True mates Book Two of Ozark Wolves
Chapter 7: The Heart of the Matter

The run helped William to calm down. The outer walls of the compound came back into view and his parents were standing dressed at the main gate waiting for him. He slowed to a trot and stopped next to his mother. She caressed his cheek with the back of her fingers. "You are a good male and a good Alpha, my son. Trust your instincts. We love you." She said softly. She had wanted to see him before leaving for Springfield. To make sure that he was alright. He nodded and continued trotting back to the pack house.

His brothers and Alexandria were seated at the table waiting for him. Breakfast was ready then. He would shower after. He redressed in the mudroom and entered the dining room. "Right on time." Rick said in greeting. Quincy punched him the shoulder.

"We have been waiting for an hour." Quincy replied. "You kept the food in the warmer."

"Shut up, Quincy. You told him to go for a run." Rick replied, punching him back. Harder. Quincy winced.

"So you two are the closest?" Alexandria asked watching the interactions. Trying to figure them out.

"The way Mom describes it. William stayed away from us. Even when she was pregnant. She was bedridden because William's ass was too low for her to walk well. She spent the last two months on a monitor to keep track of him. Her legs up and Dad waiting on her hand and foot to make sure she did not hurt herself. Meanwhile. Quincy and I beat the hell out of her organs and each other. Hence the reason there are only us. She wanted nothing more to do with the whole pupping thing. Three males, if they survived to adulthood, was penty. She had said to Dad."

"I can understand that." Alexandria replied. "And your father?"

"He adores her and will do anything for her." Rick replied. "Was wrapped around her finger from the word No." He grinned.

"No?" Alexandria asked. William took his place at the table and the boys dug in to pull food onto their plates. She waited for them to fill theirs before reaching for hers. The two mountains of pancakes was reduced to one small hill and the pile of bacon was reduced to six pieces. Same with the sausage. There were three plates of eggs each done differently. Scrambled. Sunnyside, and over hard. Rick cursed and got up to retrieve a fourth plate with over soft.

"Yeah when they first met Mother told him no. Did not even listen to what he had to say. Just said no and walked out of the bar. He followed her to her house. A Victorian still standing where they sometimes stay on the weekends. She almost shot him with an arrow when he jumped her fence." Quincy explained.

"She did not." William argued. "She considered it. There is a difference. Having shot John in the shoulder previously." William grinned. "She decided to hear him out and then kick him out."

"But that did not work?" Alexandria asked curiously. She had pulled three pancakes, two pieces of bacon, one sausage and a small spoonful of scrambled eggs on her plate.

"Nope. They talked for hours, him pushing the mating call. Her resisting it with all she had. It was not until he scared the shit out of her that really made him see that she was not truly resistant. Just scared. Her previous dealings with her original mate had not been good." Rick explained. "The rest is history."

"Scared the shit out of her?" Alexandria paused her fork to her mouth. "If she is such a badass, how could he have scared her?"

"The dealings between male and female, love," Rick replied. "She had not witnessed good experiences. Dad came on too strong at first. He had to change tacts. Make her comfortable. Show her he was not the vicious male she was used to dealing with." Rick smiled at Alexandria. "Thankfully her stupid ex had come to town looking for her. Wanted her back though he had severed the bond. That pushed Mom to make a decision and she chose to mate with Father. Alone she was vulnerable."

Alexandria went quiet and ate thinking about this. She had a mission to complete and it did not involve truly mating with these three. The fact that they had comforted her the following night in her sleep had confused her. Still confused her. Why would they care? She had not hidden the reason for her being there. And yet she was still alive. Eating breakfast with them and hearing of the love story between their parents. She didn't even know who her mother was.

"Did Mom and Dad head to the city?" Quincy asked breaking the silence that had settled over the table.

"Yeah. Probably going to the Dojo to see Grandpa Kenneth and Grandma Myrtle." William replied.

"Or flowers for the garden Mother has been hinting at for the last two years. Now that they are retired she will have time for such things." Rick replied. A phone pinged with a message. William pulled his phone out of his robe.

"The council wants to meet on Monday to discuss the arrival of our mate and our plans there in." William read from the text he had received form Colin. The man was older than dirt but still keen. The way William had said the word mate. Had Quincy and Rick looking at him with worry. If William decided to reject her then the other two had to follow his lead. There was no other way. All or none. William looked up from his phone to meet mirrored eyes, "Don't look at me like that. I have made no decisions of the sort. We agreed the decision is hers." He put the last bite of his pancake in his mouth and rose to go and rinse his plate and put it in the dishwasher.

The other two breathed a sigh of relief and then polished off their plates. Followed behind William. William disappeared up the steps to the second floor and the door to the bathroom up there closed. The sound of running water sounded faintly in the background. He was going to take a shower. Alexandria was left at the table by herself. She eyed the butter knife in her hand. She wanted this done. She could not afford to get close to these three. She needed to be done with the mission and leave. The destruction of her precious children should suffice.

"Try it," Rick's voice said from the entryway to the kitchen. His eyes were hard light green gems. His voice darker than she had ever heard from him. A challenge. "No?" He raised a dark brow at her. "Pity. I was hoping that we could get to the heart of the matter and move on." He walked back into the kitchen Quincy replacing him. A humorous glint in his eyes.

"I truly want to see what the best that bastard has to offer is capable of." He added. "Did you get your fill then?" He asked his eyes roaming over the remaining food. She had not eaten as much as he would have liked. William was not going to take this well. She could nothing but nod. "Rinse your plate and utensils and put them in the dishwasher. I am on clean up duty. We will add you into the chores next week. Right now you have a free ride."

She rose to do as he said. His eyes still full of humor but his stance was defensive. The power he kept hidden under his carefree facade there. Just below the surface. She did not stand a chance against them singly or together. She was skilled but they were better.

As soon as she was done rinsing her plate and her utensils William was back down in a pair of tight fitting jeans and a polo. Hikers on his huge feet. A baseball cap with a W on it. The shirt was red, the jeans were black and his cap was tie-died. Red, black and white. "Ready?" He asked looking none too pleased. She needed new clothes badly. But spending hours with her did not suit him after her accusations and innuendos. She thought he as an abusive, dominant asshole. Well sugar. Are in for a world of surprises.

"For what?" She asked taking a step back from him. He rolled his eyes.

"Shopping, sugar. You do need new clothes. Those will destroy the washer and dryer. I would rather not have to rebuild the pack house because something set the dryer on fire." He replied levelling his gaze on her.

"I have never been shopping before." Alexandria admitted.

"We can tell. It is not that difficult. Find your size in styles you like. Buy. Simple." William responded over his shoulder as he headed for the door. He was leaving. With or without her. She scrambled to catch up.

Outside, William pulled the cover off his pet. A '69 Thunderbird he had restored himself. Black with a red racing stripe over the top. It was t-topped. Control. Always control. He popped the locks with the key fob in his hand and moved to open her door. Though he was less than thrilled to have to spend any more time in her presence the decision had been made. He had to take her shopping.

Alexandria eyed him cautiously as she got in the car. He had been so gentle earlier. So nice. What had happened? He did not seem to even want to talk with her. What does it matter, twit? You are here to kill them not mate with them. If he doesn't like you, the easier it will be to get the mission done. But still. What was with him? "Did I do something?" She asked finally. They were halfway to Springfield. The highway lined with beautiful scenery of rolling hills and green trees.

"No. Keep your mouth shut. I have had enough of your presumptuous bullshit." He growled. She may be their mate, but he wanted to throttle the shit out of her. Or kiss her senseless. That was what was really bothering him. The control he cherished so bad was being pushed every fucking second. Torn between kicking her ass or fucking her into submission. Holding her last night had been torture. He had decided that vanilla would be enough as long as it was with her. And it pissed him off. The girl had been sent to kill them and he had a raging hard on for her. Even now her scent was driving his control out the window.

Alexandria could sense the tension in him. She was all but hugging the door. Suddenly truly afraid. As she had followed him she had noticed the large skinning knife attached to his belt. His movements had been graceful and angry. A predator ready to strike at anytime. Defensive and pissed off. She was unarmed and she doubted from the power she felt in his muscles that she could best him. In fact she might get one blow before he slit her throat.

"Oh for fuck's sake. Fine." He said and pulled into the far right lane. Then pulled sharply into a strip mall. He pulled in next to his dad's Mercedes and killed the engine. Got out and opened her door. "Come on. Let's get this over with." He did not wait for her to get out before walking to the door that read in calligraphically written letters "Kenneth's Martial Arts" and opened the door for her.

She slowly exited the car and joined him at the door. Her hesitation amused him. Not such a tough assassin are you sugar? A small smile touched his lips as he followed her inside.

"Think it was wise to send them out together so soon?" Rick asked Quincy. They were playing a hand of poker. Goldfish was the currency.

"She will be bruised but she will be fine." Quincy replied. "You and I both know he needs this."