Semua Bab Riley and The Riptide: Bab 31 - Bab 36

Mom has done everything she can think of to overcompensate for years of absence in my life in the last few days. After what she confessed in the conference room, I guess I understand why. It doesn’t mean I have to like it. She admitted she would have hit Charlotte and Caleb. I try to push the thoughts to the back of my mind. When we get back to the apartment, Caleb gives Mom a glare, then slams the door to his room, locking himself in. Grandpa would have grounded me and taken away my motorcycle key for being that disrespectful. Mom just shakes her head and focuses on me instead. Beckett is working the dinner shift, so she puts the food from takeout containers onto nice plates so we can pretend everything is perfect.It’s kind of nice getting to spend quality time with her. We keep the conversation light. We mostly talk about Rambling Hills gossip and the differences in how the Grands raised her versus me. She is proud to hear that I got top marks in knife throwing and promises she wi

Ainsley’s POVFor the first time in a long time, I slept peacefully. No nightmares making me cry in my sleep or making me bolt upright in a panic like I need to run for my life. It reminds me of when Riley was allowed to sleep over at my house. I haven’t opened my eyes yet, but I know he’s not here. His powerful arms are not holding me. His breath isn’t warm on the crown of my head. It’s someone else.I let my eyes open to find Beckett sleeping next to me. He has one arm under my head with his hand curled against my rib cage. His other arm hangs lazily over my waist with his hand on the flat of my back. It makes me feel safe. I could lie here all day, but I can’t. Just like Riley’s not supposed to be here, neither is Beckett.“Beckett?” I whisper.“Hmm?” He stretches his body long and lets out a growling yawn before he pulls me closer, burying his nose deeper into my hair. “Hm. Raspberries.”“Becks?” I try out the nickname Mom and Caleb use. “Um, where’s Mom?”“Uhm.” He hums, still mo

“Oh.” Her cheeks flush, and her cheery aura dims. “I guess the wolf’s out of the bag. Is it that easy to tell? I still have six months until my birthday.”“Uh, yeah it’s that easy to tell!” I feel so confused. Grandma Jane says there is only ever one Luna rising in a pack to make sure there are no conflicts among packmembers. “I don’t understand. I thought Charlotte is our future Luna?”“Well, she basically is.” Kayla explains, avoiding eye contact. “Because she’s most likely Caleb’s fated mate. If not, obviously they’ll take each other as chosen mates.”“How are there two shewolves in the pack with Luna blood?” I lead her to the sofa and sit down facing her. “Cause Charlotte for sure has Luna blood too. Her aura is practically exploding with it.”“My parents were Alpha and Luna of a small pack called Quiet Waters back in the day. It was about an hour southwest of here, on the shore. The numbers were getting too small to sustain. It got down to everyone in the pack being related, so t