Page 62 of Alpha Claimed

Her stomach growled, and she grabbed it. She looked at the basket of food Apollo brought but didn't want anything except a second soda.

She crawled to the basket and opened it. She grabbed the soda and sucked it down while looking for something sweet to accompany it. There wasn't anything. She looked through the basket again and then at her bedroom door. She needed food, and she needed it now.

After pulling on some leggings,fuzzy socks, and a pair of slides, River walked to her door and tried the handle. It wouldn't budge. She pulled again, and though the knob turned freely from not having been fixed yet, the doors didn't come apart.

Anger flared, and she banged on the door. "Let me out. Apollo. Ares. What the hell?"

A rush of footsteps and angry voices sounded on the other side of the door before it swung open. She jumped back to keep from being hit by them. Both Apollo and Ares stood in the doorway. Ares held a leather belt in one hand.

She cocked an eyebrow. "Are you going to spank me?"

Ares looked down at the belt and then at her. "I used it to keep the door closed."

Apollo and Ares continued to stare at her, eyes wide.

She looked down at herself. "What? Have you never seen a woman wear a T-shirt, leggings, and fuzzy socks? Do I have to wear a dress or something?"

"Uh…" Ares didn't seem able to form words.

"I think what he's trying to say is, your attire is fine, but maybe you're missing something? Something lacy with cups, perhaps."

River looked at her nipples that were still at attention under her shirt.

"Yeah, that's not happening today. Today is a 'let the ladies fly free' day."

Ares growled.

"Get over it," she said. "They're just nipples. I'm sure you and your men can control yourselves for one day."

Apollo sighed. "I wouldn't be so sure about that."

Ares took his eyes off her for the first time and growled at Apollo. "Stop looking at her."

Apollo cocked an eyebrow. "You stop looking at her."

"No. She's-"

"Your mate? Yeah, we all know that. She's mine too, so I can look at her all I want until she chooses."

Ares's fist tightened around the leather belt, and River thought he might punch Apollo.

"Stop. I'm hot, I'm hungry, and my nipples hurt. So I'm not putting on a bra to make you males feel better. I am going outside to get some fresh air before I suffocate on your toxic masculinity. And I will eat every cinnamon roll, cookie, and bag of candy you have in this place. As well as drink every single soda you possess. Got it?"

They turned back to her.

She shrugged. "What? You've never heard of PMS? I get it, just like every other female. So you should be prepared. In a couple days, I will have cramps that make me want to kill both of you. And I will be eating whatever I want, and neither of you are allowed to say a damn thing about it. Got it?"

They nodded.

"Of course, Beloved."

"Wouldn't dream of it, Kitten."

She sucked in a breath. "Good. Now I want to be shown every gram of sugar in this place."

"As you wish." Apollo smiled. "By the way, if you want to go outside, I can show you your surprise while you're out there."

She'd forgotten about his surprise.