Page 103 of Red River

I lifted my head, peering into his face—flushed, glowing with a warm, fiery blush, happier than I had ever seen him before. That happiness changed his features, making him look younger, almost immediately transformed.

"You’re mine," River said with deep satisfaction. "Mine forever!"

I smirked. "Yeah, and it goes both ways—you’re mine too."

We just stared at each other for what felt like forever. Some people say you can’t look into someone’s eyes too long without getting hypnotized—maybe that’s what happened to us.

We just kept gazing, grinning, like we were silently saying,Well, damn, we kinda knew this all along, didn’t we?Like everything we had struggled with—the guilt, the doubt—was suddenly, logically explained.

It had always been the Pull of True Mates. Even before it could fully take hold, it was already working on us, subtly drawing us together.

"Crazy, right? I was six years old, and I already wanted to marry you, River. I guess my soul always knew."

"It’s even more crazy that I actually agreed back then," River chuckled. "Even though it made no sense at all for an adult! You’re right—our souls knew."

"But it all makes perfect sense now. Everything fits."

"The only thing I can’t wrap my head around is how we could have been separated for so many years. How was that even possible?"

"We’ll have to read up on it," I murmured. "But not right now. Let me just enjoy this moment. Let me enjoy you."

River sighed, the tips of his fingers skimming over my face.

"This… this is a miracle, Archer. A real miracle."

RIVER

I was completely lost in this love-dazed trance for what seemed like an hour of pure bliss and delight, only snapping back when I realized I was still lying on my back, Archer above me, while the sky drifted overhead—light, high, and crystal clear. The sun was much lower on the horizon now. I lifted my eyes to it and whispered,

"Thank you, Fate… thank you for this."

Archer smiled softly, then reached out and plucked a nearby wildflower, tucking it behind my ear. I laughed, remembering that marigold he had once given me.

"Do you have a thing for flowers with fiery colors? Ever since you gave me that marigold back then—"

"I have a thing forone manwith fiery hair. All the other red things are just… ornaments for you."

"You always know what a man needs to hear," I winked.

"This just suits the moment," he murmured, his voice low and warm. Then, with a smirk, he plucked the heads off a dozen more flowers and scattered them through my hair.

"Now you look like a red prince," he teased, his eyes gleaming mischievously.

But he didn’t stop there. He kept adding more, carefully tucking and arranging them in my hair. And in that moment, Ireally felt it—I was his. His priceless treasure, his most precious gem in the world…

…until he ruined part of this magic by suddenly saying, "We have to take a selfie! You look incredible."

"I didn’t know this side of you—so youarejust young and modern, after all?" I joked as he pulled out his phone and snapped a pic from above. Then he showed it to me.

Oh wow, it turned out amazing. My hair was spread out in all directions, and the flowers looked almost unreal in it—like something straight out of a fairytale. I grinned.

"Yeah… actually, that’s a pretty cool picture. Titled:An omega thoroughly fucked."

Archer burst out laughing, then kissed me—deeply and possessively.

When he pulled back, I narrowed my eyes. "Well, since we have a phone now… we could look it up—"

"C’mon! Can’t you just enjoy the moment instead of analyzing everything to death?" He rolled his eyes, but when he saw my pouting expression, he smirked. "Fine, go ahead. I can see it’s eating you alive."

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