberry, Strawberry, or Smores?" Quincy asked.

"All of them," William replied to Quincy. To Alexandria, "You gotta eat something, sugar." Then looked up as a box flew at his head. "Nope," he threw it back. "You get the day with her." Back to her. "Go outside and eat them. The air will do you good." Then to Quincy, "Milk and glasses too." Quincy grinned sheepishly and grabbed the items. "Let us know when you get ready to leave."

"Of course." Quincy replied he stepped between William and Alexandria. "Your breakfast of champions, little one." He handed her a box of the smores. "Those are the best I think."