Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

RIVER

T he next morning, River and Apollo made their way back to the cabin, and she was surprised to see it fully stocked and a bodyguard she didn't recognize cooking breakfast. Apollo shifted and raced to another room before returning with a large blanket and wrapping her in it. Lachlan and the others turned away as she padded down the hall covered in the blanket. She shifted when Apollo closed a bedroom door behind them and grabbed the blanket to keep it from falling off her.

It surprised even her that she had shifted in Apollo's presence. Even though they'd been naked together under the moon, she had hidden herself with her hair and by curling up while in human form.

"You know I sprout fur when I'm a wolf, right? It's not like they are seeing me naked or something."

Apollo looked at her thoughtfully. "Until we are mated, no other male may see you in your wolf form."

"Really?" Another Lycan thing?

"Really."

"So you never run with your guards?"

"Occasionally."

"What about with your parents?"

"Obviously."

"So… what about my family? Can I run with them?"

"Of course."

"But no one else?"

"Yes."

She blew out a breath and sat on the bed, forcing herself to keep her eyes north of his chest, which wasn't easy when every instinct wanted to take in his beautiful naked form. Her body heated as she imagined running her hands over every taut inch of him.

Focus River! Keep your head out of the gutter!

She adjusted her blanket. "Is it just a Lycan thing that says I can't run with anyone else or…"

"You will be the High Luna of the world. You are the most sacred and revered female of our generation. That means you are to be protected and respected at all costs."

She wanted to ask him more questions but noticed dark circles pooled beneath his eyes.

"Did you not sleep well?"

"I didn't sleep at all."

River's gut clenched. "I'm sorry. You should have told me you preferred to sleep in the cabin-"

"I don't. I love sleeping outside. But I told you I'd make sure you were safe."

Guilt raced over her. "Apollo. I'm-"

He knelt in front of her, pressing a finger to her lips. "Don't apologize. It was my choice and my pleasure."

The touch of his soft finger to her skin made her shiver, and her wolf howl.

Mine. My mate. My Alpha.

"Why don't you nap, and we can do something later?"

"Absolutely not. We only have a few days together, and I don't want to miss a moment."

River sighed and shook her head. As stubborn as his brother.

"Well, I'd like to take a shower."

Apollo nodded. "Of course. Let me just make sure that Silas got everything I asked for."

He opened the door, giving her a good look at his perfectly sculpted butt. He stepped out, and she cleared her throat.

Apollo looked back at her.

"Maybe… you need a blanket of your own?" She cocked an eyebrow at him.

Apollo chuckled. "Me and my men have seen each other naked so many times we could name every freckle and scar on each other's bodies."

Apollo's comfort with being naked somehow suited him.

"My nakedness makes you uncomfortable."

"Not uncomfortable. It's just that since I wasn't raised like other shifters. I didn't go on runs with the pack or anything, and I'm not used to it."

He inclined his head. "Of course. I'm so sorry. I didn't realize."

"Besides, you don't want anyone seeing me when I'm naked."

Apollo growled.

"Well, do you think I like you walking around naked for everyone to see?"

His eyebrows scrunched together. "They're my men."

"Are they all mated? And not all men are into women. Even when it comes to shifters, did you ever think of that?"

He opened his mouth and then closed it again. He walked to the bed, pulled a blanket from the foot of it, and wrapped it around his hips.

"Thank you."

He winked at her. "Anything for you, Kitten."

Apollo closed the door, and River stared at it, replaying what she'd just said. Was she already putting a claim on Apollo? She'd pretty much done that by telling him she didn't want him naked with anyone else. Or was it just that she didn't like the one-sided way Ares and Apollo tried to hold her to rules that they didn't live by themselves?

Apollo's toned body entered her mind, and she heated. Damn, they were so fine. So fine. Both of them. And all they wanted was her. Her!

Her wolf chuffed and mewled.

"Shut up."

River plopped down on the bed. What was happening? How could she want two different men? How could her wolf? She couldn't explain it. Her wolf wasn't ready to give her whole heart to one of them. And she couldn't give half a heart to both of them. Somehow, her wolf wanted to give herself wholly to both of them. How was that possible?

The door opened, and Apollo stepped in. "I started the water for you. It's well water and can sometimes take a while to warm up. There are towels and other things in the bathroom for you. If you are missing anything, we can get it while we're out today."

"Are we going somewhere?"

"I thought we might ride into town and look around a bit."

She nodded. "Sounds fun. Are you going to shower?"

"Is that an invitation?" Her cheeks heated, and he chuckled. "I love making you blush. You're adorable."

Adorable? That was a new one.

"I'm going to shower in a different cabin. Then we can eat and go to town."

"Sounds good. Before we go, can you do me a favor, though?"

"Anything."

"Could you introduce me to everyone living with us for the next few days? It'll be weird to call them all Bodyguard or Hey You. I get that you know them, but aside from Lachlan, I haven't spent more than a few minutes just seeing any of them."

"Well, that won't do. If you are to be my queen, you need to get to know my men even better than you know Ares'. I'll introduce you over breakfast."

Apollo gave a slight bow and left.

Her chest squeezed as she realized choosing between them was more significant than just picking a mate. With their personalities so different, their leadership style would also be different. Whichever of them took the crown would determine the next reign of the werewolf nation. And it was up to her to pick who that would be.

Sheesh. No pressure or anything.

River closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Why her? Why had it been put on her to choose? At that moment, she wished more than anything that she'd never found out she was an Omega.

After the shower, River changed back into her clothes from the day before and sat with Apollo and the bodyguards to eat. The chat easy and relaxed, like old friends. The air so different from the intensity of Ares and his men. She listened as the men talked about old memories from being in the woods and things they'd done as kids.

"So, how long have you all known each other?"

"Bennet, I've known my whole life. His dad was my father's guard. Silas and I went to school together," said Apollo. "Since what? Third grade?"

"Second, I think," Silas replied.

Apollo smiled. "Yeah, second. The year we had Miss Tanson."

Bennett sighed, and a large, goofy smile planted on his freckled face. "Miss Tanson. I didn't even know what a crush was in second grade, but man, I had one hard for Miss Tanson."

"No shit." Silas snorted. "You knocked out my front tooth for saying I would marry her one day."

The men burst into laughter.

"What about you two?" she asked the men further down.

"Regan and Thomas, I found in college. We pledged the same fraternity."

"Where did you go to school?"

Suddenly, the table erupted into a football game rally as the group belted out their alma mater's school song.

The group broke into wild laughter, and River felt like she was at a pep rally.

"What did you study?"

"I have an MBA, but I mostly handle the finances and business side of things."

"There's a business side to being a Prince?"

Apollo chuckled. "We have many investment interests and real estate holdings. We also own some companies and offer financing to Lycan and shifter business owners."

"So you work a nine-to-five job?"

"More like a five to two job. I get up early when the stock market opens and work mostly with companies on the East Coast, so I usually finish by noon or two p.m. It frees up my days. I like it that way."

She nodded, wondering who would take on his duties while he was away. Ares had enough on his plate without dealing with the stuff Apollo handled.

She pushed her food around her plate as the men laughed and joked for several minutes.

River noticed Lachlan eating silently. "What about you? Did you grow up around here, Lachlan?"

He looked up from his plate and glanced around the table. "No Highness. I'm from the Midwest."

"Where?"

"Oklahoma, Highness."

River shoveled a forkful of eggs into her mouth. "Do you miss it?"

Lachlan glanced around again. "Sometimes, Highness. I love the woods and trees here but miss the open fields."

"If you aren't comfortable here, you are welcome to return to the estate," said Apollo.

River shot him a look.

He shrugged. "I'm just-"

"You are just trying to assert your dominance and make Lachlan feel uncomfortable, and that's not okay. He is here at my request. He didn't ask to be here. Hell, I bet he didn't even ask to become Ares's bodyguard. I understand that you may not have chosen him, but I did, and I expect you to respect that at the very least." His jab surprised her. She would have expected something like that from Ares, but Apollo? Obviously, she still had a lot to learn about him.

She refused to break eye contact with Apollo.

He inclined his head. "You are right, River. I apologize."

"To who? Me?"

Apollo looked between her and Lachlan. "To you both."

Lachlan bowed his head. "There is nothing to apologize for, Highness."

River growled. The male egos and kowtowing to those of a higher station were things she had never understood and never would get used to, not to others and especially never to herself. It was one thing she would insist on talking to both Ares and Apollo about when she got a private moment.

River sat her fork down and rose from her seat. The others rose as well.

"Are you finished?" asked Apollo.

"I… I need some air." River strode around the table and to the front door.

Footsteps followed her, and she held up her hands. "I'm just going out the door. I don't need an entourage. If you need to, you can watch me from the window. But if one of you steps out that door, you are liable to get a boot to the balls or my knife somewhere just as unpleasant."

She pulled open the door and walked out before any of them could reply. She stormed down the steps onto the dirt and gravel path and looked at the sun. She crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes. A minute passed and then another before the tears started.

What had she gotten herself into? Politics? In fighting? Royalty? Responsibility? She'd never asked for any of that. Never wanted any of it. Men following her. People are not able to use her name. What next? Would she be forced to have all the elders watch her consummate her mating or watch her deliver her first child?

Maybe Alaska wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Soft footsteps crunched up behind her. She grabbed a knife from her boot, turned, and threw it. Apollo caught it midair.

The door burst open, and the men rushed out.

River grabbed her second knife.

Apollo spun around and lobbed her knife at one of the pillars on the porch. "If any one of you dares to lay a hand on my mate, I will kill you myself. I don't care if she stabs me with a poisoned dagger. You don't touch her. Ever. Are we clear?"

The men looked at each other and then bowed.

"Back inside," Apollo ordered.

River slid her knife back into its holster and waited until the front door closed again before she swiped the tears from her eyes.

Apollo turned back to her. "I'm sorry, Kitten. I am truly sorry for upsetting you."

River waved him off.

He closed the distance between them and reached for her but then dropped his hand. "What is it? Tell me."

She shook her head. "Forget it."

He pressed his palm into her cheek, and she looked up at him.

"Tell me, River." His voice held tenderness.

"It's… everything. Leaving my home. Being an Omega. Being chased by Titan. Being bound to you and Ares. Having to choose between you. Having to choose at all. Knowing that my choice will determine the fate of the next reign of Lycan and shifter society. Just… all of it. I never asked for this. Never wanted this. I don't want this. I don't want this to be my choice. I don't-"

"Okay. Okay." Apollo wrapped her in his arms.

River laid her head on his chest, and the tears started again. And once they started, she couldn't stop them. It all came out. Everything she'd held back. Like a dam exploding after being overfilled. A lifetime of being lied to. The death of her father. Being forced to take pills and spray with sprays. Never being able to reach her wolf or run with the pack. Being attacked by Titan. The loneliness. The hiding. Never fitting in anywhere. Ares finding her. The attack at the theater. Moving to Canada. Being swept to a cabin in the middle of nowhere by a man she barely knew. Surrounded by men… All of it.

Apollo held her close, and after a minute, her body relaxed. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hung on to him.

He stood silently, holding her and letting her cry. Then, a soft rumble started in his chest and grew to a comforting hum. The vibrations soothed her soul, and soon, her tears dried. She let the low purr reverberate through her body and calm her.

Every worry vanished in one large exhale, and all she felt was peace. Suddenly, none of it mattered. Nothing mattered—only her and Apollo. The rest of the world just melted away.

She didn't know how long Apollo held her, but in those moments, River couldn't imagine anywhere else in the world she would rather be than in his arms.

* * *

APOLLO

The pain that wracked Apollo for making her cry was unbearable. He hadn't meant to upset her. He knew his words to Lachlan had been petty, but Lachlan's presence was just a reminder, every second of every minute, that Ares had gotten to River first. And before Ares, Titan.

It wasn't Lachlan's fault. In honesty, Lachlan was the only one of Ares's men he liked. But just having him there made it so that Apollo felt Ares's eyes constantly upon them.

The feeling, though, of having her in his arms made all of that fade away. Right there holding her after so many years of loneliness was as close to heaven as he could imagine. His wolf whined and paced, wanting to comfort her.

We are boy. We are.

Then, strangely, he started to hum… no, not hum… something different. Something that didn't come from his vocal cords. It came from somewhere deeper. The hum morphed into a rumbly purr that filled his entire body. He'd only heard the sound once. He'd accidentally walked in on his father consoling his mother, and his father made the same sound.

A smile spread across his face as he laid his cheek on her head. She really was his mate.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I didn't mean to freak out."

"You don't need to apologize. I can't imagine how overwhelming this situation must be."

She nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head. "Maybe later."

He kissed her head. "As you wish, Kitten."

She snorted and laughed. "Like in the Princess Bride?"

"What?"

She looked up at him. "You know, Wesley says 'As you wish' to Buttercup, but he means I love you."

He stared at her for a moment. "Oh… uh… I mean-"

She chuckled and shook her head. "I'm kidding. Take that terrified look off your face."

He blinked several times, unsure of what to say. "I've never seen the movie," he blurted.

"Everyone saw that movie. I don't even watch movies much and I've seen it."

"Not a romantic comedy guy."

Her eyes narrowed.

"What?"

She shrugged. "You just seem the romantic comedy type is all."

He winked at her. "That's because you don't fully know me yet. But you will. So, do you still want to go to town, or would you rather just stay here and relax today? I can have the guys stay outside to give you some space."

She wiped her eyes and face and then stepped away from him. "Either way."

He nodded. "Let's go into town. I think you'll like it."

She smiled. "It's a date."

Apollo couldn't help but return the smile. A date. With his mate. Could there be anything better?