Page 50 of Alpha Marked

"Are you coming, sis?"

River watched Ares. What the hell was she waiting for? She didn't need his permission.

She waited another few seconds to see if Ares would say something. When he didn't, she walked out the sliding glass door and entered the warm hot tub, wishing for an icy shower instead.

CHAPTERNINE

Ares didn't move from where he'd been standing for at least five minutes. Didn't move. Didn't speak. Simply breathed. His wolf had begun to break his restraints, and his nails had lengthened in his pockets, slashing holes in them. He'd need to have them repaired. His fangs had extended as well as the sight of River, but he'd forced them to stop. He'd scared her enough for one day.

As he watched through the door, he fought every instinct that told him to take her and make her his. Her perfume swirled around him like a boa, constricting his chest and crushing it inward.

Somehow, her scent had grown exponentially more robust in the hours he'd been away. Probably because she hadn't taken blockers. Blockers no longer mattered anyway since she was his, and he'd make damn sure everyone knew it.

His wolf snarled and clawed to be released, but Ares refused. He wouldn't lose control again. No matter how much his wolf wanted her. No matter how much he wanted her. He wasn't going to let it happen again. He wouldn't be one of those Lycans. He was trying to make peace with the shifters, not alienate them further.

Zeke walked up to Ares and held out a glass. Ares took it without removing his eyes from where River soaked in the hot tub alongside her sister. Her silvery hair fanned out over the patio tile like a bridal veil as she stared up at the stars, pointing and smiling.

Ares downed the liquid in one quick fiery burst. Zeke looked at his glass and handed it to Ares while taking the first one from Ares' hand.

Ares gulped down the liquid again, letting it burn through his gut, but he barely noticed it next to the fire already smoldering inside.

"What should I order for dinner?" Zeke asked.

Ares shook his head. "I'll eat in my suite. I only stopped by to grab a suit and to…" To what? To see if River had changed? To see if she was ready to bond with him? "To grab a suit," he finished.

Zeke stood next to Ares and watched the two women. Ares' wolf snarled.

The two women splashed each other. River dunked Bianca, and when she jumped back up, River's breasts bobbed up and down, making Ares' pants tighten as his arousal struck him like a wrecking ball.

Zeke chuckled as Bianca surfaced, and Ares' wolf almost lashed out at him for watching the women.

"What are you looking at? Ares asked.

Zeke coughed. "Uh… my mate and my soon-to-be sister-in-law."

A moment passed as the words rattled around Ares's brain, calming his wolf.

"Why?" asked Zeke. "What are you looking at?"

Ares glanced at Zeke. A smile played across his lips.

"I'm looking at my mate. And my soon-to-be sister-in-law." Despite himself, Ares snorted, and so did Zeke.

"So, will we be related?" Zeke asked.

"Depends."

"On what?"

"On whether you want to be pulled deeper into the crapstorm of my family."

Zeke snorted and turned back to the sliding glass door. "Actually, I think I'm okay. Taking on Cherry as a mother-in-law is all I can handle for now."

Ares groaned. Cherry would be his mother-in-law, too. "I don't blame you. To be honest, I'd rather deal with my crap than have to deal with Cherry again."

Zeke snickered. "Do you think she will warm up to us?"

Ares cocked an eyebrow. "Do feral house cats ever warm up to lions?"

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