The next morning, Marco felt as though an enormous burden had been lifted from him. Not only had he found his beloved mate, but she had accepted that he was a wolf and not been repulsed by it. He reminded himself that while she knew humans could be turned, they had yet to discuss his desire to turn her so their spirits could truly be one.

He had left Catherine sleeping peacefully and well sated. She had a healthy libido—one to rival his own. He stood in the shower and allowed the steam to penetrate his skin and make him feel renewed.

Marco felt the knot begin to swell at the base of his cock. He chuckled to himself. That was another topic he had yet to bring up to his mate. He desperately wanted to mount her and force his knot deep within her, sealing her to him before rocking her and ultimately tying her. While he knew that in human form the initial breach was painful for a woman, he knew most felt that the rapture experienced after that was more than worth it. He closed his eyes and focused on getting the knot to release.

He also knew that he needed to explain their custom of alphas marking their mates. While the knot had tried to form repeatedly, Marco found it far easier to suppress the knot than the almost overwhelming need to mark her as his own. On numerous occasions when he had been inside Catherine, stroking her powerfully and feeling her experience the ecstasy that had become an integral part of their lovemaking, he had felt his canines elongate in order to allow him to mark her.

He was drying himself off and chuckling, thinking he was certain he could entice Catherine to accept his knot, but that the discussion around her accepting his mark might be an altogether different story.

The final papers for the acquisition of the vineyard would reach him today. He planned to invite Griffin to join them for lunch at the hotel before taking Catherine home to the villa. As he contemplated the drive in the vintage sports car, it occurred to him that might be an opportune time to discuss any of the three sticky topics that needed to be addressed.

Marco heard a soft knock on the door to their suite as he exited the bath and saw a slip of hotel stationery being pushed under the door. He turned to ensure that Catherine still slept in their bed. He walked to the door and reached down to pick up the paper. What he read enraged him.

Catherine,

It is imperative that we speak. I had expected to hear from you before now.

I understand you have allied yourself with Marco DeMedici. I would urge

you not to discuss our relationship or the reason for our need to meet.

Salvatore

How dare this Salvatore presume to speak to his mate and keep that information from him? Marco had been well aware that there had been others before him, but Catherine had indicated there was no one with whom she was currently or recently involved. If this Salvatore thought to take his Catherine from him, he would find himself grievously injured and most likely dead.

* * *

Catherine was awakened by a feeling of unrest. Marco had explained to her that fated mates could most often feel if the other was experiencing an emotion that was especially intense. She looked up to see him scowling in her direction.

“Marco? What has you upset? I couldn’t possibly have done anything between now and when you left me in our bed. I was asleep the whole time.”

“Who is Salvatore? And why does he have a need to meet with you?”

It was then that she spied the note in his hand.

“Is that for me?” she asked, a note of irritation creeping into her voice.

Catherine knew what he was thinking. She knew him well enough to know that he didn’t really believe there was anyone else, but also knew that she had secrets she had not shared with him. So while she was a bit annoyed that he’d read the note meant for her, she also knew that were the situation reversed, she would be feeling the same way.

“It was not in an envelope nor was the outside of the paper addressed to anyone in particular. Answer my questions—who is Salvatore and why does he want to see you?”

“Tell me... in your wolf society is it only a man’s integrity or honor that can be insulted?”

“Of course not. Answer me, Catherine.”

“Your tone and your accusation are insulting mine.”

She let that sink in for a moment. Marco crossed over from the door and sat beside her on the bed, handing her the note.

“I am not angry or upset with you, my Catherine. And if I made you feel like I was then I am very sorry. But I do not appreciate men I do not know or have ever heard about from you seeking an audience with my mate and trying to keep it secreted from me.”

Catherine set the note aside without even looking at it.

“I was going to tell you if you wanted to be forgiven you needed to go stand naked in the corner. Then I realized you’d have to be facing outward and the logistics of my trying to mount you there were just too much for me to figure out at the moment. So I just thought fuck it.”

Marco smiled slowly. “I see,” he said, his pronounced accent becoming even deeper.

He drew the covers away from her body. He chuckled as the reveal showed her body flushed with desire, her beautiful nipples as hard as diamonds, and her legs parted so that he could see and scent her arousal. He dipped his head down, sucking in one of her nipples as his hand came up to pay attention to the other.

“I, however,” he said as he nibbled and kissed his way up her body, “am more than capable of figuring out how to properly forgive my naughty mate after she has been punished. The logistics as you said are quite easy as I have been forced to do it before.”

“Wait a minute. You’re the one who jumped to conclusions and all but accused me of having a thing with Salvatore.”

“No, you jumped to the conclusion that I had done so when I never doubted your commitment to me. And you, my beautiful mate, not only thought to try to be dominant with me but used language unworthy of you.”

“Shit, Marco, that isn’t fair.”

Marco silenced her with a kiss. He had a hand on either side of her body.

“On your belly, Catherine.”

“Why? Are you going to take me from behind again?”

“You wish that were what I had in mind. Do as you’re told or I will put you over my knee.”

He waited. Catherine thought seriously about going on the attack and then realized that tactic had never served her well with her mate. Reluctantly she rolled over as he’d told her to do. She didn’t have to wait long for his hand to spank her hard three times, making her cry out.

He leaned down and kissed the side of her neck.

“That’s one swat for each word. The next time even one curse word passes your lips, you will get your mouth washed out and your bottom spanked properly. Yes?”

She nodded. “Yes, Marco.”

He rolled over and she saw out of the corner of her eye that his cock was engorged and seemed to be swollen at the base.

“Marco? Are you all right?”

Marco glanced down and realized there was a knot forming rapidly.

“Yes. That is a knot and we will discuss that later. Now who the hell is Salvatore?”

“Are you sure? That thing looks like it hurts.”

“It is decidedly uncomfortable unless it is lodged within your mate’s pussy.”

“Uhm, Marco, you can barely fit all of you inside as it is, I don’t think that will fit.”

Marco dragged her across the bed and into his arms.

“When the time is right, my Catherine, I assure you I will make it fit.”

She giggled and eyed the knot again. “If you say so.”

“I do. Now who is Salvatore and why does he want to meet?”

“Is that what the note says? I didn’t read it.”

“Catherine,” he growled. “If I have to ask you again, it will be once you are draped across my thighs with a very warm, red bottom.”

Catherine managed to straddle him as he reclined on the bed, rubbed her hardened nipples along his chest, and kissed him passionately.

“To be honest, I have no idea what he wants and am far more interested...” She stopped short and caught herself. She swung her leg back over Marco and tried to get up without him hearing the sob caught in her throat.

Marco caught her around the waist and hauled her back into bed. Even though she struggled, she found herself forced into his embrace where he used one finger to tilt her head up so he could see her eyes.

“Listen to me, my Catherine,” he said in a voice as smooth as silk with an underlying seductive growl. “There is nothing you could say to me that would change who and what we are to each other. Whatever secret it is that causes you such pain, share it with me so I can ease your burden.”

“You can’t fix it,” she said softly, trying to keep from crying.

“I couldn’t change into a wolf either,” he said, teasing her.

She giggled. “Yeah, well, we both know I was wrong about that.”

“Even if I can’t fix it, at least sharing it with me would allow me to help you carry the burden of whatever this sadness is. Please, tesoro, won’t you tell me?”

He drew her leg back over his torso so that once again she was straddling him. He kept his hands on her hips but waited for her to decide.

“I have a sister,” she said softly.

“How did I not know this?”

“Because she’s been missing for months.”

“Is she in hiding? Did she run off? How can she be missing? How could she worry you like that? She will have a lot to answer for when we find her.”

For the first time in a long time, Catherine felt a light begin to shine in that dark part of her heart that feared the worst for her sister.

“She wouldn’t worry me like that, Marco. We were close. She graduated and went on a long-planned grand tour of Europe. She last checked in with me when she arrived in Rome. She left Rome to go to Milan and then Florence via train. She was last seen at the Ponte Vecchio here in Florence and then... nothing.”

She could see Marco thinking.

“The embassy did nothing?”

Catherine nodded, not trusting her voice to speak.

“Your country’s embassies are rarely of any help in these situations. I take it Salvatore is someone you hired to find her?”

“Yes. So if he does want to speak to me, I have to meet with him.”

“I will meet with him. I will have questions he will need to answer. But we will begin a search for your sister.”

“I’ve been searching...”

“Yes, my Catherine, but you are human and do not have friends in Army Intelligence and Interpol. Also Griffin has begun to do a bit of investigating about rumors that have surfaced over the past few years involving human women going missing and being turned without their consent.”

“Oh, God, Marco, you don’t think...”

“We don’t know what to think at this point, but we will meet with Salvatore and then we will find the answers you seek.”

“Thank you,” she said, kissing him. “Thank you.”

“We haven’t found the answers yet, but we will. Is this the cause of the sadness I often sense from you?”

“Yes,” she said, speaking so softly it was barely audible.

“That’s all of it?”

“You don’t think she’s alive either, do you?”

“I don’t know what to think, my Catherine. But I believe the answers—whatever they may be—will give you peace and allow the grief you feel to heal. Whatever we find, I will be by your side. You will also have the love and support of our pack. You are no longer alone.”

Catherine leaned forward, taking his face in her hands to kiss him and then yelped as his hand connected with her behind.

“That had best be the only secret you ever try to keep from me,” he said, grinning at her. “Keeping secrets from one’s mate is a spankable offense and the next time your magnificent ass will sorely regret your tongue’s decision to hold itself.”

“You’re such a jerk,” said Catherine, laughing. “Now can we go meet with Salvatore?”

“No. I will meet with Salvatore and Griffin for lunch after we have signed the final papers on the new property. I want Griffin to hear what he has to say as well.”

“I’m going to be there.”

“No. I will meet with him and see what he has to say.”

“Marco, this is my business and she is my sister.”

“Yes, and it will be far easier for him to fool you than Griffin and me. I will get to the bottom of what he knows. As I said, I’ll see what my contacts can find.”

“Marco, do you think my sister’s disappearance has anything to do with those rumors you’ve been hearing?”

She got up and tried to move away from the bed. Marco caught her arm and gently pulled her back. He was sitting on the edge of the bed and drew her into his lap. The sad, guarded look in his eyes was all the answer she needed.

“You do,” she said in a voice filled with anguish. “I should have done more... why didn’t I do more?”

Marco softly embraced her. “You did all you knew to do. But yes, I fear your sister may have fallen victim to my kind. Promise me this won’t turn you against me or our pack.”

“Don’t be stupid. I’m sure there are bad wolves just like there are bad humans. Do you think they’ve turned her?”

He nodded solemnly. “I fear if they took her, she was turned without her consent. The change can be difficult on one who did not choose it for themselves.”

“Do you think she’s dead?”

“I don’t know. If she has even a fraction of your strength, she yet lives and we will find her.”

“Is Salvatore a wolf?”

“I detected the slightest hint of wolf scent on the paper. It could have come from anywhere. But if Salvatore is a wolf and has been stringing you along, it would go a long way toward explaining why he didn’t want me to know.”

Catherine searched his face; there was more. “What aren’t you saying?”

He smiled. “You are too smart by half,” he said. “A beautiful woman with means, but all alone in the world...”

“You think he was going to make me disappear too.”

“If he is wolf and if he is mixed up in all of this, then yes, I do.”

“If he’s been leading me on, I’ll kill him,” she whispered.

“You won’t have the chance,” he said grimly. “Griffin and I will find out the truth and go from there. You, my Catherine, are to remain in our room.”

“She’s my sister, Marco.”

“And you are my mate, Catherine. You will remain here where I know you will be safe or I will meet alone with Salvatore and send Griffin up here to keep an eye on you.”

“Is Griffin...?”

“Yes, Griffin is a wolf as well. He too is an alpha, but with no pack at present. He is a long-time and trusted friend. He will be on our new property ostensibly to help with the transition, but really I want him to have a place to heal. He’s only just left Special Forces.”

“Were you in Special Forces?”

“Yes. It’s where I met Griffin. I left before he did and came home to take my place as alpha. Tell me about your sister. She is your only family, correct?”

“Yes. Her name is Shannon. She is younger.” She closed her eyes and bit back a sob. “Tell me about your family.”

“I too am the eldest. Next is my brother Stefano. He is mated to the daughter of the alpha of Crete and will likely be their next leader. Then there is Tony. He is beta for the pack in Rome. We will talk to him as well about your sister. And last is the baby of the family, Gianna or Gia as we call her. She is mated to an Irish alpha and has one son and another on the way.” Marco laughed. “My sister was none too happy when I allowed Aidan to force her to run and he claimed her. I swear he put a baby in her belly the night he marked her and now less than two years later she carries another.”

“What do you mean, forced her to run and marked her?”

He laughed again. “Hmm, let me think. Which answer will incur less of your anger?”

“Let’s go with forced her to run.”

“I’m not sure that is the correct one, but nonetheless I will answer you. In our society if a man is certain a woman is his fated mate, he can try to convince her alpha of that. If he succeeds and she is being difficult, he can force her to run. If he catches her, she will have no choice but to accept his claim.”

“Let me get this straight,” she said, starting to get angry. “Some jerk convinces you he is supposed to be with Gia. She says no, he forces her to run... like literally?”

Marco couldn’t help but enjoy the fire he could see igniting in Catherine. “Yes, the custom is that the woman shifts to her wolf form and her mate takes off after her. If he catches her, he can claim her in wolf form, although most allow their mate to shift back and accept the claim as a human.”

“And what if she’s not a wolf?”

“There are other ways naughty mates who are being difficult can be convinced to heed the call of their fated mate... as you are well aware.”

“Oh, that’s so not happening on my watch. I’ll take a shotgun to any male wolf who tries it and if you allow it, you’ll be sleeping by yourself.”

Marco chuckled. “The women of our pack are going to be so happy I waited for you to lead them. But you will not fire on a fellow pack member and the only place I will ever sleep is by your side.”

“Marco, that’s barbaric. Does your sister even speak to you? Did your brothers do anything?”

“They wished Aidan well as he chased after her,” he chortled.

“It’s not funny. What if he’d hurt her or been abusive after the fact?”

“Then I would have slit his throat and brought my sister and her sons home. While males are dominant in our society, most will not tolerate abuse.” He pulled her closer and kissed her. “And it is a known fact that many spirited women, the best women, resist the call of their mate. For instance, there is a story of one of the DeMedici mistresses who got her bottom spanked on a train when her mate had to chase after her.”

Catherine blushed. “Do not tell that story to anyone.”

Marco laughed out loud at her. “And I suppose you really don’t want them to know how frustrated and upset you were when you found out I was not going to have my way with you on the train or in the car coming back to Florence. Or how ready you were for me when I got you back to our room. As I recall, my Catherine, you climaxed as I mounted you and drove my cock deep within you on the first thrust.”

“So tell me, how many mistresses of your pack have you had?”

“You misunderstand, my Catherine. Mistress or Madonna is the honorary title given to the mate of the alpha. The latter is Italian and only used in rare instances when the alpha’s mate is of exquisite beauty, intelligence, and kindness, has earned the love and respect of the pack, and is seen as an absolute necessity to the happiness of their alpha and thus the happiness and security of the pack itself.”

“I’m human. I’ll be lucky if they don’t refer to me as that horrible American gold-digger you dragged home from Florence.”

The signs of amusement left Marco’s face. “Any male referring to you with anything less than the utmost respect will find himself without a pack. Any female will be punished and made to apologize. If her mate or our beta do not see to it adequately, I assure you that I will. You are my mate and will be treated with the respect that is due you. Besides, once they see you are my fated mate, they will fall at your feet.”

“Have I mentioned I can be a terrible klutz? I’ll just trip over any bodies lying around.”

Marco threw back his head and laughed. “And that, my Catherine, is why they will love you almost as much as I do.”