Page 76 of Alpha Marked

She turned off the faucet. "Because I threw a knife at one of the rogues, and when I removed it, I got his blood on me." She went to dab his wound, but he gripped her wrist.

"What?"

She looked at him. "What?"

Fear trickled through him. "Santiago let you fight?"

Her brows furrowed, and she snorted. "Let me? No, he didn'tlet me. I chose to defend myself."

He studied her, amazed as well as angered. He'd told her to leave, but she'd chosen to fight instead.

"What's the big deal? There were more of them than us. You and your boys may be tough, but I've had enough of being attacked by rogues." River slid her wrist from his hand and pressed the cooling cloth to his wound.

"Why did you have a knife on you?"

"I've always carried one. My mom made me start when I was twelve. She taught me how to use it and made sure I always had one. I thought it was because I couldn't access my wolf, but…"

"It was because you're an Omega."

"I believe so. I now think a lot of what she did was because I'm an Omega. Explains why she never made Bianca do the same things." She turned the sink back on and rinsed out the hand towel.

"What kinds of things?"

River turned back with the wet washcloth. "Self-defense. Knife training. Emergency procedures to sneak out of the territory undetected. Natural ways to mask my scent. Just stuff."

Why hadn't Cherry told River the truth? She had to know at some point, River would meet a mate. Or maybe she'd hoped it would never happen.

"You should probably shower, and then I can bandage you."

"What about you? Do you want a shower?" Ares couldn't believe he'd said the words.

She laid the towel on the counter and stopped. He was about to take back the question when she turned around and brushed her hair over her shoulder.

"Will you unzip me?"

Ares froze.

His wolf lurched to his feet.Mine. Mate. Take her.

Back off, Ares ordered. No way would he let his beast ruin the moment.

With shaking fingers, Ares slid the zipper down River's back to the waistband of her panties. She let the dress fall to the floor, revealing a lacy set of pink underwear and bra he'd bought her, as well as a black thigh holster with two thin blades strapped to it.

It was the hottest thing Ares had ever seen. The fabric of his pants groaned as they stretched against his erection.

River unbuckled her thigh holster and laid it on the counter before walking to the roomy shower, opening the door, and turning on the water.

Ares feared moving. Afraid if he did, he might lose control again.

He took in the beautiful, sculpted lines of River's back and legs. Her spine stood out a little more than it should. The first thing he'd do when he got her to Canada was put meat on her. Anything she wanted. Anything she needed. He would give her.

For a moment, he imagined her body rounding out with pregnancy. Her breasts heavier. Her hips wider. The thought had him wanting to plow into her and give her his knot and his seed.

River stepped under the spray, still in her underthings, and turned to Ares. "Are you coming?"

Much longer, and he would be.

Unable to form words, he nodded and shucked off his shoes, socks, and suit pants next to her dress.

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