They drove on with Marco pointing out various landmarks along the way. Catherine asked him questions about their home, their people, and their business. Marco assured her once again that if she wanted to pursue a career in art restoration he would ensure that she had all that she needed. When he saw the shadow of grief pass over her eyes, he caught her hand, bringing it to his mouth to kiss it. He reassured her that they would find out what had happened to Shannon. And that if she still lived, she too would be brought home.

“Marco, what about my things at Sera’s?”

“I will send someone to collect them. I will also, if you like, invite your friend to come to the villa and make sure she knows it is an open invitation and that she is always welcome.”

“Is Sera a wolf?”

“No. And it is often best not to tell someone of the difference unless she is your fated mate and you wish to claim her, but she is your friend and I will leave that decision to you.”

“In other words, best to remain silent on the subject of wolf shifters unless you’re a man and wish to spank and fuck her silly?”

He laughed. “In not so many words.”

“Marco, promise me you won’t ever let anyone force Sera to accept his claim.”

“That I cannot do. If she is the fated mate to a wolf, he will eventually find her and even though I will let it be known that she is under my protection, I would be obliged to listen to a man who believed she belonged to him.”

“But he can’t make her run if she’s human, right?”

“Correct, but he can still force the issue.”

“How?” she asked, fearing she knew the answer.

“He can claim her in front of the ranking members of the pack—just the alpha or any combination of the alpha, beta, and omega. The alpha must always be present.”

“Claim her how?”

“One of two ways.”

Once again, he pulled the car over and stopped.

“He can put her over his knee and spank her or he can put her on her back and fuck her until she yields. So you see, my Catherine, you were always going to surrender.”

“If anyone tries to force Sera or any other woman who seeks my protection, be prepared for one helluva a fight. Truly, that is barbaric.”

“That is tradition.”

“Fine, it’s a barbaric tradition.”

He laughed. “Only from a woman’s point of view.”

“From any point of view.”

“No. For a man with a fated mate who is being difficult, it ensures he has a way to bring her to heel. Never doubt, my love, had you not willingly surrendered to me...”

“I’m not sure how willing I am,” she said, grinning at him.

He chuckled. “Nevertheless, always remember I was more than prepared to claim you in any way I had to. The interesting thing is that it seems those alphas who must force the issue with their mates have the happiest of pairings.”

“Then we should be deliriously happy.”

“My point exactly.”

They got back on the road.

* * *

Several hours later they crested the top of the hill that marked the outskirts of the vineyard proper. Marco had pointed out to her the boundaries and explained how their entire estate was set out. When he drove through the automated gates and stopped the car so she could see the entire vineyard laid out before her, she couldn’t help but gasp at not just the sheer size of the operation, but its incredible beauty.

“Marco, this is amazing. I don’t think I have ever seen a place more beautiful.”

He smiled at her and kissed her hand again. “It pales in comparison to its mistress.”

“Then can its mistress please have clothes so she can meet her pack in something other than a bedsheet?”

“No. There is nothing in the car.”

“Marco! How can you do this to me? If there truly is nothing in the car, then what am I to wear at the villa or should I just run around nude?”

“Don’t be absurd, Catherine. For the next little while you and I will spend our time in seclusion where we will discuss whether or not you wish to become a wolf. By the time you decide, there will be clothes for you to wear provided you behave. Now cease your tantrum.”

“I am not throwing a tantrum, but I will if you don’t get me something to wear. I am not going to meet your pack or family dressed in nothing but a bedsheet.”

Catherine opened the car door and got out.

“Catherine, get back in the car.”

“Not until you get me some clothes.”

“Catherine,” he growled. “Get in the car.”

“No. I am not going to walk into the villa like this.”

“I was never planning for you to walk. Would you prefer to be carried into the villa over the threshold in my arms? Or would you prefer to be carried up to our room slung over my shoulder in the same state as when I carried you down the stairs at our hotel?”

“Neither. If you want these people to respect me, I need to be dressed when I meet them. Damn it, Marco, if there really are no clothes in the car, take me somewhere where I can buy something to wear.”

Catherine watched as he slowly exited the car and shut the door firmly. Looking at his face, Catherine realized she may have once again pushed him too far. She turned to run, but was too late. As she spun, she got caught up in the bedsheet. She started to stumble and fall, but Marco was there to catch her.

“You caught me,” she said, surprised that he had been able to react so quickly and keep her from injuring herself.

“I will always catch you, my Catherine—either to keep you from falling or when you are trying to avoid a spanking.”

“You can’t be serious. You’re going to spank me?”

“Did you return to the car when I told you to do so?”

“Well, no,” she admitted.

“Did you cease your tantrum when I warned you to stop?”

“No,” she sighed.

Marco gently fisted her hair. It occurred to her that it was odd that he could tangle his hand in her hair giving him control and yet do so in a manner that didn’t cause her any pain. And then she realized that any shot she’d had at any dignity whatsoever upon first entering her new home had vanished when she disobeyed him and then tried to run.

She shook her head—what made her think she could outrun a wolf in his own vineyard wrapped in a bedsheet?

He used her hair to guide her into position over the hood of the car. He pulled the bedsheet up. Catherine could feel the cool breeze brush over her bared bottom like a lover’s caress.

“Marco,” she pleaded.

Marco said nothing but quickly began to pepper her backside with light stinging swats that made her dance to try to get away from him.

“I’m sorry.”

“Are you?” Marco asked her.

“Yes. Please?”

Marco stopped and stepped away from her. Catherine wisely stayed where he had put her. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw him come close again. He slowly and deliberately reached between her legs and chuckled as she responded by spreading her legs and giving him easy access to her throbbing clit and gaping pussy.

“Please, Marco.”

“What is it you want, my Catherine?” he growled, allowing the lust he too was feeling to rumble through her.

“I want you not to be angry when we get home.”

“You want to be forgiven?” he said as he stroked her clit, dragging his fingers through her wetness, only barely dipping his fingers into her sheath.

“Please,” she sighed.

“And how do I normally forgive you when you have forced me to spank you?”

Wisely, she decided not to argue the point that she hadn’t forced him to do anything. “You mount me from behind and fuck me until you’ve made me climax so many times I lose all sense of time and place.”

He chuckled. “But you like my way of forgiving you, don’t you, tesoro?”

“Yes, Marco, please. Those swats hurt and left a lasting sting, but it’s nothing compared to the ache I have to feel you inside me stroking.”

She saw him open his fly and his cock spring free. Taking hold of her hips, he positioned himself behind her and thrust home strong and hard. She had come to expect that after he spanked her that his possession of her would cause her to orgasm and this time was no exception. She had ceased to think about the fact that they were standing on what amounted to a very long drive way up to their home or that the first time her pack would see her would be tossed over his shoulder carried up to their room. All she cared about was Marco’s passionate and all-consuming lovemaking.

He thrust in and out, groaning with pure animal satisfaction as he did so. She moaned in obvious, oblivious pleasure. She took one of her hands off the hood of the car, grasped the hand holding one of her hips, and brought it up to push aside the bedsheet to fondle her breast.

Marco began to piston his hips, ratcheting up the power and speed with which he fucked her. Even though every time he surged forward, her punished backside made painful contact with his pelvis. It caused a mixture of discomfort and profound lust. Catherine found she reveled in the way he made her feel—both physically and emotionally. Whenever he finished with her she was completely sated and was content to bask in the love she felt envelop her.

He groaned loudly as his cock began to spurt into her. She could feel her pussy being bathed with his creamy essence. Her only thought was that she hoped none of it would drip onto the floor when he carried her to their room. He thrust one last time, ensuring that there was nothing left to spill in her and so that she could feel his power and love.

“Now, my naughty mate, we will adjust your covering and you will get in the car and behave yourself. When we get to the main house, you will stay in the car until I get you out and take you to our room.”

“You’re going to carry me over your shoulder, aren’t you?”

“Did you behave well enough to either walk in at my side or be carried in my arms as my cherished mate?”

“No, Marco,” she admitted.

“You’re right, you did not. So, I will take you as my claimed, naughty mate. Our pack will see their new mistress is spirited but that their alpha is her master.”

He let her up and helped her adjust the bedsheet so that it was secure and nothing was showing. He helped her into the car, leaned down, and kissed her.

“Never forget, my Catherine, that I am the dominant one and that I love you with every fiber of my being.”

She reached up to bring his mouth back to hers and returned the kiss.

“I’ll try not to forget that you are alpha. But you need to know even when you are punishing me that I never doubt your love for me. Just please don’t let my willfulness cause you to doubt that I love you just as much.”

He smiled. “I promise, my Catherine. And as you know, I am a man who keeps his promises.”