Tempted By my Evil Lycan Stepbrother novel Chapter 29

Riley’s POV

I rolled my shoulder once and stepped back into the arena.

“Let’s see what else you’ve got, asshole,” 1 growled.

Vincent’s jaw was clenched tight. Ever since Ezra exposed him for sneaking in a knife, his face had been red like it was about to explode.

“O–Or we don’t have to do this,” he stammered, almost desperate to get the hell out of here “We can call it even We’ll let you have the training room today-”

“What? No, no, no, no, no.” I let out a loud, cold laugh. “You’re the one who came challenging me first. Now you wanna bark out? Too damn late!”

And with that, I lunged at him, fist aimed straight for his face.

He scrambled back, panicking, and tripped over his own damn foot. It was perfect for me. I landed a solid punch in his gut and followed up with a sweep that knocked him completely off balance. He hit the ground hard with a loud thud.

Gasps echoed around the room.

Layla was jumping up and down, shrieking. “Get up, you idiot!”

But I wasn’t about to give him a chance.

I stepped up, planted a foot on his shoulder, and grabbed his arm. One sharp twist–crack!-his shoulder dislocated. He let out an ear–splitting scream. Į

“Seriously? Putting your foot on his body like that?” Layla shrieked. “Christ you have zero respect for your classmates! Someone stop her!”

“Oh, and using a knife on Riley was respectful?” Odin shot back.

“This is a combat arena. There’s no respect here. Only winners and losers,” Ezra said coldly with arms crossed. “Continue”

Vincent was wailing like I’d crushed all his internal organs. God was he for real? I hadn’t even gone all in yet. I couldn’t believe the so–called “warriors” at this school were this weak and pathetic.

“S–Stop! Stop!” that loser shouted, voice shaking.

I kicked him hard in the shoulder, sending him flying across the arena.

“Who taught you to bring a knife into a duel, huh?” I snapped. “So this is what the Royal Academy’s warriors are like? Some ambush their classmates, and some use their teammates as bait? What a bunch of pathetic scumbags.”

He was panting, wobbling to his feet. Then with a roar, he charged at me again.

But it was useless.

He’d lost his balance, his form, everything. Hell, he’d lost the fight any second. He was completely my prey now.

I stood still, waited, then dropped low and punched him right in the ribs. He let out another scream and crumpled.

“Oh my god, that’s brutal,” Layla cried. “Someone someone has to help him. Silas, you can’t just let her bully him like that!”

Silas’s face was like stone. “Once a duel starts, no third party can intertere. That’s the rule.”

“But-”

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“It Vincent were winning, fto one would be helping Ritey Respect the rule, Layla,” their captain said flatly Vincent and exchanged a few unfore blows, but he was already done for After 1 Rocked him down again, he was broken Physically and mentally

“S–Stop! I give up! I surrender!” he wheezed.

I smiled coldly. Yet I didn’t stop. I kicked him again, right in the side

“I didn’t hear anyone say surrender when we set the rules. It’s clear–umil someone’s down, the fight continues.”

“F–Fuck you! This isn’t how things are done! You can’t attack someone who’s surrendered!” he screamed

“If the roles were reversed, would you have let me go?” I said, slamming another punch into him. “No, you wouldn’t. You would’ve kept going, then laughed at how weak I was.”

I didn’t stop.

Because I knew exactly what kind of people these were.

Cruel, cowardly bullies. If I didn’t beat the crap out of them today, they’d be right back tomorrow trying to walk all over me again.

Vincent was stumbling backwards. Just as his foot touched the edge of the platform, he let out a desperate growl. His eyes went wide, fur started growing on his face.

Shit. That shameless bastard’s shifting!

“Hey! No shifting during the fight!” Ezra shouted, storming toward us.

But I was faster.

I slammed my knee into Vincent’s stomach and chopped hard at the back of his neck. He let out a choked whimper and collapsed. Unconscious.

The training room went dead silent. I straightened, caught my breath, and wiped the sweat off my brow.

“Shit…D–Did we…just win?” Olivia whispered, looking like she couldn’t believe it.

“Yeah we won. You won, Riley! Fuck, you actually beat a warrior!”

Odin let out a shout and ran straight to me, lifting me off the ground and spinning me in the air. I burst out laughsug. I was totally enjoying this moment before Ezra stormed in and yanked me out of Odin’s arms, dragging me behind him possessively.

That’s when I heard a commotion at the door.

Shit. I just realized now: at some point, a crowd had gathered by the door. Students packed shoulder to shoulder, staring at me like I was some mutant creature.

I could hear their whispers:

“Fucking hell… A healer just beat a warrior. Can you believe that?”

“No way. She must’ve cheated somehow.”

“Ezra was watching the whole time! How could she cheat? Damn, this girl’s insane.”

Odin stepped forward and asked loudly, “So? Do we have any doubts now? Riley won this fight. Fair and square!”

The rival team looked like someone just slapped then right in their faces. They were definitely embarrassed. Especially with such a huge crowd watching.

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is just put barky,” Layla muttered Acous

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“Luck or not, she still won,” Silas saidd flanky with a shrug, Then he gave me a wide grin “Congrats, Riley Monroe That was a great fight”

“Thank you,” I nodded Honestly? He might be the only normal onfe on their team.

“As for this piece of shit

“Ezra nudged Vincent’s unconscious body w/ his boot, his voice icy “I’ll be reporting his behavior to the school board Bringing a knife into a duel? That’s grounds for expulsion”

Gasps filled the room

Some students looked shocked, others sympathetic. They probably didn’t think Vincent deserve its kind of punishment But no one dared say a word against Ezra.

“No need. Forget him,” I said.

Ezra gave me a frown. “Why are you going soft? That bastard could try something during the Hunting Season.”

“Let him. I beat him once. I can beat him again.” I shrugged. “And hey, everyone, show’s over. The training room’s ours now. Can we get back to training now?”

The crowd slowly started to disperse, still buzzing with excitement over what they’d just seen. No doubt the whole school would be talking about how a first–year healer crushed a warrior in a duel.

I wasn’t sure if that was a good thing though.

I might’ve drawn way too much attention before the real competition even began.

Layla’s team carried Vincent out. Each of them shot me a death glare like they hoped I’d trip and break my neck on the way out.

All except their captain.

Silas gave me one last big grin before he left.

“See you soon, Riley,” he said.

“Yeah. See you,” I replied. I figured he meant during the Hunting Season.

Once everyone was gone, only Ezra was left standing there.

“What are you still doing here? You’re not on my team,” I said. After what happened in the mountains, I didn’t trust him alone in a room with Odin.

He stepped closer, eyes on the cut on my shoulder.

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