Page 14 of Alpha Claimed

"Could you introduce me to everyone living with us for the next few days? It'll be weird to call them all Bodyguard or Hey You. I get that you know them, but aside from Lachlan, I haven't spent more than a few minutes just seeing any of them."

"Well, that won't do. If you are to be my queen, you need to get to know my men even better than you know Ares'. I'll introduce you over breakfast."

Apollo gave a slight bow and left.

Her chest squeezed as she realized choosing between them was more significant than just picking a mate. With their personalities so different, their leadership style would also be different. Whichever of them took the crown would determine the next reign of the werewolf nation. And it was up to her to pick who that would be.

Sheesh. No pressure or anything.

River closed her eyes and took several deep breaths. Why her? Why had it been put on her to choose? At that moment, she wished more than anything that she'd never found out she was an Omega.

After the shower,River changed back into her clothes from the day before and sat with Apollo and the bodyguards to eat. The chat easy and relaxed, like old friends. The air so different from the intensity of Ares and his men. She listened as the men talked about old memories from being in the woods and things they'd done as kids.

"So, how long have you all known each other?"

"Bennet, I've known my whole life. His dad was my father's guard. Silas and I went to school together," said Apollo. "Since what? Third grade?"

"Second, I think," Silas replied.

Apollo smiled. "Yeah, second. The year we had Miss Tanson."

Bennett sighed, and a large, goofy smile planted on his freckled face. "Miss Tanson. I didn't even know what a crush was in second grade, but man, I had one hard for Miss Tanson."

"No shit." Silas snorted. "You knocked out my front tooth for saying I would marry her one day."

The men burst into laughter.

"What about you two?" she asked the men further down.

"Regan and Thomas, I found in college. We pledged the same fraternity."

"Where did you go to school?"

Suddenly, the table erupted into a football game rally as the group belted out their alma mater's school song.

The group broke into wild laughter, and River felt like she was at a pep rally.

"What did you study?"

"I have an MBA, but I mostly handle the finances and business side of things."

"There's a business side to being a Prince?"

Apollo chuckled. "We have many investment interests and real estate holdings. We also own some companies and offer financing to Lycan and shifter business owners."

"So you work a nine-to-five job?"

"More like a five to two job. I get up early when the stock market opens and work mostly with companies on the East Coast, so I usually finish by noon or two p.m. It frees up my days. I like it that way."

She nodded, wondering who would take on his duties while he was away. Ares had enough on his plate without dealing with the stuff Apollo handled.

She pushed her food around her plate as the men laughed and joked for several minutes.

River noticed Lachlan eating silently. "What about you? Did you grow up around here, Lachlan?"

He looked up from his plate and glanced around the table. "No Highness. I'm from the Midwest."

"Where?"