True mates Book Two of Ozark Wolves

The heating pad on high over her belly would be wonderful if she did not have three gorgeous godlike creatures sweating in the hot sun right in front of her.

She had not wanted to be put to bed with her heating pad. When she had voiced that she at least wanted to be outside with them. William had been about to argue the point of her relaxing. But Rick said it was a good idea. Quincy got a devilish look in his eyes. He too agreed. Then William too looked absolutely evil.

Now she was practically drooling over the three of them in shorts, no shirts, lathered in sunblock and drenched in sweat. The scent of them driving her brain and libido insane. If this is torture she would die a happy female.

The ground had needed to be tilled first. Then the fencing set up. She started to get hungry and knew that she could handle making sandwiches. No stove involved.

"What do you think you are doing?" William asked as she gingerly got to her feet. He had stopped close to her with the fencing balanced on his bare shoulder. The brothers had found work gloves to add to the purchases earlier. A pair for her as well.

She had turned off the heating pad that was connected to an extension cord Rick had found. She set the pad down on the table William had collected from the porch of the pack house.

"I am hungry. Thought I would make us sandwiches. I feel bad that you are doing all the work." Alexandria replied sweetly.

He sighed and set down the bundle on the ground. Her body reacted to the desire that flooded her system and her womb clenched painfully. Sweet torture.

"Sit back down, love," Rick said gently behind her. "I ordered us pizza so no one has to do anything."

She did as he said and the blessed relief was astounding. "Alright. That sounds wonderful." She looked up at him. With a smile of her own.

"Is there anything else you need, sugar?" William asked. She had him and his brothers on pins and needles. She had changed into her lounge pants and a tank top. Slippers on her feet. The tank showed off her ample cleavage. The soft flair of her hips and her tight ass were excessive in the lounge pants. The next five days were going to be so much harder than the first three.

William's eyes focused past Alexandria's shoulder. Alexis was walking towards them pushing a stroller with her child fast asleep inside. Alexandria turned to see what had captured his attention. Her eyes narrowed just a fraction. Not really in the mood. But the sleeping child was adorable. Dark curly hair. Fair skin. Chubby as three year olds should be. Her heart ached a little. She missed the children she used to take care of. So sweet and innocent.

"Good afternoon." Alexis greeted them as she approached. "Such a nice day."

"Good afternoon, Alexis." William nodded. Quincy and Rick had stopped what they were doing. Joining William and Alexandria.

Alexis's eyes widened when she saw the heating pad and relaxed look of Alexandria. Strange. Wolves did not necessary have cramps like humans. "Are you alright?" She asked Alexandria.

"Yes thank you." Alexandria replied. "What can we do for you, Alexis?"

"I noticed you all moving yesterday. This one was being a little difficult so was unable to come and find out what was up." Alexis replied.

"We have decided that as of the addition of Alexandria into the pack and into our home that the old pack house needs a serious makeover. Monday it will be torn down and rebuilt to accommodate not only the addition of her but also better living space for the three of us." Rick replied. Alexis nodded in understanding.

"And this was agreed upon by the council?" She asked a glint in her eye.

"The council is aware. Not that it really matters to them." Quincy replied. "One of Father's crews will be doing the work." Quincy narrowed his eyes at her. "Though why the council should concern you I am unclear."

"As your beta's mate," Alexis started but William cut her off.

"Joseph knows he can speak to us as he has to our parents." William said. "What is it you are really fishing for Alexis?" Her eyes flashed to Alexandria. But focused again on William. Who had taken a protective step toward his mate.

"William, darling there is no reason to be rude." Alexandria said gently. She set her heating pad aside after she turned it off and rose. Pain clenching her abdomen but she pushed it aside. "If there is concern it should be voiced." She focused her hard eyes on Alexis. "What is it that concerns you, Alexis?"

"That the pack house is our place of refuge if an attack should happen." Alexis replied.

"The Victorian my father built Mother can also be used until the new house is built." William grinned. "Perhaps you could answer a question for us." He nodded to his brothers. "We have information that there is someone unhappy here. As Alphas this is concerning. Have you heard any discontentment?"

Rick watched her closely for a change in her expression or posture. And there it was. Just a slight tensing. She was good. But he was better. Rick did not change his position or expression at all. "No," Alexis replied.

William smiled easily at her. "Thank you. We are trying to keep this quiet until we are certain we know who it is."

"Yes of course," Alexis smiled in return and turned to leave. "Have a good rest of your day."

"You as well." Alexandria replied.

The four watched her walk away. William met Rick's eyes and the confirmation was there. Alexis had no bond with Joseph. No bond with the pack really. The couple who had adopted her were respected and held one of the houses on the southern border of the lands. They had been at the adoption of Alexandria and had been cordial. But had not spent much time with Alexis. Only Joseph and their grandchild.

"She may not be, but she knows something. I hate to ask this," William turned his eyes to Alexandria. "Is she familiar to you?"

"No." Alexandria replied. "I would have said something the first time we met." She reclaimed her lying position and her heating pad.

The pizza arrived and rather than have her walk to the house. William and Quincy gathered the outdoor table and chairs for themselves. Rick stayed with her watching her closely. "Any better?" He asked concerned.

"I will be tomorrow. The first day kicks my ass. I should have stayed home earlier." She admitted.

"So you always get this?" He asked curiosity mixed with his concern. This was odd. He had accidentally overheard a couple of females years ago speaking openly about how female wolves were lucky in the regard that they did not get that particular symptom. Tired, hungry, and cranky. Pain however was not associated.

"Yes." Alexandria replied. William and Quincy brought the table and two chairs. Quincy left to get the third chair.

"Yes what?" William asked taking a seat and opening the pizza boxes to find his supreme. The first one was Rick's pepperoni. He handed it to Rick and then opened the next one. It was another pepperoni. He handed that to Rick as well with a paper plate for Alexandria.

"Yes," Alexandria said her eyes lighting up as Rick handed her a delicious piece of the cheesy gooey mess on the plate. "I deal with this," She held up the heating pad. "Every fucking month." She replaced the pad and blew on her pizza. "I got good at pushing past it and popping Advil like candy all day."

"But why would you?" Quincy asked when he brought the third chair up.

"Because life did not stop." Alexandria replied. "I had responsibilities." It was bound to come up sooner or later. When a pup was weak. When a miscarriage happened because her body could not support the pup. Something would happen to make them realize what she truly was. Why she was small and weak in comparison to other females.

William, Quincy, and Rick exchanged glances. William's mind was churning over this new information. Quincy was filing this away in hell no category of information he did not care about. Rick was thinking out his next question. Not wanting to upset her.

William having gone through all the evidence and being angry with himself for not knowing in the first place. Her small wolf. Her small stature and weakness. He had tried to play it off as she was raised in a strict environment that had not allowed her grow as she should have. But that not the whole truth. May have played a small part in it.

Quincy found a sick amusement in the whole thing. The strongest pack and they get handed a half-breed for a mate. So was that a sign that they needed to be taken down a notch? Or was the Moon testing their abilities? Sick and twisted fate. No matter to sever the bond now would be like tearing out their heart and soul. And he would be damned if that happened. He looked to William. He looked angry. Shit. Then shifted his gaze to Rick.

Rick was going over all the research he had done on half-breeds in North America. Not uncommon and they usually were omegas and very soft and nurturing. Weak but not timid. Loving to the point where some have sacrificed themselves for the sake of their mate and their pack. But that was back during wartimes and even in ancient lands. The pups gotten were strong wolves. The blood of the wolf strong in their veins. The human side small but there. Nope. This was no issue on any ground.

Alexandria concentrated on her pizza. She refused to worry about what they would do. Whatever the consequences she would take what she had gotten from them and run as far and as fast as she could. Already making plans in her head for how far she could get before the three trailing her would be on her trail. She could hide in a junkyard in some busy city. No one would think to look for her there. She would be miserable but she would not be a burden to the brothers who deserved better than her.

They deserved better than her. She had known it the whole time. Loving her could be detrimental to the pack. To the line of the Alpha. But she would not run. She would wait for them to tell her to leave.

"Well that puts things in better perspective." Rick finally said. "Not that it changes anything." He smiled and touched her leg since he sat on the lounge chair with her.

"Definitely not," Quincy agreed. "But as Rick said. That makes better sense now."

William looked from one brother to the other. Got up and walked away. If he spoke it would be harshly. If he looked at her she would burst into tears. No. He needed to calm down. His chest tightened. Not from his own emotions. His were angry not hurt. He could feel Rick's and Quincy's eyes on his back as he disappeared behind a small hill.

"Don't worry about him, love." Rick said softly to Alexandria. "He is angry but at himself. His eyes are more green than yellow when he is internalizing. He will be alright. Besides as is our way. He is outnumbered." Rick patted her leg and tore into his own pizza.

"This is true." Quincy added grinning. "Eat your pizza, honey and relax." He finished his first piece of meat lovers and reached for a second piece. "You wanna bet that Mother knew the whole time and refused to say anything?"

"Nah, I bet that Mother knew and knows her parentage as well." Rick grinned. "She has been doing research for the last twenty three years into the bloodlines that come out of the facility. She has already amassed a huge index of females that went missing in the fifties and sixties." Rick added.

"Dr. Kaitlyn." Quincy said. "Mother was at her adoption. I bet one of those bandages made it to our good doctor who has been helping Mother with the genetics process."

"You mean she might know who my mother is?" Alexandria asked. The question that had been burning deep inside her since she was self-aware at three. Who was her mother?

"Pretty sure." Rick nodded. "But don't get your hopes up too high." He cautioned. "Up until the nineties the packs had not formed an alliance. Had not put a strain on the kidnappings. Ending them completely in 2000."