Page 66 of Alpha Claimed

River held up her hands. "I get it. You aren't happy. What else is new?"

Cherry pulled the neck of River's t-shirt down, then stepped back and looked at her. "Are you not wearing a bra?"

River swallowed and folded her arms across her chest. "No. I'm not if you must know."

Cherry sniffed her, and her eyes narrowed before she looked at Apollo.

After a minute, River grabbed her arm. "Stop that. Leave him alone."

Cherry growled and pulled away. "You're Apollo, right?"

Apollo nodded.

Cherry sniffed and walked away without another word. She retook the chair next to Strider, and he whispered something in her ear. Apollo swore for a fraction of a second, and the corner of Cherry's lips quirked upward.

Interesting.So, she did have a soft spot.

Bianca got up from the table and rushed to River, flinging her arms around her. "Oh my gosh, River. I've been a mess. We get here, and you've gone away, and I'm going crazy not knowing where you are or what you are doing, and then you get shot, and no one would let me see you."

River grabbed onto her sister and hugged her tight. "It's okay, B. I'm here. I'm fine. I'm sorry I screamed at you."

For the next several minutes, River continued to console her sister as if Bianca had been put through a terrible ordeal and not River.

Zeke stood and peeled Bianca off River. Bianca turned and clung to Zeke instead.

Zeke met Apollo's eye and bowed his head. "Highness."

Apollo held out his hand. Zeke looked at it, and he could swear he had heard River gasp.

Zeke shook Apollo's hand.

"Apollo. Just Apollo. No need to be so formal anymore if we are going to be related."

Apollo could see the wheels turning in Zeke's head. If River chose Apollo, what would that mean for him and his mate? They would be related through marriage, but he was still Ares' bodyguard and friend.

"Thank you, Highness," Zeke replied.

Apollo never disliked Zeke. He was a solid guy. Good at his job and loyal. Unlike Theo and Santiago, who, to be honest, Apollo had always been jealous because they were so close to Ares. For years, he'd wished that had been him. But that dream had died a long time ago.

River smiled and slipped her hand into his again.

Apollo winked.

Cherry motioned them over. "Eat. Get your strength back."

"River just came to raid our pantry for sweets and soda," said Apollo.

Bianca giggled. "Oh man, River's infamous PMS is striking. Growing up, we had an entire cabinet dedicated to River's PMS week."

"We did not," said River.

"Yes, we did," Cherry replied. "Six full shelves stocked with every sugary item we could buy."

River huffed. "You guys ate that stuff too."

"Sorry, Sweetheart," said Strider. "It was all for you. We keep our sweets locked in our rooms for safekeeping."

River's cheeks deepened to a beautiful shade of pink. She opened her mouth and then closed it again.