by James, Delta
“The most spoiled rotten mate in history. And you, Seraphina, are always welcome here at the villa. Besides Catherine will be in and out of Florence. I sit on several boards that are mostly about the arts. I have asked Catherine to take on those duties for me and she has agreed.”
“Well, damn. I got a good friend and an endless supply of DeMedici wine out of the deal,” said Sera.
The rest of breakfast was finished with laughter and fun. Sera made her apologies but said she had a new guest booked into her bed and breakfast and needed to get back to Florence. Catherine accompanied her to her car and hugged her close.
“Thank you for coming. I know it wasn’t a normal wedding...”
“Girl, if not-normal gets you all of this and a man who is clearly head over heels for you, sign me up for not-normal. I thought it was just wonderful.”
Catherine smiled. “Me too.”
They hugged again and Catherine waved as her friend drove off. Catherine felt Tony’s arm go around her.
“I like your friend. Think she’d like Rome?” he said conversationally.
“Doubtful,” said Luca as he joined them. “But the villa isn’t far from Florence and the new property even closer. I may have many times I need to be in Florence in the next several months.”
Catherine watched them eye each other wearily. “Enough, boys. Sera is my friend and under my protection. If she falls for either of you, fine, but she will not be forced to accept a claim by either of you.”
The two men grinned at each other.
“You gained one helluva of Madonna for your pack, Luca,” said Tony.
“That we did, Tony. But she is now your sister.”
“And God help all of us when she meets Gia. Poor Aidan and Marco may have to have new straps made. I need to leave for Rome no later than tomorrow morning and I want to talk with Catherine and Marco.”
He clasped Luca on the shoulder and headed back to the main house.
Tony found Marco, Griffin, Catherine, and Giovanni in Marco’s study.
“Tony?” Catherine said hopefully.
“Good, you’re all here.” Tony fished out his wallet and took out a picture. “Could this be Shannon?”
Catherine took the picture from his hand. The woman who stared back had been beaten and was tied up, but the look on her face was pure defiance. There was no doubt in her mind, the picture was of her sister, Shannon.
She hugged Tony. “Yes, that’s Shannon.”
“I am surprised by your reaction,” said Tony. “Griffin and I were fearful that seeing the picture, if it were her, would upset you. But Marco knew better. He said confirmation that she was alive and her spirit unbroken would lighten your heart.” He kissed her hand. “My brother has mated himself to an extraordinary woman, has he not, Griffin?”
“He has indeed,” replied the Welsh wolf.
“What do you know?” whispered Catherine.
“Not much. She was taken, as you suspected, in Florence. Apparently she got away from them once but before she could get to safety they had her again. Whoever the head of the organization is thought she had something special and has had her protected somewhere while he prepares her for a live auction in the next month or two.”
“Prepares?”
Tony smiled and took her hand. “Yes, they want her cuts and bruises healed. They don’t want her beauty marred nor do they want her spirit diminished. Griffin was able to get this from Salvatore. They think she is more valuable to them.”
Catherine looked at Marco. “But talking to Stefano it seems that you’re kind of the odd duck wanting a mate who isn’t submissive.”
“It is not as common,” he replied gently. “But there are those that believe spirited mates are the best for alphas and then there are some alphas who live to break their spirit. These bastards won’t give a damn which kind is bidding.”
“Marco,” she started.
He reached her quickly and comforted her with his embrace. “Shh, my Catherine. We will find her. Griffin, I fear I am going to need your help.”
“You have it.”
“And you have mine and the backing of the pack in Rome,” said Tony. “These bastards are shipping girls in and out through our city. Lorenzo, he is alpha of our pack, is none too happy about it. I persuaded him to do nothing until I talked with you. He did say he was amenable to follow your lead and wanted me to assure you that we are at your disposal.”
“The first thing,” said Marco, “is to find where the auction is being or was held. If it hasn’t been held then we will simply use Griffin as a shill and purchase your sister,” he said, looking to his old friend, who nodded. “If she has, we will try to track down the buyer and see if he is willing to be reasonable.”
“If not?” asked Catherine quietly.
“Then my patience and willingness to settle this peacefully will have reached an end. We will get your sister back.”
“So say we all,” said Griffin.
Catherine’s eyes welled with tears as each of the men in the room nodded.
“Thank you,” she said with great depth of feeling. “I am in your debt.”
“No,” said Tony with a grin, “your mate is. And that’s far better because he’s very, very rich!”
He waggled his eyebrows at her, making her laugh.
“Beyond your wildest imagining, little brother.”
“I think he means you,” said Tony to Catherine.
“I do indeed,” agreed Marco.
Catherine took hold of his hand, brought it to her lips, and kissed it.
Chapter Twenty-Five
The new few months flew by as Catherine took on the role of mistress or Madonna, as her people called her, to the DeMedici pack. She also, at Marco’s urging began to serve on the boards for two museums, the Bargello and the Uffizi, where both directors enjoyed a discreet smile and laugh with her.
It was while she was in Florence for the day that Tony managed to get away from his duties in Rome and meet with her at the DeMedici hotel. He was able to relay the information that Shannon remained unsold. Those who held her were trying to build an enormous bidding war. She was being held in one of the country houses of one of the packs in Eastern Europe. Through Griffin and Marco’s intelligence contacts they had been able to track her location.
“Lorenzo has had dealings with this pack before. He was a bit surprised that they had participated and wanted to know if Marco wanted him to try to negotiate or if Marco wanted to do it himself. I’ve got a call into Marco.”
“Tony, give me the information. I’ll call them.”
“While my brother cherishes and values you above all else in this life, I fear this alpha will only talk to another alpha... another male alpha.”
“Does Lorenzo have any idea whether they might give my sister back?”
Tony shook his head. “He really doesn’t know. He was surprised that they had been involved at all much less were in the running to purchase her.”
“Why do you keep saying they instead of he? What aren’t you telling me?”
“You aren’t going to like the answer. We think this pack may have gone feral.”
“What do you mean feral?”
“I’d rather we were at the villa to explain.”
“Fuck it, Tony. I want the information. Give it to me. I’ll take it home with me and talk to Marco.”
Tony laughed. “No, you won’t. You’ll call the bastards yourself and when they won’t speak to you, you’ll curse them up one side and down the other. And that will do nothing except earn you a soaped mouth and a trip over my brother’s knee. I can only imagine how difficult this must be for you, but you must allow us to do this in the way that gives us the best chance at success.”
“You know, little brother, you are neither pack nor your brother, Marco, I’m thinking the rule about my not striking out at pack or Marco doesn’t extend to you.”
Tony laughed again. He and Catherine had become close. “Can I be there when you t
ry that argument on him?”
She smiled ruefully. “No. We both know it will fail and I’ll end up having trouble sitting down. If you don’t get hold of him, will you at least come home with me this afternoon so that we can talk to him?”
“Yes, sweet sister, I will come home with you mainly because I now worry without someone to remind you that you are mate to a powerful alpha you will do something that will get you in trouble.”
“Pfft,” she said, dismissing his concerns, but knowing he was right.
When they hadn’t heard from Marco by the time Catherine was ready to head for home, Tony joined her on the helicopter that made short work of the trip back to the villa. They landed and ran up to the house.
Catherine smiled as she saw him. It didn’t seem to matter how long or how many times they were together, her heart always seemed to skip a beat, her nipples would harden, and the place between her legs would begin to pool moisture. There was no question about it—the Madonna of the DeMedici pack had a decidedly lustful relationship with its alpha.
Marco swept her into his embrace, twirling her around with his arms locked under her ass and kissing her passionately.
“God, I missed you,” she said. “I swear if you’d showed up at the hotel I’d have blown everything else off just to have the chance to blow you.”
Marco laughed—a sound laced with more than just a trace of arousal. “Shall I knot you from behind tonight, my Catherine? Would you like that?”
He allowed her to slide down his torso.
“Yes, but only after you have stroked me long and hard. I want to wake up in your arms tomorrow morning feeling sore and well used.”
He kissed her again before turning to his little brother.
“I take it you have news you didn’t wish to share with Catherine?”
“It isn’t that I didn’t want to share it with her. I feared she would not wait for you and would inflame the situation and/or put herself in danger.”
“In other words,” said Catherine archly, “he didn’t trust me not to fuck it up.”
Marco’s swat to her backside was swift and hard. “Catherine,” he growled, warning her.
“Well, he didn’t,” she said sullenly.
“Watch your tone as well, my Catherine, lest you end up finding out how it feels to be knotted from behind when your beautiful bottom is a deep shade of red.”
“Yes, Marco,” she said, nuzzling him. “But he could have told me.”
“And most likely he assessed the situation correctly and you would have made things worse. That is not what you want, is it, my tesoro?”
“No.”
“Then apologize to Tony and we will all go into my study.”
“But...”
“If you can’t or won’t apologize, then I will send you to our room where I will decide how to deal with you after I have talked with my brother.”
“I’m sorry, Tony. I’m just...”
Tony crossed to her and kissed her on the cheek. “I know, Catherine. We’re fine... and your mate is far too strict with you. You should run off with a handsome beta who would only lavish you with love and affection.”
She giggled and Marco growled. Tony had a way of always finding a way to make her laugh. And if he could piss off Marco in the bargain, he considered it a good day.
“Yeah, that would be a problem. You see... I’m seriously addicted to that whole knot thing.”
“Catherine!” Marco admonished her.
Tony laughed. “Oh, come now, Marco. That’s fairly tame for your Catherine when she’s getting even with you.”
Marco shook his head. “You are of little to no help, brother.”
“Perhaps. But your mate adores me, don’t you, Catherine?”
“I do indeed,” she said, linking her arm through his, but wrapping her arm around her mate’s waist.
They walked up to the house and entered Marco’s study.
“As I told Catherine, we have been able to confirm that Shannon has been taken to the country estate of one of the packs in Eastern Europe.”
“Tony says they think they’ve gone feral, but he won’t tell me what that means.”
Catherine watched a look pass between the two brothers.
Tony continued, “Lorenzo knows the alpha a little and was surprised that he would have participated in such an operation. Lorenzo said he would speak with the man either as a way to introduce you or on your behalf.”
“I want to talk to this bastard,” Catherine said heatedly.
“And you, my mate, can take yourself up to our room and wait for me. If you start to fuss, I will call Giovanni to escort you upstairs and you can take off your clothes and wait for me with your nose in the corner.”
“Marco...”
“Catherine, one more word and I will summon Giovanni.”
Marco looked down at her.
“I’ll go. It was nice to see you, Tony. Your brother can be a real jackass when he tries.”
Marco growled as she left the room.
* * *
Catherine grabbed Valentina’s hand and dragged her along as she ran up the stairs. Pulling her into the room, she closed the door behind them.
“Catherine?” said Valentina, her voice filled with concern.
“What the hell is feral? I mean I know the meaning of the word, but what does it mean when someone says a pack has gone feral?”
“There is no chance the DeMedici pack will ever go feral. Marco and Giovanni would never allow it.”
“That’s great,” said Catherine exasperatedly. “But what the fuck does it mean?”
“If a pack has gone feral, the ranking member structure has become irretrievably broken. Often times a beta has killed the alpha and seeks to take over.”
“What would it mean for a woman entering that pack?”
“Why do you want to know?”
“Valentina, please.”
“If she was brought into such a pack, it would mean that she would be kept as a breeder. Feral packs do not take mates in the way we do. They will bring a new female into the pack, generally young and of child-bearing age. Several members, usually the ranking members, will breed her on a regular basis. Even once she has conceived they will continue to use her for their pleasure until it is dangerous for the baby for them to do so. Once she has delivered the child, either they determine the father and she is mated to him or the child is placed in a nursery for the pack to raise and the whole horrible process starts over. Generally there are only a few women, one will be used by the three ranking members and the others will be used by the rest of the males.”
Catherine stumbled as she grabbed the bedpost for support. “Oh, God,” she cried softly.
“Should I get Marco?”
“No. I just needed a moment.”
“Why did you ask about a feral pack?”
“Tony thinks my sister may have been placed in one pending her sale.”
“Catherine, I’m so sorry. I’m sure Marco will find her and get her out of there.”
“Thanks, Valentina. You’d better leave. I got sent to my room and I doubt Marco meant for me to have company.”
Valentina hugged her. “I don’t care. If you want me to stay, Gio can just be mad at me too.”
“What greater love for a friend than that she would put her butt on the line for you.”
“You’d do the same for me.”
Catherine watched the door close, then stretched out on their bed and began to quietly sob.
* * *
“I appreciate that you didn’t give her the information that would have caused her to get herself into even more trouble.”
“This is hard for her, Marco,” said Tony.
“I know, but she also needs to obey me, especially when I have warned her to cease and she continues on.”
“But, Marco...”
Marco laughed. “And this, little brother, is why beta males should never mate with alpha females.”
“She may
be a handful, but she does love you.”
Marco smiled. “That she does. Almost as much as I love her. But you were right not to give her the information. She would have called him.”
“Lorenzo warned me that he was a stickler for protocol. A female calling him and challenging him, there’s no way he would have been willing to listen.”
“What did Lorenzo think the chances were of his giving her up?”
“Not very good. As I said, he thought it was out of character and so for him to have done it, he had to have been desperate. And the rumor is that he has lost control and his pack has gone feral.”
“In that case, tell Lorenzo not to risk his relationship with the man. We may need it later. Give me the information and I will take it from here.”
“Only if you promise not to punish Catherine.”
Marco laughed. “You don’t even live here and have taken up her cause. I knew the women would all fall in behind their Madonna but I hadn’t counted on the men. At this point, I wouldn’t want to put it to a vote with them.”
Tony laughed as well. “I’ll leave the information with you. If I can trouble you for a ride back to Rome?”
“Of course, helicopter or car?”
“I’d love to take one of the vintage roadsters, but I’m needed before then. You aren’t the only one with a misbehaving woman. One of our girls is going through a rough patch. I’ve got her on weekly maintenance and she is due tonight.”
“Ah, the work of a beta is never done,” Marco chuckled.
“It’s different though, you know? I mean I’ve played around with spanking girls for fun and pleasure and now as beta for our pack, but they say it is different when the woman is your mate.”
“It is,” said Marco. “Because you’re involved on a more intimate level, as are they.”
“But they don’t seem to like being spanked. I get why I’d get aroused, but why do they?”
“It isn’t the pain or discomfort that makes them aroused. It is the dynamic of surrendering themselves to your authority. When a woman is spanked for discipline, it hurts. It can be difficult to do what you know needs to be done in order for your mate to be secure and happy. And it’s harder on your mate. She is upset that she has disappointed you. The more powerful and spirited the woman, the more satisfying the surrender.”
