Page 132 of Alpha Queen
"You're mine," he growled, his thrusts powerful and demanding. "Say it."
"I'm yours," River gasped. "Always yours, Apollo."
They moved together with increasing urgency. Each touch reaffirming their bond. The world narrowed to just the two of them, everything else falling away as they reclaimed what had almost been lost. He needed her. Needed all of her. Every inch. Every moan. His. All his. She was his.
His climax rolled up his thighs as her body tightened around his, and she called his name, her hips slamming into his, and her mouth claiming his in a fevered clash of teeth and tongues.
Utter bliss rolled through Apollo as he filled River with his knot. His River. His mate. His everything. They sat joined, kisses hot and passionate, hands roaming overly sensitive skin, and his wolf in an utter state of complete happiness. This was his paradise. He would never want more.
Later, as they tangled together before the fireplace, a warm blanket wrapped around them, Apollo stroked River's bare shoulder. The rage that had consumed him earlier had transformed into something softer, deeper. A profound gratitude that she was in his arms.
She touched one of his new scars. Then traced another. The skin pulled beneath her fingertips.
“I’m so sorry you got these,” she whispered.
Apollo kissed her head. “For you, they were worth it.”
She sighed.
"Your love has changed me," he whispered. “And I am not talking about the scars. I mean my life. Who I am.”
River nestled closer, kissing his chest. "It's changed us both."
Apollo's thoughts drifted to the rogues who would soon inhabit the surrounding cabins. Wolves who had been cast out, rejected, forgotten. Who had never experienced the acceptance and belonging that he had- until now.
"Maybe change isn't such a bad thing," he murmured, his arms tightening around River. "After all, change brought me you."
She moved his hand to her belly. "And our children."
The rogues deserved that as well. A pack, a family, young. Suddenly, he wanted the rogues to use the cabins. Wanted them to have a place like he did. A place that made him feel secure. A home.
They lay for a long moment, and then River said, "I want our children to be born here."
Apollo smiled. "I would love that."
"We could stay here for the first couple of weeks. Just you and me and Ares and our babies."
Apollo's ribcage tightened. "When they're old enough, I want to bring them here every month. Teach them to hunt and fish and love nature."
"I can teach them to wood sculpt. Maybe make a sculpture of all of us to put outside this cabin."
"That would be amazing. We'll need to get cradles for them."
"Maybe you could help me make them. We could use wood from the land. You can help design them."
"Maybe we could clear a bit more land and build some more cabins for the rogues. That way, we could have the three closest ones for us, my mom, dad, B, Zeke, and the other guards who want to come visit."
Apollo nodded. "That would be a good idea."
"It's not that I don't want to be close to the rogues; it's just that I don't want to disrupt their lives when we come or make them nervous. Plus, we need to build a cabin for the new Alpha and his mate as well."
Apollo sighed, thinking of the new Alpha. He and Ares had discussed it, but they still hadn't made their final decision.
"Could you get me a glass of water?" River asked.
Apollo kissed her. "Of course."
He stood and walked to the kitchen. He grabbed a glass from the cabinet and poured water from the pitcher in the fridge. He looked out the window at the woods surrounding them. If he had it his way, he and River would raise their children there, and he'd leave the whole ruling thing to Ares. Not that he didn't want Ares around. His connection and subsequent caring for his brother were a welcome addition to his life. But leading wasn't what he wanted anymore. If he'd learned one thing from the past weeks, it was that he wanted nothing more than his mate, his children, and peace.
