Page 2 of Alpha Claimed

She looked to Ares. He smiled at her in triumph.

Ares. She chose Ares.

"Wait!" Apollo yelled. "It's not fair. He's had an entire week with her. She doesn't know me at all. If you make her choose now, I don't stand a chance."

"Then I challenge you for her," said Ares.

"Wow!" said Apollo. "You are willing to give her up so easily, brother?"

Ares' fangs descended. "No. I'm ready to kill you to have her."

"Enough," said Osmodius. "The choice must be Her Highness's. But Apollo is right. To make her choose now would be unfair. Therefore, we will give her one month to decide. One month to spend with both of you and decide between you."

"That still gives him the advantage," said Apollo. "He's already had a week with her. Her bond with him is stronger. How can I compete with that?"

"If you don't think you can win her over, you can always relinquish your claim now."

"Not on your life," Apollo growled.

Osmodius looked at the other two elders, and they nodded.

"Very well. We will give Apollo one additional week to spend with her."

"Alone," said Apollo.

Ares jumped to his feet. "Absolutely not."

"What? Are you afraid that away from your Alpha-hole ways she might pick me?"

Ares grabbed the table's edge, and River could feel him hanging on by a thread.

"All right," she said.

All eyes turned to her.

"I'll do it. I'll spend time with Prince Apollo for four days."

"A week," Apollo corrected.

"Ares and I didn't spend a full week together in New York. He had meetings most days and was gone quite a bit." She wasn't about to tell Apollo or the elders that he'd moved into a different hotel room for four of the days and that she'd hidden from him for a day and a half.

"And she had a guard with her at all times. I want Zeke to go with them."

"No," said Apollo. "We'll take Silas and Bennett."

"No," Ares bellowed.

"Five days," said Osmodius. "You may pick which days-"

"Now," said Apollo. "Right now."

"She's just arrived and needs time to adjust," said Ares.

"Which is why it should be right now. Before she gets too cozy with you here at the estate." Apollo looked to Osmodius.

"I'd like Lachlan to come," River said. "Zeke and Bianca are trying to settle things back in the States so she can move here. I wouldn't want to take him away from her. But Lachlan… I would feel comfortable if he came." She hoped that her inference to how Apollo was taking her away so soon wouldn't go unnoticed.

"I would be honored," Lachlan stepped forward.

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