Marked by the Alpha

Imagine a world where werewolves and humans coexist.  For the most part they are able to live peacefully in each other’s presence; however some humans have taken an interest in hunting wolves.   Unfortunately for Dani, she was their next pray.  Dani is a lone wolf and has always resisted joining a pack.  After being alerted to Dani’s precarious situation, Mason Daniels believes her best interest lies in joining his pack, regardless of what she wants.

Sparks fly each time Mason and Dani are in the same room, especially after Mason is forced to teach Dani how to be respectful of his pack.  This old fashioned lesson is delivered one way and can leave even the strongest of werewolves pretty sore.

Mason ran his hand through his hair. “Get over here,” he ordered, then sat down on the bed.

“I don’t want to come over there.” Dani glanced out the window. It was just getting dark outside. Where would she be right now if he and his pack had not found her?

“You have already tried my patience today. Come here, Dani, now.” Mason’s power began to prickle along her spine.

Dani stood stiffly and walked towards the bed. “I didn't do anything wrong.”

“You disrespected my second-in-command, after he went and sat with Alisha for hours while she was freaking out.”

Dani stood there watching him. She did like his attention. Phil had been right about that but she dreaded the idea of him spanking her. She did not like submitting to him. “I don’t want you to spank me again.”

“Then you should have thought about that before growling at a man who put your needs ahead of his own.” Mason held his hand out to her.

“I didn’t ask you to come and rescue me!” Dani yelled at him. “I didn’t ask you to come to my store! I’ve been on my own for years!”

“If your best friend hadn't called me you would be dead in the woods with a bunch of hunters jacking off on your corpse.” Mason’s words painted a grisly picture of what could have happened.

Dani took his hand and he pulled her over his lap. “I am afraid,” Dani said softly as she felt him pull down her leggings. “I am afraid of my feelings.”

“You can tell me all about your feelings after I teach you what I will do every time you disrespect me or my second.” Mason gave her bare bottom a hard spank, then another, and quickly increased the tempo. “You will be a part of this pack even if you wind up over my knee with your bare bottom bright redevery day.”

Dani yelped and squirmed as the sting of the spanking continued to build. “Is this what you do to all the females in your pack?”

“I would not give any other female this much of my time.”

“What?” she asked, breathing heavily.

Mason kept right on spanking. “For starters, all the females in my pack already respect me. If one does get out of line, then it is up to her mate to take care of that. If she has no mate then I have a loyal second-in-command who is more than happy to do some attitude adjusting,” he told her, and punctuated his words with several particularly hard smacks to her sit-spot.

Mason continued to rain his hand down upon her bare cheeks. The clink of Mason's belt buckle being undone came next, followed by the leather kissing the top of her thighs right where they met her bottom. For several minutes only the sound of Mason’s belt striking her flesh was heard. Dani tried to wiggle forward, but his other hand moved across her lower back and held her in place. Mason continued for another minute or so, then finally stopped spanking and asked,“Are you ready to have a real conversation now?”

Dani said nothing as she lay limply against his legs and nodded. She felt him fix her pants and she was now lying on the bed. He had sat on the edge and was fixing his belt.“What does it really mean if you claim me?” Dani asked softly. She was sniffling and trying to stay still; her butt was burning.“I need to know before I submit to something like that,” she whispered.

Mason lay back on the bed and propped himself up with an elbow. “You would have the pack’s protection at all times. You would support my decision in all matters.”

“And babies?” Dani whispered as she looked into those damn brown eyes again.

“Yes,we would make pups.” Mason touched her face. “But I will not force myself upon you. Once I claim you, it is permanent and I will not have you hate me for the rest of your life.”

“I’m having a hard time with this,” Dani whispered as she tried to stop the thoughts flying through her head. She let out a long sigh and decided to get off the bed. Mason reached down and offered his hand. She took it and stood slowly.

“I’m still not sure I want to join your pack, Mason. Since it seems I have no choice, however, I can try to learn how to function in a pack. I just have no idea how to let others watch out for me without feeling defensive,” she admitted at last.

“Then I will have to teach you,” Mason stated simply.

“Marked by the Alpha” was definitely a fun read and contained several yummy spanking scenes.  The main conflict in the novella revolves around the fact that Mason wants Dani in his pack, even if he has to claim her forcefully and Dani is resisting.  Mason continuously doubts whether he should invoke his right as an alpha and claim her.  Simultaneously, Dani silently wonders if this would just be easier if Mason would do just that.  Given that the only two things that truly kept these star crossed werewolves from being together was themselves, I found myself getting frustrated with both characters.  Luckily, my frustration was tempered by frequent and fiery spanking scenes.  I recommend “Marked by the Alpha” to spanking enthusiasts who also enjoy science fiction.