Page 73 of Alpha Marked

"I'm sorry." She sat next to Bianca and put her arm around her.

River had no doubt Ares could handle himself, but Zeke and the others were something else. She'd never seen them fight, and as hybrids, she didn't know the extent of their strength. But they were Ares bodyguards, so they had to be capable, right?

"Zeke still hasn't called me. Do you think he's okay?"

River hugged her sister tight. "He's fine. They both are." She said the words mechanically, unsure whether or not she believed them. She'd know if something happened to Ares, right? Her wolf would know.

Not necessarily, she realized. He'd been stabbed earlier, and she hadn't realized it. The thought pushed River almost to the point of hysteria.

Santiago's phone buzzed, and then River's.

We're on our way up.It wasn't from Ares number.

"They're back." Santiago went to the door to wait.

Bianca searched her phone. "I… I didn't get a text. Why didn't I get a text?" she pleaded with River.

"It's okay," said River. "Maybe he sent it when he got in the elevator, and there wasn't a signal." She bit the inside of her cheek. Ares hadn't sent the text either.

The bell rang, announcing the elevator, and Bianca rushed to the suite door.

"Ezekiel," she cried.

River stood and held her breath. Please don't let anything have happened to any of them.

A crash sounded as the front door banged against the wall, and a gigantic bloody mess in a ripped, expensive suit raced in. His black eyes scoured the room and landed on her by the fireplace. He stalked to her. Watery blood dripped off him and onto the carpet, staining it. He stared at her for a minute and fell to his knees, wrapping his arms around her.

"Beloved," he whispered into her stomach.

Relief flooded River, and a small cry flew from her lips. She pressed his head into her body and raked her fingers down his back.

"Ares."

A purr started and spread over her, making her fear drift away.

Behind him, the others strode through the door. Lachlan sported a bruise above one eye and a cut on his neck. Drew walked in behind his younger brother, drenched but seemingly uninjured. Theo entered next, seemingly unharmed, though covered in blood. He talked on the phone with someone trying to calm them, his mate River assumed.

Theo spotted her and nodded before heading into one of the spare bedrooms to continue his conversation.

Where were Bianca and Zeke?

Finally, they walked in, Zeke leaning on Bianca heavily and holding his side. Bianca cried and fawned over him.

"You two take the other spare room," River said.

Zeke nodded, and they headed toward the other room.

Ares's eyes were still black as coal. "I thought I would lose you."

"Why? You were the one attacked. All I did was get in the car and drive away."

He shook his head. "They were after you.Hewas after you."

"You… found him?"

"We made one of his rogues talk. He's been watching you."

She fought the fear coursing through her. "But it's been over four years. Why now?"

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