Page 81 of Alpha Claimed

Apollo exited his room. "What's going on?"

Ares stormed over to him, but Apollo didn't blink. Damn, he hated how Apollo could keep his cool so well. Ares had always been the one who wore his emotions on his sleeves.

"Where's Bennett?"

Apollo shrugged. "In his room."

"Get him," Ares demanded.

Apollo's eyes flashed, and he crossed his arms over his chest. "Why?"

Ares didn't want Apollo in the middle of what was happening, but there was no way he could hide it from him.

"Something's wrong with River. She has a fever, and I want to know if he missed a piece of the bullet."

Apollo's gaze flicked to River's bedroom, and he uncrossed his arms and took a step forward, but Ares pushed him in the chest.

"Is there a possibility he missed something?"

Apollo swiped Ares's hand away. "No. He's a field medic. If something is wrong with River, it's not his fault." Apollo shouldered past Ares. "Now, get the hell out of my way so I can see my mate."

Ares growled and grabbed Apollo's arm. Apollo turned and, without warning, slammed his fist into Ares's jaw. Ares let go of him just long enough for Apollo to reach River's door.

"Leave her," said Ares. "She's sleeping."

Apollo pulled out his phone and punched in a number while opening River's doors and walking in.

Ares growled and followed him.

"Bennett. I need you. Bring your kit. It's River."

Apollo dropped his phone onto the nightstand and sat next to River. He did what Ares had done. He touched her forehead and neck before leaning in and sniffing her. He groaned.

"She smells stronger than in the barn. What the hell is she wearing? That can't be comfortable." Apollo tried to pull her dress off. "We need to get this off her so Bennett can look at her."

"Hell no," Ares snarled. "There is no way he is going to look at my mate while she's naked."

"Well, I hate to break it to you, brother, but he's already seen her with nothing on but a sheet, so…"

"I don't care. That dress does not come off-"

"The hell it doesn't!"

All eyes went to the doorway where Cherry marched in. "Whose stupid idea was it to leave her in a frickin' straight jacket to sleep?"

Apollo cocked an eyebrow at Ares as Cherry pushed past both of them and walked to River feeling her head, then her cheek, and then her throat.

Cherry looked past the twins. "Strider."

River's tall, quiet stepfather entered the room.

"Help me get this thing off her."

Strider sat River up while Cherry unzipped the dress.

"I'd prefer if-"

"If what?" Cherry snapped. "You lot have done a bugger all good for my daughter so far. So, as far as I'm concerned, you can take your preferences and shove them right up."