Chapter 4

Stephanie tried telling herself that the only reason she was responding in such a visceral, aroused way was because before their interlude at the club, she hadn't had sex, outside of a scene, since before she was turned. But that was lie and she knew it.

She'd never felt even an inkling of arousal when Marco's beta had spanked her. Mostly what she'd felt was stupid for having done something to earn a spanking and cherished because the pack cared enough for her to keep her in line. She and Ashley hadn't had that growing up.

Being spanked by Xander was a different thing all together. She enjoyed impact play with a flogger or whip, but Xander's hand slapping her ass made the buzzing in her head increase, fueled by the wildfire that raced through her veins. Arousal flared throughout her system. The hard, pulsing length against her hip only increased her raging libido. Before last night, it had been a while since she'd felt a man's cock thrusting deep in her pussy over and over before spilling himself in her sheath.

"Naughty she-wolves get spanked by their mate," he said as he applied his hand to her ass again and again, sending shots of pure electricity through her system.

She'd always disliked being spanked, but perhaps that was because she'd never been spanked by her fated mate. His hand striking her butt repeatedly hurt and yet felt really good. Perhaps it was the arousal that had heightened her senses, but she swore she felt this spanking more acutely than any she'd ever experienced before.

His hand covered her cheeks, encompassing every part of them including her lower cheeks and the backs of her thighs. She alternately wailed and moaned. He chuckled in response as his cock throbbed in rhythm to his swats. The harder and longer he spanked her, the more her arousal ratcheted up until it warred with the pain he was inflicting. This was no erotic spanking to ramp up her desire; no, her mate meant to punish her and establish his dominance.

"Damian will kill you for touching me without his permission," she growled, trying to bring her hands up to protect her thoroughly trashed backside.

"Hardly. First, I don't check with Damian before discipling our she-wolves. Second, Damian ensures his pack is safe, including naughty she-wolves who are trying to run away from their mate. Third, Damian never comes between a bonded pair, unless the wolf is being abusive and my disciplining you doesn't constitute abuse and crying wolf, pun intended, will get you disciplined a second time."

He caught her flailing hands in his and pinned them to the small of her back, holding her down. Over and over, he smacked her bottom, raising the heat level and color she could feel blooming across it. Her pussy pulsed with the same tempo as the fall of his hand and throb of his cock. Desperate to alleviate her need, Stephanie began to try and grind her clit against the hard length pressed against her.

Xander's hand came down that much harder.

"You do not seek to pleasure yourself and you especially don't do it when you're getting punished." He landed a last flurry of five strikes before resting his hand on her butt, holding the heat in. "I'm going to let you up and I want you to go press your nose to that wall."

"I won't."

"You will," he said calmly. "The only question is will you do it now, or do I need to take my belt to your beautiful bottom?"

Stephanie thought about continuing to defy him and realized if no one had helped her thus far, they weren't likely to do so now. She nodded and he helped her to stand.

"Wall, Stephanie."

When she didn't move away immediately, he gently swatted her aching backside to encourage her compliance. Realizing she had no way to avoid doing as he commanded, she walked to the wall and stood facing it. She could hear him cross to the door and open it.

"What are you planning to do?" Stephanie asked, afraid she knew the answer. She jumped as his arm wrapped around her, his hard length pressing against the crack of her ass.

Nuzzling her neck, he murmured, "I'm going to finish this properly and then will invite Damian and Evan to our room. Then my sweet mate, you will take your vows to me and I will take you into seclusion, mark you as mine and your fate will be sealed."

"No. You can't do this."

"Oh, but I can."

He reached up to tweak her nipple and made her groan. Her arousal continued to be present and accounted for. He whispered kisses along the top of her shoulder as he trailed his hand down to cup her mons, before slipping it between her legs and tickling her clit. The instant his thumb pressed against her swollen nub, her orgasm washed over her leaving her breathless and weak in its wake.

"Good girl," he purred.

She moaned. Stephanie had talked to enough she-wolves to know that most discipline sessions with a mate ended up with being fucked from behind as she stood bracing herself against the wall. It was a way to reenforce not only their dominance but reestablish feelings of affection and bonding. Stephanie opened her legs and nestled her naked backside against the hard bulge behind the fly of his leathers.

Xander chuckled and stepped away from her, running his hands down her sides, ending with a soft caress of her sore bottom before he moved away.

"I can't decide which would be more effective, having you take your vows standing there in the corner with your pretty red bottom showing and my cum dripping down the inside of your legs or squirming and needy on your knees. Care to venture a guess?"

She glanced over her shoulder and surreptitiously watched him. He was gorgeous. His leathers had emphasized his height, musculature, and size of his cock. God she was obsessed with the size of his cock, but then it had felt so good when he'd fucked her at the club. She could see it was fully engorged and pulsed against the front of his pants. Surely, he didn't mean to just let her stand here without alleviating their mutual need. She desperately wanted to feel him up inside her again, stroking her to another orgasm. Save that, she would be happy just to take him in her mouth and suck his cock until he filled her mouth and belly with his cum.

Xander changed out of his leathers, his cock bobbing up against his belly. He pulled on his jeans, tucking his cock inside and buttoning up the fly before selecting a chambray shirt and pulling it on. Surely, he wasn't going to make her take her vows on her knees between his feet. She wasn't sure which would be worse, being put on display with the evidence of both of his discipline and his claiming showing or in an advanced state of arousal at his feet.

"You, my mate, have a decidedly beautiful ass. It felt wonderful under my hand. I'm not sure I want anyone else outside the club seeing it. Not sure I want anyone at the club seeing it," he mused.

He opened the tall dresser, extracting a sweater.

"Put it on and stand there. It ought to cover enough."

"Xander…"

"The time for you to plead your case ended the moment you took off on me. That won't happen again. I mean to mark you, collar you, and marry you. I know our kind don't do a civil marriage like humans, but we will have a bonding ceremony. Behave yourself and you can have some input into what that looks like."

He strode out into the hall. She thought about trying to close the door and lock him out.

Glancing back over his shoulder, Xander stepped halfway back into the room, spearing her in place with a glare. "Think it through, Stephanie. The chances of you even getting to the door are slim to none and the consequence will be a welted ass for you from an aggravated mate. Wouldn't you rather go into seclusion with me of a mind to see if I can alleviate some of your discomfort."

"I hate you," she hissed.

"No, you don't. You're just pissed off that you can't top me from the bottom. I'm really not a twenty-four seven kind of Dom. Don't get me wrong, I will absolutely top you sexually and you will obey me, but I want a partner… someone I can share a life with… someone that I can just jump into this whole messy life thing together with and figure it out. But if that doesn't work for you, I can be all kinds of overbearing." He stepped back into the hall. "Trey? Can you ask Damian and Evan to join me?"

"Did you really take a mate?" a young man's voice called.

"I did." He stepped back into the room and stood at the end of the bed. "Come here, Stephanie," he said, reaching out to her.

"Xander, please don't make me do it like this…"

"Next time you want some consideration on my part, I suggest you yield. Now, come here. I want you to kneel at my feet."

Feeling defeat deep in her bones, she turned from the corner, took his hand and allowed him to settle her at his feet. Her first look at Damian Steele came as she looked up from the floor. Their alpha was even taller and more muscular than Xander, but then alphas did have a certain look about them.

"This would be our new assistant vintner?" rumbled Damian.

"Good to see you again," said Evan as if seeing his new employee in nothing more than a sweater kneeling on the floor was an everyday occurrence.

"Damian, Evan, this is my mate, Stephanie. I believe she is ready to take her vows."

"What if I'm not?" she snarled, finding some of her normal spirit.

"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 our beta. 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 the Luna de Lobo pack, 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 woman as 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."

Damian nodded. "I would and would be most annoyed with a she-wolf who didn't let me know she was safe and even more pissed at the alpha who allowed it."

"Don't let that worry you," said Evan. "Most things piss off Damian."

"I've found most alphas are just pissy by nature," teased Stephanie.

"Part of what makes them alphas," agreed Xander, helping her to her feet. "Do you want to go down to Damian's office and call your former pack?"

She nodded. "I think it would be best."

"Evan, go let the chef and kitchen staff know that we will be joining everyone in the dining hall shortly and that Xander has been called to and taken his fated mate."

"Will do. Stephanie, Kayla has set you up in another room. Your things have been unpacked and while you won't be needing clothes for the next few days, if you want you can get cleaned up…"

"She's fine," said Xander, followed by a warning growl from Damian.

Evan shook his head. "You'll have to forgive the two of them. They're both just this side of Neanderthals." He turned back to Damian and Xander. "Hot news flash for you, she-wolves don't like meeting their new pack and being presented as the fated mate to their beta without feeling they look their best. I'm not disagreeing with Damian and Xander, mind you, you look great. I just know Kayla would want a chance to change."

"Thanks, Evan. If you'll show me where the room is, I'll grab something and then come back here to hop in the shower."

"I suppose you just expect me to sit here like some trained lap dog," said Xander, clearly feeling as though his wishes where she was concerned were being overridden.

"Nope. I expect you to join me in the shower and have your wicked, wolfy way with me," she teased, feeling incredibly lighthearted.

"What an excellent idea," Xander said brightening. "I knew I picked a mate who was as intelligent as she is beautiful."

"God save me," said Damian as he left the room.

Evan leaned over and kissed her, despite Xander's growl, which she cut off with an elbow to his ribs. "We really are glad you're here and even happier that you and Xander have found each other."

"Thanks, Evan." She turned to Xander. "I'll be right back. Why don't you start the shower? When I was hiding in there, it looked fairly complicated."

"You have five minutes," he said, "then I'm coming to claim what's mine."

"I told you," said Evan, holding the door for her, "just this side of Neanderthals."

Evan showed her what was supposed to have been her room. It would have been nice, but she rather thought she liked the one with the gorgeous male wolf complete with broad shoulders, sculpted chest, six-pack abs, deep v-notches, and the most amazing cock. The rooms were on the same side of the house, so it meant she didn't have to give up her ocean view. I'd rather look at a naked Xander than the ocean, any day, she thought.

Stephanie grabbed a casual, silk slip dress with a deep V-neck, front and back she had purchased in Milan the last time the she-wolves of the DeMedici pack had gone on a shopping spree. She felt fortunate that her new home was close to a large, metropolitan city. She grabbed strappy sandals, a bra, and earrings. She thought about panties and decided against them because she doubted he'd allow it and knew that they wouldn't feel comfortable on her punished backside.

She winced when she thought about how much her ass hurt. Her mate knew how to deliver a wicked punishment spanking. He was as adept at discipline as he was at pleasure.

As she entered their room – when had she begun to think of it as their room? – the bathroom door was open. She heard the sounds of a powerful shower with multiple heads running and steam was beginning to fill the space. Stephanie pulled off his sweater and walked naked into the bath.

Xander turned and smiled. Apparently, he'd taken her at her word that she would welcome his attention in the shower. His cock was fully erect and made her smile.

"I'm not sure how to read that look," he rumbled, causing her nipples to stiffen and desire to swirl in her nether regions.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, rubbing her body against his, reveling in the feeling of his cock throbbing between them.

"I was just wondering why it was I didn't think I liked the idea of being your mate. Granted, you can be a jerk, but I find that's common amongst wolves." He growled and she grinned. "But you, my mate, have a lot to recommend you—not the least of which is that thing pressed against my belly. Besides, I find peace and happiness in D/s and you are an exceptional Dom. I have a new job where I think I can make a contribution and so far, everyone here seems nice. Except maybe Damian, but he's an alpha and the whole lot of them are miserable sots."

Xander chuckled. "Behave yourself," he said, swatting her backside.

She yelped and jumped into him, causing him to make a pleasured growl as he lifted her into his arms and carried her into the large, standing shower. He set her down under the hot, pulsing spray. She loved the feeling of her most feminine place as it seemed to soften and get wet in preparation for him. For whatever reason, Alexander Charles really did it for her. She hadn't even known him for twenty-four hours and yet she felt as though they had always been together. She smiled, that was the allure and the promise of a fated mate—that one soul that existed simply to complete her own. Hers stood right here, his hands stroking her body, soothing and arousing at the same time. She rubbed herself against him like the proverbial alley cat in heat, enjoying the feel of his cock as it throbbed.

"We told Damian we'd be downstairs shortly so if we're going to fuck, you better get on with it."

He swatted her again, the wet from the shower intensifying the sting. "Watch yourself, mate. I've warned you about trying to top from the bottom. I can tie you to our bed and torture you for hours and I will if you try it."

"You're such a jerk, mate of mine. How is it you've made me fall in love with you?"

"I'm not sure, but I'll take it."

Xander fisted her silky tresses and tilted her head back, trying to cover her mouth with his own. She bit his lower lip and he jerked his head back.

"Listen you Neanderthal, when your mate tells you she loves you, you might want to trying saying it back," she snarled.

He kissed her deeply, plunging his tongue past her lips and teeth to entice her tongue to dance with his.

When he lifted his head, he said, "You're right my beloved, but I'm just a mere mortal man, you're going to have to be patient and teach me some of these things. What I should have said was that I don't know how I managed it, but I am damn glad I did because I love you more than my own life, more than my next breath and I can't imagine living even a moment without you."

Her mate wasn't just good with impact play, the man knew how to kiss. He trailed kisses down her neck to her nipples, before sucking on one and moving to the other. Arousal surged through her system and all she wanted was to have him inside her, stroking her, fucking her, loving her. He hadn't used that word yet, but she could feel it in every single thing he did. He might not say it, but she felt it, nonetheless.

He pressed her back against the stone wall of the shower and lifted her before lowering her down, impaling her on his cock. She groaned in sheer pleasure. God he was huge, but her pussy had already learned to accommodate him. Her nipples grazed over his chest. She supposed if they hadn't been so aroused, the sensation would only have been pleasurable, but even the water could alleviate the mixture of pleasure and discomfort.

Xander began to work her body up and down his shaft as he thrusted inside her. If her mate knew how to kiss and how to use a flogger, that was nothing in comparison to his skill in fucking her silly. She'd always enjoyed sex, but nothing in her past compared to the way Xander filled her and sent her senses soaring. Subspace had nothing on the way she felt when he plunged his rod in and out.

"God, Xander, you feel so fucking good." She sighed as he held her in his arms and continued to do just that.

Stephanie had been avoiding sex after her captivity even though she hadn't been raped in the short time she was held in Serbia. She had feared with a wolf that he would try to mark her in order to make a claim for her, and she hadn't felt any desire for a human male. But this was altogether different. Xander was her fated mate. The need for him to irradicate the mark that had turned her was every bit as strong as his had to be to do it. She knew the control he must be exerting to keep from sinking his teeth into her neck in what she knew would be a painful bite.

He pounded her pussy, growling and groaning as he did so. He nuzzled and nipped at her neck and at the spot he wanted to take and bite. Stephanie's hands went instinctively up to cradle his head and press his mouth to the space between the hollow of her throat and her clavicle. She knew Xander wasn't an alpha and that normally his bite wouldn't have left more than a faint scar. But if he was going to erase the mark inflicted by DeMoncada's goons, he would have to bite harder and deeper and she would carry that mark for the rest of her life. But she wanted that mark and she wanted it now.

Xander lifted his head and looked her in the eye. "Are you sure? I thought you believed it might go better with Marco if we talked to him first."

Even though he totally supported her with his hands under her ass, she wrapped her legs around his lean hips.

"Marco is in Italy and as you and Damian pointed out is no longer my alpha. I want to meet my new pack with my mate's claiming mark showing."

She felt pleasure rushing through her veins as Xander lowered his head a second time and increased the rhythm and strength of his surging shaft as her pussy started to clamp down, she felt Xander sink his canines into her neck, moments before he bit down completely, shaking his head to deepen the bite.

Stephanie howled in release, partly from the orgasm that washed over her and partly from the pain inflicted from his claiming. As he released her throat, he threw his head back and howled in unison with her as he began pumping his seed deep within her. Her pussy contracted all along his length, milking his cock for all it was worth. There was something about the resolution of coupling with Xander that she found imminently satisfying. He pressed her against the wall, breathing heavily and kissing the bloodied wound.

They bathed each other, soothing and pleasuring as they sponged one another clean. She leaned her back against his front and giggled as his cock came alive and nestled in the crack of her ass.

"Already?" she asked happily.

"Always." He chuckled. "Know this mate, I will have you whenever, wherever, and however I want you. There will come a day not in the too distant future that I claim that dark hole and make you love it."

"I've never had any interest in anal sex, and it was always a hard limit for me." She turned in his arms and growled. "But despite the size of that mighty weapon that you keep between your legs, I no longer feel that way. I want you every way a wolf can take his mate."

"And you shall have me."

He reached around her and shut off the water, before helping her out of the shower and wrapping her in a towel. He knew he should urge her to dry herself off and to hurry downstairs. What he really wanted was to take her to their bed, crawl between her legs, and fuck her repeatedly. Damian and the pack could wait a few minutes longer.

He dried her off leisurely, running the towel all along her skin and removing any traces of water. He attended the bite mark on her neck, cleaning it and pressing his lips against it. When he was done, Stephanie returned the favor and dried him off as well. Xander led her back into their room.

"Pretty dress," he said.

"Thanks, but I got to thinking when I got back from that other room, that it might be too dressy. I'd rather wear a pair of leggings and either your shirt, or better yet your sweater that I had on earlier. Would that be okay?"

"I would like that, and it might send a subtle signal to Marco."

She laughed. "I think the chunk you tore out of my neck will be all he needs to know."

"Not necessarily. As you know, there have always been she-wolves marked against their will as you were when you were turned."

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed him. "I'll make sure he knows it was at my invitation."

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 should have 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.