Page 22 of Harvest

She slipped on the sweater and left him to dress while she ran down the hall, pulling on her leggings as well as her favorite cowboy boots. Leggings, boots, and a top of some kind had been her normal attire in Italy. She’d found it comfortable and practical. She donned a pair of earrings as she went down the hall, meeting her mate as he left their room.

Xander swung her up in his arms and kissed her passionately before lowering his mouth to the bite mark and caressed it with her lips.

“It’s fine,” she said, running her finger along his strong jawline.

“It’s weird,” he said thoughtfully.

“What is?” she asked a bit confused.

“The instinct to remove the mark those bastards that took you inflicted and replace it with mine. Even though I knew it would cause you pain, in that moment I didn’t care.”

“Why weird? Aren’t all male wolves supposedly born with the scent of their fated mate in their nostrils and the desire to mark and claim them?”

“I wouldn’t know about the born part, but the first thing I remember after transitioning…”

“You weren’t born wolf either?” she asked.

He shook his head. “No. I became part of Damian’s SEAL unit. We were just finishing an op when I was shot. It shouldhave proved fatal. Damian turned me to save my life. But the first thing I remember upon waking was the scent of orange, laced with vanilla—the same scent I inhaled last night when I got to Torch Light.”

Xander linked her arm through his and led her down the stairs to Damian’s office.

CHAPTER 5

“Good, you marked her,” commented Damian as soon as he spotted the bite on Stephanie’s throat.

“Yes, I did,” said Xander with a shrug, “but the need to remove their mark from her was overwhelming. Besides, I’d like to know how you think you’ll handle it when your fated mate offers you her throat and urges you to claim her. And what can I tell you… my wolfy ways are impressive.”

Damian snorted. “That was fast. I figured he’d win you over, but I didn’t think it would be this quick.”

“He’s right. When he’s banging me against the shower wall, I don’t think too clearly.”

Xander growled at her and Damian laughed. “Oh, I like her. She’s going to lead you on a merry chase, claiming mark withstanding. The story has spread through the pack and everyone is excited to welcome their beta’s mate and new assistant vintner. Let’s get this call to Marco over with.”

Damian placed a video call to alpha of the DeMedici. When Marco appeared, he sat at his massive baroque desk with Catherine in his lap.

“Marco, I am Damian Steele…”

“I know who you are. I see my former she-wolf has arrived safe…” Marco’s voice trailed off as he spotted the mark on Stephanie’s neck and growled low.

Knowing Marco’s temper and already familiar with the temperament of her new alpha and her new mate, Stephanie stepped forward.

“Marco, from the time the Welsh Wolf delivered me to your doorstep, my safety and happiness have always been your concern. You entrusted me to the pack here atLuna de Lobo…”

He pitched forward a bit. “Because you and Luca convinced me they would care for you.”

She placed her hand on her mate’s arm. “And they do. You have always said you knew your Catherine from the moment you laid eyes on her and that she encouraged you to mark her as your own. Being a she-wolf of the DeMedici, how could I want anything different for myself? Xander is my fated mate and it was at my insistence that he claimed me before speaking with you.”

Catherine placed her fingertips on Marco’s mouth. “Is this what you wanted, Stephanie?”

Stephanie smiled and began to relax. If anyone could handle an enraged Marco, it was his own fated mate.

“It is, Madonna. Xander and Damian wanted to wait until they had a chance to speak with Marco. I think it’s only right that I point out that as far as I’m concerned the three of them can go hang themselves as I still maintain that no one has dominion over me that I do not give them.”

Catherine laughed as two alphas and a beta growled. “You are most definitely our Ashley’s little sister. Well said. Want to know a secret about male wolves… especially alphas and betas?”

“I would welcome any advice from the Madonna of the DeMedici.”

“They already know that many she-wolves believe that no one has dominion over them unless it is acknowledged and given. But in our society that isn’t always the case. The ones worth having know that respect and submission must be earned if it is to have meaning and importance. Thank your lucky stars you don’t have to deal withhimas you transition. I am still regaled with stories of how obnoxious Marco was,” Catherine said.

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