Chapter Four: The Fight

The combat circle was drawn in the dirt—a boundary of power and pride.

Rayne stepped into it slowly, her boots crunching against gravel. Kade was already waiting at the other end, bouncing on the balls of his feet like a predator hungry for the kill.

She didn’t flinch. She couldn’t afford to.

The eyes of the academy were on her. More importantly, Lucian Wolfe’s eyes were on her.

And he didn’t look amused anymore.

“First to yield or get knocked out,” the instructor reminded them with a sharp clap. “Begin!”

Kade lunged, no hesitation.

Rayne ducked just in time, his fist slicing the air above her. She spun low, keeping her movements precise, controlled. She could’ve struck back—could’ve ended this fast. But that would only raise more questions.

She needed to hold her ground without giving herself away.

Kade snarled, already annoyed by her evasion.

“Stop dancing around, Valen!”

He charged again, this time going low with a sweeping kick.

Rayne jumped, twisted mid-air, and landed lightly on her feet. The crowd murmured—impressed, confused. She caught a glimpse of Lucian on the edge of the circle, arms crossed, expression unreadable.

Kade came in again, faster.

This time she blocked, arms raised, letting the blow hit hard enough to look real. It stung—he had weight behind him—but she didn’t let it show. She countered with a knee to the side, sharp and quick, just enough to make him stagger.

“Nice,” Kade grunted, wiping blood from his lip. “You’ve got bite.”

She smirked. “You haven’t seen anything yet.”

Another round. He was stronger, but she was faster. She dodged, redirected, stayed unpredictable. The goal wasn’t to win—it was to survive without giving away her edge.

But Kade was relentless.

He drove her back step by step, fists flying with Alpha fury. One hit clipped her shoulder. Another grazed her jaw.

Her disguise was strong, but not invincible.

A wrong move and he’d break more than her cover.

She saw the opening. A clean one. She could end it—one strike to the neck, a twist of his stance, and he’d be flat on the ground.

But she hesitated.

And in that breath, Kade slammed a fist into her ribs, knocking the wind out of her.

The crowd roared. Rayne staggered, barely keeping upright. Pain flared down her side.

He grinned, stepping in for the finish.

But Rayne was done playing.

She twisted at the last second, grabbed his arm mid-punch, and shifted her weight. In one smooth motion, she flipped him over her hip and slammed him to the ground.

Silence.

Even the wind held its breath.

Kade groaned, stunned. He blinked up at the sky, dazed and speechless.

Rayne stood over him, panting but steady, her expression flat. “You yield?”

Kade scowled, but nodded. “Yeah. I yield.”

The instructor’s voice rang out. “Winner—Valen.”

Cheers erupted, but Rayne barely heard them. Her heartbeat was in her ears. Her ribs ached, her disguise held—but just barely.

She turned away, trying not to limp as she left the ring.

And then—Lucian stepped into her path.

Up close, he was even taller than she remembered. His silver eyes bored into her with something sharp and unreadable.

“Not bad,” he said.

Rayne gave him a tight smile. “I aim to survive.”

Lucian’s gaze flicked down to her side—where she held herself just a little too tightly—and then back to her face.

“You hesitated,” he said quietly.

She froze. “What?”

“You could’ve ended it sooner. But you didn’t.”

Rayne forced a shrug. “Didn’t want to humiliate him.”

Lucian studied her like he didn’t believe that for a second.

“Or maybe,” he said softly, “you’re holding back.”

Her breath caught.

Dangerous.

This boy was dangerous.

But before she could reply, he stepped past her, his voice low enough only she could hear:

“Careful, Valen. Around here, secrets don’t stay buried for long.”

Then he was gone, disappearing into the crowd like mist.

Rayne stood frozen.

Her ribs throbbed, her skin stung, and her heart raced—not from the fight, but from the words Lucian had left behind.

He was getting too close.

And if she wasn’t careful…

He’d uncover everything.

----

Rayne slipped into their dorm room just as the sky turned a bruised shade of purple. Her ribs ached from the fight, and her body screamed for rest. All she wanted was a hot shower, a moment of silence, and maybe five seconds where she didn’t feel eyes tracking her every move.

But luck, it seemed, had abandoned her again.

Lucian was already there.

Shirtless. Barefoot. Dressed in nothing but low-hanging shorts she could see his dick print. His silver hair still damp from a shower, made him look so sexy.

Rayne paused, caught off guard. She blinked—once, twice—telling herself to look away.

She didn’t.

The light from the single overhead lantern cast shadows across the ridges of his chest, trailing over every scar, every muscle, every lethal inch of him. His scent hit her next—pine, rain, and something darker. Something that tugged at the animal part of her she worked so hard to bury.

He turned at the sound of the door closing, his gaze landing on her instantly.

“Good. You’re back.”

Rayne blinked again, trying to shake herself out of it. “You were expecting someone else?”

Lucian didn’t smile. His expression was serious, too serious. He pushed off the edge of his bed and stalked toward her, his movements loose but purposeful—Alpha to his core.

“You need to be careful,” he said, voice low and edged with warning.

Rayne blinked, struggling to follow.

What?

He was saying something important. She could see it in his eyes.

But the rest of her?

The rest of her was burning.

Burning with lust and desire.

He was too close again—always too close. Her back nearly hit the door, and he didn’t stop until he was inches away, towering over her, heat radiating off him in waves.

“I overheard Kade,” he said, jaw tight. “He’s pissed about what happened today. He won’t let it go. And Xavier? He’s been looking for an excuse to get involved. You’re a threat now, Valen.”