Page 71 of Alpha Marked

What the… How did he see her like that? She'd never thought of it before, but… he was right. She'd never had someone understand her before. Not that she'd ever given a guy a chance, but still… At that moment, she wanted nothing more than for Ares to be her mate.

Mine. My Alpha. My mate.

River nodded.Ours. Our Alpha. Our Mate.

A white ribbon appeared out of nowhere and wrapped around her wolf's leg. Slow and silky like a lover's hand. It stopped at the ankle, and the rest lay next to her. River anticipated the panic. Waited for her wolf to freak out, but she didn't. She howled with delight.

River's heartbeat quickened, and she couldn't breathe.

"What is that?" she whispered.

Ares ran his fingers up her arm to her chin and tipped it upward. He met her lips with his in the most tender kiss she'd ever experienced.

"It's our bond," he whispered. "It's growing."

He kissed her again, and River's body heated with need. She wanted him right in the lobby of the opera house. She didn't care that people surrounded them. Didn't care that Theo, Zeke, and Drew were with them. Didn't care about anything or anyone else.

"Ares," she whispered, sliding her hands up his pecks.

"Yes, Beloved?"

"I-"

The door pulled open behind them, and the cold, wet air rushed in, making her tense. Lachlan stood outside, the umbrella open for them.

Ares exited, and wet droplets stained his jacket sleeve.

"Theo or Zeke should have called by now," said Santiago.

Ares looked at his phone. He'd had it on silent. Even so, it hadn't buzzed.

He pulled River to him. "Something doesn't feel right."

She wanted to say something more but couldn't form words.

Lachlan moved in and held the umbrella over River and Ares' heads while he got soaked.

"This is silly," said River over the noise of the street. "Lachlan is drenched. You hold the umbrella and let him get in the car."

"I'm fine, Princess," said Lachlan.

River laid her hand on Ares's arm. "Ares, please?"

The thunder of rushing footsteps pulled her attention.

"Ares!" Theo yelled, coming around the corner of the building. "It's a trap!"

Ares roared, and Santiago moved to her side.

"Get her out of here!" Ares shouted.

Theo turned as two men emerged from the shadows, and he fired his gun. One of the men went down, but the other had only been struck in the shoulder. He roared and lumbered forward, his fangs lengthening along with his nails. His shirt shredded as he transformed on the steps of the opera house and sprung at Theo.

Ares roared and leaped the ten-yard distance between himself and Theo, snatched the wolf midair, and ripped his throat out.

River sucked in a breath, and Ares turned. "Go," he bellowed. Water poured down his body, thinning the blood and soaking his face and torso to a light pink.

Santiago took River's elbow and pulled her away. "Princess, we need to go."

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