Page 28 of Alpha Marked

"Bianca, Majesty."

Ares looked to Zeke. "May I call her by her first name?"

Zeke nodded once, but Ares didn't miss his tense posture nor the fact that he kept his arms wrapped protectively around her. The rules weren't clearly defined regarding his position over the mates of his men. His men became part of his pack, but technically, they'd never discussed whether their mates would be part of it. Except for Theo, none of the others had taken Lycans as mates.

"Bianca, where would River go if she wanted to get away?"

"I… I don't know, Majesty." Her eyes rounded fearfully.

"Where is her pack?"

Bianca's eyebrows scrunched together. "Mom and Dad relocated years ago to Andover. But she wouldn't go home."

"Why?"

"Because she and our mom don't… they aren't close. And… she has bad memories from Andover. She hasn't been back in four years."

"Where would she go?" he asked, trying to keep his voice passive.

Bianca shook her head.

"Tell Lachlan we are going to Andover."

Zeke nodded and turned with Bianca to leave, but Bianca turned back.

"Your Majesty, if I might. River has an art exhibit this week. She wouldn't miss it for anything."

"An exhibit?"

She nodded. "For her sculptures. It's at the gallery where she works."

Bianca opened her purse, pulled out a cream and gold envelope, and handed it to him.

Ares ran his fingers over the embossed type and checked his watch. Over thirty-six hours until the showing. He didn't think he'd be able to wait without his wolf ripping through him and everything standing between them.

"Thank you," he said. "Let's check Andover first."

Zeke and Bianca walked out.

Ares rubbed the invitation as he gazed over the floor of River's studio. His eyes landed on an intricate metal sculpture of a wolf mid-jump. Was that what River looked like in wolf form?

We will know soon enough;he promised his wolf.

CHAPTERFIVE

River awoke to a bang on her bedroom door. She bolted out of bed and grabbed the bat by her dresser. Her heart pounded as she anticipated the door bursting into splinters. Her grip tightened on the bat when another bang slammed her door.

"River! I know you're in there. Get up."

River let go of her bat as she sighed. It wasn't the Lycan- though all things considered, she wasn't sure if she wished it was him instead.

She walked to her door and undid the padlock.

Cherry stood naked in front of her, sweat beading on her skin.

"Nice to see you too, Mom."

"Don't give me that shit. What did you do?"