Page 74 of Alpha Marked

"He heard I'd found my mate, and she was an Omega."

River got the feeling he wasn't telling her everything.

Ares stood and cupped her face. "We need to fly back to my estate immediately and-"

"But you still have meetings," said Drew.

"Cancel them."

"No," she said. "This proves you need these meetings. If someone is willing to attack you in public…"

"She's right," said Drew. "If you go now, it will appear like you're running, that you are scared. It will give the rogue the excuse he's been looking for to gather more support against you. She needs to be at your side. They need to see her. Know she is real. A shifter Omega is your mate. It will help sway them to learn your fated mate is a shifter, not a Lycan."

So, now she'd become arm candy? River thought about it, remembering how desperate her wolf had been minutes ago, thinking something had happened to Ares. If being with him might stop that from potentially happening again…

"I'll do it," she said. "If it will help. I'll do it."

"No. I won't take you to all the packs. That's too many chances something will go wrong."

"Bring them here," she said. "All at once. An area meeting. A dinner."

Ares growled. "This is my space. Your space. I don't want them up here."

"Downstairs. In the ballroom. We can have the hotel cater and organize everything."

"It's a sound idea," said Santiago. "We know the layout. It's your hotel. It will be like being on our own lands. It will be easier to keep secure because we can station everyone up at the exits. We decide the time and we leave whenever you are ready. If things seem off, we come right up here and lockdown."

Ares licked his lips. "Have Vanessa arrange it up for tomorrow night. I want out of here the next day."

River's chest squeezed. The next day? "I… can't we stay until the end of the week? I still have some things I want from my studio."

"I'll make you a studio. Whatever you want, I'll buy you."

Again, with the money.

"I appreciate that, but there are tools I'm used to. They're like an extension of my limbs. It would take me a year to break in new ones."

"Fine. I'll send Vanessa to make sure the whole thing is packed up and shipped to the estate."

River's wolf snarled, and River growled. "I don't want her in my space or near my things."

Ares nodded.

"I'll do it," offered Bianca as she and Zeke re-entered the room.

"B, I can't ask you to do that."

"You didn't ask. I'll go tomorrow, and you can Skype me to tell me what you want packed. I'll make sure it's done."

"But you have your things to pack."

"It can wait. I'm not leaving for a week."

River wanted to protest, but she'd be outvoted by, well, everyone.

"All right."

"Good," said Ares. "There's just one thing."

---