Chapter 24

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

RIVER

T he entire estate bustled with activity as everyone in the household prepared for the first get-together of all Alphas of the eastern US and Canada in more than ten years.

River pulled on her dress and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Stop fidgeting," said Cherry. "Something is wrong with this damn zipper."

It had been three weeks since River's heat. The first week, she spent her days with Apollo after he worked several hours, and she spent her nights with Ares after he finished his business. Together, they'd tried to figure out how to tell the Council. Finally, they decided to send each of them a letter explaining the decision.

The second week had been spent convincing the Council that either they agreed with the twins or they would both abdicate. After all, they'd been sharing the duties for years anyway.

Ultimately, the Council decided two kings were better than no king, especially with the rising rogue problem. And because they'd already been sharing the job.

From there, the last week had flown by so fast that she'd barely had the energy to spend more than a couple hours a day with Apollo and Ares a piece. And now, as she stood staring into the mirror at the ornate ceremonial mating dress their mother had worn when mating their father, she could hardly believe everything that had happened to her in the last two months.

"Have you gained weight?" Cherry tugged on the zipper of the dress.

"What? No."

"Well, then, are you bloated and on your period because you don't fit into this dress the way you did two weeks ago."

"No, Mom, I-" River stopped. She wasn't on her period. In fact, she hadn't had a period since the week before meeting Ares.

River counted the weeks since her last period. Her heartbeat galloped, and she licked her lips.

Cherry rounded her and looked into River's face. "River. When was your last period?"

"I… I don't remember," River stammered.

"Don't lie. When, River?"

"Six weeks ago."

Cherry gasped and pressed her hand to River's belly. "That isn't all the candy you've been eating that is causing this dress not to fit, River."

River pushed her mom's hand away. Pregnant? Was she pregnant? A myriad of emotions flooded her. Happiness. Terror. Was it Apollo's? Could it be Ares'? What would they both say? Would they want her to be pregnant? Would one of them reject the baby if it wasn't theirs?

Cherry grabbed her arms and shook her. "Breathe River. If you pass out, I'll have to tell the knuckleheads why, and I do not want to be the bearer of that news."

River swallowed hard and nodded.

Cherry grabbed River and pulled her into a hug. "I'm kidding. It's gonna be fine. You're going to be fine. Ares and Apollo are going to be fine. Probably a lot more protective of you than usual, but they will be fine. They love you. They're your mates. It's gonna be fine, you'll see."

"Okay." River patted Cherry on the back. "I've never heard so many uses of the word fine before, but I get what you mean."

Cherry pushed her to arm's length. "I just want to make sure you know-"

"Everything is going to be fine?" River snorted.

Cherry shot her a look. "I was going to say all right, but yes. Millions of women have babies every day. Besides, if they aren't happy, I'll just kill them."

River smiled, and a thought drifted into her mind, and she laughed.

Cherry's eyebrows smashed together. "What's so funny?"

River laughed harder.

"What's wrong with you? Have you finally lost it?"

River continued to laugh as Cherry watched her in confusion. As tears leaked from River's eyes, she snorted and then blew out a breath.

"You want to tell me what is so hysterical?" Cherry cocked an eyebrow.

"Yeah. You're gonna be a grandma."

Cherry's expression fell.

"Grandma Cherry."

Cherry shook her head. "Nope. No way."

"Nana Cherry."

She held up her hands. "Stop."

"Grandmother Cherry."

Cherry growled. "I brought you into this world, girl, and I will knock you right out of it."

River tried to stifle her giggles.

Cherry raised her hand as if to slap River.

River opened her mouth, and Cherry cocked her hand back. River snickered and then waited until Cherry dropped her hand.

"Granny Cherry!"

"That's it. You're dead."

River squealed and laughed as she raced to the door of her room. She threw it open and ran smack into Ares and Apollo.

The two looked between them quizzically.

"And what are you two up to?" Ares cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm about to kill my daughter."

Apollo tsked. "Sorry, Cherry, that will have to wait for another day. Right now, we have a crowd of hungry Alphas waiting downstairs. And you know they can't eat until after we announce River's big news."

"And," said Ares. "Hungry Alphas is never a good thing."

"Yeah," said Cherry. "About River's big news ."

"Okay," said River. "Give me just a minute, and I'll be ready. My mom just has to finish zipping me up." Without pretense, she slammed the door on her mates and rounded on Cherry.

"Don't you dare tell them. Don't you dare. This is my business, not yours. Got it?" she mouthed.

Cherry rolled her eyes. "I wasn't going to tell them."

"Promise," River whispered.

Cherry shook her head. "You're being silly."

"Promise." River took a step toward her mother.

"Fine. I promise."

River continued to stare at Cherry until her mom broke eye contact.

"Don't do that," said Cherry. "You may be an Omega, but I am still your mother."

"Sorry," River mumbled.

"Come on. Let's get you zipped before one of those two barges in here and insist on having sex with you before you head down there. Or both of them. I wouldn't put it past both of them."

Outside the door, Ares and Apollo said, "We heard that."

"Good," Cherry yelled back. "Then maybe you two will stop mounting my daughter long enough to let her get some rest."

River stood at the open doors of the ballroom she hadn't even realized the estate had until a few days prior. Her stomach wound in a knot.

The entire place had been decorated in warm, neutral tones, as she asked. She'd insisted that they not be overly pretentious and had instead opted for a more elegant but soothing palette. She figured that the news would shock everyone, so anything they could do to help level heads prevail was for the best.

Large candelabras lined the sides of where the chairs had been set up. A large cream carpet covered most of the wooden floor. Dozens of tables lined the walls full of foods, desserts, and drinks waiting to be eaten. Soft classical music played in the background.

If River had picked an atmosphere for a wedding, this would have been it. Beautiful, elegant, but simple – minus the thirty or so Alphas and their mates staring at them as they entered the doors. She glanced around and found Bianca, Cherry, and Strider sitting together, with Zeke standing nearby.

Bianca smiled and waved.

River waved back.

"Ready, Kitten?"

"Probably not."

Ares chuckled. "You still have time to tell Apollo to shove off and choose me."

River looked up at him, and he smiled.

Apollo snorted. "You're such an ass."

Ares shrugged.

"If I forget to tell you later, you both look totally hot in those suits."

Ares growled. "Oh, I won't let you forget to tell me later."

"You don't have to tell me," said Apollo. "You can just show me as you help me out of it."

The knot in River's stomach relaxed as she laughed.

Ares and Apollo walked arm in arm with her into the room, followed by Theo and Bennett.

Everyone rose as they entered, and her dress, which had seemed slightly constricting before, suddenly felt much too tight. She forced herself to hold her head high and keep her face impassive as her gaze flicked from Alpha to Alpha.

She could do this. If Ares and Apollo could do it, so could she. It was fine. Things were going to be fine, just like her mom said. And no one could tell that she was already pregnant.

She sucked in her gut just to be sure, and together, they walked down an aisle that split the room in two.

After what felt like an hour, they reached the front of the room, where a giant red velvet blanket covered what she assumed were two large thrones. She swallowed hard and wondered when they would bring in the third throne. Or maybe there were only two thrones. If that were the case, then Ares and Apollo would sit, and she'd stand behind them. That was the only logical solution.

The trio stopped in front of the covered thrones and turned to the crowd. Theo stepped to the left a few feet away, and Bennett took up position on the right. Zeke and Santiago nodded and headed out of the room, probably to patrol with the others.

Again, a pang of guilt struck her as to why he wouldn't be with Bianca.

The Alphas each took a seat with their mates.

River tried to keep herself breathing as her gaze came to rest on her former Alpha. He watched her with a mixture of pride and surprise. She thought about waving to him but nodded instead.

He nodded back.

Osmodius walked to the front of the room wearing a crisp black suit and white shirt. As he strode to the front, she noticed how alike his gate was to Ares'. The way he held himself. The way he dressed. All of it spoke of his noble breeding.

He gave all three of them a tight smile and a slight bow. Ares and Apollo nodded in return.

Osmodius turned to face the group. "Alphas of eastern Canada and the United States, we thank you for being here on such short notice."

River held back a snort. The trip hadn't cost the Alphas a penny. Ares and Apollo footed the bill for all of their airfare as well as their accommodations.

"Tonight is a night for great celebration. Tonight, we usher in a new era for both Lycans and shifters. Tonight, we welcome our new king and queen to their thrones. Long have we awaited this day. Ever since the death of my dear sister and her beloved Alpha, we have waited. Sometimes patiently. Sometimes, not so much. Until five weeks ago, it happened. While on a trip to New York, Prince Ares found her. Our Omega and the next Luna Queen. Princess River Whitetail."

Osmodius held out his hand to her, and River looked at it before taking it and stepping forward.

Altogether, the crowd left their chairs to kneel before her.

River swallowed hard. That wasn't what she'd expected. Looking over the audience, she realized that even Cherry, Strider, and Bianca knelt. She didn't like it.

"Please," said River. "That's-"

"Very generous of you all." Ares stepped next to her.

Apollo joined her on the other side as the Alphas lifted their heads.

"Please retake your seats," said Apollo. "Your loyalty is more than recognized and accepted."

Okay. So apparently, she still had a lot to learn about being the Luna of all shifterdom.

One by one, the group got back into their chairs.

"Now," Osmodius continued. "As you are all aware, Prince Ares is a twin. The younger of the two. Therefore, it was soon discovered that Princess River wasn't just mated to Prince Ares, but also, it seems, to Prince Apollo."

A wave of whispers crashed through the crowd.

"It is rare," Osmodius continued. "But not unheard of. Especially with identical twins. We gave Princess River one month to get to know both Princes in an effort to decide between them. And tonight, we shall learn who will become our next king."

Osmodius bowed to River before stepping to the side and out of River's line of sight.

All eyes landed on her, and she wished more than anything for a glass of water. Or a cola. Her stomach flipped at the prospect of speaking in front of so many people. This was nothing like showing her art to people. At least those people wanted to see her art; they hadn't been summoned, and they hadn't all stared at her simultaneously. They stared at her art.

"It's okay, Beloved. We're right here."

"Always, Kitten."

Both men took her hands in theirs, and she squeezed them tightly. As she looked out over the waiting crowd, the only thing she could think about was the young growing inside her already— a mom. She was going to be a mom. Was she ready to be a mom? Not that it mattered; it was happening.

She looked to Apollo. He would be a great father—attentive, kind, and fun. She looked to Ares. He, too, would be a great father—protective, fierce, and strong.

She swallowed hard and looked out over everyone. Her gaze landed on her mom.

"I am River Whitetail of the Silver Moon pack. And both Prince Ares and Prince Apollo are indeed my mates. And yes, I was told I needed to choose between them. However-"

The ballroom door crashed open, and Zeke raced in, blood splattered over his suit.

"Rogues," Zeke yelled.

River's gut plummeted. Quicker than light, Ares swooped her into his arms and headed for the wall behind them. Theo growled and rushed up behind them, barking orders at the other guards in the room.

Apollo pushed in front of River and Ares with Bennett and punched a wainscoting panel. It swung inward, and just as she and Ares reached it, a light flickered inside. Everyone stopped.

A scent assaulted her nose, and River's wolf went haywire.

No. No. Not him.

A prominent figure stepped out of the hole in the wall, and Ares backed up while Apollo and Bennett shielded her from view. Her mates growled, and their fangs lengthened along with their nails.

Bennett pulled his gun, and a shot rang out, but it wasn't from Bennett. He hit his knees and dropped to the floor.

River screamed, and Ares hugged her tighter.

Apollo roared and bent to Bennett, but River couldn't see his condition.

Yelling ensued behind them. Chairs crashed over, and Alphas howled and roared. River looked over Ares' shoulder to see the Alphas pushing their mates behind them. Her mom jumped in front of Bianca and Strider. Zeke grabbed Bianca and pulled his gun. The doors burst open, and a mob of rogues prowled in.

This wasn't happening. It couldn't be happening.

River's wolf snarled and clawed to be let out.

"Isn't this a lovely party? I think I missed my invitation."

River squeezed tight against Ares' chest at the sound of Titan's voice.

"You're dead." Apollo jumped to his feet and leaped at Titan, but Titan raised his gun, and dozens of rogues poured out of the passageway behind him.

Titan snorted. "Wow, little brother. You finally found your balls. Did Ares give them back?"

Apollo growled and stepped forward, and River heard the click of a gun.

Her wolf cried out, and River grabbed Apollo's sleeve. He covered her hand but didn't turn.

"Why don't you put my mate down, Ares," said Titan.

Mate? She wasn't his mate. She'd rejected him.

"You're mistaken, Titan. River belongs to Apollo and I. The deal was sealed a month ago between us."

"Wow! You two? Share? That's… new." Titan snorted.

Behind them, the standoff between the Alphas and the rogues grew tense as everyone waited.

Apollo backed up, pushing Ares and River with him as he went. They all stopped when they bumped into the thrones.

River's heart hammered, and her nails and fangs elongated.

"Leave now," said Apollo. "And we'll spare your life only."

Titan laughed, making River's gut tighten. "I'll make you the same deal. You leave now, and I'll spare you. Wouldn't you like that, Apollo? To not live in Ares's long, arrogant shadow?"

Ares growled, and River pulled on Apollo's sleeve again.

Apollo looked at her, his eyes black as midnight. He touched her cheek.

A deep, sickening feeling lodged in River's gut, and her wolf whined.

Apollo kissed her palm. "I love you, River. I am yours forever. Remember that." His gaze connected with Ares. "Run."

Apollo turned and swung at Titan. Titan dodged and slammed the butt of the gun into the back of Apollo's skull.

River screamed as Ares dashed to the edge of the platform.

A shot rang out behind them, and River twisted in Ares's arms.

"Apollo!"

But the gun wasn't aimed at Apollo. Ares grimaced, his leg buckled, and he almost dropped her. Ares roared as the smell of blood tinged the air. Blood and something metal and bitter. Ares tried to get up, but his knee buckled again. He reached down, and River slid from his arms.

"Yes, run," Titan mocked. "But leave my Omega."

The bullet wound had no doubt shattered Ares' knee. River raced to a nearby curtain, ripped a strip off it, and then ran back and tied it tightly around the wound. A sickly green color mixed with black oozed out of the bullet hole.

Silver and wolfsbane.

"No." Ares tried to push her away. "Run, Beloved. Run and don't come back. We'll find you. I promise."

River hesitated for only a second, but it was all Titan needed. By the time she'd gotten back to her feet, he grabbed her around the waist and jerked her against him.

Again, Ares fought to stand. "Let go of her before I rip your head off."

Titan snorted and shot Ares a second time.

Ares roared in pain and grabbed his shoulder.

"Stop it!" River struggled against Titan's grip and then sunk her teeth into his arm as hard as possible. His blood sprayed into her mouth, and he let out a grunt. She reached for her knives, but she'd forgotten them in her room.

Titan cocked his gun again. "Stop fighting me, or I'll shoot him in the head."

River let go of Titan's arm and spit on the floor. Ares got to his feet shakily, blood soaking through his suit.

An Alpha growled, and a rogue shot forward.

"Wait!" Titan commanded.

The rogue stopped. All eyes went to Titan.

"Now." Titan turned sideways so River could see the Alphas as well as Apollo and Ares. "I'm a reasonable Alpha, so here's what we'll do. I'll let River decide if she wants to come with me or stay with the two of you."

"Fine," said Ares. "Ask her. Ask River where she'd rather be."

Apollo lumbered over to the group, blood dripping from his head down over his shoulder as well as from his side.

Titan turned sideways so River could see both the Alphas as well as Apollo and Ares. He leaned in close to River until his breath hit the side of her neck.

River froze at the memory of him on top of her, his fangs sinking into her skin, but her wolf went into a frenzy.

"Come with me, and I'll let them live. Don't, and I'll kill them both and take you anyway."

River's wolf froze.

"Look out the window."

River shifted her gaze to the large picture window. Titan lifted one finger, and a red dot appeared through the glass. It shone right in the middle of Ares's head.

"No," she growled.

Titan held up two fingers, and another dot appeared on Apollo's shirt at his heart. Apollo looked down and then to Titan. He roared and took a step forward.

Titan pointed the gun at River's head. "I wouldn't."

"He won't," said Ares. "He wants her just as bad as we do. We can take him together."

"Come on," Titan taunted. "Don't make me be a cliché and say if I can't have her, no one can. You two should already know me well enough to know that is a very real thing."

River's mind numbed, and all she thought of was the child growing inside her and her two mates. She had to protect them. She needed to save them. She didn't know when. She didn't know how, but she had to do something. She was the High Luna. It was her duty to protect them. All of them. Her mother, Bianca, Strider, the Alphas, and their mates. Everyone.

A scream rang out, and River turned to see Zeke shoot a rogue who'd grabbed at Bianca. Cherry sliced his throat, and the rogue dropped to the ground.

"Stop!" River commanded. "Make them stop, and I'll go with you."

"What, Lover?"

"I'll go with you," River said louder.

"No." Ares took a step forward, and Apollo rushed them. The glass shattered in the window to the side of them, and a bullet ripped through Apollo's chest, and he stumbled to the ground.

"Apollo," River screamed, lunging for him.

Titan pulled her back sharply.

Ares roared and lunged at Titan. A second shot rang out. Ares ducked, and the bullet lodged in the wall behind him.

"Coward," Ares yelled. "Scared to fight me yourself?"

Titan scoffed. "Not even close. I simply don't want to waste the energy." He leaned in and smelled River's hair. "I have a feeling I'm going to need all the energy I have to satisfy this one."

"Let go of her," Apollo choked. "Let go of her, or so help me. I will rip out your throat and eat your heart."

Blood and poison seeped through Apollo's shirt, and River could tell by the pale tone of his skin that he was close to blacking out.

"Apollo." River struggled against Titan, reaching for Apollo. How the hell had she forgotten her knives?

"You!" Cherry leapt forward and threw a knife. It stuck straight into Titan's bicep.

He bellowed and turned.

River elbowed him in the ribs right before the gun fired.

"No!"

The shot caught her mom in the upper chest. Cherry stumbled and dropped.

Strider howled and raced forward.

Titan aimed again and pulled the trigger. A bullet ripped through Strider's side, and River's scream only served to echo Bianca's.

"Stop!" River commanded. "Everyone just fucking stop!"

She grabbed the knife in Titan's arm and twisted it until he let go of her.

All hell broke loose, and the rogues crashed into the Alpha's and their mates. Shots rang out all around, and the scent of blood filled the air.

She raced to Cherry and grabbed her hand. "Mom?"

Blood seeped from her mom's chest, along with the same poison that leaked from Ares and Apollo.

"Mom?" River shook Cherry.

"River, run," said her mom.

She fought to keep control as wolves shifted and clothes shredded. The sounds of fighting pulled her attention.

She looked to Strider. "Get her out of here. Get them all out. Get to a doctor."

River's old Alpha raced over and laid his hand on Strider's shoulder. "We have to go before we all die."

Zeke lifted Bianca into his arms. "I know a way out."

River looked at him and nodded. "Save her. Please. Save them all."

"I promise."

Strider lifted Cherry off the floor, and her old Alpha grabbed his mate. They raced through the onslaught.

Titan grabbed River by the arm and pulled her away. "Enough. Decide."

She looked over to see Apollo on the ground, eyes closed.

No. Her wolf howled in pain.

Ares and Theo fought through the rogues on the platform, but there were too many.

Tears poured from River's eyes. She couldn't lose them. She couldn't lose Apollo and Ares. She couldn't. She wouldn't be able to live if she lost them. And what about their child? She had to save their child.

"I'll go." She turned on him and steeled her gaze. "But you have to promise me. Promise that you won't hurt them if I leave with you. You won't shoot anyone else."

Titan's expression changed as she left her Omega stare on him. For a moment, he seemed conflicted, but then he smirked.

"Ask me nicely and seal it with a kiss."

He couldn't be serious.

"Show my brothers and everyone else here that you choose me, or I'll kill everyone in this building and burn it to the ground."

Tears leaked from River's eyes as she looked over at Ares on the ground with three rogues pinning him down and a fourth slashing at him.

Neither he nor Apollo would last long without having the bullets removed, and the poison counteracted.

She had to save them. She was the Queen of the Lycans. She had to do whatever it took to save her family and her people.

"Please," River begged. "Please don't hurt them, Titan."

She looked at Titan full-on. His face hadn't changed from the last time she'd seen him except for a long pair of cuts down his left cheek.

Titan turned his head slightly. "Do you like them, Lover? You gave them to me, remember? Not how I would have preferred you to mark me, but I've learned a lot about you these last four years, River. And one thing I've learned is that you sure leave an impression on everyone you meet."

River couldn't speak. Was it possible? Surely, a couple of scratches didn't constitute her marking him. But she'd rejected him, hadn't she?

"Confused? I was, too, at first. But then I realized I never rejected you. So you are still my mate. I took you before my little brothers even knew you existed. You belong to me."

Was what Titan said the truth?

Something deep inside told her it was. Otherwise, why would her wolf be cowering instead of fighting?

Ares roared as his chest flayed open.

River let out a whine before smashing her lips into Titan's.

River's wolf howled and thrashed, trying to break free of the red ribbon that reappeared and snaked around her ankle once more.

No. Not that one. Not him.

It's the only way to save us all.

River's wolf continued to howl, but surprisingly, a soft whine escaped Titan's chest. His grip on her loosened, and his hand splayed on her back. His tongue licked the seam of her lips, and her wolf stopped cowering.

River broke away from him, confused. He gazed at her with his soft blue eyes like when he'd pleaded with her not to reject him years before. Gentle. Vulnerable. Afraid.

"There she is," he whispered. "My Luna. My Omega."

River's mind wouldn't work. She couldn't think. Couldn't speak. And her wolf's silence only made her that much more confused.

Titan licked his lips, and his expression hardened.

"I think we'll get along just fine, Lover."

Bile rose in her throat, and she tried to push away from him, but he was as strong as Ares and Apollo.

"Call me Lover again, and I'll make sure that both sides of your face match."

Titan chuckled. "See, I knew we were meant for each other. It's time for us to make an exit, Little Mate. Time for you and I to finish what we started four years ago."

"I may go with you. But I will never be your mate."

Titan smiled. "Oh, my Luna, you already are."

Titan whistled.

"You promised," said River.

Titan nodded. "I won't hurt them. I won't lay a fang or claw on anyone. I can't say as much for the rogues mistreated and banished from packs worldwide."

"You bastard." River raised her hand to strike him, but he caught it and brought her wrist to his nose, smelling it.

"Sadly, yes. I am a bastard. But now, I'm your bastard."

Terror raced through River.

Titan nodded to someone behind her, and something sharp pricked River's neck. She grabbed the spot and turned to see Vanessa, a needle in hand, stepping away.

"You bitch!" River lunged at Vanessa but lost her balance as her vision went fuzzy and her legs gave out. Titan caught her and cradled her against his chest. She blinked several times, trying to clear her vision.

"Come, my Luna," Titan whispered in her hair. "It's time to take you home."

River's head lolled to the side, and before her vision dimmed, a pack of rabid rogues ripped into Apollo and Ares.