Page 24 of Red River

"So what do you want?"

River shook his head nervously, staying silent as he stared at the floor.

"What’s the real problem? Be honest with me."

He closed his eyes, and I knew he was finally ready to say it out loud.

"Igor lost his father—the man he loved deeply. His world collapsed, and he’s suffering. But he doesn’t show it through tears. This whole ‘takeover’ attempt was a desperate act—and it ended with a blow to his self-worth, becoming his failure. All my kids cried the first week after Thomas died. But Igor? Nothing. He’s completely blocked. In shock."

I leaned against the hallway wall, crossing my arms. The sound of the other kids exploring their rooms, laughing and calling out to each other, echoed in the background.

But River and I stood here, locked in a tense moment.

"He’s not blocked in a normal way," I said evenly. "I think it’s latentMusth, River. And you’ll likely see proof of it in the next few days. He can’t show emotions because his hormones won’t let him surrender. Stephen kept it manageable, but he wasn’t Igor’s real opponent. I am. And his body knows it. He’s waiting for my moment of weakness—to take over."

River’s wide blue-green eyes stared at me, full of vulnerability.

"What if it’s… his way of mourning? Maybe he just needs more warmth and patience—"

I snorted.

That was the problem here—we weren’t focused on the same thing. There was a difference in how omegas and alphas processed things. Omegas needed gentleness, empathy, and understanding because their energy was different—more complex and intricate. But alphas needed a strong, simple structure and order to control their violent animal nature.

"If Igor is constantly excused because he’s grieving, it will destabilize him. It will turn him into a monster, River. He needs structure and to start building his character now, despite his pain."

"A… monster?"

"Constant excuses will only give him more power. He’ll think he can get away with anything because he’s ‘mourning’. It’ll become his ticket to gaining control. It’s a really bad idea, River."

"I… wasn’t planning on—"

"He needs to be confronted at his worst so he can come out of it at his best. That’s how alphas mature—by toughening up."

River still stared at me, his eyes wide.

One reason why the authorities were taking alpha children from omegas was because omegas couldn’tacceptthis. They tried to treat raging alpha teenagers like omegas or betas—with love and patience. But alphas weren’t like the regular men who once lived on this planet.

Ten times the hormones, plus ferocious instincts.

We could literally turn into killing machines when our fighting mode kicked in.

"We’re beasts inside, River—gentleness won’t tame that. You won’t manage Igor with patience and love alone, no matter how good a parent you are."

"I… understand it, though it’s hard. He’s still my small son."

"And I want to help your… small son by keeping the safety enforcers at bay. But I need you to willingly grant me authority over him. So choose, River. But once you decide, you have to stick to it. Do you understand?"

River let out a sigh. "Yes. I grant you that."

We locked eyes, and I felt a strange wave of relief inside him. It was quite puzzling how precisely I could feel his emotions.

"I know well that my approach failed," River whispered. "I followed my heart because I don't know any other way. I tried talking to him with compassion. After he locked me in my room, I pleaded through the door. I cried and begged. It terrified me that none of it worked. I bargained with him, but it was like talking to a wall. I just… lost him. Yet still, I desperately clung to the idea that he’s still a kid! And kids need love."

I leaned in slowly, lowering my voice. "To reach him, you need to speak in the language of alphas, not omegas. Or he simply won’t react."

Silence fell between us as River’s big eyes searched mine. "I thought the language of love was universal." What he uttered sounded a bit breathless.

His heart pounded loudly, like a small bird’s. I leaned in even closer, my lips near his ear, and said in a deep, low voice, "Not when your blood and every cell in your body is screaming to kill everything that moves, and you don’t know why. In that state, love feels like an open invitation to do just that."

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