Page 50 of Alpha Queen (Lycan King Wars #3)

CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT

RIVER

T he sound of the front door opening woke River from her fitful sleep. She blinked groggily, disoriented by the unfamiliar surroundings. Her body still ached, the wound on her thigh throbbing beneath its bandages as she pushed herself up against the pillows.

Voices murmured in the hallway. Cherry's sharp tone, followed by the deeper rumble of her mates. River's heart quickened as footsteps neared her door, her wolf stirring anxiously.

When the door swung inward, Ares entered first, his bulky frame filling the doorway, followed closely by Apollo.

River's breath caught at the sight of them.

Apollo's crisp white shirt had soaked dark crimson, and droplets of blood marred his face, neck, and hands.

His golden eyes appeared haunted and distant.

"Apollo!" River gasped, throwing back the covers and struggling to her feet despite Dr. Keller's strict instructions to stay in bed. She stumbled forward. "You're hurt!"

Apollo moved swiftly across the room, catching her before she fell. "I'm fine, kitten," he assured her, his voice gentle as he guided her back to the bed. "It's not my blood."

River's trembling hands reached for his face, her fingers tracing his features to confirm for herself he was unharmed. "Whose then?" she whispered, searching his eyes. "What happened?"

Ares sat on her other side. "It's over, beloved," he said, his voice rough with exhaustion. "We got him."

River's chest squeezed, and bile scorched her throat.

"Titan?" River asked. "You got him?"

Apollo nodded, his jaw tightening. "He's in a cell. Silver restraints, heavily guarded."

River sank against the pillows, relief washing through her in dizzying waves. For a moment, none of them spoke, the weight of everything that had happened, everything they had endured, settling around them like a heavy cloak.

"And the others?" River asked, remembering the rogues. "Kane? The ones who surrendered?"

"Also in custody." Ares took her hand in his. "No one who surrendered was harmed."

River nodded, gratitude swelling in her breast. "And those who didn't surrender?"

Apollo and Ares exchanged a glance that answered for them.

River closed her eyes, sorrow mingling with her relief. So much loss, so much pain, all because of a system which had failed too many for too long.

"What happens now?" She opened her eyes to look between her mates.

"That's up to you," said Apollo.

River blinked, confused by Apollo's words. "What do you mean?"

"The rogues." Ares' thumb traced circles on her palm. "Their fate. The Council has agreed to follow your recommendation, given everything you've witnessed."

"My recommendation?" River echoed, the weight of such responsibility settling on her already exhausted shoulders. The thought of deciding the fate of dozens of lives, lives shaped by circumstances beyond their control, made her head swim.

Apollo nodded. "Whatever you believe is just. The Council will honor."

River looked between her mates, seeing the trust in their eyes, but also the expectation. They, too, waited for her to make a decision that would reshape their society and set a precedent that would echo through generations.

Fatigue clouded her thoughts. The twins' blood-spattered appearance, the knowledge of what had happened at the compound, and the memory of her ordeal all swirled together in an overwhelming tide that threatened to drag her under.

"I can't," she whispered, her voice breaking. "Not now. I just... I want to go home. Our home."

She looked at them pleadingly, suddenly desperate to be surrounded by familiar walls, to sleep in her bed, to feel truly safe for the first time in weeks.

"Please," she added. "I'm too tired to think about any of this right now."

Understanding softened Ares' expression. Without a word, he rose and gathered her carefully into his arms, cradling her against him as if she were made of glass.

"Home it is," he murmured.

Apollo moved ahead of them, opening doors and issuing quiet orders as Ares carried River through the safe house. The weight of decision-making lifted temporarily, and River allowed herself to sink into the comfort of her mate's embrace, her head resting against his skin.

Outside, the Northern lights painted the sky in deepening shades of pinks, greens, and blues. A convoy of vehicles waited, engines idling. Cherry appeared at the door.

"I'll go first," she said, squeezing River's hand as Ares passed. "Just to make sure everything's secure at the estate."

River nodded as Ares lowered her gently into the backseat of the lead SUV.

Apollo slid in beside her, and she curled against him, seeking his warmth.

He held her in a stiff embrace, and her wolf whined.

Something had happened. Something Apollo wasn't ready to tell her about.

But in time, he would. And she would give him time and space until he reached that point, just as he and Ares had done for her.

As the convoy pulled away from the house, River watched the building recede through the rear window. For days, it had been her sanctuary, but now it felt like just another prison she was leaving behind.

"Thank you," she whispered to both her mates. "For understanding."

Apollo pressed his lips to her temple. "You've been through enough. Everyone else can wait until you're ready."

The vehicle's headlights cut through the gathering darkness. River nestled between her mates. Ares shifted her gently until she cradled in his lap, her head resting against his broad abs. Apollo took her hand, his thumb rubbing across her knuckles.

A deep, resonant rumble began to vibrate through Ares, comforting her to the core. Apollo joined, his own purr harmonizing with his twin's, creating a cocoon of sound that wrapped around her like the safest of blankets.

River's eyelids grew heavy as the rhythmic vibration and gentle motion of the vehicle lulled her toward sleep. Her wolf fully relaxed for the first time in weeks. The babies within her seemed to settle too, as if also soothed by their fathers' presence.

"Rest, kitten," Apollo murmured, his fingers now tracing gentle patterns along her spine. "We'll be home soon."

The purring deepened, and River surrendered to exhaustion.

River woke to the sensation of movement, her body weightless in Ares' arms as he carried her up the grand staircase of their estate.

Blinking drowsily, she recognized the familiar surroundings.

The ornate woodwork, the family portraits lining the halls, and the subtle scent of smoke, leather, and warm wood that permeated their home.

"We're home," she murmured.

"Yes, beloved," Ares confirmed, his golden eyes warm as they met hers. "We're home."

Apollo moved ahead of them, opening the double doors to River's suite. The room welcomed her with its familiar comfort, her bed with its mountain of pillows, the door with new hardware, the window Apollo had crawled through to feed her.

With infinite care, Ares laid her on the bed. Together, the twins tucked the plush comforter around her, creating a warm and secure nest.

"There." Apollo brushed a strand of silver hair from her face. "You can rest properly now."

The twins straightened, preparing to leave. Panic fluttered, unexpected and overwhelming. "Don't go," she pleaded, reaching for them.

"We need to clean up," Apollo explained. "We won't be long."

"Just a quick shower," Ares promised, leaning down to press his lips to hers.

Ares' eyes glinted mischievously as a smirk tugged at his lips. "Or you could join me," he suggested, his voice dropping to that husky register that made her heart race. "I could wash your back... among other things."

"For the love of-" Apollo rolled his eyes, grabbing his brother's shoulder and steering him toward the door. "This is absolutely not the time to be thinking with your downstairs brain."

Ares looked back at River with exaggerated innocence. "What? I'm just being helpful."

"You're being impossible," Apollo countered, continuing to push him into the hallway. "She needs rest, not your particular brand of 'help.'"

"When it comes to River, I can't help myself," Ares protested, allowing himself to be maneuvered through the doorway but throwing her a wink over his shoulder. "It's a medical condition."

"It's called being horny, and our health plan does not cover it," Apollo retorted, his stern expression betrayed by the amusement dancing in his eyes. "Now move. The faster we clean up, the faster we come back to her."

"Fine," Ares conceded as Apollo pushed him fully into the hall. "But for the record, my idea was much more fun."

"Your ideas of fun usually end with broken furniture," Apollo shot back, shaking his head as he closed the door behind them.

River laughed, soft and genuine, bubbled up from somewhere deep inside her, a sensation so foreign after weeks of fear that it felt almost strange. The sound of her mates' bickering faded down the hallway, leaving her wrapped in the cocoon of her massive bed, surrounded by their scents.

For the first time since her ordeal began, genuine happiness warmed her. She was home. She was safe. Her mates were with her, their playful banter a balm to her. They would return soon, and they would hold her through the night, their bodies creating a fortress of warmth and protection around her.

Her eyelids grew heavy again, but this time, sleep beckoned without the accompanying dread that had plagued her for so long. Her hand drifted to her belly, resting over the tiny lives growing within her.

"We're home," she whispered to her unborn children as her eyes drifted closed. "We're finally home."

Sleep claimed her quickly, her body surrendering to exhaustion without resistance. Her last conscious thought was of Apollo and Ares, and how, despite everything they had endured, certain things, like Ares’ incorrigible flirtation and Apollo’s exasperated affection, remained unchanged.

* * *

APOLLO