I accept," he said immediately, as if he hadn't even thought about it.
My brother stands up, and I grab him by the arm.
I follow him.
"Please, don't. I don't want to go with him. You're selling me over a match. Do you even care about me?"
My brother doesn't even reply. He slaps my hand away.
The announcer speaks. "Sounds so interesting. Please join us on the stage, girl."
A strong light hits me, and I want to die right there in front of everyone.
I freeze, but the crowd surrounds me, pushing me toward the stage.
Before I know it, I'm standing there—next to my brother and the Alpha, who looks at me with an intense gaze.
Why did I even agree to be here?
"Before we start, let's take another break!" the showman says, and the lights cool off.
"I need to talk to you," I say to the Alpha.
Riven looks at me and smiles, as if I'd just confessed my feelings to him.
He's probably already imagining me in his house, used as a slave.
What would be worse—my current situation or that?
"Sure."
We find a spot backstage.
"I will win. Don't worry," he says as soon as we're alone.
That's the problem.
That's what scares me.
"I don't want to be sold to you. I don't want any of this." I feel my tears rising, threatening to spill.
"If you don't want to stay with me, you can do whatever you want. I'll buy you a house, and you'll have your own place. At least you'll be away from your family."
I sigh. "Why? Why are you helping me?"
"Because I want to. Why are you refusing my help?"
"Please... go easy on him. And promise me you won't kill him. Don't hurt him too much."
"What did he do to you?"
I drop my gaze to the floor, refusing to speak—or to remember the terrible things my brother has done to me.
"Riven. Seven minutes. Come on, you have to change."
Riven nods to the man, probably his trainer or something. Then he gestures for me to follow him.
He removes his shirt, and some doctors begin disinfecting his scars.
I can't help but admire his muscular torso, his defined abs, and his broad shoulders. The view is breathtaking.
Any woman would dream of having someone like him win her over.
But I couldn't.
I promised myself I'd never date a violent man.
"Riven, you have to promise me."
"Okay. You have my word—I'll go easy on him."
"Easy?" the trainer asks, as if he'd just heard the craziest thing ever.
"Did I hear this right? You can't go easy on him. The final match is always the most brutal. That's Death Seal rules."
"He's her brother."
"So what?" The trainer looks shocked.
"Since when do you go easy on anyone?"
Riven grabs a bottle of water and chugs it down like he hasn't drunk in years.
"What if he's strong, and you underestimate him by going easy? What if he wins?"
"Chill," Riven says calmly.
Then he takes another bottle of water, throws it on his face, and pulls his hair back.
"I have good reasons to win this one. Don't worry."
He winks at me before exiting the changing room to head for the stage.
Oh God.
What has my brother gotten me into?