Page 46 of Alpha Marked

"Zeke," Theo warned.

"He's my sister's mate. He's basically my brother," she yelled. "Leave."

Theo glanced between Zeke and River and then nodded to Lachlan. The two exited the room, leaving the door open.

Zeke wrapped his arm around River's shoulders. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head, weaker and more out of control than ever.

He released her and pushed her to arm's length. "Your mother would have my balls for dinner if I let anything happen to you. I'm sure Bianca would, too."

River let out a harsh laugh and nodded. Memories bombarded her again.

The bite. The pain. Stabbing and stabbing and stabbing with the potato peeler. Her wolf screaming at her.

"Not him! Not this one!"

"Why don't you find something to wear? We need to have a conversation."

River blinked back tears which threatened to spill, and she touched her neck again. He hadn't done it. He'd stopped. But not of his own accord. If Theo and Zeke hadn't been there… Would he have stopped?

Zeke picked the bags off the floor and pulled out a velour tracksuit with the word Pink on the butt. He handed it to her, and she bit her tongue at the protest which formed in her mouth.

"Thank you." She took the outfit, grabbed some underwear off the floor, and shuffled to the bathroom to dress.

* * *

"I explained our laws to her,"Zeke said. "I told her she must say yes to you marking her. She understands if she doesn't, and you mark her or try to take her, it is a death sentence."

Ares hung his head in his hands. He didn't want to feel this way. He didn't want to want River. Had she not been his mate, he would have noticed her extreme beauty and tried to take her into his bed, but he'd never imagined letting her into his head and to his wolf the way she did.

But he couldn't help it. She was an Omega - his Omega. Everything about her sang to him like his own private melody. But how? She should have been submissive- she wasn't. She should have fallen at his feet- she didn't. She should have been overjoyed to have been chosen to be his- not even slightly. How? How could he want her so badly it made his muscles ache, and yet she couldn't stand to be in the same room as him?

"Did I hurt her?" Ares asked.

"No."

Ares nodded. Well, there was that at least. When his wolf took over, there was no telling what he'd do. And if he hurt her… the council's punishment wouldn't begin to hurt as much as the knowledge that he'd done something to her. Her terrified eyes when she'd seen him barely wolfed out had been like a cold, wet rag to the nether regions. It had almost broken him to see her so scared and know he'd made her afraid.

"I think it's better if I move into another suite for the remainder of our stay," said Ares.

"Boss-"

Ares stood and straightened his tie. "I have meetings today, and I need to make sure things are running smoothly at home. Please make sure River has everything she needs. I'll take the suite next door."

"Don't you want me to come with you?"

Ares whipped his suit jacket from the back of his chair. "I'll take Santiago and Drew."

"Boss-"

"Take her wherever she wants to go. Just make sure she is back before dark." Ares dug into his pocket and pulled out his wallet. "And take this. Buy her whatever she requires." He handed Zeke his credit card and made for the door.

"Ares."

Ares stopped without turning.

"She will come around. You need to be patient."