"Seriously," Riley murmured as they finally broke free from the crowd and headed toward the women's training area. "Your protectiveness is about to give me a headache. I'm used to this attention—it comes with the territory."
"That doesn't mean I have to like watching them paw at you," Adrian replied firmly.
She shot him a look that was part exasperation, part affection. "No one was pawing at me. They were just being fans."
Once they reached the women's training area, he forced himself to step back and give Riley space to focus. The transformation was immediate and breathtaking—she shed the public persona like a second skin, her movements becoming more fluid and more purposeful as she began her warm-up routine.
Other female competitors glanced her way with mixtures of respect, intimidation, and barely concealed jealousy. Riley commanded the space without effort, her reputation preceding her like an invisible crown. Adrian watched her flow through stretches and practice combinations, mesmerized by the deadly grace of her movements.
Through their bond, Adrian felt her mind clearing, all external distractions falling away until only the fight remained. It was a level of focus he recognized and admired—the same single-minded determination that had made him successful.
Pride swelled in his chest, so fierce and overwhelming that Riley paused mid-stretch and looked directly at him. Their eyes met across the training area, and she smiled—not the polished public smile she'd been wearing for fans, but something softer and more intimate that made his heart stutter.
"Riley Vaughn and Jessica Martinez, you're up!"
The assistant's voice cut through the training area like a blade, and Adrian felt Riley's nervous energy spike through their bond before she locked it down with impressive control.
She crossed the room toward him and grabbed her mouthguard out of her bag, pausing only to squeeze Adrian's hand. "Wish me luck."
"You don't need luck," he said, meaning every word.
Riley's grin was pure predator as she disappeared through the doorway leading to the arena floor.
Adrian made his way to the stands, his height allowing him to scan the crowd for familiar faces. He spotted several pride members scattered throughout the audience, including three Council members in the VIP section. Good. They would see Riley in action and understand exactly what kind of woman Adrian had chosen for his mate.
"Adrian! Over here!"
Riley's mother's voice carried over the crowd noise, and he spotted her waving from the front row. She'd saved him a seat directly behind the competitor's corner, close enough to see every detail of the fight.
"Thank you," he said as he settled into the chair beside her.
"Wouldn't dream of letting you watch from the nosebleeds," Tammy replied with a knowing smile. "You look nervous."
That was an understatement. Every muscle in his body was coiled tight with tension, his tiger pacing as they waited for Riley to appear. The bond between them hummed with anticipation, her focused energy bleeding through to mix with his own protective anxiety.
The arena lights dimmed, and the announcer's voice blared through the sound system. "Ladies and gentlemen, our first match of the day features two exceptional athletes in the women's lightweight division!"
Adrian's hands clenched as the first competitor was introduced—Jessica Martinez, a scrappy fighter from Nevada with an impressive record.
Then the announcer's voice rose to match the crowd's building excitement. "And her opponent, fighting out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—three-time national champion—Riley 'The Hammer' Vaughn!"
The roar that erupted from the crowd was deafening. Adrian found himself on his feet along with everyone else, his pride in Riley so overwhelming it threatened to burst from his chest. Around him, he could see his pride members rising as well, their expressions shifting from skeptical curiosity to genuine admiration as they witnessed the respect Riley commanded.
She emerged from the tunnel with the predatory grace of a born fighter, her movements loose and confident as she made her way to the ring. When she spotted Adrian in the front row, her smile was brilliant enough to almost stop his heart.
Then the bell rang, and everything else faded away.
Riley moved like liquid violence, her technique flawless as she controlled the center of the ring. Every strike was calculated and every defensive movement economical and precise. Adrian caught himself leaning forward, completely absorbed in watching his mate demonstrate the skills that had made her a champion.
Through their mate bond, he could feel echoes of her focus, the way she read her opponent's weaknesses and adjusted her strategy accordingly. It was like watching a master class in controlled aggression, and he realized she was putting on a clinic specifically for him—showing him exactly what techniques would be most effective in his own upcoming match.
When the first round ended with Riley clearly ahead on points, he felt a surge of fierce satisfaction. But his elation was short-lived. The second round brought increased aggressionfrom Martinez, who landed several solid shots to Riley's ribs that Adrian felt like physical blows through their bond.
His breath caught as pain flared across his own midsection, phantom but very real. Beside him, Tammy shot him a concerned look.
"You okay? You look like someone punched you in the gut."
"It's just intense watching her compete," Adrian managed, not quite lying. He couldn't exactly explain that he was experiencing his mate's fight secondhand through their supernatural connection.