Page 15 of Alpha Marked

Zeke chuckled. "Only good things."

River cocked an eyebrow at Bianca. "So, she's lied to you."

Bianca laughed and took River's arm. "Oh, stop. You're always too hard on yourself. You're amazing."

River nodded but didn't say anything.

"Bianca, River, this is my friend Lachlan. We work together."

"Friend?" Lachlan stood and smiled. "Wow. I'm so honored. You've never called me friend before."

Zeke shook his head. "Don't let it go to your head."

Lachlan snorted and took River's hand. He sniffed the air for a moment and glanced around. "Dang. What's that smell? Is it chocolate?"

"Nah, I think it's spumoni," Zeke replied.

"What’s spumoni?" Lachlan pulled his hand back.

"It's like a pistachio cherry kind of ice cream."

Lachlan smiled. "Yum. I totally want some."

Lachlan didn't offer his hand to Bianca. Instead, he inclined his head to her.

Weird. Maybe in their packs, they did things differently. Shifters protected their mates, but she'd never known them to have a no-touch policy. But Bianca had said she'd left the area to go to the gathering. She needed to remember to ask Bianca where she'd gone.

Lachlan and Zeke led them to the table and pulled out their chairs. Suddenly, River got the sinking feeling Bianca had tried to set her up on a blind date.

River groaned inwardly and ordered a glass of wine.

Bianca chatted enoughfor all four of them over the next hour. After three courses, even River, with her healthy appetite, felt sluggish. Zeke remained as attentive as every male River had seen with their mate. He looked only at Bianca. Doting on her every want and need. Did she need her bread buttered? He did it. Pepper on her salad? How dare she lift a finger to grind it? He stopped short of cutting her food and feeding it to her, but not by much. Feeding one's mate was the most significant way a male could tell his female he would always protect and provide for her.

"So, where are you from?" River asked.

"I'm from Vermont," said Zeke.

River sipped her wine. "And what do you guys do?"

"Security," Lachlan replied.

River nodded. Not many shifters needed security details, but shifters made excellent security for humans. Their heightened senses made them the ideal bodyguards.

"What about you?" asked Lachlan. "What do you do, River?"

"River's an artist," Bianca said. "She's amazing. Her sculptures are to die for. She got her own show this weekend."

"You're coming, aren't you?" River asked.

Bianca nodded vigorously. "Of course. I would never miss it. I can't wait for people to oooohhh and aaaaahhhh over your talent."

River's cheeks heated. "I wouldn't go that far."

"I would! Especially the one in your workshop. It's exquisite! The way you-"

"Okay. Okay." River shook her head. "Enough. It's not the statue of David."

Bianca's eyes shone, and Zeke kissed the back of her hand.

---