Page 81 of Alpha Marked

"Ares, you want to leave tomorrow, right?"

He clenched his jaw. "Yes."

"And you want me to be comfortable in my new home, right?"

Ares knew where the conversation was going and had no idea how to derail the train. He didn't want her out of his sight. He wanted her back at his estate. But he had a job to do and couldn't let an all-out war start because of his negligence.

"You can go. But you are taking Lachlan, Drew, Theo, and Santiago."

"Not Zeke and Isaac as well?" She smirked.

"Zeke is already there."

"Oh yeah. I forgot. While I'm out, can I-"

"No." Ares's voice came out stronger than he'd meant it to. "Your studio, and straight back. Too many Alphas are coming into town in the next few hours, and I don't want you out and about. And I had four more of my men come in early this morning. You will take them with you as well."

River's eyes narrowed, and to his surprise, she nodded. "Fine."

Ares blinked. "Fine?"

"Fine."

He studied her. "You aren't going to fight me?"

"Nope."

He didn't believe her.

She walked to him and touched his arm.

"What are you up to?" he asked.

"Nothing. You said no, and I said okay. That's all."

"Not with you, it isn't."

She reached up on her toes and kissed him. "Well, this time, it is. Maybe it's your Alpha charm working on me."

He snorted. "Yeah, right."

She laced her fingers in his hair and pulled his mouth to hers. Ares couldn't help but relax into her. Though his brain said she was up to something, the rest of his body couldn't care less.

"Honestly, the thought of all those Alphas being all over the place makes me nervous," she said. "Plus having what? A dozen of your men with me doesn't make me want to go traipsing about town."

Ares cupped her cheek. "I won't let anyone hurt you."

She smiled. "I know."

He thought for a moment. "I should go with you. If there's any chance that… rogue knows where you are…"

"No. You need to do what you came for. I will be fine. If anything remotely seems off, I'll come straight back. Besides, they can park in the alley outside my shop door. There's no way in or out of the building beside my door. I've always been thorough about my security."

"If anything-"

"It won't."

He kissed her firmly as their tongues mingled. He pulled her closer, his body hardening at the memories of their shower the night before.

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