Page 1 of Red River

RIVER

"We’re really sorry—there was nothing more we could do. It was a massive heart attack, and his body was just too weak," said Dr. Martin, looking at me with genuine sympathy.

Pain and fear twisted inside me, even though I’d known this day was coming. I’d been expecting this moment for years. And now, here I was—alone with five kids while my husband lay in the next room, gone. The doctors had tried everything, but eventually gave up.

Dr. Martin tilted his head lightly. "His heart was in bad shape. Especially with his weight, it just couldn't go on."

I wasn’t really listening. It felt like the ground was crumbling beneath me, like I was being crushed. Helplessness and frustration swirled inside me because I didn’t need to hear it—I already knew all of this too well. For the past few years, I had been grinding through life, barely making it, dragging our family behind me—exhausted and desperate.

Thomas had been in poor health for years. He never took care of himself—wouldn’t quit smoking, and even though he ate the healthy meals I cooked, he still ordered fast food every day. No matter how much I tried, not even two heart attacks and a serious gout diagnosis could make him change.

I doubled over, tears streaming, as Riley wrapped his arm around me. I could hear his quiet sobs. Lake hugged me from the other side, while Aiden and Van sat stiff and pale, sniffling. Only Igor stood still next to the doctor, his eyebrows furrowed and jaw clenched, as if he had just made some kind of decision.

Shaking slightly, I wiped my cheeks, trying to rein in the tears. Thomas and I had been High Mates (though on the lower spectrum) and our marriage had started out harmonious. But as his health declined, everything crumbled.

He was still a good man—he never raised a hand against me and tried his best to provide for us—but he was no longer the same person I had married. The constant pain isolated him, draining his energy. The relentless gout flares robbed him of his will to live, and his obesity made everything harder, including working.

When the doctor left, Igor lifted his head and locked eyes with me.

"I'm going to be the alpha of this family now," he said in a decisive tone.

Riley’s head snapped up.

Through his tears, he glared at Igor. "What?! What are you even babbling about? You’re fifteen! Not an adult alpha! You’re still in school, so don’t—"

"Shut up, Riley!" Igor’s voice cut through the hallway. "You don’t get a say. You’re an omega, and you’ll be back at college after the break. You won’t even be here!"

Riley blinked, stunned, and I squeezed his hand, desperate to stop the fight before it spiraled out of control.

"Igor, this isn’t the time for arguing. Your father just died. Please, show some respect. We’ve got so much to handle—Father’s business, the debts, figuring out our finances—"

Igor straightened. "I’ll decide when and how we handle those things, Dad. Tomorrow, I’m filing for early legal adulthood so I can act on behalf of Father."

My heart skipped a beat. What did he just say?

"That’s just crazy talk, Igor. You don’t understand how complicated this stuff is—"

He clenched his fists. "I’m the alpha now! Father warned me this day would come, he told me to be ready. Now it’s my job to take care of everything."

"You’re insane!" Riley muttered, shaking his head in disgust. "You’re still a child!"

And then Igor did something I never thought I’d see—he raised his hand and slapped Riley across the face.

Immediately, I grabbed Igor’s arm, but it was too late. The damage was done.

"What are you doing?!" My voice came out too loud for the hospital hallway. "What’s gotten into you, Igor?!"

He had never hit any of his brothers before. This sudden, aggressive change terrified me. I knew what this could mean, what it could lead to…

Riley pressed against me, hiding his face in my shoulder. He looked just as shocked as I felt, a quiet sob escaping his lungs.

"I’m the alpha now," Igor repeated in a tone that was supposed to sound firm, but the slight quiver in his lips gave him away. "I make all the decisions."

And with that, he turned and marched toward the reception desk, where a nurse was waiting with paperwork. The rest of the family trailed behind him, sniffling and wiping their tears.

I walked too, shaking, grief-stricken over Thomas—and scared out of my mind for what was coming next.

***

---