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131

Author: R. F. Ewele
last update publish date: 2026-03-27 16:30:59

Winter came early that year, bringing snow in late October.

Riley stood at her office window, watching the flakes fall, thinking about how much had changed in the eight years since she'd first met Samuel. Eight years since that pool deck, that terrified moment when her world had shifted.

Now she was thirty-five, mother of two, Alpha's mate, successful author and media entrepreneur. A life she'd never imagined possible.

"You're being contemplative again," Diana said from the doorway.

"Ju
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  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   131

    Winter came early that year, bringing snow in late October. Riley stood at her office window, watching the flakes fall, thinking about how much had changed in the eight years since she'd first met Samuel. Eight years since that pool deck, that terrified moment when her world had shifted. Now she was thirty-five, mother of two, Alpha's mate, successful author and media entrepreneur. A life she'd never imagined possible. "You're being contemplative again," Diana said from the doorway. "Just thinking about time. How fast it moves." "That's very philosophical for a Tuesday morning." Riley smiled. "I'm allowed to be philosophical occasionally." "Occasionally, sure. But you've been staring out that window for twenty minutes. Everything okay?" "Everything's fine. Just... reflective." Diana left her alone, and Riley returned to her thoughts. She'd been feeling it more lately. The passage of time. Selene was nine now, growing independent and opinionated. Isaac was three and

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   130

    Samuel won bronze in his third event, the four hundred meter freestyle. Riley watched him stand on the podium with two gold medals and one bronze around his neck by the end of the Olympics, and thought about how far they'd both come. He'd competed in three Olympic games. Won six medals total. Two silvers, three bronze, and now finally, the gold he'd been chasing his entire career. "I'm done," he said on their last night in Oslo. The kids were asleep in the next room, and they were sitting on the hotel balcony despite the freezing temperature. "After this, I'm retiring." "You're sure?" "I'm twenty-six years old. I've accomplished everything I set out to do. I have a family I love and who actually needs me present." Samuel looked at her. "It's time." Riley nodded. She'd known this was coming, but hearing him say it out loud made it real. "What will you do? After swimming?" "I've had some offers. Coaching positions. Commentary work. One company wants me to be their spokesperson."

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   129

    Riley turned thirty-eight in the spring, and for the first time in years, she felt her age.Not in a bad way. Just in an awareness of time passing, of chapters closing, of life moving forward whether she was ready or not."I'm almost forty," she told Samuel on her birthday morning."You're thirty-eight.""Which is almost forty.""By that logic, I'm almost thirty.""You're twenty-nine. You are almost thirty."Samuel groaned. "Don't remind me."They'd planned a small party. Just family and close friends. But the kids had other ideas."Surprise!" Selene yelled when Riley walked into the kitchen.The room was full of people. Sarah and Lysander with their kids. Max and Nora. Diana from Pack Truth. Victoria Moore. Even Patricia had flown in from New York."You all came," Riley said, tears already starting."Of course we came," Sarah said, hugging her. "It's your birthday.""It's just a birthday.""It's never just a birthday."They ate cake and opened presents and told embarrassing stories a

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   128

    Tiara's funeral was held on a gray Saturday in late November. Riley and Samuel attended together, along with Max and Nora. They sat near the back of the small chapel, not wanting to intrude on the grief of Tiara's sister and the few friends who'd stayed in touch over the years. The service was simple and beautiful. Layla, Tiara's younger sister, spoke about the vibrant woman Tiara had been before the accident. About her dreams of becoming a veterinarian, her love of old movies, her terrible singing voice that she used anyway. "My sister lost seven years of her life," Layla said, her voice breaking. "But in the time she had after waking up, she lived fully. She moved to Oregon, went back to school, made new friends. She didn't let what happened to her define her final chapter." Riley found herself crying. For Tiara, for the life cut short, for all the what-ifs and might-have-beens. Samuel held her hand through the entire service. Afterward, Layla approached them as they wer

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   127

    Riley woke up to her phone exploding.Thirty-seven missed calls. Sixty-two text messages. Her email inbox overflowing with notifications.She grabbed her phone, still half asleep, and opened the first message. It was from Sarah."CALL ME NOW. There's a photo. It's everywhere."Riley's stomach dropped.She opened Twitter. The photo was the top trending topic in Springfield.There she was, wrapped around Samuel in the aquatic center, kissing him like her life depended on it. The caption read: "Springfield Herald reporter Riley Chen caught in compromising position with college swimmer she was assigned to cover. Age gap relationship or abuse of power?"The comments were brutal."This is disgusting. She's almost 30 and he's barely legal.""Classic predator behavior. Using her position as a journalist to get close to a young athlete.""Someone needs to investigate this. This is grooming.""Age gap relationships are valid! Stop being judgmental!""Seven years isn't even that much. My parents

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   126

    Summer brought unexpected visitors.Riley was working in her home office when the doorbell rang. Luna got there first, always eager to answer the door despite being repeatedly told not to."Someone here!" she announced.Riley opened the door to find a woman in her early forties, well-dressed and vaguely familiar."Can I help you?""Are you Riley Armani? Riley Chen Armani?""Yes. And you are?""My name is Victoria Moore. I'm Tiara's older sister."Riley's stomach dropped. She'd known Tiara had a younger cousin, Aria, who'd warned them about Marcus. But an older sister?"I didn't know Tiara had an older sister.""We were estranged. I left the pack when I was eighteen, moved to Seattle, cut ties with the family. I only found out about Tiara's death two years ago." Victoria's eyes were red-rimmed. "I should have come sooner. But I was angry. At her, at myself, at everything.""Would you like to come in?"Victoria entered, looking around the house with interest. Luna watched her suspicious

  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 82

    Samuel stood outside Tiara's hospital room for a full minute before knocking.Riley waited a few feet back, giving him space but staying close enough that he could feel her presence. Her support. Her wolf pressed against his through their bond, steady and sure.He knocked."Come in," Tiara's voice

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-28
  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 83

    The fallout from Max's press conference was immediate and brutal.By noon, every major news outlet was running the story. Olympic swimmer falsely accused. Doctored footage. Prince of the Hades Pack implicated in conspiracy. The internet was on fire with speculation, opinions, and hot takes.Samuel'

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-28
  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 80

    The interrogation room smelled like stale coffee and fluorescent lighting.Riley sat across from Detective Chen, a wolf from the Springfield Pack who'd been assigned to the case. Samuel was in another room with his own detective. They'd been separated the moment they arrived at the station, standar

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-28
  • My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim   Chapter 78

    The cemetery was quieter than Riley remembered.She stood at Onika's grave, Samuel beside her, both staring at the weathered headstone. Her aunt's name carved in stone. Fatima's mother. The woman who'd loved her stepbrother Suraj until it destroyed her."You sure it's here?" Samuel asked.Riley kne

    last updateLast Updated : 2026-03-28
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