Page 62

Two Months Later

RIVER

"T hey're being quite squirmy today," said Dr. Keller as she moved the ultrasound wand around River's enormous belly.

"You should feel it from my end," River chuckled.

The sounds of heartbeats floated across the small speaker. Apollo and Ares both squeezed her hands.

"That's them," said Apollo.

"Our little ones." Ares smiled.

"Yup. That's the first one." Dr. Keller moved around the wand, and a little face appeared sucking their thumb."

Apollo laughed. "That one must be yours."

"Haha. Very funny," said Ares.

"How old were you when you finally stopped sucking your thumb? Twelve? Thirteen?"

Ares reached across River's stomach and punched Apollo in the shoulder. "Shut up. At least I wasn't in diapers until I was four."

"Those were not diapers," said Apollo. "They were underwear."

"Yeah, Apollo and his 'special' underwear."

River shook her head. "Be nice."

The twins mumbled about being nice and just joking before Dr. Keller moved the ultrasound around and settled on another little face, pinched up and sleeping.

"That one is definitely yours," said Ares. "He already has that pissed-off look on his face."

"She," said Dr. Keller.

River's heart quickened. "What?"

Her wolf howled.

"She. As in girl."

"We're having a girl?" River asked.

"Two girls."

Ares looked like he might faint. "Girls. We're having twin girls." His eyes stayed fixed on the screen, and he nodded as if not comprehending.

Apollo kissed River. "Of course we are. Two beautiful daughters just as strong and amazing as their mom."

River smiled at Apollo and then looked at Ares again. He still hadn't spoken.

"Are you okay?"

Ares finally looked at her, his eyes wide.

Her gut twisted. "Are… you not happy?"

"Happy? Of course I'm happy but…"

"But what?" she demanded, nervousness overtaking her.

"Do you know how many males I'm going to have to beat the shit out of to keep them away from my girls? We're going to need more security. More guards. They won’t be able to go anywhere. We're gonna have to teach them to fight and be strong and-"

River cupped Ares' face. "Breathe. They will be just fine.

Remember who their grandmother is. You think anyone is going to mess with our girls when their dads are Lycan Alpha kings and their grandmother is Cherry?

Trust me, we'll be lucky if any male wants to take on the challenge of being their mates. "

Ares searched her face, but she saw his terror. She fought back the urge to laugh as her wolf chuffed. She'd never seen Ares scared before. The thought that he was terrified to have baby girls was almost comical.

"Breathe," said River. "Just breathe. We have a few years before we have to deal with those things, okay? We'll figure it out together, as a family."

Ares nodded but appeared no calmer about the situation.

"You're not going to freak out and be a helicopter dad, are you? Baby bumpers on all the corners, locks on all the cabinets. Plastic thingies on all the outlets. Baby gates on the stairs. Alarms on every door in the estate," Apollo chided.

"You think this is funny?" Ares asked. "What are you gonna do the first time one of our girls is electrocuted because she sticks a fork in an outlet?"

Apollo shook his head. "Pick her up, dust her off. Make sure she's okay and tell her that now she knows what happens when she does that."

"What?" he asked.

"That's what Dad did to me. I lived through it. And he was right. Once I knew what would happen, I didn't do it again."

Ares' mouth fell open.

"Okay, okay," said River. "We can discuss all this later. I'm gonna be late getting up to the cabins. I need to go."

Dr. Keller wiped off River's abdomen, and River hiked up her leggings and pulled down her dress.

She rolled to her side, and Apollo helped her sit up and get to her feet.

He hugged her and kissed the top of her head. "Don't worry. He'll calm down," Apollo whispered.

"I heard that," Ares said.

River smiled and shook her head. Never in her wildest dreams did she think that Ares would be the one to freak out about their kids. If anyone, she thought it would be her.

Dr. Keller moved the medical equipment out of the way, and River waddled across their large new bedroom to the door.

"Thank you, Doc," River called.

"See you in a few weeks," Dr. Keller said. "Unless Ares has a panic attack and dies first."

Everyone burst out laughing except Ares.

"Oh, you guys are so funny. I can see I'm going to have to be the responsible one around here, like always."

River turned and winked at Ares. "If that happens, we're all screwed."

Ares' eyes blazed. "When you get back from your errand, we'll see who's screwed."

River wiggled her eyebrows. "I'm gonna hold you to that."

Ares growled.

"Okay, can you not do that until I leave, please?" Dr. Keller asked.

River smiled and turned to leave, but stopped.

"Oh, and Ares, the swatches for the nursery color scheme are sitting on the changing table in there.

Can you and Apollo please agree on one before I return?

The workers are on schedule to complete the remodel this week, and we need to have the carpets and walls finished before they leave.

I'm tired of having so many people in the house. "

"Will do," said Ares.

River nodded, and Apollo walked her into the hallway and down toward the stairs.

"You're gonna ask me to let him decide the color scheme, aren't you?" Apollo asked.

River smiled up at him. "You see how he's freaking out. My goddess, he's worse than a Bridezilla about the babies. And you and I don't care what the colors are in the nursery as long as it isn't yellow or orange or brown, so let's just let him have this one."

Apollo grumbled. "Fine. But I still get to pick out the baby bedding."

"Absolutely. Just make sure it's hypoallergenic and organic; otherwise, Ares might have an aneurysm."

They both chuckled as they descended the stairs to the front door. Lachlan and Duncan stood by an SUV with a group of wolves waiting inside it for River.

She'd chosen them officially as her bodyguards because she and Lachlan knew each other the best. Since Duncan had decided to stay with them and become a hybrid, she liked the idea of having a guard who hadn't been with either Ares or Apollo before.

Besides, it would be good for everyone to see that even a rogue had a place in the house of Wolvenguard.

Lachlan bowed to them, and Duncan opened the door as Apollo helped her down the front steps.

"Drive carefully," Apollo said to Lachlan. "My most precious cargo is in this vehicle."

Lachlan inclined his head. "Of course, Highness."

Apollo kissed River. "If you have any problems-"

"I won't."

"If you do, remember there's cell signal up there now. Call me if you have a problem."

"Yes, master."

Apollo's eyes glinted. "I like the sound of that."

River smiled. "I'm sure you do. Don't let it go to your head."

Apollo reached for the door. "Too late. Ideas are already percolating."

"I don't doubt it."

Apollo closed the door, and River rolled down the window. "Love you."

Apollo leaned in and kissed her. "Love you too, kitten."

He looked over her shoulder. "Ladies."

"Your Majesty," the wolves said in unison.

"Take care of my Luna."

"Of course."

"With our lives."

Apollo stepped back from the vehicle, and Duncan and the females climbed inside before Lachlan pulled the SUV away from the estate.

River blew out a breath and looked at her phone. They had a bit of a drive before they reached the cabins. Just enough time for her to take a much-needed nap.

* * *

KANE

The early afternoon sun beat down on Kane as he stood outside his cabin, watching the dust trail of an approaching vehicle wind its way up the forest road.

He'd been expecting River's visit. She'd called ahead to let him know she was bringing some new additions to the White Tail Pack.

But something in her tone had left him uneasy.

Two months had passed since his sentencing; since he'd been given a second chance he didn't deserve.

In that time, the rogues had settled into their new homes, transforming the rustic cabins into a functioning community.

Kane had thrown himself into his role as Alpha, working tirelessly to prove himself worthy of the trust placed in him.

"Is that them?" Austin appeared at his side. In the weeks since they'd arrived, he'd fallen into the role of his Beta, his cheerful but firm presence a balancing force to his more reserved nature.

Kane nodded. "Looks like it."

The black SUV pulled into the clearing, coming to a stop near the main gathering area. Several rogues emerged from their cabins, curious about the visitors. Word had spread quickly that the High Luna was bringing new members, and excitement hummed through the pack.

Kane approached the vehicle as River's guards exited first, scanning with professional efficiency before one opened her door. River emerged, her silver hair gleaming in the sunlight, her pregnancy now clearly visible beneath her flowing dress.

"Kane," she greeted him with a warm smile. "Thank you for meeting us."

He inclined his head respectfully. "High Luna. Welcome back to the White Tail pack."

She smiled at Austin. “I’m so glad you chose to stay with the pack.”

“They’re good wolves. I can’t imagine going anywhere else.”

The rogues in attendance also bowed to her. But in true River fashion, she waved them off. In the few short months that he'd begun to work with River to help establish the White Tail pack, he'd come to appreciate her and just how wrong he had been about her when he'd first met her.

River turned toward the SUV, saying something to the occupants inside before facing the gathered rogues. Many rushed forward to greet her, their affection for her evident in their eager faces and the wagging tails of those in wolf form.

"Everyone," River called, her voice carrying across the clearing. "I've brought some new members to join our White Tail Pack."