Chapter 15

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

RIVER

T he next day, River felt… strange.

Her warm, sensitive skin didn't even like being touched by the sheets. Her lacy bra felt like sandpaper, so she flung it to the floor. She noticed her suitcases in the corner for the first time and went to them immediately. She found her favorite old Johnny Cash t-shirt and pulled it on. Though it had been her dad's shirt and washed nearly a thousand times, it felt scratchy on her skin. She looked down to find her nipples hard against the fabric.

Great. Just what she needed. She tried pressing on them to get them down, but they didn't. Wonderful.

Her stomach growled, and she grabbed it. She looked at the basket of food Apollo brought but didn't want anything except a second soda.

She crawled to the basket and opened it. She grabbed the soda and sucked it down while looking for something sweet to accompany it. There wasn't anything. She looked through the basket again and then at her bedroom door. She needed food, and she needed it now.

After pulling on some leggings, fuzzy socks, and a pair of slides, River walked to her door and tried the handle. It wouldn't budge. She pulled again, and though the knob turned freely from not having been fixed yet, the doors didn't come apart.

Anger flared, and she banged on the door. "Let me out. Apollo. Ares. What the hell?"

A rush of footsteps and angry voices sounded on the other side of the door before it swung open. She jumped back to keep from being hit by them. Both Apollo and Ares stood in the doorway. Ares held a leather belt in one hand.

She cocked an eyebrow. "Are you going to spank me?"

Ares looked down at the belt and then at her. "I used it to keep the door closed."

Apollo and Ares continued to stare at her, eyes wide.

She looked down at herself. "What? Have you never seen a woman wear a T-shirt, leggings, and fuzzy socks? Do I have to wear a dress or something?"

"Uh…" Ares didn't seem able to form words.

"I think what he's trying to say is, your attire is fine, but maybe you're missing something? Something lacy with cups, perhaps."

River looked at her nipples that were still at attention under her shirt.

"Yeah, that's not happening today. Today is a 'let the ladies fly free' day."

Ares growled.

"Get over it," she said. "They're just nipples. I'm sure you and your men can control yourselves for one day."

Apollo sighed. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Ares took his eyes off her for the first time and growled at Apollo. "Stop looking at her."

Apollo cocked an eyebrow. "You stop looking at her."

"No. She's-"

"Your mate? Yeah, we all know that. She's mine too, so I can look at her all I want until she chooses."

Ares's fist tightened around the leather belt, and River thought he might punch Apollo.

"Stop. I'm hot, I'm hungry, and my nipples hurt. So I'm not putting on a bra to make you males feel better. I am going outside to get some fresh air before I suffocate on your toxic masculinity. And I will eat every cinnamon roll, cookie, and bag of candy you have in this place. As well as drink every single soda you possess. Got it?"

They turned back to her.

She shrugged. "What? You've never heard of PMS? I get it, just like every other female. So you should be prepared. In a couple days, I will have cramps that make me want to kill both of you. And I will be eating whatever I want, and neither of you are allowed to say a damn thing about it. Got it?"

They nodded.

"Of course, Beloved."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Kitten."

She sucked in a breath. "Good. Now I want to be shown every gram of sugar in this place."

"As you wish." Apollo smiled. "By the way, if you want to go outside, I can show you your surprise while you're out there."

She'd forgotten about his surprise.

"Don't you need to watch stocks or something?"

He shook his head. "We're good. I'll check on them later. I can field any calls from where we're going."

She smiled. "Good. Then I'm all yours for the day."

Ares's grip tightened further on the leather belt. She ran her hand down his chest.

"Don't worry, Big boy. We'll spend some time together afterward."

"I… have meetings." His gaze flicked to Apollo. "One of us has to keep this place running."

"We divided the duties the way you wanted them divided. I take care of the finances and keep the money flowing, and you take care of the pack business and make sure people don't kill us or each other. If you think I should be doing more, give me more to do," Apollo retorted. "You're the one who always wanted to run everything."

"Because you never do anything but stare at six computer screens and talk on the phone."

River stood between them. "Okay. Okay. That's enough of that." She grabbed Apollo's hand. "Get me some sugar."

Ares laid his hand on her arm. "Dinner and the time afterward are mine."

She smiled up at him. "Sounds great."

Ares leaned in, sniffed her hair briefly, and then kissed her cheek before Apollo pulled her away.

She couldn't decide if that had gone well as they walked down the hallway toward a back staircase. They'd been in the same room and hadn't threatened to kill or punched each other. River considered it a win.

* * *

APOLLO

Apollo's wolf's joy at being chosen to have time with River first couldn't be described.

Our mate. Our Omega. Ours.

Yes, Apollo assured him. She is ours .

Mate. Need.

Apollo sucked in a huge breath and looked over at River. Had she bathed in perfume or something? Her scent seemed more potent, and being near her made his wolf into a frenzy.

Calm down, bud. Remember the plan. We need to go slow.

No slow. Fast. Need mate now.

Soon. Very soon.

His wolf howled in delight, making Apollo chuckle.

"What's so funny?" she asked as they walked down the stairs toward the kitchen.

"Oh… uh… it's my wolf. He's just happy to be near you."

"Only him, huh?" She cocked an eyebrow at him.

He stopped, and she halted next to him.

"No," he said seriously. "He isn't the only one. You have no idea how little sleep I got last night because I wanted to be near you. To hold you. Touch you. Kiss you. Every time I closed my eyes, you were there. Every breath I took, I smelled you. Every beat of my heart beat only for the purpose of getting me back to you."

Well damn. He hadn't meant for all that to come out of his mouth.

River's eyes sparkled, and she stepped to him and wrapped her arms around his torso. Apollo closed his eyes and pulled her tighter, taking in her sweet scent.

His wolf howled as a ripple of desire traversed his body, making Apollo's pants tighten around his arousal.

Calm down, he told himself. Calm the freak down before she thinks you want her for nothing more than sex.

He took several slow breaths, but her scent did nothing to calm him or his wolf. He never wanted to smell anything else for as long as he lived but her scent. He wanted to be surrounded by it. Drowned in it.

A strange rumble started deep inside and turned into a mix of a purr and a growl. He had no idea where it started or why. All he knew was that when he did it, she relaxed into him like there was nowhere else in the world she'd rather be.

"Thank you."

Tears moistened his shirt, and he looked down at her and lifted her chin.

"I know I'm not a poet or anything, but I didn't think I was that bad."

She smacked his chest. "You know that's not it." She sniffled twice and wiped at her eyes. "No one's ever said something like that to me before. I just…"

"Just what?"

"Never thought anyone ever would."

"Why?"

She shrugged. "I've never fit in. Not in the human world. Not in the shifter world. And I never once met a guy that felt… right. Then you come along with your sweet words that know where to hit me deep inside to make me…"

His chest squeezed. "Make you what?"

"Make me want to be your mate."

Apollo leaned in and kissed her. "You are my mate, Kitten."

She gripped his t-shirt and pulled his lips against hers. Apollo's wolf roared inside, and Apollo lifted her off the floor. She wrapped her legs around his waist, and he pressed her into the wall behind them. Her breasts smashed into his chest, and he groaned.

Pressing his weight against her, he reached up and rubbed a thumb over her pert nipple. She gasped and moaned into his mouth. He did it again, and she shuddered at his touch.

She was so warm. So lush. So beautiful. So perfect. He knew then how his father must have felt the moment he'd met his mother. Why his father abandoned Titan and his mother as if they had never existed. If River didn't choose him, it wouldn't matter. There would never be another for him. Not ever.

River ground her hips into his and moaned again. She pulled her lips from his and laid her head back against the wall, looking into his eyes.

"Apollo…"

The heat that radiated off her body and the look in her eyes said it all. She wanted him. And he wanted her.

Take her. Make her ours. Our mate. Our Omega.

Apollo kissed her again and then worked his way down her throat. He slid his hand between their bodies and under her legging waistband.

He growled as she gasped and bucked against his fingers as they slid down the inside of her underwear. So wet. So willing.

Apollo's fangs lengthened, and his arms prickled as fur threatened to sprout. He shook as his instincts threatened to take over and take her right there against the wall in the hallway. Claiming her for himself.

"Apollo-" she gasped.

"I'm sorry," said a voice behind them.

Apollo whipped around, shielding River from view.

Theo.

Apollo's wolf wanted to rip him apart for interrupting them, but he caught himself and stopped just as his nails lengthened.

"I… sorry, Highnesses. I was just… I…" Theo bowed and walked back the way he'd come. "Forgive me."

River giggled behind Apollo, and he turned around. Her cheeks flushed, and her lips were red and swollen from their kisses. Even her hair had been disheveled.

"You think that's funny?" He cocked an eyebrow.

She nodded. "I've never been caught making out with a guy before. I always thought people felt guilty when caught, but I'm sure Theo feels a thousand times worse than I ever will."

Apollo smiled and leaned an elbow on the wall above her head. "Is that so?"

She nodded.

He moved his finger down the front of her shirt, and her breath hitched as he stopped between her breasts.

"I hope you still feel that way the first time we are walked in on having sex somewhere in the estate."

Her eyebrows shot up. "You think we'll be walked in on somewhere?"

He shrugged. "Seems pretty likely, considering when I make you my mate, I plan on christening every room of this house with you."

Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled. "I like the idea of that."

"Of christening every room?"

"That, and of someone walking in on us."

Apollo growled. "I'll get mirrors put above our bed, Kitten. Because yours are the only eyes I won't rip out if someone watches me make love to you."

He swooped in and kissed her hard. She moaned and bit his bottom lip.

Apollo's body shook as once more his instincts took over.

Instead, he stepped away and took her hand. "Come on. Let's get you that sugar overload you need, and then I can show you your surprise."

She pouted for a fraction of a second and then fell in step next to him. "If the surprise isn't you on my bed with a can of whipped cream in one hand and a jar of sprinkles in the other, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be disappointed.

Apollo burst out laughing and put an arm around her shoulders, kissing her head. "Oh, Kitten, you are quite perfect."

As Apollo and River walked into the kitchen, everything went silent. Apollo scanned the large area where the three cooks stood, already preparing food. At a table usually reserved for the cooks to eat, Cherry, Strider, Bianca, and Zeke sat, sharing a meal.

Cherry got to her feet when they entered. "Did you wake her up?"

Apollo sighed inwardly and planted a smile on his face. He reminded himself that Cherry might be a bit aggressive and brash, but she cared about River- even if she didn't show it in the ways mothers normally did.

"No. I got up on my own. I'm a big girl like that."

Cherry didn't even bite at River's snarky reply. "Show me your wound."

River rolled her eyes, and Apollo held back a smirk.

"I just told you I'm a big girl."

"Show me." Cherry's gaze hardened, and she continued to stare at River.

"Fine." River pulled her shirt to the side. "Happy?"

Cherry's gaze flicked to Apollo. "No. I am not happy. I'm not happy you're here. I'm not happy you were shot. I'm not happy-"

River held up her hands. "I get it. You aren't happy. What else is new?"

Cherry pulled the neck of River's t-shirt down, then stepped back and looked at her. "Are you not wearing a bra?"

River swallowed and folded her arms across her chest. "No. I'm not if you must know."

Cherry sniffed her, and her eyes narrowed before she looked at Apollo.

After a minute, River grabbed her arm. "Stop that. Leave him alone."

Cherry growled and pulled away. "You're Apollo, right?"

Apollo nodded.

Cherry sniffed and walked away without another word. She retook the chair next to Strider, and he whispered something in her ear. Apollo swore for a fraction of a second, and the corner of Cherry's lips quirked upward.

Interesting. So, she did have a soft spot.

Bianca got up from the table and rushed to River, flinging her arms around her. "Oh my gosh, River. I've been a mess. We get here, and you've gone away, and I'm going crazy not knowing where you are or what you are doing, and then you get shot, and no one would let me see you."

River grabbed onto her sister and hugged her tight. "It's okay, B. I'm here. I'm fine. I'm sorry I screamed at you."

For the next several minutes, River continued to console her sister as if Bianca had been put through a terrible ordeal and not River.

Zeke stood and peeled Bianca off River. Bianca turned and clung to Zeke instead.

Zeke met Apollo's eye and bowed his head. "Highness."

Apollo held out his hand. Zeke looked at it, and he could swear he had heard River gasp.

Zeke shook Apollo's hand.

"Apollo. Just Apollo. No need to be so formal anymore if we are going to be related."

Apollo could see the wheels turning in Zeke's head. If River chose Apollo, what would that mean for him and his mate? They would be related through marriage, but he was still Ares' bodyguard and friend.

"Thank you, Highness," Zeke replied.

Apollo never disliked Zeke. He was a solid guy. Good at his job and loyal. Unlike Theo and Santiago, who, to be honest, Apollo had always been jealous because they were so close to Ares. For years, he'd wished that had been him. But that dream had died a long time ago.

River smiled and slipped her hand into his again.

Apollo winked.

Cherry motioned them over. "Eat. Get your strength back."

"River just came to raid our pantry for sweets and soda," said Apollo.

Bianca giggled. "Oh man, River's infamous PMS is striking. Growing up, we had an entire cabinet dedicated to River's PMS week."

"We did not," said River.

"Yes, we did," Cherry replied. "Six full shelves stocked with every sugary item we could buy."

River huffed. "You guys ate that stuff too."

"Sorry, Sweetheart," said Strider. "It was all for you. We keep our sweets locked in our rooms for safekeeping."

River's cheeks deepened to a beautiful shade of pink. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.

"Come on," said Apollo. "Let's go create your private shelf in the pantry."

She elbowed him and pulled her hand away. "You are so funny."

He chuckled. "Usually." He retook her hand and led her toward the pantry.

Embarrassment still wafted off her, and she mumbled about not eating that much candy.

* * *

RIVER

River couldn't believe the embarrassment she endured at her family's hands in front of Apollo. Okay, so she liked her sweets. It wasn't like she was shooting cola or anything. However, she had snorted Pixie Stix once. That had been painful.

Apollo carried a bag of goodies for her as he led her out of the back of the estate and onto the back lawn.

"Where's my fudge?" she asked.

"What?"

"My fudge. And my bag of candy. I never did get those back when we were at the cabin."

Apollo's eyes narrowed. "You know, I never got mine back either."

She snorted. "Well, from how I saw the guys digging into your bag after they took it from you, I'm not surprised. But I am surprised they ate mine."

"They wouldn't dare. I'll be sure to find it for you tonight."

She smiled. "You better, or I'm going to make them go back and get me more."

He nodded. "I'll make them walk to get it."

"Nah. That would take too long."

"True."

A huge fountain took up residence just beyond an expansive patio that wrapped around the entire back of the estate. As they walked down the stone steps and passed the fountain, she noted several enormous koi fish swimming inside it.

"Don't they freeze in the winter here?"

"No. We keep it heated for them all year into the fall, but when it gets too cold, we have a room inside with a large tank that they are moved to."

It surprised her that they took so much care of fish.

They walked beyond the fountain and down toward a large pool.

"Do you ever use the pool?"

"Me? No. Ares does occasionally. Mostly, we kept it because my parents used to have large parties back when they were alive, and the pack leaders loved the pool."

"Maybe it will be that way again once there is a king."

"Maybe. Though I can't see Ares holding pool parties."

River looked up at Apollo. It struck her that Apollo thought Ares would be the next king and not himself.

They headed through rows of flowerbeds toward a building near the back of the lawn.

"Where are we going?" she asked.

"Why? Is having to wait to scarf down all your sweets making you cranky."

She shoved him.

"We are going to that old barn."

"Do we have cows to milk?"

"Not exactly." A sly smirk spread across his face.

"What are you up to?"

"We'll be there in a minute."

She sighed.

"Trust me. I am sure you'll like this surprise." He raised her hand and kissed her knuckles.

The brush of his lips on her skin made her flush with warmth, and her heartbeat quicken.

He paused and looked at her. There was no use trying to hide her reaction. He was more than capable of reading her… everything.

He smiled and continued to lead her across the lawn.

"So, I'm surprised I haven't even thought to ask this before, but what is the difference between Lycans and shifters? You are stronger, faster, larger, quicker to lose your temper."

"I prefer to think of us as more hot-blooded instead of just angrier."

She smiled. "But what else? I mean, can you smell stronger or see farther?"

"Probably."

"How do you know?"

He pulled her to a stop. "Because when I do this." He kissed her hand again. "I notice the slight sweetness that comes into your scent. And when I do this." He wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her body into full contact with his. He leaned into her ear. "Your heart beats ten times faster. And when I do this." He squeezed her rear. "Your skin heats by at least a degree."

She pushed him away. "I don't think those are things I couldn't tell about you."

He cocked an eyebrow at her. "Really? Let's try."

"Without even having to do those things," she finished. "See, your scent is always prevalent. Smoky and woodsy. And I don't even need to touch you to make your heart beat faster.

"You think so, do you?"

She nodded. "I know so."

"You're pretty full of yourself."

River grinned and bent her knees until she knelt on the ground before him.

"What are you doing?"

"Nothing."

She inched closer to him until her breath hit the crotch of his jeans.

She didn't need to be a shifter to feel the tension in his body ratchet up.

"River." He looked around. "People could be watching."

She moved even closer until her face was inches from his ever-growing erection.

"River-"

She looked up at him and grinned. "Told you I didn't need to touch you to make your heart beat faster. You just heated up by a couple of degrees, too."

She jumped to her feet and laughed at the expression on his face. He looked like he wanted to kiss her and eat her at the same time.

His hands clenched and unclenched rapidly, and then he shook his head.

"I take it my surprise is in that barn." She motioned with her head.

Apollo didn't speak, only nodded.

"Great. Bring my sugar buffet."

She turned and walked toward the barn. Her wolf grumbled.

What's your problem?

Games. Don't like it.

River rolled her eyes. Please. It's no different than when you ran with his wolf in the woods.

She neared the barn and realized Apollo still stood where she'd left him, staring at the sky.

"Hey, you coming?" she called.

"Almost," he replied without looking at her.

She laughed. "Hurry up. I want my surprise!"

River jogged forward to the door and threw it open just as Apollo said, "Wait."

She took in the space, and her jaw dropped.

Apollo came to a stop beside her. "Do you ever listen?"

She stared into the open space, and her chest squeezed. On one wall hung every tool she could think of for carving wood. It had to be thousands, tens of thousands of dollars’ worth of tools. The piece of wood she'd been carving with Walt stood in the middle.

"I thought you could use this half of the bottom floor for woodworking and the other side for your metalwork. Upstairs-"

River didn't let him finish. Instead, she grabbed him and pulled his lips to hers. He dropped the bag of sugary goodies and threaded his hands into her hair.

She lost time kissing him. And pulled away because her stomach growled.

He chuckled. "Sugar over sexy stuff. Noted."

She looked at him thoughtfully. "Thank you, Apollo. I… thank you."

He brushed a hair from her eyes and kissed her again. "You are very welcome, Kitten."

She reached up on her toes, rubbed her nose on his, and then backed up. The look that crossed his face made her think he might cry. He pulled her to him and pressed her into his chest.

She wrapped her arms around him and smiled. This. This is what she wanted, what she'd hoped for in a mate. After a minute, he let go of her, and she looked up at him.

"Can I?"

"Why do you think I brought you out here?"

She yipped with delight, ran to the piece of wood, and ran her fingers over it, remembering where she'd left off days before.

"I'm gonna bring a table down from upstairs and set all your goodies out."

She nodded and continued to feel the wood. Then she went to the wall and pulled down a small chainsaw. Most of the big carving was done, so it was time to start on the finer details.

River tied her hair up in a ponytail and started up the chainsaw. The smell of the motor oil made her smile. Memories of her dad came back to her, and her eyes misted.

She looked around the barn as Apollo returned with a circular table. Her chest squeezed at the sight of him, and her wolf chuffed.

Home.

Yeah, said River. We're home.