All Chapters of My Swimmer Stepbrother's Forbidden Claim: Chapter 71 - Chapter 80

Riley woke up with a headache and crusty eyes from crying herself to sleep.Her phone said 6:47 AM. She'd forgotten to set an alarm, but her body was used to waking up early anyway. Old habits from living with Nova, who'd insisted on 6 AM wake-ups for "optimal productivity."She dragged herself to the bathroom and winced at her reflection. Her eyes were puffy and red, her skin blotchy. The face that cost her everything she'd saved looked like hell."Great," she muttered, splashing cold water on her face.The coffee maker beeped in the kitchen. At least she'd had the foresight to set that up last night before her breakdown. Small victories.She made toast she didn't really want and scrolled through her phone while chewing mechanically. Emails from work. A reminder about the interview with Lysander today at 2 PM. Three missed calls from a number she didn't recognize.Probably Nova. She deleted them without listening to the voicemails.Her therapist—the one she'd been seeing virtually fo

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 temperature spiked.*Mate,* her wolf whined. *Close. So close.*"No," Riley whispered, pressing her palms against her eyes. "Not now. Please not now."But her wolf didn't listen. It never did during a full moon, especially not when they were this close to their mate. She could smell him even from here—pine and chlorine and something uniquely Samuel that made her wolf claw at her insides, desperate to break free.Her phone buzzed. Sarah."Hey! Marcus wants us to do a morning training session shoot with Samuel. 6 AM at the pool. Can you make it? I know it's early but the lighting will be perfect!"Riley's hands shook as she typed back. "I'll be there."She shouldn't go. Not with the full moon tonight

The drive to Lysander's property took forty minutes, each one feeling like an eternity as Riley's wolf clawed harder at her insides. The sun was climbing higher, but she could feel the moon's pull even in daylight, a phantom weight that made her bones ache. Sarah kept glancing at her with worry. "How are you holding up?" "I've been better." Riley pressed her forehead against the cool window. Her skin felt like it was on fire, her muscles twitching with the need to shift. "How much longer?" "Ten minutes. Lysander's meeting us at the gate." Sarah's phone buzzed. "That's him now. He says Samuel just called him too." Of course he did. Riley closed her eyes, torn between relief and terror at the thought of seeing Samuel again. Her mate. The word still felt foreign and right all at once. *Mate is coming,* her wolf sang happily. *Finally. Finally we can be whole.* "We can't be whole," Riley muttered. "We're leaving in two days." "What?" Sarah asked. "Nothing. Just arguing with my wolf

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 thing for miles. Her wolf was drunk on freedom, on Samuel's presence beside her, on the simple joy of existing without fear. Samuel's wolf was larger, faster, but he kept pace with her easily. Sometimes leading, sometimes following, always staying close enough that their fur brushed. Every touch sent sparks through Riley's nervous system, the mate bond singing between them. Beautiful, Samuel's voice echoed in her mind, warm and reverent. You're so beautiful like this. You can't even see me properly in the dark, Riley teased, but her wolf preened at the compliment. I can see everything. His wolf bumped against hers playfully. The way you move. The way your wolf holds herself. Proud. Stron

Fatima looked different than Riley remembered.Gone was the innocent cousin who used to braid Riley's hair at family gatherings. This woman was harder, sharper. Her eyes cold as she leaned against a metal support beam, arms crossed.And beside her stood Dalton Lillard. Riley's ex-boyfriend. The swim team captain who'd dumped her seven years ago when he found out about her stealer nature."Hello, cousin." Fatima's smile didn't reach her eyes. "Long time no see."Riley's wolf snarled, recognizing the betrayal. "Where's Max?""Straight to business. How very like you." Fatima pushed off the beam, walking closer. Her hand reached for Dalton's, their fingers intertwining. "I always admired that about you, Isis. Even when we were kids. Always so serious. So responsible.""Where is he, Fatima?""Safe. For now." Fatima's gaze shifted to Samuel. "Hello, stepbrother. You're looking well. Swimming agrees with you."Samuel's jaw tightened. "Cut the crap. We brought what you asked for."Riley held