Page 89 of Alpha Claimed

"They weren't just so others couldn't smell you. They also kept you from going into full heat. But you stopped taking them after you met Ares, which means you had nothing blocking you from going into a full-blown heat like when you were twelve. And now you've found your mates, and I guess taking the blockers for so long and stopping sent your wolf and moon cycle into overdrive, and, well, here we are."

River tried to process her mom's words. She was going into heat? Like the first time?

"But… I'm not mated," said River weakly. "Can't you just get me whatever you gave me that first time?"

"It's too late. I won't be able to get it here in time. And you not being mated compound matters, but they've both agreed to take turns helping you through the next few days."

River's eyebrows smashed together. "They? Apollo and Ares agreed to help me, how?"

Cherry huffed and rolled her eyes. "How do you think, River? They're gonna do what they've wanted to do since the moment they met you. And you will want them just as bad, if not more. You are going to want and need them to have sex with you. A lot of sex. And you will need them to knot you as well. It will be the only thing short of knocking you unconscious that will ease the need starting inside you."

Sex.She needed to have to have sex with Ares and Apollo? Both of them? A lot? Part of her cheered to get what she wanted from both of them. But the other part…

"They agreed to this?"

"They don't have a choice if they don't want to hear you crying in agony for the next several days."

"Did you say this could kill me?"

Cherry shrugged. "Technically, yes. It hasn't happened in a long time, but it is possible if you don't get what you need, your temperature could keep rising, and you could die."

River pulled her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms around them. An itch started between her legs, and she fought the urge to rub it.

She took in all of Cherry's words and let them play and replay in her mind until she couldn't take any more and blew out a breath. Cherry poured her a glass of water. River hadn't even noticed her leaving to get it.

Cherry handed River the glass, and she gulped it and then handed it back.

"Okay. I am assuming this isn't going to be a threesome type of thing. That not only would be weird, but they would most likely kill each other, and that would defeat the point."

"Apollo will take the first shift."

That surprised River. She couldn't believe Ares would ever have agreed to that.

"He's the oldest, and he will be gentler with you. You'll want Ares in the end, though, and I'm sure he will be able to satisfy you more aggressively."

River's cheeks heated. "Thanks for that, but TMI, Mom. TMI."

Cherry shrugged. "I figured you should know what was coming over the next few days."

"I should have known what was coming for the last decade."

Cherry licked her lips. "I thought what I did what was best. I can't explain why. I just did. But I was wrong. I'm sorry."

River had to consciously keep her mouth from falling open. Her mom both apologized and said she was wrong. In the same sentence. Two things she couldn't remember her mom ever saying. River watched Cherry for a minute, and for the first time, she saw pain and fear in her mom's eyes.

"You did the best you could."

Cherry opened her mouth but then closed it again.

River rubbed her arms. "Well, I already feel hot and sticky, and my lady parts are swollen, and I could use a cool shower."

Cherry nodded. "You shower, and I'll get you some food. You'll need your strength."

Cherry turned to leave.

"Mom?"

Cherry turned back.