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CHAPTER FIFTEEN

APOLLO

A pollo stretched his arm, trying to loosen the tightness in his ribs. He glanced at the clock. It was five a.m. and even though he'd gotten less than five hours sleep, he was sick of being in bed. Sick of sitting around waiting. Sick of feeling utterly useless.

A knock sounded on his door, and it opened before he could tell the person to enter.

Cherry stood in the doorway, anger vibrating off her like a tidal wave.

"Well," she said. "Where's my daughter?"

Apollo tensed. He'd known this confrontation was coming, but he'd hoped to have more information from Ares.

"Cherry," he said. "We're doing everything we can to find her."

Cherry strode into the room, her eyes flashing, lips pulled into a snarl. "Everything? Because from where I'm standing, it looks like you're lying in bed while my daughter is out there with that psychopath."

Apollo winced, both from the pain in his ribs and the truth of her words. "I swear to you, we have every available resource working on tracking down Titan and his rogues here, and Ares is in the States following the lead we got from Dr. Emerson."

"And what are you doing?" Cherry demanded. "Other than recuperating in luxury while River suffers?"

Apollo's jaw clenched. He understood Cherry's anger and fear- he felt it too, constantly. But her accusation stung.

His wolf growled. Make her submit. We are King.

If it had been anyone but Cherry or River, he would have done it in an instant.

Strider, Zeke, even Bianca wouldn't have gotten away with speaking to him like that.

But Cherry… she was a different animal. On top of that, if he had a daughter and she'd been kidnapped, he would be acting the same way.

Apollo winced. "I assure you, we haven't stopped searching for a moment-"

"Not good enough," Cherry snapped. "Get up. We're going to find her ourselves."

"Rushing out with no plan of action or idea where we are even going won't help River. We need to be smart."

Cherry strode forward and yanked the covers off Apollo's legs. "I don't care about being smart. I care about my daughter. Now get dressed or I'll drag you out of here in your underwear."

"I'm coordinating our search efforts. Analyzing intel, directing our teams. And as soon as I'm physically able, I'll be out there myself."

Cherry scoffed. "Coordinating from your bed. How convenient."

Apollo's temper flared. He pushed himself up straighter, ignoring the stabbing pain in his side.

"You think I want to be here? You think I wouldn't trade places with River in a heartbeat if I could?

She's my mate. My other half. Every moment she's gone feels like I'm missing a piece of myself.

My wolf wants to tear me apart. He grows more feral and uncontrollable by the day. "

Cherry's expression softened at the raw emotion in his voice. She sank into the chair by his bed.

"I'm sorry," she said quietly. "I know you love her. I just... I can't stand feeling so helpless. My baby is out there, and there's nothing I can do."

"I promise you, we will find her. No matter what it takes. I will bring her back to us."

Cherry nodded, blinking back tears. "Tell me everything you know. I want to help."

Apollo hesitated. "Cherry, I'm not sure that's a good idea. It could be dangerous-"

"Don't you dare try to sideline me," Cherry growled, her eyes flashing. "I may not be a Lycan, but I'm not helpless. I want in on this. All of it."

Apollo studied her for a long moment. He thought of all Cherry had done over the years to protect River, to keep her safe in a world that would have used and abused her.

If anyone deserved to be part of this fight, it was her.

He wondered how much more formidable she would be if he made her a hybrid.

But as soon as he thought it, he dismissed the idea.

She was hard enough to handle as a shifter.

Gods help them all if she became a hybrid.

He nodded. "Alright."