Catherine woke as the sun cleared the eastern horizon. Marco was spooned around her with his arm draped over her waist and his hand resting over her mons. He had promised, or was it threatened, to ensure she would never forget the night of their bonding ceremony. He had been as good as his word.

After first using her mouth for their pleasure, he had spent most of the rest of the night with his cock lodged in her pussy, either stroking long and hard without the knot, or knotted and tied to her. Three times he had been actively fucking her, forming the knot as he did so and then forced it into her to claim her as she climaxed.

Catherine knew she was going to be sore. She also knew that he had planned it that way and that everyone in their pack would know. She giggled and felt him nuzzle the back of her neck.

“What is it that pleases you so this fine morning?”

“Other than waking up with me wrapped in your arms?” she said, sighing and wiggling backward to get even closer to him.

“That should now be normal for you. It will be a rare morning you do not find yourself so, or already underneath me having your pussy plowed.”

She giggled again. “You do know I’m going to be sore as hell from you, don’t you?”

He chuckled in a distinctly masculine and satisfied manner. “And are you complaining about that? Should I apologize?”

“If I did, you’d probably spank me for lying about it. You damn well know that I got far more pleasure from you than you did from me last night.”

“No, my beloved, a great deal of my pleasure comes from pleasuring you and feeling you surrender yourself to me completely. Should I have them bring you breakfast in bed so you can stay up here to rest and recuperate today?”

“And let you have bragging rights? Oh, hell, no,” she teased. “I’ll walk down those bloody stairs if it kills me.”

“You may be downstairs, but it has yet to be determined if I will allow you to walk.”

He exited their bed and then lifted her up to take her into their shower.

Catherine couldn’t remember a time the fragrant steam had felt so good. Marco held her steady and gently washed her body, taking great care and lingering on her breasts and between her legs.

He dried her off gently and helped her to dress. She sat on their bed as he dressed and wondered at how different her life was going to be. That it was going to be better with him was not even a question in her mind. Marco made everything better. Even the knowledge that her sister had been abducted and most likely forced into a pairing with an alpha not of her choice was made easier knowing that they would see it through together.

Her dark thoughts started to cloud her face, but she pushed them away. Shannon was strong. She would endure. And she was, as Marco and those of their pack who knew pointed out to her, a member of the DeMedici pack and they would find her and make those who harmed her pay. She meant to urge Marco to end the practice of kidnapping women, wolf or human, and forcing them into lives not of their choosing. She knew there was human trafficking on a global level and meant to see they got involved in those causes as well, but felt in this limited area they could be a part of the solution that ended the problem.

“What troubles you, sweetheart? Thinking of Shannon?”

“Yes. But Marco, you should know that you were right—sharing the knowledge that something had happened to her with you helped lighten that burden. And then the way you committed your resources...”

“Our resources,” he corrected.

She smiled. “Yes, committed our resources to bringing her home makes me hopeful for the first time. Tony said he wanted to talk to me so I do want to do that.”

He kissed her tenderly. “You may do whatever pleases you... within reason.”

“I take it that means running off and getting on a train is out.”

He smiled ruefully. “It does indeed.”

“Killjoy. But I’m sure Valentina will have thought of something.”

He rolled his eyes and then joined arms with her as they walked down the stairs and into the dining room. Catherine saw that Valentina had brought Sera to their table and that she was engaged in some kind of spirited discussion with Luca.

“You go sit down. I will bring you a plate. Is there anything in particular that you have a taste for?”

“Other than you? Although you didn’t let me taste as much as I’d like last night. And anyway, isn’t that beneath an alpha of your standing?”

“Far from it. How the alpha treats his mate sets the standard for the rest of the men and is reflected throughout the pack.”

“Then all our women are in for a treat.”

“As are the men if their mates reflect the response of their Madonna. Of course the pack will be retiring earlier in the evening and getting up much later so that my men can enjoy their mates as I do mine.”

She blushed but laughed at his teasing.

Catherine walked to the table and all the men stood.

“Okay, guys, that has got to stop. You don’t stand when Marco comes over. I get it... you respect me. Now just sit down and relax.”

“My brother seems more relaxed than I have ever seen him. Relaxed is not a normal state of being for Marco,” said Tony.

“That, little brother, is because he is newly mated to his Catherine and likely she took full advantage of his devotion last evening.”

“Stefano, enough,” said his mate. “Do not embarrass Catherine.”

“Don’t worry about it, Louisa,” said Catherine. “I’ve already grown used to hearing the DeMedici men tout their own prowess in bed. But I wonder, Stefano, if Louisa would attest to your abilities in that regard. I can assure you that your brother’s legendary status as the ultimate lover is greatly deserved and vastly underrated.”

Stefano seemed a bit outraged at both her tone and her words.

Griffin pounded the table, laughing. “Well said, Catherine.”

Marco set a plate full of tantalizing food in front of her and sat down beside her.

“Your mate,” said Stefano in a scolding tone, “should learn her place where other alphas are concerned.”

Marco stilled her retort before saying, “In case you missed it, brother, my mate is an alpha in her own right and you sit at her table. Perhaps it is you who needs to be reminded of his place.”

“And perhaps,” said Catherine sweetly, “the two of you could just take them out, put them on the table, and measure them to settle the dispute.”

Marco and Stefano looked at her in outrage. The others at the table all began laughing riotously. The two brothers looked at each other and joined in the humor.

“It would seem, sister, I underestimated your strength and resiliency. You will need both to survive being mated to Marco,” said Stefano with affection in his voice.

“Perhaps, but it was his strength and virility I enjoyed throughout the night.”

Stefano laughed. “You, my brother, married a spitfire. And you, my love,” he said, turning to his mate, “do not need to emulate her.”

“I don’t know,” she said sweetly, “she seems to be having a great deal of fun and is already much loved and respected by her people.”

Stefano took Louisa’s hand in his and brought it to his lips. “As are you and most of all by your mate.”

Catherine glanced at Sera, who appeared to be fascinated.

“Don’t you just love male displays of testosterone?” Catherine said to Sera.

“Actually on the way here, I was worried that you might find life out here too quiet for your liking, but after the party last night and this morning’s shenanigans, I’m beginning to think you’ll have far more fun out here.” Sera looked directly at Marco. “You do plan to continue to spoil her rotten, right?”

“The most spoiled rotten mate in history. And you, Seraphina, are always welcome here at the villa. Besides Catherine will be in and out of Florence. I sit on several boards that are mostly about the arts. I have asked Catherine to take on those duties for me and she has agreed.”

“Well, damn. I got a good friend and an endless supply of DeMedici wine out of the deal,” said Sera.

The rest of breakfast was finished with laughter and fun. Sera made her apologies but said she had a new guest booked into her bed and breakfast and needed to get back to Florence. Catherine accompanied her to her car and hugged her close.

“Thank you for coming. I know it wasn’t a normal wedding...”

“Girl, if not-normal gets you all of this and a man who is clearly head over heels for you, sign me up for not-normal. I thought it was just wonderful.”

Catherine smiled. “Me too.”

They hugged again and Catherine waved as her friend drove off. Catherine felt Tony’s arm go around her.

“I like your friend. Think she’d like Rome?” he said conversationally.

“Doubtful,” said Luca as he joined them. “But the villa isn’t far from Florence and the new property even closer. I may have many times I need to be in Florence in the next several months.”

Catherine watched them eye each other wearily. “Enough, boys. Sera is my friend and under my protection. If she falls for either of you, fine, but she will not be forced to accept a claim by either of you.”

The two men grinned at each other.

“You gained one helluva of Madonna for your pack, Luca,” said Tony.

“That we did, Tony. But she is now your sister.”

“And God help all of us when she meets Gia. Poor Aidan and Marco may have to have new straps made. I need to leave for Rome no later than tomorrow morning and I want to talk with Catherine and Marco.”

He clasped Luca on the shoulder and headed back to the main house.

Tony found Marco, Griffin, Catherine, and Giovanni in Marco’s study.

“Tony?” Catherine said hopefully.

“Good, you’re all here.” Tony fished out his wallet and took out a picture. “Could this be Shannon?”

Catherine took the picture from his hand. The woman who stared back had been beaten and was tied up, but the look on her face was pure defiance. There was no doubt in her mind, the picture was of her sister, Shannon.

She hugged Tony. “Yes, that’s Shannon.”

“I am surprised by your reaction,” said Tony. “Griffin and I were fearful that seeing the picture, if it were her, would upset you. But Marco knew better. He said confirmation that she was alive and her spirit unbroken would lighten your heart.” He kissed her hand. “My brother has mated himself to an extraordinary woman, has he not, Griffin?”

“He has indeed,” replied the Welsh wolf.

“What do you know?” whispered Catherine.

“Not much. She was taken, as you suspected, in Florence. Apparently she got away from them once but before she could get to safety they had her again. Whoever the head of the organization is thought she had something special and has had her protected somewhere while he prepares her for a live auction in the next month or two.”

“Prepares?”

Tony smiled and took her hand. “Yes, they want her cuts and bruises healed. They don’t want her beauty marred nor do they want her spirit diminished. Griffin was able to get this from Salvatore. They think she is more valuable to them.”

Catherine looked at Marco. “But talking to Stefano it seems that you’re kind of the odd duck wanting a mate who isn’t submissive.”

“It is not as common,” he replied gently. “But there are those that believe spirited mates are the best for alphas and then there are some alphas who live to break their spirit. These bastards won’t give a damn which kind is bidding.”

“Marco,” she started.

He reached her quickly and comforted her with his embrace. “Shh, my Catherine. We will find her. Griffin, I fear I am going to need your help.”

“You have it.”

“And you have mine and the backing of the pack in Rome,” said Tony. “These bastards are shipping girls in and out through our city. Lorenzo, he is alpha of our pack, is none too happy about it. I persuaded him to do nothing until I talked with you. He did say he was amenable to follow your lead and wanted me to assure you that we are at your disposal.”

“The first thing,” said Marco, “is to find where the auction is being or was held. If it hasn’t been held then we will simply use Griffin as a shill and purchase your sister,” he said, looking to his old friend, who nodded. “If she has, we will try to track down the buyer and see if he is willing to be reasonable.”

“If not?” asked Catherine quietly.

“Then my patience and willingness to settle this peacefully will have reached an end. We will get your sister back.”

“So say we all,” said Griffin.

Catherine’s eyes welled with tears as each of the men in the room nodded.

“Thank you,” she said with great depth of feeling. “I am in your debt.”

“No,” said Tony with a grin, “your mate is. And that’s far better because he’s very, very rich!”

He waggled his eyebrows at her, making her laugh.

“Beyond your wildest imagining, little brother.”

“I think he means you,” said Tony to Catherine.

“I do indeed,” agreed Marco.

Catherine took hold of his hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it.