Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

APOLLO

A pollo raced for the cabins. He was still close to a hundred yards away when he started screaming for Bennett.

Bennett, Silas, Regan, Thomas, and Lachlan came running, guns already out.

"Bennett! Get the med kit."

Silas jumped the stairs and raced at them. "What happened?"

"It's Titan."

Regan and Thomas shifted and tore off in different directions.

Apollo approached the cabin, and Lachlan ran up to them.

"No. No. No. Oh shit. Ares is going to kill me," he said.

"Get in line," Apollo growled.

He kicked open the cabin door and ran to the couch. Gently as he could, he lay River on the fabric before running to get her a blanket. He returned, and his mind couldn't focus. The scent of her blood sent his wolf into a frenzy. Killing the humans hadn't been enough. He should have done more. Worse.

"What happened?"

They'd shot her. His River. Apollo's wolf wanted to hunt down Titan and rip him limb from limb.

"Highness," Bennett entered with a kit.

Apollo looked up at him.

"May I look at her?" Bennett asked.

Apollo continued to stare for a minute, and then he backed away.

Bennett approached her carefully and knelt by the couch. He lifted the blanket, and Apollo growled.

Bennett stopped and looked at Apollo. "Highness, maybe this would be easier if you left."

"No," he bellowed.

Bennett didn't flinch.

"Maybe put some pants on then?" he offered.

River shook with pain. Apollo reached for her and kissed her paw. "I'm not leaving her again. Not for a minute."

Bennett sighed and looked to River. "I'm sorry, Highness, but I must look at your wound. Is that all right?"

Apollo growled, but River nodded.

Bennett picked up the blanket, now soaked in blood, and spread her fur to look at her shoulder.

She cried out.

Apollo grabbed Bennett's arm, his nails lengthening.

Bennett looked down at Apollo's grip and then into his eyes. "I need to see if the bullet is still in there." His voice and eyes remained calm.

Apollo let go. His brain screamed that he knew these things needed to be done, but his wolf wanted no part of it. He waited so close to the surface that Apollo almost couldn't control the shift ripples wracking his body.

"It's still in there," said Bennett.

Apollo let out a string of curses so loud that the windows shook.

"I'm sorry, Kitten."

Bennett and Apollo changed places, and Apollo stroked her mane. Apollo closed his eyes and bowed his head next to River's. How could he have let this happen? He had just found her and already couldn't take care of her. Maybe he'd be better off just letting Ares have her. Ares never would have let something like this happen.

River nudged him with her nose and then licked his forehead.

He looked up at her bright green eyes.

"I have the tools," said Bennett. "I can get it out, but it won't feel good. I think it's best if you… leave."

Apollo went to protest, but Bennett stopped him. "Do you want me to do it right, or do you want me to do it when my wolf is scared you are going to bite his head off at her slightest discomfort?"

Apollo knew Bennett was right, but his wolf didn't want to comply.

"I have an idea that can keep us busy while he works," said Silas. "Something to take the edge off for you and your wolf."

Apollo looked at River again. He couldn't leave her.

Mine. My mate. No males. Mine.

I can't stand to hear her in pain. I'll kill Bennett if we don't go.

No, go! Stay. Protect.

Apollo swallowed hard. I am protecting her. If we hurt him, she will never forgive herself or us. We must go to protect her .

She nudged him with her nose, and he dug his fingers into her silky mane. He kissed her face before standing and backing away.

His wolf bellowed at him, but he forced himself to move away.

"I'll stay with her," Lachlan offered.

Stupid pup. Didn't he know that was the absolute wrong thing to say?

Silas laid his hand on Apollo's shoulder and pulled Apollo out the door.

River's gaze never left his until he hit the exit, and the screen door swung closed.

He stood for a moment, fighting every instinct to rush back to her side.

She whimpered, and he turned.

Silas grabbed him by the shoulders. "Apollo. Don't. It will only hurt both of you even more."

Apollo's wolf rushed to the surface and banged against his restraints, almost snapping them.

"I have to-"

Silas yanked Apollo away from the door, and Apollo turned on him and grabbed him by the throat. He bared his fangs and roared at Silas.

Silas stared at him but didn't react.

River. River. My River.

A moment passed, and then another, and Apollo dropped Silas to his feet. He removed his hand from Silas' throat and growled.

"So, what's your plan?"

* * *

RIVER

River breathed a sigh of relief when Apollo exited the cabin. Physical pain was one thing, but dealing with his emotional pain, anger as well as guilt on top was something she couldn't handle. Not mixed with her own.

"Highness," said Bennett. "It'll be easier to get the bullets out if you transform back to your human form."

She nodded and tried to shift, but her wolf refused to give up control. She tried again and again, but her wolf refused. River tried reasoning with her, but that didn't work. So, finally, River did the only thing left—the thing she only did if absolutely necessary. She hated it, but this was for both of them.

River commanded her wolf to back down. For a moment, she didn't think her wolf would, but then she relinquished control.

River shifted back to human. It hurt and took longer than it should have, leaving her panting in agony. A fine sheen of sweat developed on her skin, and nausea rolled through her.

"Hello, Highness," said Bennett.

"Call me River."

"I wouldn't dare, Highness. I am medically trained and can take the bullets out, but it will hurt."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Would you like a drink?"

She snorted. "I'd have to drink a whole bottle to give you even twenty minutes."

"Lachlan, grab the whiskey while I transfer her to the table."

Lachlan headed somewhere out of sight as Bennett prepared to touch her.

"May I lift you, Highness?"

"You know I've been asked if I can be touched, talked to, and called by something other than my name more in the last week than in my twenty-four years of life."

"That's because it's different now. You are the Alpha's mate. The King of Lycans. To do any of those things without his say-so is grounds for immediate execution."

"Seriously?"

Bennett nodded.

"Well, I don't want that to happen, so yes, you have my permission to do whatever you need to keep me and yourself alive."

He slipped his arms underneath her, carefully ensuring the blanket covered every inch he touched.

"This isn't going to be comfortable, I'm afraid. I don't want to have to move you again."

He stood and carried her to the table, laying her on her back.

"I've slept on worse." That wasn't necessarily the truth. After what Titan had done to her shoulder and neck, it'd been several weeks before she'd been able to move comfortably last time. And over a month before, she'd been able to sculpt. The suppressors didn't just suppress her scent, she found out. They suppressed all of the wolf side. Even the speedy healing.

A thought hit her. That's why the shifter cursed Titan when he'd been trying to shift. He couldn't because of the suppressors.

Lachlan approached with a bottle and a shot glass. He poured the amber liquid into the glass and shakily held it out to her. It slopped out the side of the glass, and she laid her hand on his.

"Lachlan. You take that shot."

"But, Highness-"

"River."

"It's for you."

"And I command you to drink it."

He didn't argue; he gulped it down and poured another.

"That one too."

He did as he was told.

"I need you calm to keep me calm."

Lachlan nodded.

"All right. Hand me the bottle."

He hesitated for only a second before handing it to her. She took a deep breath, then slammed the bottle to her lips, and gulped four times in quick order before taking a breath that made the fire in her lungs rival her shoulder.

Bennett returned with a bag and opened it on the counter. He pulled out several tools and then walked back to the table. He looked at the bottle and nodded.

River returned his nod, her head already fuzzing over. She grabbed Lachlan's hand, and Bennett looked at it before uncovering her shoulder.

"Ready?"

No. River nodded.

The pain exploded again as if she'd been shot all over again. She gripped Lachlan's hand so tightly he grimaced.

"Wow. You're strong."

She snorted.

Another pain shot through her, and she squeezed his hand again.

"Almost got it," said Bennett. "It's not as bad as I thought."

"You should feel it." River gritted her teeth. Her wolf yelped and whined in pain.

Come on, you big baby. You didn't even want to relinquish control. If I'd let you stay in charge, you'd have bitten Bennett's throat.

Minutes passed, and she began to sweat again, and her body shook.

"We're almost done," said Lachlan. "It'll just be another-"

"Got it."

A slight metal clink hit the table, and River's body relaxed. She gulped down air like she'd been underwater.

Bennett pressed a cotton pad to her shoulder and taped it down. Then he gathered the instruments, walked into the kitchen, and cleaned them in a sink.

She reached for the whiskey bottle, and Lachlan helped her bring it shakily to her mouth. Again, she gulped down several fiery mouthfuls.

Bennett returned. "How ya doing, Highness?"

"Not dead yet."

He smiled. "Let's keep it that way for all of our sakes."

Her eyes closed and then opened again. She'd not had that much to drink that fast since she'd turned nineteen.

"Lachlan?"

"Yes, Highness."

Her mind wandered, and she fought to remember where she was. "Where's Ares?"

"Uh…" He looked at her and then at someone else.

"Who are you again?" She looked at the other man.

"Bennett, Highness. I am Prince Apollo's friend."

She repeated the name. "Apollo. Apollo. Ares. Ares and Apollo are twins."

"Yes, Highness," said Lachlan.

"I… I have to choose."

"Yes, Highness. But not now."

"I… I think I'm going to choose Ares."

Again, the men exchanged a look she couldn't decipher. "Why do you keep doing that?" she slurred.

"What, Highness?" asked Bennett.

"You keep staring at each other like you know something I don't."

River tried to focus but couldn't remember what they'd been talking about.

"I don't like being drunk," she said right before passing out.

* * *

APOLLO

Apollo approached the cabin with Silas in tow. He stopped outside the door and listened, but no sound emanated. He opened the door and looked inside to find Lachlan and Bennett at the table, talking quietly. They turned when they heard the door.

He sniffed and smelled River's blood mixed with antiseptic and alcohol.

"Did you get it out?"

Bennett nodded. "She's resting in the bedroom."

"I want to see her." He headed for the room, but Lachlan stood and blocked the way.

Apollo growled.

"I beg your pardon, Highness, but… maybe you might consider showering first?"

"He's right," said Silas. "If you go in covered in… everything we are covered in, you might scare her to death."

Apollo looked down at the blood, soot, and dirt that stained his skin. He looked at the bedroom door. He smelled her in there and heard her steady heartbeat. She slept deeply.

Without a word, he headed to the bathroom and turned on the shower.

It took almost ten minutes for the water to warm, but Apollo let it rain on him anyway, cooling his waning rage.

Silas' idea had been a good one. They hadn't located the hunters' scents, so finding their way to where they'd been staying had taken close to an hour. Eventually, the smell of cooking food led him to the place he'd been looking for.

Inside, he'd found half a dozen other rogues. He ripped them to pieces after interrogating them. None of them seemed to know where Titan was. Only the one who Apollo had broken the nose of earlier and later killed had known anything.

After killing the last rogue, burning the cabin to the ground ?made him feel mildly better. Going back to the original attackers, ripping their bodies into small pieces, and tossing them over the cliff had made him feel considerably better. He only wished he could have done it twice.

He washed himself, being careful to get all the gore from under his nails and out of his scalp. Then he stepped from the shower and brushed his teeth before running his fingers through his hair and trying to find something to wear. Bennett and Silas had gone, most likely to patrol, but Lachlan remained behind.

"You may go." He spotted some folded clothes on the kitchen counter, grabbed them, and put them on.

"If it's all right, Highness, I'd like to stay."

Apollo wanted to argue, but all the fight had left him for the evening.

Regan and Thomas entered.

"Anything?"

They shook their heads. "We'll ask around town tomorrow."

Apollo nodded. "Stay out here and keep watch. If you have any problems, find Silas."

Apollo walked to the bedroom and opened the door quietly. He peered into the darkness and could make out River's small form curled under the covers. He sniffed the air and caught the scent of her already healing wound.

He backed out but stopped when she called his name.

"Apollo?"

"I didn't mean to wake you."

"Would you mind getting me some water?"

"Of course not."

He rushed into the kitchen and grabbed a bottle from the fridge.

He walked to the bed and sat on it before opening the bottle and holding it to her lips. She took several long drinks and then sucked in a large breath.

"How are you feeling?"

"I've been better. But I've also been worse."

He set the bottle on the nightstand and lifted her hand to his lips, kissing it. "Can you ever forgive me?"

She patted his cheek. "I don't blame you."

"I would understand if you told me to take you back to Ares immediately."

She lifted his chin to look at her. "Will you stay while I sleep?"

His wolf howled at her request.

How could she want that when he'd let her get hurt and almost killed?

Apollo curled beside her, careful not to touch her.

"Where did you go with Silas?" she asked mid-yawn.

He swallowed hard. She didn't need to know the full details.

"We disposed of the bodies and covered our tracks."

"You smell more like smoke than usual," she said. "Did you burn them?"

He brushed her hair in with his fingers and kissed her forehead. "Sleep. We can talk in the morning."

She inched backward until her body made contact with his, and then she lifted his arm and wrapped it around her, linking her fingers with his.

"I like how you smell," she murmured.