5. Apologize and marry that pig

Kaireen's Pov

I stood there in the middle of the arena, my body still trembling from what had just happened in that room, my jeans still unbuttoned, my skin still burning from his touch. People were scattered everywhere, some celebrating, some nursing injuries, and I had no idea what I was supposed to do next.

"Kaireen!"

I spun around and saw Rhia pushing through the crowd, her face flushed and worried. The moment she reached me she threw her arms around me, squeezing so tight I could barely breathe.

"Where the hell have you been?" she demanded, pulling back to look at me. "I've been searching everywhere for you. I heard you got pulled into the game and I was so worried and—wait." She stopped, her eyes scanning my face. "You're wearing a green mask. That means you won."

I blinked at her. "Won what?"

"The initiation! You actually won!" She laughed and grabbed my shoulders. "Oh my God, Kai, do you know how rare that is? Most people don't make it through their first time."

I pulled the mask off my face and stared at her like she'd lost her mind. "What the hell is going on, Rhia? I walked into your house and the first thing I saw was the world about to collapse. What the fuck is this initiation? What the fuck is your brother up to?"

Rhia's smile faltered and she glanced around nervously before pulling me aside, away from the other people. "Okay, so that's one big secret I've been tired of keeping from you. But I couldn't tell you before because it's not my secret to tell, it's Kade's, and he's very particular about who knows what he does."

"Rhia—"

"But you were so cool!" She grinned again, bouncing on her toes. "Seriously, Kai, you have no idea how impressive it is that you survived that."

My hands were still shaking and I wrapped my arms around myself, trying to hold it together. "Do they really actually kill people? Because what I saw in there was bloody. People were trampling each other, there was so much violence, and that arena, where the hell did that even come from? I've been to your house a dozen times and I've never seen anything like that."

Rhia grabbed my hand and started pulling me toward the exit. "You're asking too many questions. Come on, let's get you upstairs. You look like you're about to pass out."

She dragged me through the hallways, back toward the main part of the mansion that I actually recognized. The sounds of the arena faded behind us and I could finally breathe again, could finally think past the panic and confusion.

"I left my suitcase outside," I said as we reached the foyer. "Those bulky scary guards took it from me when I first got here."

Rhia waved her hand dismissively. "Don't worry, I'll get it for you. They won't mess with me. Let's just get you to the guest room so you can rest."

We headed for the stairs and I was so focused on putting one foot in front of the other that I didn't notice someone was standing there until Rhia stopped abruptly.

Someone cleared their throat.

I looked up and my breath caught in my chest.

Standing at the bottom of the staircase was the most devastatingly handsome man I'd ever seen. Tall, easily over six feet, with dark hair that fell messily across his forehead and sharp features that looked like they'd been carved from stone. He had tattoos running up both arms, intricate designs that disappeared under the sleeves of his black shirt, and piercings along the curve of one ear, multiple silver hoops that glinted in the light.

But it was his eyes that held me frozen. Dark, intense, watching me with an expression I couldn't quite read. There was amusement there, and interest, and something else that made my skin prickle with awareness.

He smiled, slow and deliberate, and it was the kind of smile that promised trouble.

"Well," he said, his voice smooth and deep. "This must be the famous Kaireen I've heard so much about."

Rhia immediately stepped in front of me, her whole body going tense and protective. "Kade, no. Don't even think about it."

Kade. This was her brother. The one who'd organized that insane death game downstairs.

He chuckled and leaned against the banister, completely relaxed. "Relax, little sister. I'm just being friendly. No need to be such a brat and block our guest."

I swear, even after everything that had happened tonight, even after that masked stranger had pinned me against the wall and touched me like he owned every part of my body, I would have become a complete slut for this man if Rhia wasn't standing between us. He was that good-looking. The kind of handsome that made you forget your own name.

"There's no need for any introductions," Rhia said firmly, her voice taking on an edge I'd never heard before. "And you can go now, Kade. Kaireen needs to rest."

"I'm afraid that's not possible." Kade's smile widened and his eyes never left mine. "She won the initiation. That means she now belongs to the Briroyals kingpin association. And I'd very much like to take a proper look at the person who was able to maneuver my very best friend by hitting that baseball before him."

My heart stuttered. His best friend? The one who'd grabbed me, who'd touched me, who'd—

No. I couldn't think about that right now.

I gently pushed Rhia aside because she needed to stop blocking my view of this handsome man, and I cleared my throat, trying to pull myself together.

"I'm Kaireen Vale," I said, proud that my voice came out steady. "And I'll be crashing with Rhia for a few days until I can find a place of my own. I appreciate the offer, but I'm not interested in joining any association. I only did what I did to follow the procedures your guards forced on me. I didn't even know there was an initiation happening. I just came to visit my friend."

Kade studied me for a long moment, his gaze traveling over my face like he was memorizing every detail. Then he smiled again, softer this time.

"I understand," he said. "But if you ever change your mind, the offer stands. Being a member of the Briroyals comes with significant benefits. Protection, resources, connections. It's not something to dismiss lightly."

"I'll keep that in mind."

He nodded and pushed off the banister, moving toward the door. But he paused when he reached it and looked back at me one more time.

"It was a pleasure meeting you, Kaireen Vale. I have a feeling we'll be seeing more of each other."

Then he was gone, disappearing into the night, and I could finally breathe again.

Rhia spun to face me, her expression fierce. "No. Absolutely not. You are not going to look at him like every other girl does. Kade is an asshole and he's freaking dangerous. I'm only safe because I'm his sister. But you? He'd eat you alive and not think twice about it."

I held up my hands in surrender. "Okay, okay. I get it. Your brother is off-limits."

"I'm serious, Kai." She grabbed my arm and started pulling me up the stairs. "Now come on. Let's get you settled and you can tell me why the hell your parents drove you away from home."

We made it to the guest room and I collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion hitting me all at once. Rhia sat down next to me and I told her everything. About coming home with my medical degree, about my father refusing to let me work as a healer, about the arranged marriage to Alpha Donovan, about the slap and the disownment and driving four hours with tears streaming down my face.

By the time I finished, Rhia was crying too, her arms wrapped around me.

"I'm so sorry," she whispered. "I'm so, so sorry. But you're safe now, okay? You're here with me and no one is going to hurt you anymore."

I wanted to believe her. But as I lay there in the darkness after she left, all I could think about was the stranger who'd touched me, who'd called me his, who'd rejected me the moment he saw my face.

And I wondered if I'd ever feel safe again.

My phone was ringing and I grabbed it without looking at the screen, still half-asleep.

"Hello?"

"Kaireen."

I froze. That voice. Deep, commanding, familiar in a way that made my skin crawl.

Rowan….My brother.

"What do you want?" I asked, my voice flat.

"I heard what happened. With Father and the marriage arrangement."

"And?" I sat up, anger already burning in my chest. "Let me guess, you're calling to tell me I made a mistake? That I should go back and apologize and marry that pig like a good little girl?"

"Kaireen—"

"No." I cut him off, my hand tightening on the phone. "You know what, Rowan? You can kiss my ass. You can go fuck yourself. I am done with that family. Done with all of you. You stood there and watched Father hit me and you said nothing. You've spent fifteen years treating me like I don't exist and now you want to give me your shitty opinion? Save it."

"You should go back to Pack, don't fucking raise your voice vat—"

I hung up before he could respond and threw my phone across the room. My hands were shaking, my whole body vibrating with rage.

One would think he cared. One would think that maybe, just maybe, my brother was calling because he was worried about me. But I knew better. Rowan had never cared about anyone but himself.