Chapter 20

CHAPTER TWENTY

A res didn't return until almost four a.m. He fell into bed beside River, pulled her into him, and began to snore before she even asked how things went. Four hours later, Ares awoke her, and they exited the suite and headed for the limos with everyone else. His warm hand on the small of her back comforted her more than she thought it could.

It didn't matter whether her feelings for him were because of the bond or because she was genuinely falling for him. All she knew was she'd never wanted to be with anyone else.

"So, when's the wedding?" Bianca asked. "You have to give me time because there's no way I am letting you plan this thing alone."

River laughed, and Ares pulled her closer.

"As soon as my mate wants the ceremony to be, it will be," he said. "After we talk to the council, of course."

Bianca wiggled her eyebrows. "The fall is a beautiful time to marry."

"That's two months away," said River. She didn't think she could wait two months to be Ares' mate.

"Why don't we wait until we're settled before starting the wedding plans," said Ares. "After all, you also have your own wedding to plan."

"Yeah," said Zeke. "You need to remember theirs isn't a simple shifter wedding. Ares is the Prince. That means many details have to be discussed and approved by the council."

"Approved?"

Ares shrugged. "It's nothing. They ensure all the right people are invited and things like that."

Somehow, River didn't think that was all the council would say about their wedding, but she decided to keep her worries to herself.

For the moment, her only thought was- she was getting married. Getting mated and married to the prince of the whole shifter Lycan world.

They landed in Montreal around one-thirty and drove over an hour into a more rural area. On the plane, Ares filled her in on the previous night's events. A few smaller packs with younger Alphas weren't ready to commit to him. The older pack Alphas were on board, though. Surprisingly, her Alpha had helped sway a few undecideds to Ares' side of the fight. He'd also mentioned River being from his pack and how loyal Cherry and Strider were.

By the time they pulled up to an imposing gate, River couldn't believe how much the previous week had tired her. She'd barely gotten any sleep the night before, and to say plane rides weren't her favorite was an understatement. She'd never been on a plane before, and for being on one for the first time… well… she didn't want to do it again any time soon. Not to mention the tears and hugs with her mom, Strider, and Bianca, whom River reminded would be moving to the same place within the week. That, combined with everything that'd happened in the last two weeks, left her exhausted. All she wanted was a place for her and Ares to relax and breathe.

A guard in a little armored hut waved them through. Blue electricity zipped along the gate, and River hoped she never had to try and jump it to escape.

The car wound up a long driveway surrounded by trees and high walls, and Ares squeezed her hand. The sounds of wolves howling sounded all around the vehicle as they drove deeper into the estate. River's stomach clenched as they neared what would be her new home. The trees opened up into a clearing in front of a humongous house. She pressed her face to the window as it came into view.

"Holy crap!"

Ares chuckled, and his breath caressed her neck. "Welcome home, Beloved."

The limo stopped, and everyone piled out. The stone structure stood four stories high and as long as a football field. If they played hide and seek, she'd no doubt starve to death before being found.

The heavy wooden front door opened, and several armed guards exited onto the driveway.

Wow, how many bodyguards did Ares have?

"We can stay in the limo if you'd like, but I promise sleeping inside is much more comfortable," said Ares.

"Sorry. It's just so…"

"Amazing?"

River blushed, and he held open the door for her. Amazing wasn't the word for it. Opulent, grand, and too much were the words she would have chosen. But she assumed with him having to house all his guards and now his guard's mates, a sizeable estate was bound to be needed.

The fresh air invaded her as she stepped out. She closed her eyes and breathed in deeply. The only traces of pollution were the fumes from the cars. The scents of leaves, dirt, and flowers made her wolf jump up and whine. She wanted to be let out. She wanted to run.

All River had ever done was ignore her wolf, but now the grip was so tight she turned toward the edge of the clearing. Ares took her hand and pulled her from her thoughts.

"Not that way." He laughed and led her to the front marble steps. The new guards bowed.

"Highnesses," they murmured.

Ares nodded.

They entered the grand foyer, and River's eyes popped wide. Every surface of the entrance gleamed as if recently polished. Marble-tiled floors and huge paintings adorned the room. A chandelier with thousands of tiny crystals illuminated the space from high above them. And to the left and right, two giant staircases wound upward and joined on the landing.

"This has to be a joke," she said.

"What do you mean?" Ares asked.

She snorted. "You did not grow up in this house. It's not possible. It's like living in a museum."

"And there's more than simply a foyer," Ares chided. "Come on. Wait until you see our rooms."

He pulled her up the staircase and headed down the left corridor. Everywhere she looked, a different piece of artwork hung. A tapestry, blown glass, or a sculpture or statue at least two centuries old. It might take River the rest of her life to be able to study everything in the mansion. Screw going to art museums, she'd stay home and study from now on.

They turned a corner and headed down another long corridor, past several heavyset doors. Several scents mingled together. Ares lived there, but… someone else did, too. Ares stopped before opening a heavy set of double doors. At the same moment, someone exited the room behind her.

A scent overpowered her. A trickle ran down her spine, and her wolf leapt to her feet. Ares continued into the room, but she couldn't hear what he said as a warm body approached her from behind. The aroma of wood and freshly turned earth permeated her nose, and her wolf howled.

Light fingers brushed the hair from her neck, and warm breath tickled her skin. A muscular arm snaked around her waist, and a low rumble sounded behind her.

"Mine."

River whirled around, staring into a set of bright hazel eyes. Her mouth fell open, and she blinked rapidly as confusion fuzzed her mind. She stared into the same face she'd seen for almost two weeks. Every inch identical to Ares, only… thinner, more angular. A small scar marred the brow above his left eye. He wore a soft but needy expression. A brown curl obscured one eye, and River reached out to brush it away when someone ripped her out of the man's grasp. In an instant, Ares had the man pinned by the throat against the wall, teeth bared, eyes like midnight. The other man's eyes were equally dark, and he growled back and shoved Ares off him.

The two males circled each other until River wasn't sure who was who. One of the men lunged at the other and body-slammed him to the floor. They tumbled over and over, crashing into an end table and sending a vase shattering to the ground and flowers exploding everywhere.

Stop. Stop. Make them stop. River's wolf begged.

River stared on in horror, unable to move. Two of them. There were two. Twins.

Footsteps rounded the corner, and Santiago and Theo ran into view, followed by several guards she didn't recognize.

Snarls and slashing ensued between them. The smell of blood filled the air, and the sound of crushing bones. One kicked the other off, and he flew across the hall, crashing into a painting and sending it splintering to the floor.

"She's mine!" Ares bellowed, rushing the other man again. "How dare you touch her."

"You lying dog. She mine.” The other snarled as he met Ares halfway, and they toppled to the floor again.

"Not possible, you don't know her." Ares punched the man in the nose as his teeth elongated.

"Well, my wolf sure as hell does." The other man slashed Ares across the chest, painting his shirt with blood.

The guards rushed down the corridor and tackled the two bloodied men, tearing them apart.

"Ares!" Theo shouted. "Ares, stop!"

"Apollo," another guard shouted. "What happened? What's going on?"

Ares roared and fought against his guards, his nails lengthening and hair erupting from his arms. "I'll kill you this time. I swear I will."

"Not if I kill you first." The one named Apollo roared and fought his suppressors.

"Stop," said Theo. "Highnesses, please. Let's take a breath."

Both Ares and Apollo strained, ready to continue ripping each other apart.

"Ares. what is this about?" Theo asked.

Ares's gaze never left Apollo's face.

Then it happened. Theo let go for a split second, and Ares lunged for Apollo again. Apollo kicked him in the stomach, sending him toppling backward.

"I'm not the child you used to pick on Ares. You want to fight me, I'm right here."

"Stop," River whispered. Her heartbeat sounded in her ears, and then it beat faster. "Stop!"

Everything went quiet, and both men stilled as they turned to her. Her heart galloped so fast she thought it might burst from her ribcage.

Twins. Identical twins.

"Princess," said Theo. "What is going on? What happened?"

She shook her head. "I… I'm not…"

"Tell him," Ares bellowed. "Tell this pompous asshole you're my mate."

River nodded. "I… I am, but…" She looked between Ares's bloodied chest and Apollo's bloodied face. He, too, looked angry, but more he looked… concerned. He called to her somewhere deep inside. The sight of Apollo in pain made her wolf whimper and want to go to him to soothe him.

She crossed to Apollo, and his cologne surrounded her. A forest floor after a spring rain. Heady and piney. Again, her wolf howled with delight. She pushed a dark strand of hair from his forehead. Something tightened inside her.

Ares snarled, but she couldn't look away from Apollo as the blackness seeped out of his eyes as he took her in.

Mine. My Alpha.

It wasn't possible. There wasn't one of them, but two?

River closed her eyes and shook her head.

"What?" asked Ares. "Tell him you are my mate, River."

River nodded and turned back to Ares. Her gut twisted at the confused and hurt expression in his eyes, and she almost couldn't form the words.

"Yes. I am your mate, Ares. But…" She turned to Apollo, who stared at her as if she were the most fascinating thing he'd ever seen. "But somehow… I'm his mate, too."