Page 65 of Alpha Claimed

Apollo's wolf wanted to rip him apart for interrupting them, but he caught himself and stopped just as his nails lengthened.

"I… sorry, Highnesses. I was just… I…" Theo bowed and walked back the way he'd come. "Forgive me."

River giggled behind Apollo, and he turned around. Her cheeks flushed, and her lips were red and swollen from their kisses. Even her hair had been disheveled.

"You think that's funny?" He cocked an eyebrow.

She nodded. "I've never been caught making out with a guy before. I always thought people felt guilty when caught, but I'm sure Theo feels a thousand times worse than I ever will."

Apollo smiled and leaned an elbow on the wall above her head. "Is that so?"

She nodded.

He moved his finger down the front of her shirt, and her breath hitched as he stopped between her breasts.

"I hope you still feel that way the first time we are walked in on having sex somewhere in the estate."

Her eyebrows shot up. "You think we'll be walked in on somewhere?"

He shrugged. "Seems pretty likely, considering when I make you my mate, I plan on christening every room of this house with you."

Her eyes sparkled, and she smiled. "I like the idea of that."

"Of christening every room?"

"That, and of someone walking in on us."

Apollo growled. "I'll get mirrors put above our bed, Kitten. Because yours are the only eyes I won't rip out if someone watches me make love to you."

He swooped in and kissed her hard. She moaned and bit his bottom lip.

Apollo's body shook as once more his instincts took over.

Instead, he stepped away and took her hand. "Come on. Let's get you that sugar overload you need, and then I can show you your surprise."

She pouted for a fraction of a second and then fell in step next to him. "If the surprise isn't you on my bed with a can of whipped cream in one hand and a jar of sprinkles in the other, I'm pretty sure I'm going to be disappointed.

Apollo burst out laughing and put an arm around her shoulders, kissing her head. "Oh, Kitten, you are quite perfect."

As Apolloand River walked into the kitchen, everything went silent. Apollo scanned the large area where the three cooks stood, already preparing food. At a table usually reserved for the cooks to eat, Cherry, Strider, Bianca, and Zeke sat, sharing a meal.

Cherry got to her feet when they entered. "Did you wake her up?"

Apollo sighed inwardly and planted a smile on his face. He reminded himself that Cherry might be a bit aggressive and brash, but she cared about River- even if she didn't show it in the ways mothers normally did.

"No. I got up on my own. I'm a big girl like that."

Cherry didn't even bite at River's snarky reply. "Show me your wound."

River rolled her eyes, and Apollo held back a smirk.

"I just told you I'm a big girl."

"Show me." Cherry's gaze hardened, and she continued to stare at River.

"Fine." River pulled her shirt to the side. "Happy?"

Cherry's gaze flicked to Apollo. "No. I am not happy. I'm not happy you're here. I'm not happy you were shot. I'm not happy-"