Chapter 3

Chapter

Three

J ed was exhausted. Jet lag was creeping up on him. He and Luca were driving back to La Fortezza, the vineyard and stronghold of the DeMedici pack. He was looking forward to getting to know his fated mate. He probably shouldn't have called to her— he hadn't been able to resist the allure to do so, but he'd spooked her. He should give her some time to get used to the idea that a wolf she hadn't seen in years was her fated mate. Many of the most spectacular she-wolves he knew had all resisted their mate's call, but in the end had heeded it of their own free will.

He was scheduled to be in Italy for at least a week and was sure his father would be supportive of his claiming Katarina. There was a kind of symmetry with his finding his fated mate here in Tuscany. After all, this was where it had all started for his parents. He and Kat would be lucky if their pairing was even half as successful as either of their parents'.

Jed was restless about both his career and his life in general, but that was nothing new. There was also a growing sense of discontent that seemed to have little to do with anything specific he could name. He'd followed in his father's footsteps and upon graduating high school, successfully completed the Navy SEAL challenge and got accepted straight away. Wolf shifters were inherently stronger and more fit, so he'd been welcomed into the elite special ops force. After his first stint was up, Jed had decided to leave the service, much to his CO's consternation.

He turned in his papers and had his duffle packed. All that remained was a face-to-face exit interview with his commander, a man he had grown to like and respect.

"Steele, take a seat."

"Yes, Sir. I'd like to say it's been an honor to serve with you."

"The honor has been mine. Your father was a legend. You're every bit as good as he was, if not better."

"Thank you, Sir. I consider that the highest compliment."

"Any chance I can change your mind?"

Jed shook his head. "No, Sir. I'm afraid not. My family could use me at home, but I do think I'll sign up for the reserves."

"I was hoping you'd say that. I'll have the paperwork sent to your home in Sonoma."

The CO stood and extended his hand. "I wish you well, Jed."

"Thank you, Sir."

He shook the commander's hand and saluted a final time before making a sharp, precise military turn and walking out the door. Within the hour he left the base and made a beeline for the coastal highway toward home.

He hadn't lied to the man. It wasn't that he hadn't found a great deal of satisfaction in his service, but the Hunters were starting to make noises again. And if that was the case, Jed believed it would be better to squash their rise before they got much stronger.

The last time there was trouble, his mother had first lost her twin sister, and then been turned without any prior knowledge of wolf shifters. She had been resistant to acknowledging that she was his father's fated mate. Jed grinned. The definition of ‘resistant' depended entirely on who you asked—his father, his mother, or his Uncle Linc.

He wasn't home a full day before his father tasked him with heading to Italy to meet with Luca Marino and bring home some vines for transplanting and several olive tree saplings. When the family jet rumbled down the runway and lifted off toward Europe, he tipped his long-neck bottle of beer in a toast to the fact that the small jet beat the hell out of a Navy transport plane.

"You'll give my Katarina time, yes?" asked Luca.

"Of course."

Luca nodded. "Good. I can help clear your way with her mother and will have Marco speak to the Madonna."

"Is she really that formidable?"

"The Madonna? I'm afraid so, but Marco can handle her. The Madonna answers to no one but her fated mate."

"As it should be. My father always says a she-wolf called to an alpha wolf needs to be strong enough to stand up to him."

Luca nodded. "It gladdens my heart to hear you say that. Katarina will take some taming. I have never known her to settle for the easy way or to be satisfied with halfway measures. She can be incredibly stubborn and goal oriented in what she wants. For instance, her mother wanted her to get a degree—she opted to get a Masters."

"In what subject?"

"Enology. She has a rare palate and good instincts about grapes and vines."

"How could she not? She has you for a sire."

They drove on toward La Fortezza. Luca was especially interested in the way Luna de Lobo and some of the other West Coast vineyards had expanded their operations into handling artisan foods like breads and cheeses. As they turned in the gates to head toward the impressive villa, Jed became concerned because he couldn't feel his fated mate's presence.

"What concerns you?" asked Luca, seeing the worried look on his face.

"I don't think Kat is at the villa."

"Of course she is. She told me she was feeling unwell and wanted to come back home to rest."

Jed shook his head slowly. "No, I don't think so. I can't feel her. I know we're not bonded yet, but both my father and my uncle could feel their mates from some distance away. In fact, it was my mother hovering near death that brought my father from California to Tuscany to search for her."

Luca nodded. "I remember. We wouldn't have found her in time if he hadn't been drawn to her location. You know our doctor didn't believe she would make it. Your father never left her side and willed her to live."

"I'm continually amazed by my mother. Can you imagine not knowing anything about our kind, waking up with people calling you by your sister's name, finding out your sister had been murdered and then realizing you were no longer human? And yet, my mother loves my father with a passion that is second to none."

"It was easy to see when they were here that if she allowed herself to give over to your father, they would have a long and happy pairing."

"That's what I want for Kat and me. I could do without having to chase her halfway around the world, but being wildly, deeply and passionately in love for the rest of my life has a lot of appeal."

"She believes she has kept this from me, but I know my daughter identifies as a submissive and has played at Baker Street and other clubs numerous times. So, the idea of having a wolf dominate her shouldn't be as foreign as it might have been to your mother or to the Madonna."

Jed nodded. That was good to know. If what he feared was correct, his stunningly beautiful mate was going to find herself face down over his knee before there was any pleasure to be had between them. He knew Luca was the omega for the DeMedici pack, and so would have approached his Seraphina differently than an alpha might. But it was probably not wise to point that out to Luca unless he had to.

They pulled up in front of the massive stone villa. It made his mission-style home at Luna de Lobo look small.

"She is magnificent, no?" Luca asked.

"Pictures don't do the place justice. I envy your pack's long-standing connection to this place."

"Yes, our roots run deep here. I take it you are your father's heir and will follow as alpha?"

Jed nodded. "Yes. Your daughter will be Mistress of Sonoma, in time."

A beautiful woman, close to Luca in age, came running down the steps and threw herself in his arms. The DeMedici Omega rumbled lovingly to his mate.

"Josiah," she said. Luca put her down but kept his arm around her waist.

"My family and friends all call me Jed."

"It's good to meet you, Jed. How long will you be staying with us?" Sera Marino asked.

"That depends on where Katarina has gone," said Jed.

"Kat? Our Kat?" she looked at Luca, who nodded. "She left for a short vacation with her friends in New Orleans."

"New Orleans?" Luca asked. "When did this happen?"

"This afternoon. She knew it wouldn't be an issue for her to be gone. Riley and Travis's new restaurant opens there next week and they're doing a soft opening to work the bugs out this weekend. Then she will leave after the opening and head for Luna de Lobo."

Luca growled menacingly.

Sera smiled. "I'm afraid my mate is not in favor of his daughter leaving Italy for California. I think it has balance. I came here and found my fated mate. Perhaps Kat's awaits her in the city by the bay."

"Not in San Francisco, Seraphina, although my family does have business interests there. But if she is headed for Luna de Lobo, she is headed for home."

"Your home," Sera smiled.

"And hers, in time," said Luca.

She looked at her husband. "If the job is offered and she decides to take it," she said. "If only you and Marco would assure her that she will follow in your footsteps, she wouldn't even consider leaving Piccolo and La Fortezza."

"I fear she will have no choice in the matter."

"What do you mean?" asked Sera.

"It would seem, my beautiful mate, that our daughter has bamboozled you. Jed is right—Katarina's home is in California with her fated mate."

"Kat doesn't have… No," Sera gasped.

"Yes," said Luca. "My darling Sera, our daughter has been called to her fated mate and he stands before you."

"No," said Marco coming down the stairs.

"I know you value tradition, Alpha," said Jed, respectfully. "I have spoken with Kat's sire and was planning to ask for your blessing as well."

Marco shook his head. "That little minx," he said with a laugh. "I will check the flights, but I fear your fated mate has—how do you say it?"

"Escaped?" supplied Catherine DeMedici.

"No," laughed Marco. "You should know better than most that there is no escaping your destiny or your fated mate."

"As I have pack business both here and in Rome, I had thought to give her time and court her properly, so that you are comfortable entrusting her care to me," said Jed.

"She will be in New Orleans," said Marco. "I will call that pirate and ask him to detain her."

"No need," said Jed. "Let her have her fun. If she is headed to Luna de Lobo after that, she will be in my home territory and I will take her to mate there—with your blessings, I hope."

"Luca, no. You and Marco can't do this," said Seraphina.

"We can, my love," Luca said soothingly to his mate.

"Catherine DeMedici, do not think I don't see you heading up those stairs. You will not interfere, or you will feel my strap across your backside," threatened Marco.

The elegant Madonna of the DeMedici growled low in her throat and shot her mate her middle finger as she ran up the steps, with Marco in hot pursuit.

"Can I take that to mean that neither you nor Marco object to my taking Kat to mate?" Jed asked Luca.

"I am her mother, and I object. Katarina will choose her own."

Luca shook his head. "No, Sera. Our daughter heard her fated mate's call and whether she interpreted it correctly or not, I saw her respond. Jed has my blessing to claim her."

"We'll see about that," said Sera quietly.

"If you are not careful, my beautiful mate, Catherine will not be the only one who will need a pillow to sit comfortably this evening." Luca turned back to Jed. "Come inside. I'll show you to your room. Dinner will be in two hours, unless you'd rather eat alone."

"No, Luca. I would prefer the company of the pack, and perhaps I can convince your mate that her daughter will be safe in my care. Kat will be safe enough in New Orleans with her friends so I will finish my business here in Europe. If she goes to Luna de Lobo, I will join her and with your permission, claim her there."

Luca inclined his head. "You aren't worried about her in New Orleans? I fear Piper and Skylar are not always the best of influences."

"You forget, I'm friends with Jean-Michel's sons and with Travis Nichols. I'll ask them to keep watch over her until she heads for Sonoma, or I can join her in the Crescent City. Once I'm back in the States, I will be able to focus all of my attention on bringing my wayward mate to heel."

C hantal could feel the malevolent force still in place. It worried her as her vision wasn't clear. It searched for a wolf-child, but not the she-wolf with the blood of Jean Lafitte.

"What is it, MawMaw?" asked Robyn, sensing her grandmother's distress.

"It is out there, waiting."

"For what?"

"For another host. It seeks a wolf-child. Call your friend Skylar and tell her I must meet with her and her mate. Ask her to indulge an old woman, for the Darkness is not done. It fears the wolves. She must raise the battle cry."