Page 87 of Alpha Queen
Apollo stood.
Apollo's wolf leapt to his feet, howling. Mate. My Luna.
"Yes, sir. She was brought in as an injured dog, this kid says, but she's clearly human. She's severely injured, suffering from blood loss and exhaustion. She insisted we contact you rather than take her to a hospital. But she needs a doctor badly."
Apollo snatched up his jacket with one hand while keeping the phone firmly against his ear. "Where are you located?"
The veterinarian rattled off an address that Apollo committed to memory. "She's stable for now, but she needs proper medical attention. She has a troublesome gash on her leg and-"
"I'm on my way," Apollo cut her off, his voice deadly calm despite the storm raging inside him. "Keep her safe. Don't let anyone else near her. Do you understand?"
"Yes, but,"
"No one," Apollo repeated, his voice dropping to a dangerous growl. "No matter who they claim to be."
He ended the call and turned to Regan. "Get two teams ready. Now."
Regan nodded, already dialing.
Apollo moved with controlled urgency, checking his weapon before sliding it into his holster. "Have Dr. Keller meet us at the Elm house. Tell her to prepare for trauma care."
As Apollo raced from the room, his wolf surged forward, nearly overwhelming him with its desperate need to reach River. After weeks of searching, false leads, and dead ends, River had found her way to safety. He wouldn't lose her again.
Apollo jumped the staircase to the foyer and ran out the door. Silas screeched the car to a halt right in front of him, and Apollo jumped in.
"Drive."
The drive to the veterinary clinic was a blur. Apollo's hands gripped the armrests with white-knuckled intensity as Silas pushed the vehicle to its limits. In the back seat, Apollo's two most trusted guards stayed silent.
When they pulled up to the small building with its blue neon sign proclaiming "24-Hour Emergency Animal Care," Apollo jumped out of the car before it came to a complete stop. He burst through the front door, scanning the reception area.
A startled receptionist jumped to her feet. "Sir, can I,"
"River Wolvenguard," Apollo cut her off, his voice vibrating with uncontrollable emotions. "Where is she?"
The receptionist paled, her eyes darting to a hallway behind her. "I'm sorry, who are you?"
"Apollo Wolvenguard, her husband."
"Uh..." The receptionist swallowed hard. "May... may I see some ID, please?"
Apollo growled. He didn't have time for this, but he had told the doctor not to let anyone else near River, so he pulled out his wallet and showed it to the girl.
She inspected it and then nodded. "Dr. Mitchell is with her in exam room three, but-"
Apollo was already moving, Silas, Regan, and Thomas behind him as they strode down the corridor. The clinic's antiseptic smell mixed with something else, blood- River's blood. His wolf howled, desperate to reach their mate.
My mate. My Omega.
When he pushed open the door to exam room three, the world narrowed to a single point. River lay on an examination table, her silver hair matted with dirt and blood, her slender frame covered with a blanket. Eyes closed, her face ashen beneath smudges of dirt and scratches. An IV line ran into her arm, and a makeshift pressure bandage wrapped her thigh.
"River," Apollo breathed, his voice shaking.
Dr. Mitchell turned, her eyes widening. "Who are you?"
Apollo barely registered her words as he moved to River's side, reaching to touch her.
"River," he called again. "I'm here, love. I found you."
