I Ran From My Psycho Step-brother Straight Into The Alpha's Lap novel Chapter 80

**When Night Grows Softer Hope Returns To Lead Us by Asa Rowan Fina**

Sophie stood at the threshold, a fleeting thought racing through her mind—what if she just walked out that door, leaving everything behind? But with a deep breath, she straightened her back and resolutely made her way towards the fight ring that Liam had pointed out moments earlier. Beside her, Madison walked in silence, her lips moving as if she were speaking, but the cacophony of the crowd drowned out her voice. Sophie could feel the palpable tension in the air, a current of energy that buzzed around her, with countless eyes fixated on her every move. It was overwhelming, but she steeled herself against the sensation, focusing intently on the ring ahead and deliberately avoiding the gaze of Liam and Torin, who stood off to the side.

As she reached the edge of the ring, Sophie paused, her heart racing. She slipped off her sweatshirt and handed it to Madison, who took it with a reassuring nod. Just then, Kyle approached, his presence a comforting anchor amidst the chaos. “You got this, Sophie,” he said, his voice steady and sincere. In that moment, Sophie felt a wave of warmth wash over her, a surge of confidence that she desperately needed. She turned to him, meeting his gaze, and could sense the unspoken encouragement radiating from him. He must have noticed the flicker of doubt in her eyes because he placed his hands on her shoulders, grounding her. “Sophie, you’ve taken me down more times than I can count, and trust me, it wasn’t because I was going easy on you. You are tough. You are a fighter. Now go out there and show everyone what you’re made of.”

Madison chimed in, her voice firm yet supportive. “Listen up, Sophie. You can do this. I’ve faced her many times before. Trish is tough, strong, and built like an ox. You can’t let her punches connect. And whatever you do, don’t end up on the floor—that’s where she thrives. If you go down, you won’t stand a chance against her brute strength. But remember, for all her power, she’s also slow. Use that to your advantage. Tire her out. Stay light on your feet. Make every hit count. Dance around her; make her work for every blow. She relies too much on her strength. Once she starts to slow down, that’s when you strike.” Sophie nodded, absorbing every word as if they were a lifeline.

“You gotta go,” Kyle shouted above the noise, breaking her reverie. Sophie nodded once more, summoning her resolve as she stepped into the ring. She cast one last glance at Kyle and Madison, both of whom nodded encouragingly. Sophie then turned her attention to Trish, the formidable opponent across from her. As she began to stretch and warm up, she took a moment to study Trish, noting the confidence radiating from her.

Suddenly, she heard Liam’s voice booming through the microphone, followed by the sharp blast of an air horn, signaling the start of the fight.

In that instant, the world around Sophie faded into silence. Trish might have been standing there, but all Sophie could see were the faces of Brody and his friends, the people who had always doubted her abilities. The mocking laughter of Barbie and her dark-haired companion echoed in her mind. Regardless of her complicated feelings for Torin, Sophie understood that this fight was about her—about reclaiming her strength and proving her worth. She was no longer the frightened girl merely trying to survive; she had learned to fight back, and now was her time to shine.

As the fight began, Trish lunged at her with a fierce right hook. Sophie barely managed to evade it, the force of the swing snapping her back into focus. The adrenaline surged through her veins as she circled Trish, observing her movements and searching for an opening. Now was the time to implement Madison’s advice; she needed to utilize her stamina to wear Trish down. With renewed determination, Sophie launched an offensive, landing a few solid hits that ignited Trish’s fury. The other girl charged at her like a raging bull, but Sophie was ready. She deftly deflected each of Trish’s strikes, dancing out of the way with a nimbleness that only fueled Trish’s anger.

Sophie continued her evasive maneuvers, landing quick jabs while also absorbing a few punishing blows. Each hit felt like a reminder of the strength she was up against, and she knew she couldn’t afford to take many more if she wanted to keep fighting. Shifters were inherently stronger and faster, and Sophie needed to quicken her strategy to bring Trish down.

With a renewed sense of urgency, she went on the offensive once again, not landing many significant blows, but making Trish work hard to deflect her attacks. Sophie had learned through countless training sessions that victory often lay in recognizing that fleeting moment when an opponent was off-balance or vulnerable. She had trained herself to identify that instant in every fight, knowing she could never rely on sheer strength or speed to win against a wolf. Finally, she spotted her opening and seized it. With a series of well-timed punches followed by a sweeping kick, Sophie sent Trish crashing onto her back, successfully pinning her down moments later.

Sophie held on tightly, feeling the weight of the moment. She just needed to maintain her grip for a few more seconds. The air horn blared, signaling her victory.

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