Page 105 of Alpha Claimed

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

RIVER

The entire estate bustled with activity as everyone in the household prepared for the first get-together of all Alphas of the eastern US and Canada in more than ten years.

River pulled on her dress and looked at herself in the mirror.

"Stop fidgeting," said Cherry. "Something is wrong with this damn zipper."

It had been three weeks since River's heat. The first week, she spent her days with Apollo after he worked several hours, and she spent her nights with Ares after he finished his business. Together, they'd tried to figure out how to tell the Council. Finally, they decided to send each of them a letter explaining the decision.

The second week had been spent convincing the Council that either they agreed with the twins or they would both abdicate. After all, they'd been sharing the duties for years anyway.

Ultimately, the Council decided two kings were better than no king, especially with the rising rogue problem. And because they'd already been sharing the job.

From there, the last week had flown by so fast that she'd barely had the energy to spend more than a couple hours a day with Apollo and Ares a piece. And now, as she stood staring into the mirror at the ornate ceremonial mating dress their mother had worn when mating their father, she could hardly believe everything that had happened to her in the last two months.

"Have you gained weight?" Cherry tugged on the zipper of the dress.

"What? No."

"Well, then, are you bloated and on your period because you don't fit into this dress the way you did two weeks ago."

"No, Mom, I-" River stopped. She wasn't on her period. In fact, she hadn't had a period since the week before meeting Ares.

River counted the weeks since her last period. Her heartbeat galloped, and she licked her lips.

Cherry rounded her and looked into River's face. "River. When was your last period?"

"I… I don't remember," River stammered.

"Don't lie. When, River?"

"Six weeks ago."

Cherry gasped and pressed her hand to River's belly. "That isn't all the candy you've been eating that is causing this dress not to fit, River."

River pushed her mom's hand away. Pregnant? Was she pregnant? A myriad of emotions flooded her. Happiness. Terror. Was it Apollo's? Could it be Ares'? What would they both say? Would they want her to be pregnant? Would one of them reject the baby if it wasn't theirs?

Cherry grabbed her arms and shook her. "Breathe River. If you pass out, I'll have to tell the knuckleheads why, and I do not want to be the bearer of that news."

River swallowed hard and nodded.

Cherry grabbed River and pulled her into a hug. "I'm kidding. It's gonna be fine. You're going to be fine. Ares and Apollo are going to be fine. Probably a lot more protective of you than usual, but they will be fine. They love you. They're your mates. It's gonna be fine, you'll see."

"Okay." River patted Cherry on the back. "I've never heard so many uses of the wordfinebefore, but I get what you mean."

Cherry pushed her to arm's length. "I just want to make sure you know-"

"Everything is going to be fine?" River snorted.

Cherry shot her a look. "I was going to say all right, but yes. Millions of women have babies every day. Besides, if they aren't happy, I'll just kill them."

River smiled, and a thought drifted into her mind, and she laughed.

Cherry's eyebrows smashed together. "What's so funny?"

River laughed harder.