Prints on our hearts

Chapter Eleven

          Alma walked over to an old stall and sat up on the wall. The wolf paced but did not appear aggressive. Alex knelt down beside the cage and looked into the golden eyes from her nightmares. He stared back, much more awake than before. "If you change, we will give you clothes. We just want to talk.", Alex said as nicely as she could, despite the tension and fear she felt from the dream. He sat down and growled lowly. Alex growled back. He looked at her a minute then laid down. He had just submitted to her. She stood back up and walked to Alma. Alma was sitting cross-legged on the rail. Alex leaned beside her. They stared at him for a minute. "Perhaps we should just keep him as our pet. The children would love a dog.", Alex said trying to bait him out. Alma caught on. "I think you're right. Claire would love to ride him around.", Alma said. He growled lowly. Alex helped Alma down and they began walking out. Suddenly a male voice spoke to them. "Wait.",he said. Alex smiled and turned around to see a muscular man stand up. She grabbed some larger clothes she had stored in the barn and slid them into the door and locked it back quickly. They turned their backs while he dressed. "Do you have to lock the cage the whole time?", He asked once dressed. Alex turned to him. "I don't know if I can trust you yet.", She said. He sighed and leaned against the cage. His sharp gaze switched between the women. He smiled. "I can smell your scents. An Ymbryne and a wolf. How peculiar.", he said. Alex licked her left fang, which happened to be her tick. She only did it when nervous or flirting. He inhaled deeply. "Your scents tie together.", he said with a smile. Alex stepped in front of Alma. He held up his hands. "Woah, Woah. I mean no harm. This is just the first time I have met a wolf mated to an Ymbryne. Especially a lone female wolf.", he said in defense. Alma smiled at Alex. "It's okay. Maybe we should trust him.", Alma said softly. Alex stared at her a minute. She sighed as she caught on. "I have some questions then I will let you out.", Alex said walking to the cage. He smiled. "Well of course. Ask away.", He said trying to be charming. "Your name." Alex narrowed her eyes at him. "Charles. Charles Tate.", He replied proudly. "How did you end up here?", She asked. "My boat had a leak. I did not know until I was too far to turn back. It went down while I swam to shore.", he said casually. Alex licked her fang again. "Were you alone?" "Yes, I had a small boat. Just wanted a night out on the water to fish." Alex sighed. "Where is your pack", Alma spoke up. Alex looked back to her. Alex had never realized wolves needed an actual pack. He smiled. "At home. I am not high ranking so I like to venture out to see on occasion.", he replied carefully. Alex doubted his rank. He was tall, lean, and scarred. Those were battle marks and she knew it. Yet, for some reason, she unlocked the gate. "If you step out of line in any way. I will end you.", Alex growled at him. He bowed his head. "Yes ma'am.", he said with a smirk and followed the women outside. On instinct, Alex pulled Alma close and wrapped an arm around her. Alma could sense the tension in the air already. Leaving him in a cage would be useless if he was a good actor. Alex had no choice but to flat out test him. Aaron and Jackson would be informed as soon as they arrived. Alma's children were smart. If something went wrong they would fight. Alex just prayed nothing would go wrong and they her dream was just an unrelated thing. Deep down she knew better though. Alex would not let Alma out of her sight now. The risk was too great. They heard laughter and chatter as they reached the house. Alex looked over to see the children running happily back. Alex let go of Alma and stepped away. Would Alma tell them now? Alex was unsure of how long she could hide anything from them. Claire and Fiona ran up to Alma who smiled and knelt down to them. "Why are you all back so early?", Alma said looking her children over. Enoch put his hand on Claire's shoulder. "Claire missed you and she wants us all to have a camp out.", he said as Claire smiled up at him. "That's right miss. It's only fair if you get to join in on the fun too!", Millard said happily. Alma smiled at looked up at Alex. She couldn't say no to her happy face. "Then I guess we should get some more bedrolls then.", Alex said smiling down at Alma. The children cheered and group hugged the women. Charles watched curiously. Aaron walked over to him and sniffed at him. Charles scratched him nose. "You're a good boy aren't you?", he asked in a baby tone. "I most certainly am!", Aaron spoke back deeply. Charles fell to the ground in utter shock. Alex laughed and walked over to help him up. "Only the horses in the pasture are normal. Everyone else is peculiar.", She said as he dusted himself off. "I am sure to remember that.", he said smirking. Alma became uneasy at the exchanges of the two and grabbed Alex's hand, intertwining their fingers. Alex looked down at their hands then up to Alma. "We should tell them.", she whispered. Alex, stunned, simply nodded in agreement. Alex thought Charles growled under his breath but she was more focused on Alma. Alma smiled at the children gathered around them. "Children, I have an announcement so I want you all to listen carefully. Miss Wolfe and I are in a relationship. In love. This means I sleep in her room and we will probably be together a lot. I want you all to treat her just as you would treat me do you understand?", Alma aked her children. They nodded. "So are we a big happy family now?", Claire asked. Before Alma could reply, Alex knelt down to Claire. "Would you like that?", she asked. Claire nodded and Alex smiled. A warmth filled her heart. "Then yes. We are a big happy family.", Alex said. Claire smiled and threw her arms around Alex would happily embraced her back. Alma smiled down happily at them. Once she stood back up, the children circled Alex. "If you ever hurt her you have to deal with us!", Hugh said. Alex smiled as all of Alma's children happily agreed. "If i ever hurt you, I will let you do whatever you want to me.", Alex said. The children seemed satisfied with her reply. "Now children, this here is Charles. He may be here for a couple of days until we can get him to the mainland. I want you all to be nice. He is peculiar just like miss Wolfe is.", Alma said. Enoch looked at Alex. "So you are a wolf then?", he asked narrowing his eyes at her. "Yes, my color is black. He is a grey color.", Alex replied. Alma shot a glare at Enoch. "Go play or relax until later when we will get ready to camp.", Alma said and the children ran off or walked into the house. Alex couldn't help herself and pulled Alma into a deep kiss. She could feel Charles tense near her. So that's what her want. He wants Alex. Alex let Alma go with a smile and turned to Charles. "Tonight you are to camp with us. Away from us but near Aaron. Just for precautions. You understand.", Alex said and he nodded in response. "Do you have a shower?", He asked. "Yes follow me, I will get you some clothes.", she replied. He nodded and followed closely behind them. She took him up into her old room. The one she could barricade if she needed. She pulled a few outfits from the closet and secured and locked it tightly. He went into the shower to get clean as Alex grabbed some personal stuff from the room and sat at the end of the bed with Alma. She had the two books in her hands. The top one was fine. But how would she react to the bottom one? Even with all they have been through, Alex was scared of how Alma would react to a book she has had through many years.