Page 3 of Red River (Eden’s Omegaverse #4)

A call from Sam interrupted me while I was in the middle of attempting to bypass DevApp’s company firewall. They had hired my services two weeks ago to test their security measures, and I was nearing the critical phase. So close to the juicy part!

But the phone rang again. I sighed, glancing at the screen. My older brother was a big talker, and I knew this would probably eat up a lot of time.

"What’s up, Sam?" I grumbled.

"Hey, Archer. I can hear from your tone how thrilled you are to hear from me."

"I’m elated ."

He chuckled. "That’s what I thought. But I might have a surprise for you… I just had to call and tell you what happened with River."

River? I blinked, caught off guard. The topic of the redheaded beauty rarely came up between us. I usually shut it down, not wanting to revisit memories from years ago.

Sam knew it wasn’t my favorite subject, so he tended to avoid it—95% of the time.

"Umm… what happened?" My tone dropped, wary.

"Don’t growl at me, Archie. His husband died."

Wow. Now that was news. A strange shiver ran down my spine. Over the years, I’d done my best to push thoughts of River out of my mind, accepting that my childhood crush was never going to turn into anything real.

So why should I care? He went his own way, just like he said he would.

"That’s… unfortunate. Five kids, no father. Send him my condolences—"

"Listen, things are really strange, Archer. What happened is quite unsettling."

I leaned back in my chair, trying to play it cool, even though something in me stirred—some weird energy I couldn’t place.

"Just spit it out. I don’t need the buildup," I muttered, knowing Sam’s tendency to drag things out, creating silly suspense.

He scoffed with mock indignation. "His son Igor—you know, the wannabe influencer—is trying to take over as the new alpha of the family!"

I couldn’t stop myself from chuckling. "The hell? Well, you’ve got my attention now. Don’t waste it, Sam."

"You’re so annoying, Archie! Listen: literally minutes after Thomas died, Igor suddenly declared himself the alpha of the house. When River called me with the news, but Igor interrupted him mid-sentence! Next thing I knew, the call ended. I sent twenty texts asking what was going on, but he never replied. Then, out of nowhere, I got a short message saying, ‘Everything’s fine. Don’t worry.’ But that’s not like River! He’s not the type to be so curt."

As I listened, I got this weird feeling—like a little storm was brewing at the edge of my mind.

Something was awakening.

"When I kept pushing, he ignored me. So, Stephen and I decided to go check things out. When we got to River’s house, guess who opened the door? Igor! He straight-up told us his dad wouldn’t talk to us. I said it wasn’t his decision and that I wanted to hear it from River. And then—get this—we heard banging inside the house! Like fists pounding on a door! Stephen pushed past Igor, even though the boy was cursing and trying to stop him. We found River locked in his bedroom, nervous and distraught."

My jaw dropped. This sounded like something out of a bad movie.

"For fuck’s sake! What’s gotten into Igor?"

"Hormones? Early onset of Musth ?"

"On the same day his father died? Usually, Musth needs at least a week."

"So maybe Thomas’s orders? Anyway, when we finally got to talk to River, he admitted it all started after I suggested he contact his parents. Apparently, enraged, Igor grabbed the phone right out of his hand."

"Damn, what’s going on with their family?"

Sam snorted. "Thomas’s company is on the brink of bankruptcy. The lawyer’s been trying to contact River, but Igor’s been blocking everything. Only today, thanks to us stepping in, did River finally talk to him and to the accountant—and it’s bad. The whole company’s going under. The debts are massive. I begged River again to call his parents. They’re not bad people, Archie. No matter how Thomas painted them, they’d help. He has five kids, and everything’s falling on him—"

"I get it, I get it. What happened next?"

"It gets crazier. During our conversation, Igor was banging on the door, yelling that contacting River’s parents would disrespect Thomas’s wishes!"

"The fuck? That’s insane. What about the rest of his kids?"

"The other boys are under Igor’s influence. He’s been brainwashing them for a few days. When we came, they were all emotional, hiding in their rooms. Lake was crying the whole time!"

"That’s just wild…"

"Also, the lawyer said the company's debts are tied to their house mortgage. Thomas put it up as collateral. They're going to lose it."

I sighed, running my hand through my hair. "Wow. That’s… heavy. Poor River. How’s he holding up?" I asked, trying not to let my voice betray what I was really feeling.

"Not great. Family Services already has Thomas’s death certificate, and it’s just a matter of weeks before the safety enforcers step in. Either River finds a guardian for Igor, or he’ll be sent to one of those alpha boot camps. Igor has no clue how things work. He’s insisting he will file for early legal adulthood, but he’s fifteen, so it’s not happening. He’s completely lost, but he’s pretending he’s got it all under control."

"What’s River’s plan?"

"River’s stuck. He quickly found a low-level job in online customer service to cover basic expenses so they could at least buy groceries. However, Igor kept reminding all the other brothers that contacting their grandparents was directly against Thomas's wishes, so they begged River not to do it. Plus, River himself has a weird attitude about it. He thinks that reaching out for help, after all these years—is just wrong. So basically, everyone’s against it."

As Sam spoke, I felt a strange surge of determination rise up inside me, like a wave building and coursing through my body—a rushing, fierce current.

"How much time do they have?"

"Not much. The funeral’s this week, and after that, everything is probably going to auction. In two or three weeks, they’ll have to move out. But where? It’s a family of five!"

"I’ll take them in."

Boom.

Yep, it came out of my mouth without my full consent. But I felt it in every fiber of my being. I wanted River to come to me.

Sam let out a huff.

"What did you just say?"

"Sam, I live in this massive house all alone. It has ten bedrooms, a pool, and no neighbors for half a mile. River and the kids would have space. Plus, I could use the company. My one companion is Oliver, and he’s only around when he’s cooking or cleaning. Oh, and five chickens."

Sam chuckled. "Do you even know what you’re saying? Being Igor’s guardian would be your role now. But you graduated from college two weeks ago, and you’re still four months shy of twenty-three!"

I realized I had to downplay it because I knew he’d been suspicious before. He would never understand or support why I wanted to do this if he knew my secret—he might even try to stop me.

Sam was firmly against age-gap relationships, and seeing Thomas and River’s marriage had only strengthened his conviction.

"Hold your horses, Sam. It’s just temporary until River gets back on his feet. Maybe he’ll come to his senses and realize he should contact his family. I’m just offering him a safe haven for now. Plus, remember, I live only twenty miles from his parents. If he changes his mind, they’re close by."

Sam went silent; that last argument must have hit home. And my calm, perfected tone always worked.

"That’s still a lot. Are you sure you want to do this? You’re kind of a loner, and suddenly, you’ll have a noisy family around. River’s youngest is seven!"

Speaking to him, I took on the tone one would use with a stubborn child. "Sam, the house is huge. I have a pool, a lake nearby, a big yard and garden, and lots of open space for the kids to play. They won’t be in my way with all the activities around. And three miles from here is Darton, with an elementary and high school. They can start when the winter break is over."

I knew what I said made sense, and the idea started appealing to Sam.

For a moment, there was silence on the line, then he said, "That actually doesn’t sound remotely stupid. And the fact that you live so close to his parents… that’s a real advantage. You may slowly work on him to change his mind."

"Yup."

Sam chuckled lightly.

"Alright, Archie! You convinced me. We’ll go to River’s tomorrow and pitch your offer. He’ll probably call you to discuss the details."

"Great! Let me know how it goes," I replied in a seemingly light tone, even though I was bracing myself for the huge—craziness?—I’d just set up for myself.

After he hung up, I stood and walked to the window, feeling my heart pounding in my chest.

River…

The redheaded beauty from my past.

My childhood dream, the person I had forever given up.

An impossibility?

Or maybe it wasn’t, after all.

Maybe Fate was giving me another chance.

***

River’s story was pretty unique—so unique, in fact, that they even wrote about him in the papers and called him a hero.

When he was sixteen, he witnessed a terrible car accident. A car flipped over on the road, crashed into a building, and caught fire. Without hesitation, River rushed to help the couple inside. It was a businessman named Thomas and his husband. The omega died on the spot, but Thomas was still alive when River pulled him out at the very last moment, with what seemed like superhuman effort.

This heroic act made headlines at the time, and many people admired River’s courage, especially given how young he was. He was also so tiny, while Thomas was a much bigger man, so the media went wild over the story. And his beauty caught everyone's attention. People talked about Thomas being saved by a red-haired angel.

"An Omega Hero!" "A Red Angel!" "Heroic Beauty!" screamed the headlines.

Some noticed that Thomas was a looker too and were already pairing them up.

River kept in touch with Thomas for the next year while the man was grieving the loss of his husband. Despite the age gap—Thomas was 34 at the time—they became close friends, bonded by the tragedy.

A year and a half later, when River’s glands fully matured, they discovered they were High Mates. Thomas proposed, and River accepted, but his parents were disturbed and adamantly opposed to such an early marriage.

One day, River ran away and disappeared without a trace for six months. He resurfaced on his eighteenth birthday at a city office, where he legally married Thomas. They even made the news again. People called them a fated couple, even though they weren't True Mates.

The couple did not invite River's parents to the wedding, only River’s uncle, Van, was present. The man didn't take sides in the conflict, probably because he didn’t mind the age gap—he was a widower well into his fifties when he married an omega twenty years his junior.

Afterward, Thomas moved with River far from his parents’ hometown and forbade him from contacting his family—except for Uncle Van, who sent him occasional, very circumspect emails. River stayed with his husband, helping him as he tried to grow another business. Since Thomas needed a customer service manager, he paid for River to take a few college courses in the field so his young husband could assist with the company.

That's how my brother met him, and they immediately became best friends.

And here’s my part of this story.

Sam was my father’s son from his marriage. I, on the other hand, was born out of wedlock, conceived during a drunken party while my father was working in a corporation. An omega had gone into heat and picked my father as a heat service man. Under the influence of rut pheromones, my father succumbed. The omega claimed to be on contraceptives, but they failed.

For five years, my father had no idea I even existed.

My dad wasn’t exactly the parenting type—he preferred parties, hookups, and drugs. Things escalated when, after years of neglect, a neighbor found me rummaging through his fridge for food and called Family Services. My dad lost custody, deemed unfit to be a parent. But he told them who my biological sire was, and I ended up living with my alpha father, whose marriage barely survived it.

Luckily, my stepdad never held it against me. He always said I was just an innocent victim who didn’t ask to be born. My father, however, didn’t escape the backlash—he heard plenty of bitter words, and rightly so.

Sam didn’t hold a grudge against me either, even though my existence had caused his parents’ marital crisis.

He’d echo his dad, saying, "It’s not your fault, Archie. It’s his."

But Sam was fifteen years older than me, so it wasn’t really his problem anyway. He was a student in a distant city, and I only visited him occasionally.

Sam stayed in touch with River throughout his college years, and later rented an apartment near their house when he started working full-time.

I first met River during a holiday trip to visit Sam. It was a special day.

The redhead showed up with his small son, Riley. I still remember it like it was yesterday. I was six or maybe seven years old when the doorbell rang. Sam opened it, and River walked in, holding the baby in his arms.

And the magic… started.

I stood there, staring at him, completely speechless. I’d never seen anyone so beautiful in my short life. River had long, intensely red hair tied in a braid, large dark blue-green eyes with the longest auburn lashes. His face was delicate, sweet with flawless features and soft, full lips the color of raspberries. He was short—5’4".

When he sat down in the living room, before Sam could introduce us, I blurted out, "Your hair is so beautiful. Can I touch it?"

River laughed and nodded. "Of course you can. What’s your name?"

"I’m Archer, and everyone says I’m an alpha," I declared proudly as I attentively examined the end of his braid.

"You’ll grow up to be a big guy, I can tell! Such solid bones! Nice to meet you," he said with a smile, shaking my hand in a serious gesture.

His palm was warm and dry, and I wanted to hold it for much longer than was appropriate.

Sam seemed a little awkward introducing me as his unexpected half-brother. I could only guess that he’d told River my backstory because I caught the redhead giving me a sympathetic look. At that point, I’d only been living with them for about a year, and everyone treated me like an uncomfortable family secret.

During the visit, I sat on the couch, staring at River while he talked to Sam about his experiences as a first-time parent. I wasn’t interested in the conversation—I was fascinated by River.

Every now and then, River would glance my way and give me a friendly wink.

At one point, I couldn’t hold it in any longer. I blurted out, "When I grow up, I’m going to marry you."

Sam laughed so hard he nearly choked and said it was impossible because River was already married.

I shot back, "You’ll see. River will be mine someday!" I said it with so much determination that both Sam and River went silent, raising their eyebrows and exchanging glances.

For a moment, my eyes met River’s dark blue-green ones, and something strange passed between us.

"You’ll be mine!" I repeated firmly, staring at River with an intensity that could have made anyone uncomfortable.

It was a bizarre moment. River looked stunned by my words, so much so that he gave a slight nod.

YES. He nodded!

I felt a chill, almost like Fate itself had reached out and brushed against us. Even Sam didn’t seem to notice it—maybe not even River—but I could sense it. There was already something unexplainable, a certain power I held over him.

As Sam walked River to the door that evening, I heard him whisper, "About Archer… my dad thinks he might be a little on the autism spectrum. He can be pretty direct sometimes! Though my father says he just wasn’t properly socialized as a toddler."

But River just shrugged and said, "I thought he was cute."

I had no idea what ‘autism’ meant back then, but I knew what ‘cute’ meant—and I preened a bit.

I saw River again when I was about eight or nine, while spending some vacation time with Sam, and River visited us a few times. By then, his son Riley was three, and he had a second son, one-and-a-half-year-old Igor.

The first time he arrived, he smiled at me and said, "Hi, Archer, look at you! You’ve grown so much. I told you, you’re going to be a big, big boy!" He shook my hand, and I held it a little longer, just like before.

This time, the atmosphere was lighter than before. By now, I was firmly part of their family, and people were more at ease around me, even if they still thought some of my behavior was a bit odd.

During one of River’s visits, I went outside, plucked an orange marigold from the neighbor’s yard, and brought it back.

Marching into the room where River and Sam were chatting over tea, I handed River the flower, got on one knee, and asked, "Will you marry me, River?"

River’s cheeks flushed a deep red as he looked down at the marigold in his hand.

"That’s a very nice offer, Archer, and I’d probably take you up on it if things were different. But, you see, I already have a husband."

"You can always leave him and live with me," I replied, crossing my arms.

River chuckled awkwardly. "But I love him. Thomas is a good husband and father. Don’t worry—you’ll find a nice omega someday when the time is right."

I felt a spark of irritation and snapped, "Your husband will disappear someday, and then you can come to me. I’ll marry you!"

Sam immediately intervened.

"Archer! That’s enough! How can you say something so rude? You shouldn’t wish bad things on other people. River has a family and his own life. You’re just a child, and he’s an adult. Cut this nonsense, or I’ll give you a good spanking!"

River didn’t seem angry—just confused. He smiled kindly and said, "You know, Archer, I have a big family. I’ve got two kids and hope to have more. It would be hard for you to take care of us all."

"I’ll have a big house someday," I declared confidently. "A really big one! My uncle is a beta, and he doesn’t have any children. He told me I’d inherit his house by the lake. We can all live there."

Sam couldn’t contain himself and snorted loudly.

"Oh, I doubt you’ll inherit it! Uncle Al favors your cousin Jan!" Then he grabbed my arm and dragged me out of the room like the insolent child I probably was. He scolded me for a while and then forbade me from entering the room where River was.

Even though River visited a few more times that vacation, I only saw him briefly. Despite my inappropriate comments, he still smiled warmly at me every time.

The next time I saw River, I was just over eleven years old.

My behavior had changed—I was more reserved, no longer the impulsive child I had been before. Adolescence had stripped away some of that directness.

That summer, I was spending time at Sam’s house with my cousin Jan.

River arrived one morning with his three sons in tow. As we greeted each other, I noticed a slight flush on his face when he realized how much bigger I had gotten. By then, even though I was only eleven, I already stood taller than him.

We didn’t talk much that day. Sam, who hadn’t forgotten my outburst two years earlier, decided to tease me. "Well, look at that, Archer. Do you still plan to marry River someday? Look how big his family is—that’s a lot of responsibility!"

He and Jan laughed loudly, completely oblivious to how cringeworthy it was. Both River and I turned crimson. I didn’t respond, refusing to give him any reason to mock me further.

Later, Sam asked Jan and me to take River’s three sons to the guest room and keep them occupied. We showed them a computer game on my laptop, which entertained them for a while, while we discussed some action movies and other important teenage stuff.

Not long after that visit, my father got a promotion and moved across the country with my stepdad, taking me with them.

For years, I only saw Sam occasionally when he came for short holidays.

The last time I met River was when I was almost sixteen, visiting Sam on a short trip.

I remember the impression he made on me that evening. River arrived alone, without his kids, though his heavily pregnant belly made it clear he was days away from giving birth to his youngest son, Lake.

When I heard the doorbell, a rush of emotions hit me, but I was mature enough by then to know that my childhood dreams were silly.

Of course, River could never be mine. Looking back, my earlier behavior felt embarrassing and cringeworthy. But even so, a part of me still longed to see him, even if it was just one last time.

While Sam and River chatted over tea in the kitchen, I decided to leave the guest room and say hello.

By then, I had grown to 6’4", had been practicing martial arts for two years, and looked more like a young man than a boy, thanks to my family genetics, which made it easy for me to build muscle.

My alpha traits were emerging very strongly. As I walked into the room, River’s eyes bulged in surprise, and a deep blush spread across his pale cheeks as I towered over him like a tree.

He was just as beautiful as I remembered. Despite being thirty or thirty-one at the time, he looked no older than twenty-two.

As the child of a True Mate couple, he had strong biological advantages that made him age much slower. His eyes were still that mesmerizing mix of dark blue and deep green, like a forest river. His features were so perfect that it was hard to imagine anyone more stunning.

I felt a pang of sadness, knowing we were… an impossibility.

Sam jumped up with a grin.

"Well, look who crawled out of his cave! Archer… your childhood crush, River, is here in the flesh!"

Did Sam even realize how silly that sounded? Of course, River turned crimson.

But I wasn’t about to show any shyness—that wasn’t in my nature anymore. The awkward period in my life was over, and I had begun to show the character I was destined to have.

I extended my hand with a diplomatic smile. "Of course, I remember. I’ve always had good taste." My grin deepened as River blushed even more. The thought crossed my mind that ‘Red River’ would be the perfect nickname—for more than one reason.

The moment our hands touched, an electrifying jolt ran through me, sending a pleasant shiver down my spine. I couldn’t tell if he felt it too.

"Nice to see you, Archer," River said softly. "You were right from the start—indeed, you’ve grown into an alpha!"

I straightened my posture with pride. "But of course. Some things you just know. I’ve felt it in every cell of my body since I was a kid."

River’s lips curved into a sweet smile. "I agree. I’ve always known I was an omega."

There was a super short moment when our gazes met—a strangely intense one.

Sam, ever the skeptic, scoffed. "And I had no clue. Honestly, I thought I’d end up a beta. You two are just freaks," he said, laughing sheepishly.

In fact, Sam was right. It was rare for people to know their secondary gender so early in life—most got it wrong. But for me, and apparently for River, that understanding had been as natural as breathing.

The longer I stared at him, the stronger the pull of the magic was—the same magic that had sparked my childhood infatuation.

There was something extraordinary about River that drew me in, something almost magnetic. I noticed his shy glances, the way his gaze darted away but returned quickly, and I was certain he felt my presence as keenly as I felt his.

Just then, Stephen, Sam’s husband, appeared in the doorway. "The notary’s on the phone, wants to talk to you," he said.

"Sorry, guys, I’ve got to take this." Sam stood up, a bit unsteady because of his heavily pregnant belly. He was also expecting—his first child—and looked like he could pop any day. "Excuse me for a moment."

When Sam left, it was just River and me, standing awkwardly by the table. His hands twisted together in a nervous, fidgety rhythm, and he bit his lip like he was trying to avoid saying the wrong thing.

The silence stretched between us as I studied his face, feeling that same uncanny attraction as always.

"You're nervous. Why?"

River chuckled shyly. "It's just who I am. I'm a walking, talking ball of nerves."

"So chill out," I shrugged.

"It's not that simple. It's who I am, kind of…" he murmured.

His long lashes cast dark shadows over his delicate cheeks as they fluttered slightly. I was tempted to raise my hand and place it over his thin neck.

"You still have that long braid," I said after a moment.

River’s fingers instinctively grabbed it, his gaze lowering to the end of it. "Yeah… but I’ve been thinking about cutting it off. I’m thirty—it might look weird at my age."

"Don’t," I said firmly.

His eyes lifted to meet mine, wide with surprise. He didn’t respond.

"How’s your husband?" I asked, tilting my head slightly, my tone casual but probing.

River cleared his throat, glancing down again. "He’s… he’s having some health issues. But he’s undergoing treatment, and we’re hopeful everything will be okay."

"Looks like my childhood plans won’t come true after all," I said abruptly, the bitterness in my tone surprising even me.

River blinked at my words, his voice slightly wavering as he replied, "You know, it was very sweet of you, really, Archer. You were a brave little boy. I’m sure many omegas would love an alpha who knows what he wants—and who he is—so early in life."

There was a strange emotion in his voice, though he tried to make it sound comforting. His words only made me want to keep talking, to prolong the moment.

"I only like redheaded omegas," I announced out of the blue.

The statement felt odd even as I said it, but I didn’t care. I wanted him to stay in the room, to keep looking at me just a little longer.

River’s fingers played with the end of his braid as he swirled it around his wrist absentmindedly. "You’ll find a redheaded omega for yourself," he murmured uncertainly.

"I’d prefer you," I replied, my gaze firmly locked on him.

"Well," River began, his voice trembling, "unfortunately, our paths have taken different turns. Everyone has to follow their own."

"If you didn’t have a husband, I’d want to marry you," I said, unbothered that my words came out so unfiltered.

River’s cheeks deepened in color, and he shifted nervously where he stood. "I’m very flattered, but you’re fifteen years younger than me, Archer. It’s not possible."

"It doesn’t matter. I still like you."

"Th-thank you," he stammered.

"Can I kiss you?" I asked suddenly.

River almost jumped in place, his wide eyes darting around the room as if someone were about to appear and witness the inappropriate moment. It was clear he was panicking, his voice turning raspy as he replied, "What are you saying, Archer? That’s… that’s absolutely wrong. I have a husband, and you’re just a teen. I can’t do something like that."

"Just once," I insisted, my eyes fixed intently on River; I had nothing to lose. "He doesn’t have to know."

"No, Archer!" River exclaimed with a mix of unease and shock. "I would know. It wouldn’t be fair to my husband, and it wouldn’t be fair to you either. You’re a minor, and that’s simply illegal."

"In our state, the age of consent is sixteen. I’m just a few months shy of that—a technicality."

"That does not make it right, Archer! It’s not just about the law—it’s about morality!"

"Don’t care. I’m big. You’re not taking advantage of me anyway."

"It doesn’t change anything. As an adult, I have an obligation—"

"I’ve never kissed anyone," I interrupted. "I want you to be my first kiss, even if I can’t have you as my husband. Just one kiss—is that really too much to ask, River?"

River stared at me, agape.

"You know, a first kiss is something special," he finally muttered. "You should save it for someone you really like."

"I have. I like you. And I want you. You’re the special one. The most beautiful."

"Archer…" His voice faltered. "That’s completely inappropriate. I’m married to another man. I’m carrying his child. I’m not the right choice for you—believe me."

"But I think you are. So, do you agree?"

"No!"

I stepped closer. His wide eyes blinked, but he didn’t move.

"Red River. That should be your nickname," I whispered, taking another slow step toward him.

River didn’t retreat. He seemed strangely frozen—hypnotized, almost enchanted. I couldn’t smell his Allure scent since my glands hadn’t developed yet, so I was unable to produce my own Allure or sense others’. But even so, I caught a faint, sweet fragrance—like strawberries and dahlias. Maybe it was just his shower gel, but it felt intoxicating.

I gave him time to step back or push me away, but he didn’t. Slowly, very slowly, I leaned in. My eyes moved to his delicate, plump lips, as red as his hair.

River didn’t stop me.

Our lips met softly. A pleasant shiver ran through my body, and I felt River tremble too. Instinctively, my hands slid around his back, and his landed on my chest.

The kiss started as a shy touch of our mouths, but soon evolved into something more. My tongue slipped between his lips, and, to my surprise, he let me in! Our tongues brushed against each other in a gentle, exploratory caress. I was completely lost in the sweetness of him—his taste, his essence. It was magical, better than anything I could’ve imagined.

We kissed and kissed. River’s fingers clenched my T-shirt as his tongue responded to mine, matching my motions. It was crazy—completely insane—but I couldn’t stop myself. And, judging by the way he kissed me back, I was sure that, deep down, he didn’t want to stop either.

Then, the sound of footsteps echoed in the hallway.

I pulled back quickly, wiping my mouth with the back of my hand.

"The best first kiss ever, my Red River," I whispered before Sam walked into the room, looking apologetic.

"Sorry, guys," he said, "but the matter of transferring the house in Rowan to me picked up speed, and there were some changes in the paperwork. I had to talk to the notary. Hope you weren’t bored?"

My eyes flicked to River’s face. His cheeks were crimson red, his expression dazed and awkward.

"No," I said, my voice calm despite the rush of adrenaline still coursing through me. "Everything went very well—actually perfect. I’ll go back to my room now. Thank you, River, for this short interaction. I’ll always remember it." I emphasized the last words deliberately, locking eyes with him.

Sam raised an eyebrow, his nostrils flaring slightly. "Was your conversation that significant?"

I winked at him. "Yeah, I’d call it life-changing."

With a final small smirk at River, I nodded and left the room.

I remember that moment clearly because, internally… I was saying goodbye to River. I knew our future meetings wouldn’t be possible. Sam was planning to move to Rowan, where he’d inherited a house from his dad's side of the family. He would be living nearly 120 miles away from River, which would obviously limit their meetings—and by extension… my contact with the gorgeous redhead.

I looked at him one last time, convinced we were parting forever.

It felt like a knife to the heart, a burning pain. But River was right.

Our lives had taken different paths, and there was no chance for us.

At least, that’s how I saw it then.

River also looked at me, and our eyes locked for a few seconds. Then, he turned away… and left.

A month later, Sam moved out.

He and River still talked, but mainly online. When I visited Sam, I no longer had the chance to see River. Traveling with a bunch of kids would have been too inconvenient for him.

Years passed.

Of course, I kind of forgot about River. I was young, my hormones were fully awakened, and life was moving on.

I went to college, had my share of relationships and heartbreaks, and, in my final year, inherited a huge house from my uncle, who had indeed chosen me as his heir—not my cousin Jan— though Jan did receive some money. I also inherited shares in my uncle’s company, which set me up with a comfortable life.

Bored and alone on campus—since my two best friends, Gabriel and Skye, were no longer around for various reasons—I buried myself in my studies and ended up finishing my entire last year in just six months.

By the beginning of December, I had my degree in cybersecurity.

So, when I got that call from Sam, it had been exactly seven years since River and I had last seen each other. I had just settled into my new house and was deeply engaged in my remote job as a server and system security tester.

I was twenty-two, soon to be twenty-three.

River was thirty-seven, soon to be thirty-eight.

And he had five kids.

What was I getting myself into? I must have been crazy. But somehow, it made sense.

Originally, I had planned for a quiet, solitary life. After breaking up with my last boyfriend eight months ago, I hadn’t found anyone new—nor was I really looking, especially now that I had just moved to the countryside. I was disillusioned with how all my relationships had turned out; I simply couldn’t vibe with most omegas enough to be even remotely satisfied.

For about an hour after Sam’s call, I sat in front of my computer, staring at the screen as strange shivers of excitement ran through me.

Was this really happening? River was coming here?

I could feel a massive tidal wave of change building in my life, an intense rush of energy surging through my body.

Maybe someone else in my position would have been scared, but not me. Deep down, I knew I was back on the right path—where I simply… was meant to be.

As a teen, I had doubted my intuition. But now, it resurfaced with new power.

Maybe what I had felt so strongly as just a kid was, in fact, Fate’s Choice for me.

***

The next morning, I woke up with a strange sense of determination vibrating in my body. I knew—no, I felt—that River would call today.

Seven years! Our contact had completely stopped, and personally, I thought it was better for both of us—definitely healthier.

At ten o'clock, I received a long text from Sam.

"Just talked to River! I’m hiding in the bathroom and wanted to text you quickly. River agreed! I’m shocked at how fast he said YES! I thought he’d be upset! So, surprise, surprise. I think you won’t regret this. River is really special, and there are fewer omegas like him these days. He loves traditional roles in a relationship—he’s very non-confrontational and gentle. You won’t have a hard time getting along with him, and he cooks great. When the kids are at school, River works part-time remotely, just like you, so he stays in his room and won’t bother you. He seemed a bit shocked that you proposed this, but in a good way. He might have even gotten emotional. I think we can arrange the whole move in the next two to three weeks. I gave River your number so you can sort out the details. Good luck, I hope it all works out."

So, the decision was made.

Strangely, I wasn’t even surprised that River had agreed. I had just known he would. It was almost a given.

Change was coming. For real. I stared at the text for a while.

And then, it hit me.

If I played this right, River could really be mine. Just like I had dreamed as a kid.

For many people, the idea of a relationship with an omega fifteen years older than them—one who already had kids—might seem unappealing. But not for me.

River was just… River. Special. Different. Exceptional.

There was something about him—his character, his sensitivity, that adorable nervousness , his kind, gentle nature—that drew me in. Everything about him felt like he was meant to be with me, made to be my life partner.

There were even moments when I wondered if he might be my True Mate. But the truth was, I wasn’t convinced that was possible.

From the first meeting, True Mates couldn’t live without each other—couldn’t be apart for long without it ending in death.

Yet, we had lived apart for years, had relationships with other people, and hadn’t felt any aversion to it—something typical for True Mates too, who couldn’t enter other relationships. So, the possibility was low. But I suspected we might still be High Mates.

Of course, I had no intention of testing this theory. I planned to take pheromone suppressants while River stayed here, blocking my Allure scent completely. I’d rather not find out we were incompatible—it would complicate the plans that were starting to take shape in my mind.

The sound of my phone snapped me out of my thoughts, bringing another wave of determined energy in me.

But as I answered the call, a calm, strange sense of peace settled in my system.

On the other end, I heard River’s pleasant, melodic tenor, though he sounded slightly cautious.

"Hello, Archer?"

"Hello, Red River."

My voice remained steady and deep, exactly how I wanted it to sound.

"Um… hi. It’s been a while." He cleared his throat nervously. That adorable, slightly wobbly energy of his… I could detect it even through the phone.

"I’m calling because Sam told me about your invitation. I have to say, I’m greatly, um… but pleasantly surprised by your proposal."

"Are you really surprised, River?"

I smiled to myself as I heard him take a deeper breath at my slightly arrogant tone.

"Well… we’re a big family, and not without some problems. Sam probably told you what happened with Igor, and, well, our financial situation isn’t great. I know taking us in will be a big burden."

I stayed silent, carefully considering what words I should use to ensure River precisely understood my intentions.

"I think you know why I made you this offer, River."

My voice remained calm and low. I could hear River’s quickened breathing through the receiver.

A long pause followed. Seconds ticked by as my words settled in, slowly reaching his full consciousness. I felt almost satisfied, waiting patiently for his reaction.

"I’d rather hear it from you. I—I don’t want to assume anything," River finally stammered, his voice slightly trembling.

He hadn’t changed a bit. His nerves were almost palpable through the line.

"The time has come. Are you ready to be mine , River?" My tone was unshakable.

My sharp hearing picked up the faint sound of his galloping heartbeat. I knew how strongly this affected him.

This was exactly what I wanted—to have him under my influence from the start.

Just like when I first told him I’d marry him years ago, and he instinctively nodded; I felt that exact same energy between us still.

Him, opening to submitting to me.

The silence dragged on, but I had no intention of breaking it. He needed time—time for all the gears in his head to turn, for all the pieces to fall into place—before I heard his response.

When it finally came, it brought me only partial contentment.

But it was still a good start.

"If that’s what you want… then I will," he replied, almost breathless, his tone slightly hoarse, as though his throat had dried with emotion.

I had hoped for a simple, firm ‘yes’ in an ideal world. But this? It was still a solid foundation—an indication of how our relationship would look—and a tentative promise of his acceptance. I could live with that.

"Great. Then you don’t have to worry about anything anymore. Finish up the stuff you need to take care of there, and I’ll expect you in my house before the school semester starts. Everything will be ready—the kids’ rooms and all else that needs to be arranged."

"There’s one more thing—"

"I know. Igor’s guardianship. Please submit my name to Family Services and send me the link to the form. I’ll verify it with my electronic signature."

River took a deep breath of relief. I felt very pleased with how the conversation was unfolding.

"If you need any financial support for the move, don’t hesitate to ask, River. I’ll transfer money to your account."

"I really appreciate all of this, Archer. We have a few things to wrap up here first. I think we’ll be at your place in about two weeks," he replied quietly.

"No problem. Let’s stay in touch. If anything comes up, feel free to call me anytime."

"Thank you so, so much…"