Page 104 of Alpha Claimed

Apollo stared at his brother, and Ares lifted an apple. "Hungry?"

"Uh… no," Apollo replied.

Ares bit into it. "Good, more for me."

What the hell was happening?

"Come and sit," said River. "We need to talk."

Apollo fought for words but couldn't find any as he watched Ares. As strange as it was to find that Ares showed none of his arrogant, selfish posturing, it surprised Apollo even more to find that even his own wolf remained calm and unaffected. That hadn't happened in Ares's presence since before their parents died.

Apollo sat on the edge of the bed, and River climbed up next to Ares and grabbed a pack of M&Ms. She ripped them open and offered some to Apollo, but he shook his head. River popped one in her mouth and then tossed one to Ares, who caught it in his.

River slapped him. "Show off."

Apollo could take it no longer. "What is happening?"

River looked at him. "You're right. This is weird for you, but trust me it's weird for all three of us."

Ares snorted and bit into his apple. "Tell me about it. I mean, I see you, and my head says that I should want to kill you because I know you bit River and made love to her and everything, but my wolf keeps telling me that it's fine. Everything is fine, and I don't have to worry because she's ours."

Apollo nodded. "Same."

"See." River squeezed his knee. "I told you. You are both my mates."

Everything inside him told him that it was the truth. She scooted closer to him and laid her head on his shoulder. Apollo wrapped his arm around her waist, waiting for Ares to say something, to threaten him, punch him, something… but he didn't.

River offered him another M&M, and this time, he took it from her fingers and crunched it between his teeth. Her finger lingered on his lips, and his body heated from her gaze.

She still wanted him. Wanted him the way he wanted her. She was still his. He relaxed, and she melted into him.

He looked to Ares to gauge his reaction. Surprisingly, Ares remained relaxed and finished his apple. He'd never seen his brother so calm before. So… content.

"Does this mean we're… friends?"

Ares laughed. "I wouldn't go that far, but I would say that I probably won't kick your ass anymore. At least not without a good reason."

"You kick my ass? Please. You only won when I let you."

Ares snorted. "Okay, Brother. If it makes you feel better to think that, go ahead."

A strange feeling raced through Apollo.Brother?Ares called him brother. Ares never called him that. Ever.

His wolf chuffed and wagged his tail.

A smile traced Apollo's lips as he reached in and plucked a handful of Skittles from the tray. As he popped them into his mouth, he shook his head and looked at River.

She wiggled her eyebrows and smiled. "Are we good?"

Apollo nodded. They were good. More than good. They were… perfect.

She was perfect. Somehow, River had done what he was sure would never have been possible. She'd begun to heal the rift between him and Ares. She had tamed their beasts.

"All right," said Ares. "Time to get down to business."

"What business?" Apollo reached for a cola.

"How we will tell the Council that they don't just have one king, they have two."