Sold to Bastard Alpha after My Divorce! novel Chapter 112

Chapter 112: Chapter 112

Aria’s POV

THE PIT.

The words burned into my retinas like a brand.

My heart slammed against my ribs. Once. Twice. So hard I thought it might burst right through my chest.

No.

No, no, no.

This couldn’t be happening.

Of all the places in this entire territory. Of all the "exciting, mysterious" spots Sophie could have found in her research. She’d brought us HERE.

To the underground fighting ring where Kael Blood Crown had built his legend. Where he’d earned his reputation as the most feared fighter in Meridian Territory. Where I’d heard stories about his brutal victories and merciless takedowns.

My hand shot out. Grabbed Sophie’s arm.

"We need to leave."

"What?" She turned to me. Eyes sparkling with excitement behind her silver mask. "Are you KIDDING? We just got here!"

"Sophie, please—"

"Look at this place!" She gestured around us. The massive underground arena. The crowds pressing against the barriers. The cage in the center, lit up like some kind of gladiatorial stage. "This is AMAZING! I can’t believe something like this actually exists!"

"You don’t understand—"

"Oh, relax!" She squeezed my hand. Pulled me deeper into the crowd. "This is exactly what we needed! Some excitement! Some adrenaline! Some—" Her eyes locked onto a group of shirtless men warming up near the side entrance. "Oh my GOD. Look at THEM."

She was already moving toward a better viewing spot. Dragging me along like a ragdoll.

I stumbled after her. My legs felt like jelly. My heart was pounding so loud I could barely hear the roar of the crowd.

Why hadn’t I told her about this place?

In all our phone calls. All our conversations. I’d told Sophie about Finn. About Celestia. About Rebecca. About every horrible thing that had happened to me in the wolf world.

But I’d never mentioned The Pit.

Never mentioned that Kael used to fight here under a different name. Never mentioned the stories I’d heard about his victories. Never mentioned any of it.

Because talking about Kael still hurt too much.

And now here I was. Standing in his territory. In his arena. Wearing a mask and a red dress and pretending I wasn’t terrified out of my mind.

Sophie found us a spot near the front. Close enough to see everything. Close enough to feel the energy radiating off the crowd.

"This is INCREDIBLE!" She was practically bouncing. "I read about this place online. They said it’s super exclusive. Only the best fighters compete here. And apparently there’s this one guy—"

My stomach dropped.

"—they call him the legend or something. He’s supposed to be unbeatable. Never lost a single match!"

"Sophie—"

"Can you IMAGINE?" She fanned herself dramatically. "An unbeatable fighter? In that cage? Probably all sweaty and muscles and—"

"SOPHIE."

She finally looked at me. Really looked at me.

"Whoa." Her excitement dimmed. Replaced by concern. "Hey. Are you okay? You look like you’ve seen a ghost."

I opened my mouth. Closed it.

What was I supposed to say?

*Actually, Sophie, my ex might be here. The one who broke my heart. The one who paid me off like a prostitute. The one who has a daughter with the woman who tormented me. That guy. He might walk into that cage any minute now.*

"I’m fine," I lied. "Just... overwhelmed. It’s loud."

"Oh!" She nodded sympathetically. "Right. Sorry. I forgot you’re not used to this kind of thing." She squeezed my hand. "We can stand near the back if you want. Where it’s quieter."

"No." The word came out before I could stop it. "No, this is... this is fine. I’m fine."

Sophie’s eyebrow rose behind her mask. "You sure?"

No. I was very much not sure.

But my feet wouldn’t move. My body refused to leave.

Because some sick, twisted part of me wanted to see him.

Three years. Three years since I’d looked into those black-gold eyes. Three years since I’d felt the weight of his gaze on my skin. Three years since he’d destroyed everything we’d built with six cold sentences and a stack of cash.

I’d told myself I was over him. Convinced myself the feelings were dead. Buried them so deep I could almost pretend they’d never existed.

But standing here, in his territory, surrounded by wolves who worshipped him...

I wasn’t sure of anything anymore.

I touched my mask. Felt the cool metal against my fingertips.

At least I was hidden. Anonymous. Even if he was here—which he probably wasn’t, because he was the Alpha now, he had responsibilities, he wouldn’t waste time in a place like this—he wouldn’t recognize me.

I had no scent anymore. No wolf. Nothing to mark me as the Omega he’d once claimed to care about.

To him, I’d just be another human. Another face in the crowd. Another nobody.

The thought should have been comforting.

It wasn’t.

"OH!" Sophie grabbed my arm. "It’s starting!"

The lights dimmed. The crowd roared. Music pounded through the speakers—something heavy and aggressive that made the floor vibrate.

An announcer’s voice boomed through the arena.

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