Page 30 of Alpha Claimed

"Because with the rogues on the rise, he convinced me that a more commanding presence would be needed there. He wasn't wrong. He got more Alphas to agree to join us than I probably could have. But it does make me sad that he found you and not me."

"I'm sorry. It seems all I've done is make things worse for both of you."

Apollo sat down his coffee and took her face into his large palms. "You have brought me more joy in the last two days than I've known in my entire life. I would give up the throne, my brother, and everything else just to have you."

River swallowed hard. What the hell did she say to that? She wondered if Ares would be willing to do the same.

"Your parents died in an accident, right?"

Apollo sat back on the pillows and blew out a sigh. "That's what we said, but no- Titan killed them."

River's gut clenched. How could one man cause so much pain?

"He ambushed them at their favorite restaurant. After poisoning them with silver, he killed them. It's why he went into hiding. It's been six years since we heard anything."

"Apollo... I'm so sorry. Losing my dad was terrible, but losing both parents at the same time... I can't imagine."

Apollo gave her a sad smile. "It hasn't been easy, that is for sure. I loved my parents dearly. They were generous and strong people. I hope I can be half the king my father was."

River wanted to reassure him that he would be, but with having to choose, she couldn't promise that he would be the next king.

"I wish they could've met you. They would have loved you. Especially my mom."

She smiled. She could pretty much see her dad and Apollo bonding over a beer. Laughing, fishing, hanging out. But he would also appreciate Ares's strength. He'd have felt comforted knowing that River had ended up with a mate who could protect and provide for her. But if her father were still alive, would Titan have ever even found her? They'd never had moved to the new pack and maybe she never would have even met the twins.

"Where has Titan been? I know he's been watching me in New York. Do you think he could have been there all this time?"

Apollo shook his head. "No idea. And that's a good thing because if I knew where he was, I'd freaking kill him for what he did to you and my parents."

The anger that flashed in his eyes made him look like Ares had at the opera house.

Her stomach plummeted. She couldn't see him doing anything like that. Ares, absolutely, but Apollo was too… gentle, considerate, kind. He wasn't a killer.

"Anyway." He broke the silence. "Tell me about your childhood."

She sipped her soda and then picked up a cinnamon roll. Pulling a piece off, she stuck it into her mouth.

"Basic pack life. My dad died when I was nine. My mom had been the enforcer for years before it happened. She'd never been very maternal to begin with, but after my dad died, something inside her died, too. She became the ultimate weapon. Unhinged weapon, but still a weapon."

"And your dad, what did he do?"

"Took care of me."

"That's different."

"True. He was an Alpha, but in many ways, he was like you. Laid back, funny, kind. That's why he didn't want to become a pack leader. He was afraid if he became one, he'd be forced to do things he didn't want to do. My mom's uptight and on edge enough for both of them." River snorted.

"Who looked after you after he died?"

"No one. I mean, Strider and Bianca moved in a few days after he died. Strider's wife died in a car accident a few years prior. So he and Bianca moved to try and get a new start. Strider and Mom knew each other when they were younger, I think. She doesn't talk about it. Anyway, they got together and I had a little sister I needed to look out for."

"I heard something about your sister being mated to one of Ares men?"

"Yup. Zeke."

"One of the new ones."

River shrugged. "I don't know how long he's been with Ares."