I don't know."
The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them, thin and shaky, betraying more than I wanted. I avoided his gaze, staring instead at the worn floorboards beneath my feet, wishing they'd swallow me whole.
But he wasn't buying it.
"You're hiding something." His voice dropped, soft but sharp, like a blade sliding against skin. "And I will find out."
Before I could react, he was in front of me—too close. His breath, warm and deliberate, brushed against my cheek, sending a shiver racing down my spine.
But it wasn't fear of him that made my heart stutter. No. It was CY—the thought of him—that turned my blood to ice. Because if this idiot pushed too far, if he poked the wrong bear, CY would crush him without a second thought. And my brother? He wouldn't stand a chance either. None of them would.
"I heard he has a fight tonight," he said suddenly, pulling back just enough to meet my eyes. His were alight with something dangerous, something stupid. "We should go watch."
"What?" The word snapped out of me, sharp and disbelieving.
"Yasmine. We will go."
I blinked at him, stunned by his audacity. I glanced toward my brother, searching for some sign of reason, but he just stood there, arms crossed, eyes cold.
"No," I said, though the word felt hollow. As if I ever had a say in anything they decided.
"I have to study him," my brother muttered, his tone flat, like this was some kind of science experiment.
"Then go yourself," I snapped, crossing my arms over my chest. The defensiveness in my voice was a thin shield, but it was all I had.
"You're coming with me." His tone darkened, brooking no argument. "You know the rules of Death Seal. They don't accept lone visitors."
I clenched my jaw, my pulse quickening.
"And as you can tell," he added with a sneer, "Dad can't come."
"I hate that place," I spat, shaking my head like the very thought of it left a sour taste in my mouth.
"I don't care," he hissed, his eyes narrowing. "I have to study him if I'm going to beat him."
I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. As if he could ever stand a chance against CY. It was laughable, pathetic even.
"Go. You owe me," my father's voice cut through the room like a knife, final and cold.
I felt my stomach twist. I hated them. I hated them all.
I didn't want to meet CY. Not yet. Not like this. What if he noticed me when I was with my brother? What if he realized who I was? The thought alone made my head pound.
"I don't think that place is what the doctor had in mind when they recommended rest and safety," I muttered bitterly, glaring at them both. "But I'm sure none of you care enough about my health to think about that."
"Stop being so dramatic," my brother snapped, his patience thinning. "It's not like you're fighting. You just have to watch."
"Since you've already decided, as always—sure," I bit out, my voice tight with anger. My eyes burned with unshed tears, but I refused to let them fall. I clenched my fists instead, nails digging into my palms, and turned away. I wanted to run to my room, slam the door, and lock myself inside forever.
And that's exactly what I did.
I spent the next hour pacing in circles, mentally cursing my life. Every little thing felt like a heavy weight pressing down on me—my father's manipulations, my brother's stubbornness, and now this. They were dragging me straight into a nightmare I wanted no part of.
By the time a knock echoed on my door, signaling it was time to leave, I'd run out of energy to protest. Not that it would've mattered. It never did.
Another reason I didn't want to go? I didn't want Riven to catch my scent. I didn't want him to know I was there and think I wanted to meet him—because I didn't.
He was handsome. Devastatingly so. And, against my better judgment, he awakened something in me. Made my heart stutter in ways I didn't understand. A part of me wanted to get to know him better, even though I didn't even know his name when I first saw him. My heart recognized him before my mind did.
But he was the Alpha who had nearly killed my father.
Worse, he was an Alpha who thrived in the very place I despised most in this world. A place where violence was worshipped, where people like him—people I'd spent my life avoiding—reigned supreme. And yet, here I was, being dragged back into it.
The drive was suffocating, a tense silence hanging between us. When we pulled up to the arena, my heart sank. The line outside was longer than usual, snaking around the block with people holding up signs that screamed Go Alpha Riven!!
They praised him, bet on how fast he'd take down his opponents. Some even wagered he'd finish the first fight in under forty seconds.
From what I overheard, he had three fights tonight. Back-to-back. The fighters had traveled across states just to face him, training for years for this chance.
And they still didn't stand a chance.
When we finally made it inside, the place was packed, the air electric with anticipation. The crowd buzzed louder than usual, probably because Riven hadn't fought in weeks. I'd never understand people like this.
We took our seats in the third central row, closer than I'd have liked, thanks to my father's season tickets. Just sitting there made me feel sick, knowing what I was about to witness.
My brother sat unusually quiet beside me.
"Here we go," the announcer boomed as he strutted into the ring, microphone in hand.
"Are you guys fired up?"
The crowd erupted, a deafening roar of cheers and whistles.
"That's what I like to hear!"
The energy surged around me, pressing against my skin like a suffocating blanket.
"After three weeks of absence—"
Another wave of screams and stomping feet.
"—we've got him back! Stronger and wilder than ever!"
People jumped to their feet, clapping and shouting his name. The noise was unbearable. I was sure we were the only ones still sitting.
I could feel his presence in the air, like a pulse syncing with my veins.
"Our one and only Alpha! Welcome… Riven!!"
My stomach twisted into knots. I pressed my head into my hands, wishing I could disappear.