Page 15 of Alpha Claimed

"Oklahoma, Highness."

River shoveled a forkful of eggs into her mouth. "Do you miss it?"

Lachlan glanced around again. "Sometimes, Highness. I love the woods and trees here but miss the open fields."

"If you aren't comfortable here, you are welcome to return to the estate," said Apollo.

River shot him a look.

He shrugged. "I'm just-"

"You are just trying to assert your dominance and make Lachlan feel uncomfortable, and that's not okay. He is here at my request. He didn't ask to be here. Hell, I bet he didn't even ask to become Ares's bodyguard. I understand that you may not have chosen him, but I did, and I expect you to respect that at the very least." His jab surprised her. She would have expected something like that from Ares, but Apollo? Obviously, she still had a lot to learn about him.

She refused to break eye contact with Apollo.

He inclined his head. "You are right, River. I apologize."

"To who? Me?"

Apollo looked between her and Lachlan. "To you both."

Lachlan bowed his head. "There is nothing to apologize for, Highness."

River growled. The male egos and kowtowing to those of a higher station were things she had never understood and never would get used to, not to others and especially never to herself. It was one thing she would insist on talking to both Ares and Apollo about when she got a private moment.

River sat her fork down and rose from her seat. The others rose as well.

"Are you finished?" asked Apollo.

"I… I need some air." River strode around the table and to the front door.

Footsteps followed her, and she held up her hands. "I'm just going out the door. I don't need an entourage. If you need to, you can watch me from the window. But if one of you steps out that door, you are liable to get a boot to the balls or my knife somewhere just as unpleasant."

She pulled open the door and walked out before any of them could reply. She stormed down the steps onto the dirt and gravel path and looked at the sun. She crossed her arms over her chest and closed her eyes. A minute passed and then another before the tears started.

What had she gotten herself into? Politics? In fighting? Royalty? Responsibility? She'd never asked for any of that. Never wanted any of it. Men following her. People are not able to use her name. What next? Would she be forced to have all the elders watch her consummate her mating or watch her deliver her first child?

Maybe Alaska wasn't such a bad idea after all.

Soft footsteps crunched up behind her. She grabbed a knife from her boot, turned, and threw it. Apollo caught it midair.

The door burst open, and the men rushed out.

River grabbed her second knife.

Apollo spun around and lobbed her knife at one of the pillars on the porch. "If any one of you dares to lay a hand on my mate, I will kill you myself. I don't care if she stabs me with a poisoned dagger. You don't touch her. Ever. Are we clear?"

The men looked at each other and then bowed.

"Back inside," Apollo ordered.

River slid her knife back into its holster and waited until the front door closed again before she swiped the tears from her eyes.

Apollo turned back to her. "I'm sorry, Kitten. I am truly sorry for upsetting you."

River waved him off.

He closed the distance between them and reached for her but then dropped his hand. "What is it? Tell me."