Alpha Marked: Lycan King Wars, #1

CHAPTER ONE

D id you take your medicine?

River rolled her eyes. Every month, Cherry asked the same question, and every month since she'd been twelve, the answer had been the same.

River? Cherry wouldn't be ignored.

River looked up from her bowl of cereal and stared at her mom. You know, I'm twenty-one now. Do you need to keep making me feel like I'm five?

Cherry set down her cup of coffee and leveled her gaze on River.

That gaze had stopped working on River long ago, but with everything they had going on, River didn't want to give her mom any more reason to freak out.

Yes, Mom, I took it. You know I took it. I saw you go through my trash, looking for the empty bottle. So you know I took one every day this month.

Like clockwork, Cherry emptied River's trash at the end of the first day of the month. And Cherry didn't take the bag to the pack burn pile. Cherry put that trash with the glass bottle in the back of the old Corolla and drove it into town to dispose of, away from the pack.

River wondered for the millionth time why the hell her medicine made Cherry such a freak. But ever since the first time at age twelve when River had thought she would die, River never again refused to take the medicine. She figured Cherry didn't want anyone to know about it because something was wrong with River. River didn't know what, but it made Cherry both fearful and ashamed.

Cherry had never once let River run with the pack at the full moon. She'd never even let River shift in front of anyone except for her and Bianca and Strider on a few occasions. Those times had been on Bianca's first few shifts. Cherry and Strider had packed the girls into the Corolla and driven them back to where Cherry and River had lived with River's dad before he'd died. The four ran together in the abandoned pack grounds, teaching River and Bianca everything they needed to know to survive as wolves.

River always knew something was different about her and her wolf. Pack members talk about their bonds with their wolves. They made them seem like an extension of themselves, whereas River only ever connected with her wolf when she'd run with Cherry and Strider. There'd never been fights for control. No wolf emerging at the height of strong emotions. No cravings. No needing. And most of all, no heats. As far as River could tell, she was damaged, and everyone knew it. It was the only explanation for why her mom never let her shift or run with anyone outside her family.

Have you showered? Cherry asked.

River shook her head.

Do it. This is the annual meeting. Not only our pack will be there-

All the packs across the state will be there. Yes, Mom. I am aware. Bianca won't stop talking about it.

Mating runs happened every full moon. But once a year, all the packs in the state got together for a run. Hundreds of unmated shifters showed up. To River, it was the most depressing of all runs. Seeing so many shifters with looks ranging from hope to complete desperation put River on edge.

At age twenty-five, if a shifter hadn't found their mate, they were ejected from their packs to find their mate elsewhere. They were only allowed to return if they found a mate. Most never returned, however. Seriously, who would want to go back to live with people who had tossed you out in your most significant time of need? Packs were more than neighbors; they were supposed to be family. Losing the connection with their packs sent most unmated shifters into a complete tailspin. The loss of family, connection, support, and, most of all, comfort. She'd heard of more than one shifter taking their own life to end the pain. Worse yet were the ones who fell into drugs to dull the pain. Would that be her fate?

We need to be at the mating run in two hours. Hurry and shower and change into something nice.

Nice. Not comfortable. Not easy to shift in. Nice. For five years, River had gone to the mating runs wearing something nice. Other females wore soft, easy-to-remove clothes meant for shifting out of. But not River. Never River. Why? Because River never found a mate. Hell, the males barely noticed her, not that she cared. There wasn't one of them who had ever caught her eye. Even the Alpha's son Zade. Every other female in the pack had vied for his attention, primping and preening whenever he came within eyesight, but not River. River couldn't care less about the cocky jock.

In high school, he'd been the all-American favorite. But to River, he'd been like everyone else. Sometimes, River pondered if she was asexual. But in the end, she didn't care. All she wanted was to work on her art and keep to herself.

River, did you hear me?

River slammed her spoon into her bowl. Yes, Cherry. I heard you.

Cherry growled. She opened her mouth, closed it again, and slammed her coffee mug into the sink.

Maybe River cared more about finding a mate than she realized.

Problem? Strider entered the kitchen, his eyes darting between them.

Cherry snatched her leather coat and slung it over her shoulders. Strider kissed her head, but Cherry's gaze remained locked on River.

Spray yourself before you come, she said. Extra spray since there are other packs.

River fought the urge to roll her eyes and simply nodded.

Cherry kissed Strider and walked toward the door. I gotta meet with the Alpha.

Strider nodded. We'll see you there.

Cherry exited the house without another word, and Strider looked at River.

She doesn't mean to be like that. You know how she gets at the mating runs. She has a lot of responsibility.

River poked her bowl of mushy cereal. Why do I have to go? It's not like anyone is going to want me. No one new has moved into the pack since us. And I am sure there won't be anyone new, either. And if there are, they will either be way younger than me or a rogue.

Strider walked to her and hugged her shoulder. It's tradition, sweetheart. As long as you are in the pack, it's required.

Yeah, well, maybe I should move away.

Strider stiffened. Don't say that.

River shrugged. I found a school in New York City. An art school. They have an amazing program.

Strider stared at her for a long moment. You've already made up your mind, haven't you?

River looked into her stepfather's soft brown eyes and nodded. He was so like her father, but not at the same time. They were both kind and diplomatic, but where her dad had been loud and fun, Strider was quiet and content to let her mom lead in every way.

Strider blew out a breath. Does your mother know?

River snorted.

He touched her shoulder. Let's talk about it tomorrow. For today, let's get through this.

Okay.

A squeal sounded behind her, and River's younger stepsister, Bianca, jogged into the room.

What do you think? she asked River, twisting from side to side and showing off her new jogging suit. Dad got it for me. Cute, right?

Strider smiled affectionately, making her heart squeeze. Her dad used to look at her like that.

Super cute. River hopped off her barstool, dumped out her cereal, and put the bowl in the dishwasher.

Are you gonna get ready? Bianca bounced with energy.

Yup. Doing it now.

Bianca bounced from foot to foot. Well, hurry up. I want to be early and check out the males.

River couldn't help but smile. It's the same guys we've seen for the last million years.

Bianca gripped River's hands. Maybe this will be my year. I'll see one of them, and it will be like seeing them for the first time, and our wolves will connect.

River hoped it happened for Bianca. The girl had been dreaming about her mate for as long as she could talk.

River put on a smile. I hope this is your year, sis.

Bianca hugged River. I'll wait for you.

River walked through the narrow hall to her room and opened the door. She scanned the room with walls plastered in various art pieces she'd cut from magazines, printed from the internet, and taken photos of on trips into New York City with her mom.

She would miss her little room when she moved away for school, but she couldn't hang around the pack and continue to let Strider and Cherry pay her way for the rest of their lives. Her dad may have been an Alpha, but that legacy and respect only went so far for a female wolf with no mate or purpose in the pack.

She stripped off her pajamas and tossed them to the floor before wrapping in a towel and heading for the shower. She wanted to get the day over with and tell her mom she was leaving to focus on her future.

River walked to the camp center with Strider and Bianca. Bianca chattered and bounced around more than usual with frenzied excitement. River bore it patiently, smiling and nodding but not listening. Nervousness about talking to her mom about art school tied her in knots.

All around, scents of all the newcomers permeated the air. Unmated males and females of age milled about, chatting and laughing nervously. Their pack wasn't the biggest in the northeast, not by a long shot, but there were still close to fifty pack members, and with all the others who had shown up, there had to be two hundred unmated shifters out there.

A handful of males and females prowled the edges of the meeting spot with wild eyes. The sight made River's heart squeeze. The rogues. Some looked desperate, while others appeared like they might snap and claim anyone without permission. Those were the ones River worried about most. Not for herself; she was her mother's daughter and handled herself with no problem. But for Bianca. As much as River loved her, Bianca could be an airhead, and if one of those rogues cornered her, there was no telling what would happen. Of course, one of those rogues would have to be insane to try and do something to Cherry's stepdaughter. Her mom would rip out their heart with her bare hands and eat it while it still beat.

A bark resounded through the air, and the group quieted. Bianca kissed Strider and ran over to join the group of unmated.

Their Alpha jumped on one of the picnic benches, and everyone in attendance bowed. He reached down, took his mate's hand, and gently pulled her beside him. Their pack Luna, Kawli, was one of the gentlest women River had met. Never once had River seen her angry or raise her voice. She was the calm to their Alpha's storm.

Welcome, he said. Tonight is our annual mating gathering, and I welcome everyone who has traveled to be here. We will begin with the run, followed by a meal, and finally, the sealing of all new matings.

The shifters howled, and the air electrified it with anticipation. She knew from experience the scents of every unmated shifter would rise with each minute. Her mother and Strider had taught her and Bianca how to control their senses so as not to become overwhelmed by them. Their sense of smell, hearing, sight, and more. River knew when to block them out and when to use them. River perked up her hearing and eyesight but clamped down her sense of smell to keep her brain from fogging over with all the pheromones flying around.

River gazed into the sky. The sun would set in the next hour, and the matings would begin as soon as it did. No one knew precisely why the moon held so much sway over their wolves, but the lunar cycles had been tied to shifters for as long as there had been shifters. They purposely picked a non-full moon night to hold runs for that reason. Currently, the moon was in its waning gibbous phase. The full moon had passed a week ago, and while in the waning gibbous phase, shifters were as docile and reasonable as they would ever be.

It's starting, Strider whispered.

River tore her eyes back to the group as they began shifting, and part of her hoped something would happen with her wolf. As much as she hated that part of herself, she couldn't help it. Every time, the same thing happened. She wished and hoped for something to happen with her wolf. For her to wake up. Howl. Demand to be let free. Something, anything. But nothing ever happened. Nothing. Not a shot. Not a tingle. Not a twinge. She peered at the moon again. Was she even an actual shifter? She would seriously question her biology if she didn't have her enhanced senses and hadn't run with her mom and Strider before.

I'm gonna go help prep the food.

Strider caught her hand.

She stopped, knowing what would come next. It had been like this every time. The sadness in his eyes at the fact that she hadn't found a mate. That she hadn't felt a twitch or twinge of desire for anyone. Ever. That she would remain alone until the pack kicked her out.

I'll pay for art school, Strider blurted.

River stared at him. Had she heard him right? What?

I'll pay for it. Whatever it costs. You figure out a plan and give it to me, and I'll talk to your mom.

River's mouth fell open. She liked Strider, even loved him, but she'd always kept him at arm's length because letting him in would somehow be disloyal to her father. Though for the last decade, Strider had been there for every moment of her life.

I… Strider-

He pulled her in and hugged her. There's more to life than a fated mate, River. And I want you to find what you want for yourself.

She didn't know what to say.

An Alpha howl shook the trees, and Strider let go of her. I have to chaperone.

River nodded, unable to form words. As Strider shifted and jogged down to the group, River smiled and turned toward the food kitchen.

It was going to happen. She would go to art school. A warmth of joy spread through her body, and as much as she didn't want to get excited, she couldn't help the skip that made its way into her step as she went off to peel potatoes. And Strider was right. There was more to life than a fated mate. Her mom and dad had been fated mates, and it hadn't gone well.

River peeled fifty pounds of potatoes with an ancient metal peeler that made her grip ache. Mates of other pack members helped prep food for when everyone returned. They would stroll back, starving, sweating, and stinking of sex. And it would be her cue to duck out and head back to her house. She breathed the fresh air, knowing it would be one of the last she would get for days. The afterscents of mating runs clung to every leaf in the woods.

She briefly shut her eyes and envisioned herself running with the pack like a wolf. Her eyes locking with some handsome timber wolf and then the heart-bursting unity which came from finding her mate. They would move toward each other, unable to resist the pull. Their wolves would demand to be unleashed together before the unbridled sex started. What would that be like?

She opened her eyes and peered into the darkness beyond. A light breeze blew in through the window, and a fragrance slammed into her. River stopped peeling and stiffened. The scent of honey and amber surrounded her, and for the first time, her wolf lifted her head and whined.

River's potato plopped into the sink, and she backed away so quick she slipped and landed on the floor with a thud.

River, are you okay? asked her Luna.

What is it? asked another mate she didn't recognize.

The women stopped talking, and one of them shut off the radio, making the kitchen eerily quiet except for the sounds of food cooking.

Do you smell it? one of the women asked.

What are they doing here? said another mate shakily.

They weren't invited, another whispered.

Screw invited, said a fourth woman. They make the rules. They can go where they want.

We need to get the Alpha, said the first.

River's heart beat louder, and her wolf stood. What the hell? The scent grew more potent, and one of the women yanked River away from the back door.

When had she walked to the back door?

River's wolf lurched forward, and River doubled over, pain ripping through her. She screamed and gripped the potato peeler so hard she thought it might jam through her hand.

River? River, what's wrong? asked someone in a faraway voice.

River panted, and pain ripped through her again.

"I… I think