Page 55

Inside the cabin, warmth from the fireplace enveloped them. River shrugged off her leather jacket, revealing a simple blue sweater that hugged her curves. The curve of her pregnancy was visible, and Apollo's heart squeezed at the sight.

His wolf howled. My Omega.

"Can we watch a movie while we eat?" River asked, unpacking food from the bags. "I brought burgers and fries from that place in town you like. Or we could just dive into the five-pound box of fudge."

Apollo smiled despite his troubled thoughts. "Whatever you want, kitten."

They settled on their bed, food spread before them on the coffee table. Apollo selected a Vincent Price film from the cabin's collection, and soon, the atmospheric sounds of "House of Usher" filled the room.

River ate with obvious enjoyment, occasionally commenting on the film's gothic atmosphere. Apollo found himself watching her more than the movie, drinking in the sight of her content beside him.

Halfway through the film, River turned to him, her eyes searching his face. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing," Apollo replied automatically.

River set down her food, fixing him with a penetrating stare. "Don't lie to me, Apollo. Something's been bothering you since you captured Titan. I told myself that I'd wait and let you talk to me about it when you were ready, but it's been over a week."

Apollo sighed. He couldn't hide his thoughts from her. Their bond was too strong. "I've been thinking about what happened with Titan."

"What about it?"

"I almost killed him, River." The words tumbled out, raw and honest. "Not in battle, not in self-defense. I wanted to tear him apart piece by piece, to make him suffer. I've never..." He swallowed hard. "I've never felt rage like that before. It terrified me."

River took his hand, her touch grounding him. "It's natural to feel that way after what we've been through."

His wolf whined.

"Is it? To completely lose control? To become something I don’t recognize?"

"Yes," River insisted. "I would have done the same thing in your position. Anyone who loves their mate the way we love each other would."

Apollo turned to face her. "The thought that he took you, that he touched you.

.." His voice broke. "It drove me and my wolf insane.

I've never been that enraged before. That kind of anger has always been Ares' thing.

But I've always been in control. Always been logical.

But when it comes to you... logic goes completely out of my vocabulary. "

"I understand." River squeezed his hand. "Believe me, I do."

A terrible thought struck Apollo. "Did he-" He couldn't finish the question, the possibility too painful to voice.

River hesitated, looking away.

"River..." Apollo’s heart thundered. "Did Titan try to force you?"

She remained silent for a long moment. "He would have," she admitted. "But Kane came and warned me what might happen. We were talking about getting me out when Titan found us together and freaked out."

Apollo's wolf leapt to his feet and snarled. Kill him. Rip out his heart.

Apollo's blood chilled, and his mouth dried as he fought to voice the next question. "What did he do?"

"He pinned me against the wall and kissed me. His nails dug into my arms, leaving marks, but I used my Luna gaze on him. Commanded him to let go and never touch me again."

Rage exploded through Apollo's body, his vision washing red. "I'll kill him for what he did. Truly kill him," he growled.

River moved closer, taking his face between her palms. "I'd rather we just wash it all away. You and I, together." She kissed him with fierce intent.

The kiss ignited something primal in Apollo. His hands tangled in her silver hair, pulling her closer as need consumed him. Their mouths clashed with desperate hunger, weeks of fear and separation fueling their passion.

Apollo lifted her onto his lap, her thighs straddling him as his hands explored the curves of her body. The need to claim her, to erase any trace of Titan's touch, overwhelmed him. River matched his intensity, her arms wrapping around his neck.

They shed their clothes in a flurry of urgency. Discarded without care as they came together with raw need. River slid down on him fast and hard. Apollo's control slipped, his wolf rising to the surface as he claimed her with possessive fervor.

"You're mine," he growled, his thrusts powerful and demanding. "Say it."

"I'm yours," River gasped. "Always yours, Apollo."

They moved together with increasing urgency. Each touch reaffirming their bond. The world narrowed to just the two of them, everything else falling away as they reclaimed what had almost been lost. He needed her. Needed all of her. Every inch. Every moan. His. All his. She was his.

His climax rolled up his thighs as her body tightened around his, and she called his name, her hips slamming into his, and her mouth claiming his in a fevered clash of teeth and tongues.

Utter bliss rolled through Apollo as he filled River with his knot. His River. His mate. His everything. They sat joined, kisses hot and passionate, hands roaming overly sensitive skin, and his wolf in an utter state of complete happiness. This was his paradise. He would never want more.

Later, as they tangled together before the fireplace, a warm blanket wrapped around them, Apollo stroked River's bare shoulder. The rage that had consumed him earlier had transformed into something softer, deeper. A profound gratitude that she was in his arms.

She touched one of his new scars. Then traced another. The skin pulled beneath her fingertips.

“I’m so sorry you got these,” she whispered.

Apollo kissed her head. “For you, they were worth it.”

She sighed.

"Your love has changed me," he whispered. “And I am not talking about the scars. I mean my life. Who I am.”

River nestled closer, kissing his chest. "It's changed us both."

Apollo's thoughts drifted to the rogues who would soon inhabit the surrounding cabins. Wolves who had been cast out, rejected, forgotten. Who had never experienced the acceptance and belonging that he had- until now.

"Maybe change isn't such a bad thing," he murmured, his arms tightening around River. "After all, change brought me you."

She moved his hand to her belly. "And our children."

The rogues deserved that as well. A pack, a family, young. Suddenly, he wanted the rogues to use the cabins. Wanted them to have a place like he did. A place that made him feel secure. A home.

They lay for a long moment, and then River said, "I want our children to be born here."

Apollo smiled. "I would love that."

"We could stay here for the first couple of weeks. Just you and me and Ares and our babies."

Apollo's ribcage tightened. "When they're old enough, I want to bring them here every month. Teach them to hunt and fish and love nature."

"I can teach them to wood sculpt. Maybe make a sculpture of all of us to put outside this cabin."

"That would be amazing. We'll need to get cradles for them."

"Maybe you could help me make them. We could use wood from the land. You can help design them."

"Maybe we could clear a bit more land and build some more cabins for the rogues. That way, we could have the three closest ones for us, my mom, dad, B, Zeke, and the other guards who want to come visit."

Apollo nodded. "That would be a good idea."

"It's not that I don't want to be close to the rogues; it's just that I don't want to disrupt their lives when we come or make them nervous. Plus, we need to build a cabin for the new Alpha and his mate as well."

Apollo sighed, thinking of the new Alpha. He and Ares had discussed it, but they still hadn't made their final decision.

"Could you get me a glass of water?" River asked.

Apollo kissed her. "Of course."

He stood and walked to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and poured water from the pitcher in the fridge.

He looked out the window at the woods surrounding them.

If he had it his way, he and River would raise their children there, and he'd leave the whole ruling thing to Ares.

Not that he didn't want Ares around. His connection and subsequent caring for his brother were a welcome addition to his life.

But leading wasn't what he wanted anymore.

If he'd learned one thing from the past weeks, it was that he wanted nothing more than his mate, his children, and peace.

"Apollo?"

"Coming, kitten."

Apollo walked back and handed the glass to River. She downed half of it and then set it on the hearth.

She searched his face and sat up. "What is it?" she asked. "What can I do to help?"

Apollo shook his head. "I just wish we could stay here, but they are expecting us back tonight."

She stroked his hair and pulled his lips to hers. "Then let's make the most of the time we have."

River rolled on her back and pulled him to her. His body hardened in an instant as he claimed her mouth, and everything else floated away except for him and River.