Page 48 of Alpha Claimed

Ares turned to her and cupped her face. "Why are you covering for him?"

"I'm not," she said firmly. "If you want to blame someone else, blame Titan. He's the one who sent them."

Ares growled, and his eyes turned black. "Titan's here?"

"No," said Apollo. "He either hadn't arrived yet, or I don't think they told him they'd found her."

"They?"

"A house full of rogues were waiting to see if we showed."

Ares searched her face, emotions playing all over his features.

She wanted to comfort him. Let him know she was all right, but she couldn't. Not in front of Apollo. It felt… wrong.

"We're going home," Ares announced.

"No." Apollo stepped forward. "The council said-"

"The council changed their mind. Seeing as you cannot protectmy mate, they've agreed you should return to the estate."

Apollo rushed to Ares so fast that River didn't see him move. He shoved Ares against the wall.

"Stop calling her that. She's not just your mate. She's mine, too. And I will not let you take her. I don't care what the council says. I am the king. The Alpha of Alphas and my word is final."

Ares pushed Apollo off. "You aren't the king yet. Not until you take a mate."

"Well, that's only a matter of time, isn't it? I've already chosen, and now it's up to her to choose."

The men stood nose to nose.

"River." Ares held his hand out to her without looking.

Her wolf whined, and she looked from Ares to Apollo and back.

"River." Apollo held out his hand.

Seriously? Were they doing this? After all she'd been through?

Anger flared. She would not be a pawn in their dick-measuring contest.

Her wolf growled.No. Choose.

Exactly.

"I think I'll take a nap." Before either could say anything, she walked into the bedroom, closed the door, and locked it.

* * *

APOLLO

When River pulledopen the bedroom door two hours later, Apollo looked up from where he sat on the couch and waited for her to come to him.

Ares showing up threw a wrench in his plans in a big way, but the fact that she hadn't immediately gone with him was a win in Apollo's book, and he would take it. Though she'd made it clear she wasn't happy with either of them for trying to make her choose.

He listened to her soft footsteps as they padded down the hallway toward him. When she entered the front room, he stood.

"Did you sleep?"