True mates Book Two of Ozark Wolves
Chapter 2: The Ritual

Time with the family was good. But William, the more serious the triplets was more subdued than normal. Putting on a brave face for his intuitive brother and mother was not going to help. In fact with the way the two kept looking at him and then at each other it was going to lead to an intervention he was not prepared for. Though each brought a unique aspect to Alpha. How were the three of them supposed to lead. True that they never fought about anything. They never had to. There was always plenty to go around.

But now they were stepping into their father's shoes. He was respected and loved by the pack. Fair and honest as well as firm and commanding. The guard feared and respect him and their mother. He was so unsure that he would be able to establish that himself. Or any of them really. Though their parents had taught them well how to be Alphas and how to be men. He doubted they were ready.

"That is the third tree you have almost walked into," His father said with mirth in his voice. "Talk to me, son. I cannot help if you do not speak." Margarette shot him an affectionate smile over her shoulder. How many times in twenty-three years had he said that same phrase to her.

"Not here, Dad," William replied. Veering off the trail. Following his nose to the stream that would cross back up with the trail in half a mile. Marcus followed mouthing I love you to Margarette. Once William felt he was far enough away he let go of his doubts. "Are we ready for this?" That about summed up what he was most worried about.

"I wasn't," Marcus confessed with a shrug. "That is what the council is for. Good news though. You will have your brothers where I only had myself. I was Alpha alone for two years before I mated to Diana. Another four years after her death before I mated with your mother. The council will guide you as well as your brothers. Then Moon have mercy should you three mate anytime soon."

"How would that work anyway?" William asked. "The idea of sharing even that after having not shared a damn thing in four years is a little overwhelming."

"Your instincts will show you that." Marcus replied. "I have only learned so much from the twins that I been able to speak to over the years. I had hoped that one of you would be a girl if you want the truth of it. Just to not scare the shit out of the poor female that ends up being your mate." Marcus laughed. "I promise. Everything will work out."

"And if what Grandfather Kenneth predicted happens?" William asked. "If our mate turns out to be one of the children from that particular background?"

"Then it shall be. The Moon decides that not us." Marcus replied though he hoped that the Moon had better sense than to risk that poor female's life in the hands of his own mate. She was still pissed after all these years about that attempted kidnapping. "I will still be there to offer guidance as well should you three need it." Marcus said after a few paces. "You are so much like your mother."

"The grands agree." William replied. He kicked a stone watched it skip across the ground.

"Do not let the doubts rule you." Marcus finally said. "That was what I told your mother. Share them with those you trust most to help you, but do not dwell too long on them or they will eat you alive. Your brothers, your mother, and I have your back always."

William nodded and smiled. "She still gives you hell."

"It is part of who she is. I love all of her just as I love all of you, son." Marcus grinned. They joined back up with the rest of the family. William joined in the horseplay of the other two. Carefree as he should be before the ritual.

Alexandria arrived just in time to watch the ceremony of the triplets' graduation from college. They each gave parts to a speech as Valedictorians. She stood at the very back of the auditorium to ensure her scent and her looks blended in. They were identical. Their father's hair and their mother's eyes. Each just a hair under seven feet tall and large of build. They even had the same goatee and mustache. The only way to tell them apart was by their personalities.

Seeing them in person she felt suddenly unsure if she could do this. They were bigger than she had been led to believe. The power that they possessed stretched to her even through the huge auditorium. They had been taught well by both parents. She would have to change tacts if she was to end this.

She shifted her gaze to Margarette. Easily spotted with her bright red hair piled on her head in a beautiful arrangement. Two crafted flowers stuck from the coiled braids connected in the back of her head. The jewels matched the color of her black dress. The woman who had killed her brother and returned his severed head to her. She stared daggers at the back of the woman's head. The head lifted and sniffed the air cautiously then spoke to the huge man beside her. His dark head leaning down to make out her words. He nodded and put his arm around her shoulders to pull her as close as the chairs would allow. There is no way from here that Margarette could have smelled her. Sensed her.

She returned her attention to the stage and locked eyes with a pair of light green eyes. He held her gaze for a second then looked down at his parents then back at her. Puzzlement and intrigue in his eyes though he did not miss a beat in his speech. After the speech the Dean and other officials stepped forward to start handing out diplomas. The boys got theirs first and took their seats in front of their parents. She had seen enough and left. She had to get to Springfield before the family did.

Quincy turned in his seat to replace the girl again. But she was gone. Everything in him screamed to go after her. To catch her scent. She was their mate. Had to be. Her bobbed hair though showed she was not of any pack that they were familiar with. The females in all the packs were known for keeping their hair waist length at the least. Some went a little shorter depending but nothing less than middle of their backs. Quincy shot a look at his brothers. They had noticed her too. But were saying nothing. Keeping it to themselves until after the ceremony. They would have plenty of time to speak on the drive back to the pack lands.

The entire family met outside the large old school building and said their goodbyes. The boys' SUV was already packed with all their things. Once they were all piled into the huge Mercedes SUV Quincy met his brothers' eyes in the rear view. "You all felt it?" He asked. His always serious tone grave. The other two nodded and turned in their seats to look at him. "She is the one Grandfather Kenneth warned of. She is mate to us."

"You know this for a fact?" Rick asked skeptically.

"I made eye contact with her. She is not of the packs. She is the outsider sent to hurt Mother and the pack. What is the plan of action?" William grinned.

"Let Mother have the little chit. Either the Moon will grant us a new one or we will be bachelors until the end." William was too riddled down with his own worries to give any real thought to this new development.

Rick looked aghast at his brother. Kill their mate? Outright? "She could be a runaway." Rick ventured. "Found out the truth of the Doctor and came to us for help."

"Or she was sent here to destroy us and will stop at nothing." William spat out. "Would you take that chance? Sleeping with her just so she could stab you?"

"Wow. Someone is in a mood today," Quincy replied. "I say we try the approach Father took with Mother. Love, logic, and firmness. There is no way she is a Sigma like Mother. She should be easily turned and shown the truth."

In the Mercedes six cars back Margarette was having a similar conversation with Marcus. "She was there. The one to be the boys' mate. I felt her. Her eyes boring into my head. She wants blood."

"I believe you, love. However we cannot intervene in anyway. The boys' have been taught well to manage themselves. We all saw to that." Marcus replied as he took her hand. "I felt her too. It will be fine. Open, but wary arms. The boys will take care of the rest. Wooing her in their own ways the way I did you." He smiled at his mate love and lust shining in his eyes. It had been a long day for everyone. He wanted to get her home, fed, and in their bed. Him buried deep inside her. She lifted their joined hands and kissed the back of his. Her eyes mirroring his emotions.

That night in the council meeting house the mantle of Alpha was passed from father to sons. The blood offering to the Moon along with an ancient chant said by all the males gathered in the house concluded the ritual and the boys now men shifted and took the lead on the first run with the pack. Margarette and the females waited outside for the males to exit the house. Then took up next to their mates as her three sons howled in unison. Marcus and Margarette right behind them. The rest of the pack behind them.

As the three ran together deep into the woods the pack dispersing in all directions around them, a lone howl rang above the trees. The three looked at each other and took off to replace their mate. To bring her back to the pack lands and begin the process. They had made up their minds by the time they had reached Springfield. They would not turn her over to their mother. They would try to woo her. To make her theirs. For if the Moon did not grant them a second mate then they would have no chance for a succession and that would not due for the pack.