Page 17 of Alpha Marked

Okay, girl, okay. Let's settle in, and I'll let you dance.

River peeled back her safeguards as they walked amongst the throng of shifters and humans. Too long. It had been too long since she'd released her wolf. She'd been so preoccupied with her work she'd neglected her other half.

Her wolf sniffed everything, taking it in.

I'm sorry, girl. I promise. I'll do better.

Clubbing was the only time her wolf didn't freak out in a crowd, being overly cautious. Just the occasional smell on the streets of New York could send her wolf into a panic. River couldn't blame her. They both still bore the scars of what had happened to them.

Tonight, she would let her wolf dance as much as she wanted.

River letthe music flow through her as she danced across from Bianca, Zeke, and Lachlan. She wasn't sure how she did it, or if everyone could, but she'd let down the barrier between her conscious self and her wolf and let her wolf guide her sometimes frenzied and erratic movements.

Five drinks had her relaxed, but due to her extra fast metabolism, it wouldn't last more than an hour at most. She'd never been a heavy drinker. She'd always been too controlling. Plus, she did not see the appeal of vomiting or embarrassing herself. She knew how much took the edge off without going into the out-of-control zone. And that's what she'd wanted from the night, to take the edge off and let loose.

Bianca, on the other hand, had a few too many flutes of champagne as she celebrated with Zeke. Like always, River felt responsible for watching after her sister, even with Zeke and Lachlan present.

As the song ended and the next one started, Zeke pulled his phone from his pocket and stopped dancing to read it. He said something to Bianca; she nodded, and he stalked off the floor, his expression serious.

River turned to Lachlan, who pulled his phone out before motioning River to the VIP area.

River nodded, and Lachlan started texting before he'd left the floor. What was that about? She scanned for Bianca. A second of panic coursed through her when Bianca wasn't where she'd left her moments earlier.

"Riviiieeeeeee-" Bianca called. "Come meet my new friends!"

Dammit.River had taken her eyes off Bianca for less than thirty seconds, and already the leggy brunette had two rogues grinding up on her. River stormed over and shoved the first male.

"Back off," she commanded, baring her teeth.

His eyes widened, and he backed away. Guy number two wasn't giving up so easily, though. He reached for Bianca's rear, and River twisted his wrist until his knees buckled.

"She's taken," she said through clenched teeth.

He swung at River with his free hand. Too bad for him Cherry had been exceptional at teaching River to fight.

River planted the pointy heel of her shoe on the inside of his thigh right over the artery and pressed down.

His swing stopped midair as he gripped her other leg.

"I said, she's taken, asshole." River moved her heel from his leg to his balls, and the guy let go of her. "Learn some respect before you're killed, idiot." She kicked him, and he doubled over. River let go of his arm, and he fell to the floor in a heap.

When she straightened, several of the encroaching males moved away.

Damn.What a way to ruin a fun buzz.

She turned. Yet another male was already approaching Bianca. River shook her head. It had always been that way with Bianca. If Zeke was smart, he'd mark Bianca in the VIP section.

"Bianca!" River retrieved her sister and glared at the male. He looked like he might protest for a moment, but she let the slit in her dress widen, and her hand went to the knife she had strapped on her thigh.

He spotted it and backed off.

"River, what's wrong?"

"You're mated, Bianca. You can't do this anymore."

Bianca's eyes widened. "I… I didn't think…"

"No. You didn't. But you need to B. This isn't like when we would sneak out. Zeke is your mate, and if he saw them touch you, you can bet most of these males would already be bleeding or dead."

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