Page 72 of Alpha Queen
He sniffed the air and then looked at the bed where she'd been lying. "Why is your hand bleeding?"
She snorted. "Why do you think? Because there is glass and debris everywhere in here. People tend to get cut when they live in a wrecked rage room."
He growled at her and looked over her as if searching for a lie.
"What time is it?"
He blinked and looked at his phone. "Four p.m."
"Great. That means dinner in a couple of hours, and then I can get some sleep without the fear of you barging in again until morning."
"Maybe by then you'll have a change of heart. We have work to do, and this childish behavior won't serve you at all."
She snorted. "Why don't you try holding your breath until then and see how it turns out. What did you want anyway?"
Titan watched her, then strode from the room.
River waited as his footsteps receded.
Four p.m. She just had to wait until after dinner, then she would try again. Titan wouldn't wait much longer for her to change her mind. If she didn't escape soon, she was likely not to get out alive.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
APOLLO
Thirty minutes after the meeting, the teams assembled. Apollo stood in the driveway, watching as Ares and his squad headed east while Strider and Zeke led another group west. Cherry insisted on joining Apollo's team with Silas, Regan, and Thomas, her fierce maternal energy radiating like heat from her slight frame.
"Let's go," Apollo commanded.
The exclusive neighborhood lay eerily quiet as they walked to the first property on their list, a sprawling colonial with manicured gardens. Apollo signaled for his team to spread out, covering the perimeter while he and Cherry stepped up to the front door.
A middle-aged woman answered, her eyes widening at the sight of Apollo's imposing figure.
"Good evening, ma'am," Apollo said, his charm slipping into place like a well-worn mask. "I apologize for the intrusion, but we're conducting a neighborhood security check. Have you noticed anything unusual? Strangers or suspicious vehicles, possibly?"
"Uh… I don't know. I don't think so," she stammered. "Are you a police officer? Did something happen?"
"My house is a few streets down on Wolf Place-"
"Oh, the big one behind the trees, with the large gate with a 'W' on it?"
Apollo gave a patient smile. "Yes, ma'am."
"You know, we've always been curious about that place. We moved in fifteen years ago and have never really seen anyone come or go. Everyone I've spoken to says they've never seen it for sale or anything. Honestly, we weren't sure if anyone even lived there."
Apollo's wolf growled.
Go. Find mate.
"The land has been in our family for generations."
"Have you seen anything or not?" Cherry asked.
Apollo turned and glared at her before turning back to the homeowner, whose mouth hung open in shock.
"I apologize for my mother-in-law," said Apollo. "We just had someone break in, and it's left her a bit upset. Something very precious was stolen."
"Oh my goodness, when was this?"
