Lahat ng Kabanata ng Riley and The Riptide: Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 69

Ainsley’s POV“Hi. I’m so sorry I scared you. It was shitty of me. You don’t deserve that kind of stress.” I slide my arms around Beckett from behind. “Thank you for being there for me today.”“You’re forgiven. I’m just glad you’re not hurt.” He turns around and hugs me tight, pressing his nose into my damp hair close to my ear so he only has to whisper. “Ainsley, the Alpha wants me to keep tabs on you.”“He told me.” I nod against his shoulder. “And I told him I know he has to keep me safe for Caleb’s sake.”“I told you I’m not fake and you can trust me. Now I feel like you’re going to question everything I do or say. I don’t want it to be like that,” Becket takes a deep sigh, letting his arms squeeze me deeper into him. “And it’s weird that they would treat you differently because of Caleb. Like, kinda fucked up, really. Now I’m in the middle of it and I’m not sure what to do.”There’s a pang in my heart. Why does this feel like a goodbye? I should have known. He shouldn’t have to.

Caleb’s POVAinsley’s mind is busy. She’s already thinking about her first move after the Alpha’s warning. She's cursing herself for thinking she could put some of her group in their place by not letting them take the lead, too. It’s not a guilty feeling. She’s mad at herself for not taking things seriously.“Vipers’ nest.” I murmur.“What’s that?” Alpha Lucas leans towards me.“She figured out why Level One guard training is a punishment.” I say, still watching her. “She thought it’d be easy.”“Caleb, you’re not supposed to be thinking to her.” He scolds me.“I’m not. I just feel it.”“Can’t you focus on not feeling it?” Becks asks.“We’ve been able to work on focusing on not letting the other feel what we’re feeling, but not the other way around.” I explain. “I don’t know how to numb her emotions or pain or injuries… or whatever. She has to do it from her end. I can only push it away, sort of. Same with me to her. She's better at it than me.”“By design.” Zion chimes in. “Otherwise,

Kayla’s POV“Maybe if I paint my nails?” Charlotte’s cheeks and nose are cherry red from crying, and her hair is like a rat’s nest. “Like, maybe if I get a manicure it would help him think I’m taking care of myself?”“A fresh set is always a nice way to give yourself a little pick me up. Maybe I can do it for you here instead of asking to go to the nail salon?” I give her a big smile. “Where do you keep your nail supplies? I’ll pick a color.”“In the linen closet in my bathroom.” She wipes her nose with her sleeve. “There’s a kit with, like, polish and remover and stuff.”“Okay. You stay here. I’ll get a makeup wipe to clean up your face too.” I scrutinize her features. “You have some mascara running.”Her chin begins to tremble again. “Kayla, you’re, like, my only friend. For rea“That’s not true. Everyone else is just busy.” I slide off the bed. “Give me just a minute.”I lean against the bathroom counter as soon as I’m out of Charlotte’s sight. This is freaking exhausting. I’ve nev

Caleb's POVI catch Ainsley’s attention and instantly feel relieved. “You should be up here with me, Ains. Paragon and Zion are equally important.”“You’re Alpha, Cal. Enjoy the spotlight.” She thinks back.“I’ll catch up with Zion for the pack run.” Paragon chimes in.He insists they were never mates, but when Zion hears Paragon, he instantly calms down. They have a close connection. Lufu. That’s what he calls it.Between him, his twin brother, and the Deandra chick he keeps going on and on about… well, it sounds like she’s the brains of the operation. She keeps him and Elysium in line. They never had mates, only ever what he calls ‘hetaira’. I had to look it up. It basically means a smart girlfriend. Paragon has had suitors, but never a relationship that has lasted more than a couple centuries.Yeah. Centuries. I thought that was crazy, too. He hasn’t had time to explain.I’ve thought about it a lot. He’s never had a mate. He says I won’t have one either. I’ll be alone forever. Ther

Ainsley's POV“DEANDRA!” Paragon screams. She urges me to stand on the board and wave my arms. “It’s me! It’s Paragon!”The woman points and says something to Elysium. He lowers his head and lets a deep growl create ripples in the water. Kayla braces herself on the paddleboard and makes a small, scared noise. I turn my attention to see what she’s looking at. Zion and Rowdy are sprinting toward us on the shoreline. “Ainsley, get down!” Zion growls in my mind.I look back at Deandra. She reaches behind her back, pulls out a loaded crossbow, and aims it at me. The only way to describe the look in her eyes is hatred. There’s no lufu for Paragon. There’s no compassion for teenage girls caught in the middle of a lake. Just anger.“Oh my Goddess.” My blood runs cold at the revelation. My hands stop waving and hold still in surrender. “Paragon, sh-she’s trying to kill us!”“No!” Paragon cries. “How can this be?!”“Ainsley, watch out!” Kayla throws herself at me.We hit the water hard, breakin