Page 64 of Charmed By Apollo

“What? No!”

“You’re doing it right now,” Grannie said, hugging her again. “Oh, Geri, I’m so happy for you!”

Geri went stiff in her grandmother’s arms. Her wolf side…it approved of Apollo as a mate? “But how would that even work?”

“Work? Why, if you love him and he loves you, you give each other the claiming mark.” The claiming mark was a permanent brand that mates who wanted to bond gave each other, usually a bite somewhere visible, like the neck or shoulder.

“But he’s not a shifter.”

“That doesn’t matter, as long as one of you is.”

“He’s a god,” she said. “Apollo, God of the Sun.”

“So?” Grannie harrumphed. “Your wolf chose him. That’s all that matters. Tell him how you feel and claim him.”

Geri was about to tell her that it wouldn’t work out because he was immortal, but before she could, a bright, sunny voice interrupted her.

“Hello!”

Persephone walked up to them and beside her stood Orthrus, the two-headed dog, his tails wagging as he caught sight of Geri.

“Hey there, Orthrus!” Geri exclaimed, bending down to greet the divine being. “I’ve missed you!”

Orthrus wagged his tails even more enthusiastically, his excitement palpable. “Me too, Lady Geri!” he replied in a deep, rumbling voice that resonated with warmth and friendliness.

Persephone chuckled softly at the sight. “It seems Orthrus is quite fond of you, Geri,” she remarked, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

Geri grinned, her heart swelling with affection for the majestic creature before her. “And I’m quite fond of him too,” she admitted, reaching out to pat his fur.

Suddenly, a thought crossed Geri’s mind, and she turned to Orthrus with a solemn expression. “Hey, Orthrus,” she said, her voice serious yet gentle, “could you do me a favor?”

Orthrus nodded, his two heads bobbing in unison as he listened intently.

“I need you to keep an eye out for my Grannie,” she explained, her gaze meeting Orthrus’s understanding eyes.

He nodded again, his expression serious as he accepted the task. “Of course, Lady Geri,” he replied in his deep, reassuring voice. “I’ll make sure she’s safe.”

She scratched his chins. “I know you will.”

Persephone’s gentle voice cut through the garden as she turned to Geri with a soft smile. “I’d love to catch up with you. It’s been too long since we last had a chance to chat.”

Geri glanced at her grandmother, who was pruning a bush. “Yeah, of course.”

Her grandmother paused in her work, her weathered hands stilling for a moment as she regarded Persephone with fondness. “You girls go on,” she said warmly, her eyes crinkling at the corners. “As you can see, there’s still much work to be done here.”

“Perhaps Geri could visit you sometime soon. I’m sure we can arrange something,” Persephone suggested.

Geri’s grandmother’s eyes brightened at the suggestion, a soft smile playing on her lips. “That sounds like a wonderful idea,” she agreed. “I would be delighted to have Geri visit me here. And who knows, maybe we can even do some gardening together.”

“That sounds perfect,” Persephone’s smile widened. “We’ll make sure to arrange a visit soon, won’t we, Geri?”

Geri nodded eagerly, her heart swelling with gratitude for the opportunity to spend more time with her grandmother. “Absolutely,” she chimed in, her voice filled with warmth. “I can’t wait to come back and see you.”

“Me too.” Grannie winked at her. “And don’t forget about that last part we talked about.”

Geri’s stomach flipped. She still could not believe her wolf side chose Apollo as their mate. “Er, okay, Grannie.”

They bid farewell to Geri’s grandmother and Orthrus and then Persephone transported them from the tranquil gardens to the grand library of the palace.

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