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CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

RIVER

T he room hummed with tension as Ares and Apollo prepared to leave. The moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft, cool glow across River's new, larger bed. It did little to ease the chasm opening in her stomach.

"Please." River tried to keep the desperation from her voice. "Don't go."

Ares paused, his eyes filled with determination. "We have to, beloved. Trust me, we want nothing more than to stay right here by your side. But if we don't go, there is no telling if the Alphas will let the rogues go. And you've made it quite clear you want us to hear what the rogues have to say."

"You think they'd betray you?"

"We don't know," said Apollo. "Desperate men do desperate things. Alphas even more so. They could do it to try and cover their asses and things they've done, or out of revenge for those killed."

"Should I go with you then?"

"No," they said together.

"We aren't taking any more chances with your life or the lives of our children."

River nodded.

Apollo knelt beside her, concern etched into his features. "We promise we'll do everything we can to ensure everyone's safety."

"But they have to stay contained until we figure this out," Ares added gently. "There's still a lot we don't know."

River's gaze darted between them, desperation welling inside. "Where will they be taken?"

"They'll be held in custody until we can talk to each one of them," said Ares.

Her heart sank at the thought of more imprisonment, even if it was for their good. "Promise I'll be there when you question them."

Apollo exchanged a look with Ares before nodding, though a mix of uncertainty clouded his golden eyes. "We promise."

"Even Kane?"

The brothers exchanged a look, and Apollo knelt by her. "Even Kane. And when this is over, we'll bring everyone together to build something better."

A flicker of hope ignited within River. A future where no one would live in fear of being cast aside or targeted.

She kissed each of her mates in turn.

"Please come back to me," she added. "As much as I hate to admit it… I don't like being here without you. I mean, I won't always be like this, I promise it's just-"

Ares stopped her with another kiss. "We understand. And we don't want to be anywhere but here with you either."

"Though I doubt that will ever end," added Apollo.

River chuckled.

Apollo kissed her once more, and then both of her mates placed a hand on her belly.

"We'll be back soon," Ares said, before they walked toward the exit.

As they walked into the hallway together, River couldn't help but feel a piece of herself leaving with them. A heartbeat apart yet worlds away.

She steadied herself until the sound of their footsteps faded and the front door shut behind them.

But even with the promise of safety and the knowledge that her mates were working to make things right, River couldn't shake the unease that settled over her like a shroud. A flutter of movement inside her made her heart skip.

"I know," she whispered to her unborn children. "I'm worried too."

River's wolf chuffed and yawned.

It had been a long few weeks for all of them.

Cherry appeared in the doorway, her sharp eyes taking in River's distress. "They'll be fine," she said, crossing the room. "Those two can handle themselves."

River leaned back against the pillows, exhaustion washing over her. "I keep thinking about Titan. About what made him this way."

Cherry's expression darkened. "Some wolves are born broken, River."

"No." River shook her head. "I don't believe that. He was shaped by rejection, by a system that values power over character. The same system that created all the rogues. If we don't fix it, there will just be another Titan someday."

Cherry sighed. "You always did have more compassion than sense. That's probably my fault, just like the rest of this."

"What are you talking about?"

River's wolf lifted her head and cocked it to one side.

"This whole damn situation. It wouldn't have happened without me."

River rolled her eyes. "How do you figure?"

"I'm the one who hid the truth from you. I'm the one who sent you to New York. I'm the one who let you get taken. I'm-"

"Okay, Mom. Hold the phone. Don't give yourself so much credit.

Yes, you kept the fact that I was an Omega from me, but that was it.

There's nothing to say Titan wouldn't have shown up and bitten me even if you had told me.

Or someone else, possibly. And if I remember correctly, I'm the one who wanted to go to art school in New York.

Strider had to convince you to let me go.

And as for everything since then? Even the Kings of the Lycans and a room full of Alphas couldn't stop that.

I know that you think you're the baddest badass in the world, but if they couldn't stop it, I'm pretty sure you couldn't either. "

"But-"

"But nothing. I don't blame you, Mom. I never have."

Cherry sniffed. "Yeah, well, let's wait and make sure those two blockheads come back safely before you say that. You might change your mind."

River sighed and shook her head. "Mom, I will never blame you. This isn't your fault. Any of it."

Cherry swiped at her eyes. "Well… I do. That's what being a mom is. You'll learn that."

River touched her belly. She most likely would.