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CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

APOLLO

A pollo searched his computer for the Hunter's Club, which owned the house, when he heard a commotion in the hallway.

"Move! Move!" Regan yelled.

Apollo looked up as Regan raced through the door, phone in hand.

"It's for you." He held out the phone.

"Who is it?"

"The answering service forwarded a call to me since you told them you didn't want to be disturbed."

He looked back at his computer screen. "I don't have time for business crap. Don't you know-"

"Apollo!"

Apollo looked up and growled.

"You need to hear this." Regan shoved the phone at Apollo.

Apollo took the phone. "Hello?"

"Mr. Wolvenguard?" A woman's hesitant voice came through the line. "My name is Dr. Sarah Mitchell. I'm a veterinarian at Pine Creek Emergency Animal Hospital."

Apollo frowned. "I don't have time for-"

"Sir, I have someone here. A young woman named River. She asked specifically for you."

Apollo's heart stopped. The world around him froze as the words registered. "River?" he whispered. "You have River?"

Apollo stood.

Apollo's wolf leapt to his feet, howling. Mate. My Luna.

"Yes, sir. She was brought in as an injured dog, this kid says, but she's clearly human. She's severely injured, suffering from blood loss and exhaustion. She insisted we contact you rather than take her to a hospital. But she needs a doctor badly."

Apollo snatched up his jacket with one hand while keeping the phone firmly against his ear. "Where are you located?"

The veterinarian rattled off an address that Apollo committed to memory. "She's stable for now, but she needs proper medical attention. She has a troublesome gash on her leg and-"

"I'm on my way," Apollo cut her off, his voice deadly calm despite the storm raging inside him. "Keep her safe. Don't let anyone else near her. Do you understand?"

"Yes, but,"

"No one," Apollo repeated, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "No matter who they claim to be."

He ended the call and turned to Regan. "Get two teams ready. Now."

Regan nodded, already dialing.

Apollo moved with controlled urgency, checking his weapon before sliding it into his holster. "Have Dr. Keller meet us at the Elm house. Tell her to prepare for trauma care."

As Apollo raced from the room, his wolf surged forward, nearly overwhelming him with its desperate need to reach River. After weeks of searching, false leads, and dead ends, River had found her way to safety. He wouldn't lose her again.

Apollo jumped the staircase to the foyer and ran out the door. Silas screeched the car to a halt right in front of him, and Apollo jumped in.

"Drive."

The drive to the veterinary clinic was a blur. Apollo's hands gripped the armrests with white-knuckled intensity as Silas pushed the vehicle to its limits. In the back seat, Apollo's two most trusted guards stayed silent.

When they pulled up to the small building with its blue neon sign proclaiming "24-Hour Emergency Animal Care," Apollo jumped out of the car before it came to a complete stop. He burst through the front door, scanning the reception area.

A startled receptionist jumped to her feet. "Sir, can I,"

"River Wolvenguard," Apollo cut her off, his voice vibrating with uncontrollable emotions. "Where is she?"

The receptionist paled, her eyes darting to a hallway behind her. "I'm sorry, who are you?"

"Apollo Wolvenguard, her husband."

"Uh..." The receptionist swallowed hard. "May... may I see some ID, please?"

Apollo growled. He didn't have time for this, but he had told the doctor not to let anyone else near River, so he pulled out his wallet and showed it to the girl.

She inspected it and then nodded. "Dr. Mitchell is with her in exam room three, but-"

Apollo was already moving, Silas, Regan, and Thomas behind him as they strode down the corridor. The clinic's antiseptic smell mixed with something else, blood- River's blood. His wolf howled, desperate to reach their mate.

My mate. My Omega.

When he pushed open the door to exam room three, the world narrowed to a single point.

River lay on an examination table, her silver hair matted with dirt and blood, her slender frame covered with a blanket.

Eyes closed, her face ashen beneath smudges of dirt and scratches.

An IV line ran into her arm, and a makeshift pressure bandage wrapped her thigh.

"River," Apollo breathed, his voice shaking.

Dr. Mitchell turned, her eyes widening. "Who are you?"

Apollo barely registered her words as he moved to River's side, reaching to touch her.

"River," he called again. "I'm here, love. I found you."

River's eyelids fluttered, then opened. For a moment, confusion clouded her gaze before recognition dawned. "Apollo?" Her voice came out barely audible.

"Yes, it's me." His voice broke as he gathered her hand in his. "I'm here. You're safe now."

Tears welled in River's eyes as she struggled to sit up. "I escaped," she managed, wincing with the effort. "I got out. I had to... the baby..."

Apollo froze, his eyes dropping to her abdomen. "Baby?"

River nodded weakly, tears spilling down her cheeks. "Our baby. I had to protect our baby."

A wave of emotions crashed through Apollo: joy, fear, and fierce protectiveness. His hand trembled as he placed it gently on River's abdomen.

"Our baby," he repeated, his voice thick with fury at what Titan had put them through.

River reached for him and pulled him to her to rub her nose against his. Apollo's wolf howled, and Apollo held back the desire to hold her against him as tight as he was able.

Dr. Mitchell cleared her throat. "She needs a hospital, Mr. Wolvenguard. I've done what I can, but she's severely dehydrated, malnourished, and has lost a significant amount of blood. And if she's pregnant-”

"No hospitals," Apollo said firmly. "We have a private family physician. Our doctor is waiting."

"She most likely needs surgery for that leg and a blood transfusion."

Apollo looked at the doctor. "I assure you, our doctor can do whatever is required."

Apollo unhooked the IV from River's arm and gathered River into his arms. She whimpered softly. The pain and fear wafted off her like an overly scented candle in a small enclosed space. He stopped and inhaled. He could smell her. Not strong, but he could.

"Hold on." The doctor stopped him and retrieved a cotton ball and Band-Aid, and covered River's arm where he'd removed the IV.

"Titan." She clutched weakly at Apollo's shirt. "He'll come for me."

"Let him try," Apollo growled, his eyes flashing. "I won't let him near you again. Ever."

Dr. Mitchell moved forward, concern etched on her face. "Mr. Wolvenguard, I really must insist-"

"Thank you for your help, Doctor," Silas interrupted smoothly, pressing a thick envelope into her hands. "We appreciate your discretion. I promise Prince Apollo will do whatever is necessary to ensure the health of his wife and unborn child. You need not worry."

She blinked at the envelope, then at River's frail form cradled against Apollo. "I... I don't understand what's happening here, but she needs proper care."

"She'll get it. My wife will get whatever she needs. Whatever the cost." Apollo assured her, already moving toward the door. "You have my word."

As they exited the clinic, Apollo scanned the parking lot with predatory intensity, his senses on high alert for any sign of danger. He stopped and glimpsed a teenage boy standing awkwardly by the entrance, his face pale with shock.

"He brought me here," River whispered.

"Thank you," Apollo said. "You saved her. I owe you my life."

The boy nodded, but looked completely overwhelmed. "I was just doing Uber Eats and there she was… on the sidewalk… bleeding… She was a dog," he said. "And then when we got here, she wasn't."

Regan placed a hand on the boy's shoulder. "You did the right thing, son. But it would be best if you forgot what you saw tonight."

Apollo looked at the boy. "What's your name?"

"Jack Wilson."

"Jack. I am in your debt forever." He nodded to Regan. "Call Wolvenguard Limited and tell them I said to get your information so I can repay you. Whatever you want. College tuition? Covered. Debts wiped out. Done. You just tell me what it is and I'll make sure it happens."

Regan handed Jack a card. Jack took the card, but his eyes never left River. The boy's mouth opened, but before he could respond, Apollo moved toward the waiting SUV, River held securely against him. His wolf howled with fierce protectiveness as her shallow breaths fell against his neck.

His wolf sniffed River. Hurt. Needs help.

I know.

Silas hopped in the driver's seat and Regan in the front as Thomas slid in the third row. Apollo settled with River in the second row, her head resting on his torso.

The vehicle pulled away from the clinic, and Apollo stroked River's silver hair, his heart thundering with a mixture of relief and fear. She was alive. She carried their child. And Titan would pay for every second of pain he had caused her.

"Stay with me, Kitten."He pressed his lips to her forehead. "Just stay with me."

River's eyes fluttered open, focusing on his face with effort. "I knew you'd find me," she murmured.

Apollo's throat constricted with emotion. "Rest now. I've got you."

"I'm cold," she said.

Thomas handed Apollo a blanket, and he spread it over both of them.

She wrapped an arm around him and inhaled deeply. Squeezing him tighter.

"I love you, Apollo."

Tears sprang to his eyes, and he kissed her head. "I love you, too, Kitten."

River's eyes drifted closed again. "Where's Ares?"

Shit! Ares. He hadn't even called him. Apollo pulled out his phone, his fingers trembling as he dialed Ares' number.

His twin answered on the first ring. "Apollo, did you find-"

"I have her," Apollo said, his voice thick with emotion.

"What?"

"I have her. She's alive, Ares. She escaped somehow. We're bringing her to the safe house on Elm."

Silence stretched out on the line.

"I… I can't…" Ares' voice cracked, and he whined.

"I know, brother. I know."