Page 49 of Red River

"Archer will be fine. He’s very principled—maybe even strict—but he’s fair and emotionally stable. I think the kids need that." His voice was careful, measured. I got the sense he didn’t necessarily agree with all of Archer’s methods, but he at least recognized the idea behind them.

"Yes, that’s one of the reasons I came here. I’ve always been drawn to alphas who take charge. When I first met Thomas, he seemed a lot like Archer—but… that wasn’t the case. I just hope Archer can get things under control because, honestly, I’m at my limit."

Oliver tilted his head, observing me attentively. "Let’s stay positive. Archer’s really young, but he already has strong leadership qualities and isn’t lacking in common sense. That’s probably the most important thing."

"The worst part is, I have to go back to work tomorrow. I took a few days off, but if I’m gone too long, they’ll replace me—it’s that kind of job. And I’m not mentally ready for it."

"Did you talk to Archer about it? He told me yesterday he wants you to take a break for once—maybe even a vacation."

I hesitated. "I didn’t… I’d feel bad not working. Thomas’s debts wiped out all my savings. I spent years building a safety net for us, and his carelessness ruined it."

"River, Archer is a shareholder in a major chain of medical facilities specializing in plastic surgery. Do you even know how much he makes? He doesn’t have to work, but he still does. Trust me, you can afford to take a breather. You’ve been through a lot—give yourself some time."

For a moment, I stared at him, unsure what to say. Oliver's friendly face encouraged me to open up more.

"And on top of that… I feel guilty. Like I should be mourning more than I am. But instead, I’m just avoiding all of it—thinking about Thomas, dealing with my own emotions. It’s a pattern with me. We were both always running from things."

"I think you’re putting too much pressure on yourself. Time, trust in time. Everything will settle down, and you’ll find your peace."

His words helped calm me down a little—not much, but enough to get through the rest of the day.

Getting the kids to bed, dealing with Igor’s silent resistance, and… ignoring a few missed calls from Sam. He was getting impatient, and I couldn’t blame him.

The only thing I managed to do was finally call Riley.

He listened to my update on the situation and said, "Honest to God, I hope Archer finds a way to deal with Igor. If outsiders notice his chaotic behavior, safety enforcers will be the least of his problems. If they deem him a hard case, they won’t even bother appointing another case guardian—it’ll be a sure ticket to alpha boot camp."

His words did nothing to ease my anxiety, so I made sure to cut our conversation short. I really needed a more positive approach to the situation—otherwise, I would probably explode.

After I ended the call, I walked into my room and worked on my nest for a while, thinking about ways to relax.

One idea was pretty persistent… and tempting.

There was something I wanted to explore a little more—my chemistry with Archer. I wanted to go to his room again. Even if it didn’t lead to anything serious just yet, I still craved at least a hint of that intimacy.

So, when evening came, I took another long, thorough shower, threw on a thin T-shirt, let my hair down, and knocked on Archer’s door.

He opened it, standing there in just his underwear, then let me in without a word.

For a moment, we just stood there, quietly looking at each other.

"I’m here in case you changed your mind. I’m at your service." I gave him a small nod.

"That’s still not the answer I’m looking for, River," he said calmly. "But it’s nice that you’re so willing. I appreciate that. This is how you obviously understand submission. But that’s where we differ."

He was wearing a dark T-shirt that clung to his muscular chest and a pair of black boxers. He looked so young, so athletic, and, let’s be real—so damn attractive…

I wouldn’t have minded if he had just thrown me onto the bed and taken me right then and there. But I knew he wouldn’t do that. And maybe that was for the best?

A part of me understood him. But the restless, unsatisfied omega in me—the one starving for an alpha’s firm hand on my neck, pinning me to the bed, forcing me to arch my back and take him deep—that part of me wanted his dominance, badly.

"Would you perhaps like to inspect my hole again?" I muttered cautiously.

I knew how silly it sounded, but I could tell it… turned him on.

A smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.

"Sure, inspecting doesn’t hurt anyone. And I like that you want to make this into… our little routine."

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