Page 40 of Alpha Claimed

River commanded her wolf to back down. For a moment, she didn't think her wolf would, but then she relinquished control.

River shifted back to human. It hurt and took longer than it should have, leaving her panting in agony. A fine sheen of sweat developed on her skin, and nausea rolled through her.

"Hello, Highness," said Bennett.

"Call me River."

"I wouldn't dare, Highness. I am medically trained and can take the bullets out, but it will hurt."

She nodded. "Okay."

"Would you like a drink?"

She snorted. "I'd have to drink a whole bottle to give you even twenty minutes."

"Lachlan, grab the whiskey while I transfer her to the table."

Lachlan headed somewhere out of sight as Bennett prepared to touch her.

"May I lift you, Highness?"

"You know I've been asked if I can be touched, talked to, and called by something other than my name more in the last week than in my twenty-four years of life."

"That's because it's different now. You are the Alpha's mate. The King of Lycans. To do any of those things without his say-so is grounds for immediate execution."

"Seriously?"

Bennett nodded.

"Well, I don't want that to happen, so yes, you have my permission to do whatever you need to keep me and yourself alive."

He slipped his arms underneath her, carefully ensuring the blanket covered every inch he touched.

"This isn't going to be comfortable, I'm afraid. I don't want to have to move you again."

He stood and carried her to the table, laying her on her back.

"I've slept on worse." That wasn't necessarily the truth. After what Titan had done to her shoulder and neck, it'd been several weeks before she'd been able to move comfortably last time. And over a month before, she'd been able to sculpt. The suppressors didn't just suppress her scent, she found out. They suppressed all of the wolf side. Even the speedy healing.

A thought hit her. That's why the shifter cursed Titan when he'd been trying to shift. He couldn't because of the suppressors.

Lachlan approached with a bottle and a shot glass. He poured the amber liquid into the glass and shakily held it out to her. It slopped out the side of the glass, and she laid her hand on his.

"Lachlan. You take that shot."

"But, Highness-"

"River."

"It's for you."

"And I command you to drink it."

He didn't argue; he gulped it down and poured another.

"That one too."

He did as he was told.