Page 13 of Red River

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 adorablenervousness, 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.

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