Page 19 of Harvest

“Oh, I like her,” said Damian, clearly amused.

“Then our alpha and omega will get a clear view of your bright red backside as I put you over my knee to spank you until you’re ready to do so,” growled Xander.

“Good choice, Evan. I think these two are going to be excellent entertainment for the rest of the pack,” Damian chortled.

“Aren’t you supposed to protect the she-wolves in your pack?” accused Stephanie.

“I am responsible for protecting everyone in our pack. I can’t think of anyone with whom you would be better paired than ourbeta. I would caution you, little wolf, to mind your mate. You will not play us one against the other.”

“Enough, Stephanie. I, Alexander Charles of theLuna de Lobopack, claim you as my fated mate. What say you?” he intoned.

“Evan, do something. You got me into this mess,” Stephanie pleaded.

Damian and Xander both growled—the sound of Xander’s rumbling reverberated through her body and she shuddered in response.

Evan squatted down so he could look her in the eye. “No. I invited you to join us. I had no idea that you were Xander’s fated mate, which your response to him confirms. I suggest you acknowledge that, take your vows and settle down.”

“I will find a way to tell Marco,” she threatened.

“I will tell Marco myself once you have taken your vows. If he chooses to challenge my dominion over you or Xander’s claim, he is welcome to do so. But regardless of your stubbornness, you are a member of this pack and no one will separate you from us without a fight… a fight they will lose,” said Damian in a tone that brooked no defiance.

“I asked you a question, mate. Will you yield now and take your vows, or do I need to put you back over my knee?”

“I don’t even know you. You don’t know me. How is this different than what DeMoncada tried to do?” she said a bit desperately.

Xander growled and her body responded involuntarily. He knelt down, took her chin in his hand and forced her to look at him.

“Do you really equate what that bastard did to you with being claimed by me?” he demanded quietly.

As much as she wanted to deny him and accuse him, she knew it wasn’t true.

Slowly, she shook her head. “No,” she whispered.

“Then, I’ll ask you again. What say you, mate?”

Knowing she had no real choice because he was her fated mate, she replied, “I, Stephanie Savik, acknowledge you, Alexander Charles, as my one true fated mate.”

The smile that erupted across his face was brighter than the Tuscan sun. He leaned into her, pressing his lips to hers.

“It’ll be all right, Stephanie. I promise.”

“Do you?”

“I do. And in the next few days we’ll see about getting you a collar and a ring.” He kissed her again. “Do we have your blessing, Alpha?”

“You do, indeed,” replied Damian. “I’ll have them bring food up while you’re in seclusion. In the meantime, I’ll deal with Marco.”

Suddenly, she felt the weight of being mate to one of the pack’s ranking members.

“Alpha? It might be better if he heard it from me and knew I had acknowledged and accepted Xander’s claiming.”

“This is a rather quick one eighty.”

Stephanie tugged her lower lip between her teeth. “As you have all pointed out, it’s rather obvious Xander is my fated mate. I may not have been born wolf, but I have been one long enough to know that even if Marco was willing to fight for me, the minute he saw my response to Xander, it would be all over.”

She felt more than heard Xander’s low rumbling at her. It wasn’t an angry or even seductive feeling that washed over her. It was a deeply soothing sound that seemed to be speaking from his soul to hers. She reached out to take his hand. She remembered once hearing Catherine talk about when it hit her that Marco was her mate… her past, present, and future. The Madonna of the DeMedici was as strong and capable a womanas ever lived, and she had understood her role in their pack and embraced it. Stephanie would do no less.

“I should call them to let them know I arrived safely. I texted my sister when I landed, but my guess is if I don’t call them, they will call here. I’m sure if the situation were reversed, you would do the same.”

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