Chapter 96 The Price Of Withdrawal
RONAN
The moment Grace’s voice rang out, echoing across the training grounds, my lungs froze mid–breath.
“Seth Darven will fight Alpha Ryker.”
What the fuck did I just hear?
Ryker! And Seraphina?
My gaze darted to the center of the clearing just in time to see them stepping forward, both blindfolded, standing with lethal grace and stillness. facing each other beneath the watchful eyes of half the Academy..
My mind shattered. Exploded like lava bursting through fault lines.
If I had known, if anyone had fold me, that Seraphina would end up facing Ryker, I never would’ve withdrawn from the challenge. I would’ve stood there until my bones broke. I would’ve taken him on myself.
But now it was her.
And it was too fucking late.
My fists clenched so tightly my knuckles cracked. My wolf slammed against the walls of my mind, snarling and pacing.
“Stop this,” my wolf growled. “Get her out. Tear him apart
I took a sharp step forward, fury rippling beneath my skin, but just then the siren cut through the air like a blade.
The battle had begun.
“Fuck.” I gritted my teeth, helpless.
All around the clearing. Alphas were already engaged, grunting, lunging, colliding. Some were cautiously circling, others wild and reckless. I didn’t see any of it.
I only saw her.
She stood tall, back straight, head tilted slightly, listening. Her posture sharpened like a blade being drawn.
She had heard Ryker’s name and instantly sensed the threat.
The change was instant. Her body language shifted from defensive to hunter level alertness, shoulders squared, knees flexed. Her breathing slowed. She stilled like a predator sensing movement in the dark.
That was when Ryker lunged.
The crowd gasped, but Seraphina wasn’t caught off–guard. She ducked low, twisting her body just enough to evade the strike, using the air displacement and the thud of his bootfall as markers. She didn’t react out of panic, she read him.
Every movement she made was calculated.
She was using her instincts, those damn sharp instincts. Her hearing tracked the subtle shift in Ryker’s weight. The subtle sound of a foot dragging across the dry grass. The faint gust of wind rushing toward her when he swung.
She moved like–water: smooth, fluid, evasive
-She wasn’t attacking blindly like most of the Alphas No. She was watching with her other senses. Listening his steps. Sinelling his scent to trace his position. Her wolf was in control, guiding her without hesitation.
to the rhythm of
She stepped around him. Shid behind his left shoulder Tilted back just enough to dolge his elbow strike. Pivoted, circled. Again Again
My brows furrowed as I watched her fight. She wasn’t just good.
She was exceptional.
However, Ryker wasn’t a simple opponent. He was a monster. Even blindfolded, he moved with terrifying confidence, calm. cold, and deliberate
That was the moment he showed that he had just been playing with her so far.
Without a sound of warning, Ryker twisted low and struck with a brutal sweep kick that should’ve knocked her flat. Seraphina leapt over it, but his follow–up punch came with inhuman speed. Aimed for her ribs.
It landed.
The impact made a sickening thud. She stumbled back, breath catching.
From the start, he hadn’t fought to defeat. He fought to dominate. He had been toying with her, and made her aware of that. In that way he wanted her to make mistakes.
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