Page 101 of Alpha Queen
He wrapped an arm around her and kissed her head. "You said we. As in, all three of us. I like that."
"Of course. Unless you two don't want me anymore."
Apollo growled and pulled her into him. "Don't be ridiculous."
"Besides," Ares continued. "Until I found you, you're right, I didn't see shifters as equals, but now… I find nothing lacking."
He kissed her softly, and her wolf howled in happiness. Until his lips touched hers, she hadn't realized just how painful it had been being away from her mates. She'd been so focused on her babies and getting out and defying Titan at every turn that she'd not allowed herself to process the pain. The weight of missing Ares and Apollo. She'd missed them desperately, infinitely, but now awake and in their arms, the realization of what she and her babies had been through fully sank in.
River began to sob.
Apollo held her, mindful of her injuries, as her body shook with sobs. His hands stroked her hair, her back, offering comfort as the emotional dam broke. Ares moved closer, enveloping both of them in his powerful arms, creating a protective cocoon around her and Apollo.
"It's okay," Ares murmured against her temple. "Let it out. We've got you."
River clung to Apollo's shirt, her tears soaking the fabric as weeks of terror, pain, and uncertainty poured out of her. Then she turned, and Ares kissed her, and she gripped him tightly as Apollo stroked her hair. The twins held her through it, their bodies warm and solid around her, anchoring her to safety.
"I was so scared," she confessed between sobs. "Not just for me, but for our babies. Every day, I thought it might be my last chance to escape."
Ares growled, the sound both protective and pained. "I should have found you sooner. We should have-"
"No." River pulled back enough to look at both of them through tear-drenched eyes. "You did everything you could. I know you did."
Apollo swiped the tears from her cheeks with his thumbs. "We never stopped looking. Not for a single moment."
River's wolf whined as she took comfort in the protection of her mates.
"I knew you wouldn't." River's breathing began to steady. "That's what kept me going. Knowing you were searching for me."
Mine. My Alphas. My mates.
Yes. Ours. Home.
The twins laid River down on the bed and spooned her on both sides as she cried and processed and then cried some more. She shed tears of pain, of terror, of rage. She cried out all the tears she'd been shoving down for weeks. All the words she hadn't said. All the screams she'd not screamed. Everything. All of it. And when she finished, she let it all go.
Titan may have taken her. He may have held her against her will. He may have tried to force her to be his mate. But that didn't matter anymore. It was over, and she refused to let what he'd done to her ruin the rest of her life.
Twenty minutes later, Cherry appeared in the doorway, a garment bag draped over her arm. She took in the scene before her.
"I can come back," she offered.
River shook her head, wiping at her face. "No." She took a steadying breath. "Let's get ready."
"The council can wait," said Ares.
"You don't have to do this now," Apollo intoned.
"The sooner we do this, the sooner we can move forward and be together as a family."
With gentle hands, Apollo and Ares helped River onto the side of the bed. Her legs dangled over the side, the bandaged thigh exposed underneath her cotton gown.
"This might hurt a bit," Cherry warned.
River snorted. "Pain seems to be my new state of being."
"Let's hope that ends after today," said Apollo.
Together, the three helped River dress in a flowing silver tunic that draped elegantly over her form without putting pressure on her wounds. The fabric shimmered subtly in the light, reminiscent of her wolf's coat. Paired with soft black leggings pulled over her bandaged leg, the outfit managed to look both regal and comfortable.
