Page 103 of Alpha Queen
Apollo kissed her and smiled before setting her in the chair.
She grabbed Ares' hand and kissed his knuckles and then rubbed them on her cheek. "Both of you."
Ares kissed her head. "Good to know."
"What does that mean?" she asked.
"It means," said Strider. "That sometimes Whitetail women are so independent and strong-willed that it leaves us males feeling like they might not need us as much as we need them."
Cherry elbowed him. "That's not true."
Strider shrugged.
"Would you rather I were a damsel in distress who required you for everything? Oh, Strider, I can't open this jar. Oh, Strider, I can't lift this box. Oh, Strider, someone was mean to me. Go kick their ass for me."
"I don't know," he said. "I've never had those things said to me."
Cherry shook her head. "Males. Their egos are so fragile." She strode to the heavy wooden doors and turned back. "Oh, Strider, can you please open these huge doors? I can't manage with my puny little female arms."
River chuckled.
Strider walked to Cherry and said something so softly in her ear that River couldn't hear it, but it made Cherry smile and blush. Blush. What the heck? River didn't even know her mother could blush.
Strider opened the door with a grand flourish, and Cherry shook her head as she strode through. Strider winked at River, and Apollo wheeled her in. She was beyond tempted to ask him what he'd said to her mom, but decided that she probably didn't want to know.
Dr. Keller walked beside River's wheelchair, while Apollo flanked them protectively with Zeke in the rear. The scents of old stone and candle wax filled the air, reminding River of her night at the cathedral with Ares. It felt like they'd done that years ago, rather than mere weeks ago.
The inner chamber of the church formed a perfect circle, with three ornate chairs positioned on a raised dais. Behind them, ancient Lycan symbols had been carved into the wall as well as the history of their kind. River had never even known a place like that existed. But then, she assumed not many Lycans even knew of the place.
The three elders, Osmodius, Mercule, and Nathian, rose as River wheeled to the center of the room. Their usually impassive faces showed concern as they took in her weakened state.
"High Luna." Osmodius greeted her with a formal bow. "We are relieved beyond words to see you alive."
Mercule stepped forward. "Our dear High Luna, what ordeal you must have suffered. Are you well enough to be here?"
"I insisted," River said, her voice steady despite her exhaustion. "I thank you for your concern."
Nathian, the youngest of the three, but still in his early sixties, studied her with piercing eyes. "What happened to you, Luna?"
Apollo's hand rested supportively on her shoulder.
"Titan kidnapped me, as you are aware. He believes himself to be the rightful heir to the throne. He kept me prisoner, hoping to force a mating bond." She paused, collecting herself. "But that's not why I'm here today."
The elders exchanged glances.
"With respect, Luna," Osmodius began, "your abduction and the subsequent manhunt have thrown our society into chaos. Dozens of Alphas and Betas have abandoned their territories to join the search. Others have called for immediate action against the rogues, blaming them for your disappearance."
"That's precisely what we need to discuss," River said, her voice growing firmer. "The rogues are not to blame. They're victims. At least some of them."
"Victims?" Nathian's brow furrowed. "High Luna, with all due respect,"
"With all due respect," Ares cut in, his voice a low growl, "my mate was held captive for weeks, tortured, and nearly died. She has earned the right to speak without interruption."
An uncomfortable tension fell over the chamber. River reached up to touch Ares' hand.
"What I discovered during my captivity changes everything," she continued. "Many of the so-called rogues have been exiled, hunted, imprisoned, and even executed for generations because men in power didn't like them. They're our people, wolves who've been systematically oppressed and driven to desperation. Many of them for being fated to someone or having a bloodline their Alpha didn't like."
Mercule leaned forward. "These are serious claims, Luna."
