Page 16 of Alpha Claimed

She shook her head. "Forget it."

He pressed his palm into her cheek, and she looked up at him.

"Tell me, River." His voice held tenderness.

"It's… everything. Leaving my home. Being an Omega. Being chased by Titan. Being bound to you and Ares. Having to choose between you. Having to choose at all. Knowing that my choice will determine the fate of the next reign of Lycan and shifter society. Just… all of it. I never asked for this. Never wanted this. I don't want this. I don't want this to be my choice. I don't-"

"Okay. Okay." Apollo wrapped her in his arms.

River laid her head on his chest, and the tears started again. And once they started, she couldn't stop them. It all came out. Everything she'd held back. Like a dam exploding after being overfilled. A lifetime of being lied to. The death of her father. Being forced to take pills and spray with sprays. Never being able to reach her wolf or run with the pack. Being attacked by Titan. The loneliness. The hiding. Never fitting in anywhere. Ares finding her. The attack at the theater. Moving to Canada. Being swept to a cabin in the middle of nowhere by a man she barely knew. Surrounded by men… All of it.

Apollo held her close, and after a minute, her body relaxed. She wrapped her arms around his waist and hung on to him.

He stood silently, holding her and letting her cry. Then, a soft rumble started in his chest and grew to a comforting hum. The vibrations soothed her soul, and soon, her tears dried. She let the low purr reverberate through her body and calm her.

Every worry vanished in one large exhale, and all she felt was peace. Suddenly, none of it mattered. Nothing mattered—only her and Apollo. The rest of the world just melted away.

She didn't know how long Apollo held her, but in those moments, River couldn't imagine anywhere else in the world she would rather be than in his arms.

* * *

APOLLO

The painthat wracked Apollo for making her cry was unbearable. He hadn't meant to upset her. He knew his words to Lachlan had been petty, but Lachlan's presence was just a reminder, every second of every minute, that Ares had gotten to River first. And before Ares, Titan.

It wasn't Lachlan's fault. In honesty, Lachlan was the only one of Ares's men he liked. But just having him there made it so that Apollo felt Ares's eyes constantly upon them.

The feeling, though, of having her in his arms made all of that fade away. Right there holding her after so many years of loneliness was as close to heaven as he could imagine. His wolf whined and paced, wanting to comfort her.

We are boy. We are.

Then, strangely, he started to hum… no, not hum… something different. Something that didn't come from his vocal cords. It came from somewhere deeper. The hum morphed into a rumbly purr that filled his entire body. He'd only heard the sound once. He'd accidentally walked in on his father consoling his mother, and his father made the same sound.

A smile spread across his face as he laid his cheek on her head. She really was his mate.

"I'm sorry," she finally said. "I didn't mean to freak out."

"You don't need to apologize. I can't imagine how overwhelming this situation must be."

She nodded.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

She shook her head. "Maybe later."

He kissed her head. "As you wish, Kitten."

She snorted and laughed. "Like in the Princess Bride?"

"What?"

She looked up at him. "You know, Wesley says 'As you wish' to Buttercup, but he means I love you."

He stared at her for a moment. "Oh… uh… I mean-"

She chuckled and shook her head. "I'm kidding. Take that terrified look off your face."

He blinked several times, unsure of what to say. "I've never seen the movie," he blurted.

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