Page 56 of Alpha Claimed

"You need to decide, Highness," said a council member. "We need a king. We need a queen. We need the royal line to continue."

"Relationships are tenuous at best right now," said Apollo. "A king is needed to reinforce those relationships. To ensure peace between the packs."

"River, this is more than just picking a mate," said Ares. "This is a decision that will affect the future of our societies."

"Exactly," she said. "That's a lot of pressure. I don't know that I can do it."

"You must." Ares pounded his fist on the table.

River jumped to her feet and growled at him.

"River." Apollo took her hand and squeezed it.

She looked at his passive expression.

"Even though I know it might mean I do not get you for myself, Ares is right. You have to choose one of us. Either that or walk away from both of us."

River's heart beat so hard she feared it might give out.

She would have said Ares without a thought if asked to choose four days ago. But now…

She looked between the twins.

She couldn't figure out how to live without one of them.

CHAPTERFOURTEEN

RIVER

River spent the rest of the day in her room, even telling Cherry to leave her alone. River could only take so much of her frantic energy before she snapped, and luckily, Strider saw that point coming and convinced Cherry to go check on Bianca and find food.

The moment they'd left, River locked the door behind them and hid under the covers of the large, soft bed.

For hours, one by one, every single person in the estate knocked on her door to try and get her to answer. By the time Bianca made her way to the door, River couldn't hold back the scream that ripped from her. She tried to cover it with a pillow, but she could still hear her little sister's apology and then her footsteps leading away.

When had she become the Ice Queen from that stupid kid's movie?

River watchedthe sunset behind the trees surrounding the estate. As her eyelids grew heavy, a click and the sound of something sliding made her eyes pop back open. She looked over to find a large figure slithering through her now-open window.

River reached for her knife when a familiar face smiled.

"Hi."

River blew out a harsh breath. "Are you trying to give me a heart attack? I almost threw a knife at you."

"Wouldn't be the first time, Kitten." Apollo chuckled and sat on the inside ledge of the window. "Sorry, but you weren't going to let me in if I knocked again, so I decided I better try the other way to ensure you don't starve to death."

Apollo reached out the window and pulled on a rope.

She felt more like a kidnapped princess in a tower than ever as he pulled a basket through the window.

"What are you, my Prince Charming?"

"If that's what you want."

River sighed and sat up. "What did you bring as a peace offering?"

Apollo walked to the bed, set the basket down, and let her open it.