Page 116 of Alpha Queen
Kane's face hardened as they neared the van. Inside, Titan strained against the silver chains wrapped around his massive frame. Blood seeped from where the metal touched his skin, but his rage seemed to override the pain. Four wolves struggled to hold him down, their faces contorted with effort.
"Your Majesties." One of the rogues gasped, relief washing over his features as he spotted the twins. "He woke suddenly and broke through the first set of restraints-"
Kill. Touched. River. Our Young. Killed Bennett. The roar that emanated from Apollo's wolf almost knocked him over.
Rage took over him in an instant, and he wanted the same thing his wolf did: to kill Titan.
With predatory grace, he lunged forward, seizing Titan by his throat, his claws ripping into Titan's flesh, and dragged him from the van. Titan slammed to the ground with an oof. The silver chains scraped across the concrete as Apollo flung Titan against the nearest pillar, the impact cracking the solid stone behind him.
"You took her," Apollo snarled. His fist connected with Titan's jaw with a crack, blood spraying across the concrete. "You kept her prisoner." Another punch, this one shattering Titan's cheekbone.
Apollo let his rage consume him. Each accusation punctuated by another devastating blow, his control slipping with every impact.
"You murdered my best friend." His wolf tore into Titan, wanting to break Titan apart, bone by bone.
Titan laughed through bloodied teeth, his face already swelling. "She should have been mine," he spat, blood bubbling from his lips. "My father's throne. My Luna."
Apollo roared, a sound so primal it sent the rogues backing away. His next blow crushed Titan's nose, driving bone fragments deeper into his face. "She was never yours to take!"
Apollo punched Titan's gut once, twice, three times until he heard the crack of ribs. Then he punched Titan in the kidneys. Every blow released the pain Apollo held inside.
Titan groaned and gasped for air as Apollo continued to punch him. Over and over and over until he couldn't see or think of anything but blood, vengeance, and death.
"Enough." Ares' calm voice cut through the haze of Apollo's rage, his hand closing around his twin's wrist.
Apollo turned toward Ares, his wolf pushing dangerously toward the surface. "He deserves to die."
"Yes," Ares agreed, his face tight with fury. "But not like this. Not by your hand alone."
Titan wheezed out another laugh, blood dripping from his ruined face onto the silver chains binding him. "The monster twin," he mocked, his voice strained. "Holding back the civilized one? That's irony at its best."
Ares' eyes flashed as he turned to Titan. "Make no mistake. I want nothing more than to tear out your tongue myself. But we are kings. And kings dispense justice, not vengeance. That is what this whole thing is about, right? Why you want the throne? What you told everyone being slaughtered upstairs? This is all for justice. But we aren't like you, Titan. We won't do whatever it takes to win."
Apollo's chest heaved with each ragged breath, his knuckles torn and bloodied from the beating he'd delivered. For a moment, he fought against his wolf, who wanted to tear away from Ares and finish what he'd started.
"Think of River, she deserves justice as well," Ares said. "Think of our children. What do they deserve?"
The mention of River reached Apollo's wolf, where nothing else could. Ares was right. This vengeance wasn't his alone to dole out. River deserved her moment as well.
"Children?" Titan's voice came out small.
Ares turned to him. "Yes. River is having our children. Twins."
"It's not possible. She only escaped a few days ago."
"She was pregnant when you took her," Apollo growled.
"No," he whispered. "You're lying."
"Why would we lie? We have no reason."
"She's mine!"
"Actually," said Apollo. "She's not. We finished the ceremony with the Council as witnesses earlier today."
Apollo and Ares raised their left hands, displaying the matching gold bands to Titan.
Titan howled in rage.
