"It's fine." Adrian's jaw was tight with controlled anger, his eyes still flashing gold. "Everything's going to be okay."
He leaned down and kissed her quickly, his lips warm and reassuring against hers. For a moment, the doubts receded under the familiar surge of connection between them.
Then he was walking away toward the tunnel that led to the arena floor, and Riley was left standing alone with Darius's poisonous words echoing in her head.
Riley weaved through the crowd toward the front row as the arena lights began to dim. She spotted her mother's familiar silhouette in the reserved section, waving Riley over to the empty seat beside her.
"There you are," her mother said, her warm smile faltering as she took in Riley's expression. "Honey, what's wrong? You look like someone just told you your gym burned down."
Riley sank into the chair, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped the armrests. The weight of Darius's poisonous words pressed against her chest, making it hard to breathe normally.
"We'll talk about it later," she managed, forcing her voice to remain steady. "I just want to focus on watching Adrian right now."
Her mother's eyebrows drew together with maternal concern, but she nodded and turned her attention toward the arena floor as the announcer's voice boomed through the speakers.
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to today's heavyweight division! In the red corner, making his professional debut, weighing in at two hundred and twenty pounds... Adrian Kael!"
The crowd's response was polite but subdued—the kind of lukewarm reception reserved for unknown fighters who hadn't yet proven themselves worthy of attention. Riley's chesttightened as Adrian emerged from the tunnel, his powerful frame moving with that controlled grace she'd come to recognize. Even from this distance, she could see the tension in his shoulders and the way his jaw was set with determination.
"And in the blue corner," the announcer continued, "weighing in at two hundred and thirty-five pounds... Kade Simmons!"
Oh no.
Kade was everything she'd hoped Adrian wouldn't face in his first match—aggressive, ruthless, and experienced. The man had built his reputation on dismantling rookie fighters with brutal efficiency, and he strutted into the ring like a predator who'd already tasted blood.
She closed her eyes and tried to push every ounce of support, confidence, and strength she possessed through their bond.
You've got this,she whispered silently.Remember everything I taught you.
The bell rang with a sharp clang that cut through the arena noise, and Riley's stomach dropped as both fighters began to circle each other. Adrian moved with measured control, using the techniques she'd drilled into him—high-scoring combinations, defensive footwork, and strategic positioning.
But Kade... Kade moved with something else entirely. Something that made Riley's newly shifter-attuned instincts scream warnings.
"Is Kade a shifter too?" she whispered under her breath, watching as the man seemed to anticipate Adrian's movements with inhuman precision.
Through their bond, she felt Adrian's adrenaline spike—not with fear, but with recognition. Her mate had sensed what she had: they weren't watching a human versus human competition anymore. This was two shifters fighting in human form, boundby human rules but powered by supernatural strength and speed.
Great,Riley thought bitterly.Two tigers throwing each other around, and I have to sit here and watch.
The first round unfolded like a brutal chess match. Adrian landed several clean shots using the combinations she'd taught him, but Kade responded with devastating counters that spoke of years of professional experience. When the bell finally rang, Kade was ahead on points, and Riley's heart sank.
"It's fine," her mother said, patting Riley's knee with gentle reassurance. "It's just the first round. He's learning, getting his bearings."
Riley nodded absently, but her gaze had drifted to the section where Adrian's pride members sat. Their faces, which had been cautiously optimistic before the fight, now showed the first flickers of doubt. Some exchanged glances that spoke volumes about their faith in their acting Alpha's abilities.
Guilt crashed over Riley like a tidal wave. She should have trained him harder. Should have pushed him through more advanced techniques instead of focusing on basics. Should have prepared him for the reality of facing experienced fighters who wouldn't give him the courtesy of an easy introduction to professional competition.
But two days wasn't enough time for anyone to properly prepare for this level of competition. Most fighters trained for months, not hours. And yesterday... yesterday she'd been too overwhelmed by the mate bond to give him the focused training he'd needed.
This is my fault,she realized with sick clarity.If he gets hurt out there, it's because I failed him.
The second round bell rang, and Riley forced herself to focus on the present moment. Adrian looked more determined now, his movements sharper and more aggressive than before. Shepoured every ounce of encouragement she could muster through their bond, and this time he seemed to respond to it.
The round was dramatically different. Adrian landed a series of combinations that had the crowd on its feet, and by the final bell, he'd managed to even the score.
As the fighters returned to their corners for the brief rest period, Riley didn't hesitate. She stood up and made her way toward the ring, ignoring the curious stares from other spectators. Let them wonder about her relationship with Adrian—right now, he needed her expertise more than she needed to protect their privacy.
She slipped behind Adrian's corner and leaned close enough that only he could hear her voice. "Kade likes to go low and fade right," she whispered urgently, handing him a towel to make her presence look natural. "It's his signature move."
