The Secret Heiress Loved by Four (Isha and Jason) novel Chapter 12

Twelve

+25 Bonus

I barely had time to breathe before Kaelen turned away from me and called out, his voice sharp. enough to cut air.

“Delta Riona.”

A woman stepped forward from the training line

Tall. Strong. Muscles like carved stone. Her dark hair was braided tight, and her eyes..gods…. her eyes were cold like the northern winter.

She bowed her head once. “Alpha.”

Kaelen didn’t look at her. His gaze stayed locked on me.

“She will fight you,” he said.

My stomach dropped. “What?”

He leaned down slightly, like speaking to a stubborn child. “You heard me.”

“But.. I… can’t… And besides just trained with you…”

“That was nothing.” His voice didn’t rise, didn’t soften. It was just hard. “Now I want to see how you survive a real fight.”

My mouth dried. “Kaelen…”

“No mercy,” he told Riona, as if I wasn’t standing right there. “Hit her as you would hit any enemy.”

Riona nodded once. Dead serious.

Not a hint of pity.

Kaelen crossed his arms. “Begin.”

“Wait!”

Too late.

Riona moved faster than anything I had ever seen.

Her fist slammed into my stomach before I could even lift my arms. Air burst from my lungs. I fell to my knees, choking.

Riona didn’t pause.

A hand grabbed my hair. Pain exploded in my scalp as she dragged me up like I weighed nothing. Then her knee came up…hard..into my ribs.

+25 Bonus

I cried out as I hit the ground again.

Kaelen didn’t move.

Didn’t blink.

Just watched.

“Get up,” he said.

My vision blurred. Everything hurt. “I… can’t.”

“Yes, you can.”

His voice was colder than steel.

Riona pulled me up by my arm this time and shoved me back toward the center of the ring.

I stumbled. Fell. Got up again…barely.

Riona struck again, this time sending a kick to my side. I flew into the dirt, coughing painfully. My ears rang. My eyes watered.

Kaelen’s voice cut through everything:

“Fight back, Sylvara.”

I spat dirt from my mouth. “I… I don’t know how”

“Learn,” he said. “Or die. Those are the only options outside this pack.”

Riona didn’t wait.

Another blow smashed into my shoulder, forcing me to roll over with a scream. I curled in on myself instinctively.

Pain. Everywhere. Ribs screaming. Head spinning

And still…

“Get up,” Kaelen repeated.

I gripped the ground, shaking. My arms wobbled I tried.

Riona grabbed my wrist….twisted…and threw me down like a rag. My back hit the dirt so hard my vision went white.

I heard some wolves whisper.

A few laughed softly.

Some even murmured, “She’s too weak.’

+25 Bonus

Kaelen didn’t stop it.

Didn’t defend me.

Didn’t soften.

His face was unreadable stone.

Riona stepped forward again, ready to hit me one more time.

Something inside me snapped.

A small, broken sound escaped my mouth….half a sob, half a gasp….and I forced myself up, trembling, breath shaking. I lifted my hands clumsily in front of my face.

“I said… stop,” I whispered.

Riona smirked. “Then make me.”

She swung again. I ducked….barely…falling sideways, scraping my elbow. Pain shot up my arm, but for the first time…

I didn’t fall completely.

I turned and swung back…not a real punch, more like a wild slap…but it hit her cheek.

Riona didn’t even flinch.

But Kaelen… his eyes flickered.

Just a little.

Riona’s next blow sent me flying again. I hit the ground, chest screaming, ribs burning.

But somehow, somehow, I pushed up to my knees.

My whole body shook. My breath came in small broken pieces. My vision blurred like I was underwater.

But I didn’t stay down.

For the first time in my life…I stood through the pain.

Kaelen uncrossed his arms.

Slowly.

“Enough,” he said.

Riona stopped immediately, breathing steady like she hadn’t even broken a sweat. She bowed once to him and stepped back.

1 fell to my knees again, shaking, chest rising and falling fast.

377

+25 Bonus

Kaelen walked toward me.

Each step slow.

Controlled.

Heavy.

He stopped right in front of me, looking down with unreadable eyes.

“Better,” he said quietly.

Better?

I could barely feel my body. I was bruised everywhere. My ribs screamed with each breath. My arms trembled too hard to lift.

But he looked satisfied.

Coldly. Deeply. Satisfied.

I swallowed a sob.

His voice dropped, lower, darker:

“This world doesn’t care if you cry, Bunny. It only cares if you survive.”

D