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Chapter 96: A new antagonist
publish date:
2026-02-04 23:34:20
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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 77
They ran. For hours, Riley and Samuel ran through Lysander's forest, their wolves finally free to be what they were meant to be. Mates. Pack. Whole. Riley had forgotten what it felt like to have four legs beneath her, to feel the earth soft under her paws, to taste the wind and smell every living
Last Updated : 2026-03-27My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 73: Riley Chen and The Swimming Alpha
Riley felt it before she even opened her eyes the next morning.The pull of the full moon, even though it was still daylight. Her wolf stirred beneath her skin, restless and hungry after two years of being caged. The sensation was so strong it made her gasp, clutching the sheets as her body tempera
Last Updated : 2026-03-27My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 74; I AM ISIS CEPHEUS
Riley made it exactly three steps out of the equipment room before her knees gave out.Sarah caught her before she hit the ground. "Whoa! Hey, are you okay? You're burning up!""I'm fine," Riley gasped, but she wasn't fine. Her wolf was going absolutely feral now that Samuel knew, now that he'd cal
Last Updated : 2026-03-27My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim Chapter 76
# Chapter 75Riley's wolf didn't want to let go.Samuel's scent wrapped around her like a drug, pine and chlorine and something uniquely him that made every nerve in her body sing. Her claws dug into his shoulders, not hard enough to break skin through his shirt, but enough to anchor herself to him
Last Updated : 2026-03-27
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