Mated to My Fiancé’s Alpha King Brother

Seraphina’s POV 1

“I’m in,” I said again, because once wasn’t enough. Because I needed to hear myself say it twice to believe I was actually doing this insane

thing. “I’ll do it.”

Rico’s smile stretched wide across his face. Satisfied. Victorious. Like he’d known all along I’d break.

“I knew it,” he said, clapping his hands together once. “I knew you’d say yes. The moment I saw you in that alley, taking down that drunk

bastard, I knew you had it in you.”

My stomach twisted. “Had what in you?”

“The hunger.” His eyes glittered in the harsh warehouse lights. “The desperation. The willingness to do whatever it takes to survive.”

God, he made me sound like some kind of animal. Maybe I was.

“Look, Sera.” He stepped closer, his voice dropping to something almost gentle. “I’ve been doing this for fifteen years. I can spot talent,

sure. But more than that, I can spot fighters. The ones who don’t quit when it hurts.”

“I don’t know if that’s me,” I admitted quietly.

“Trust me. By the time I’m done training you, by the time you step into that ring for real, you’re going to be the best goddamn female

fighter this circuit has ever seen.”

The words should have made me feel better. Should have given me confidence or hope or something positive.

Instead, they made me want to throw up.

What the hell was I doing? Twenty–four hours ago, I was scanning groceries and pretending my life was under control. Now I was

agreeing to get punched in the face for money.

“Hey.” Rico’s voice cut through my spiral. “You still with me?”

“Yeah.” I forced myself to focus. “Yeah, I’m here.”

“Good. Because we’ve got a lot of work to do. Training starts tomorrow. Six AM sharp.”

Six AM. Of course.

“There’s just one thing,” I said before I could lose my nerve.

Rico raised an eyebrow. “What’s that?”

My hands were shaking again. I shoved them in my pockets so he wouldn’t see. “I need to ask you for a favor. A really big favor.”

“I’m listening.”

stuck in my throat. Pride and desperation

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167 Chapter 167

said, the words coming out in a rush. “Not the fight money. I mean, I need that too, but I need

Before tomorrow morning.”

expression didn’t change.

hundred and fifty dollars.” My voice cracked. “For rent. My landlord

Silence.

begging a stranger for

you short?” Rico

caught me

that grocery

cheeks. “I got… scammed. By a coworker. She borrowed money

never did. And then my boss docked my pay

you’re broke,” Rico finished for

“I have forty–seven dollars in my bank account and a landlord who’s going to throw all my stuff

in less than

eyes. Probably doing the math on whether I was worth the

back,” I said desperately. “I swear. Once I start fighting, once I win

find other work. I’ll do

“Stop.”

mouth so fast my teeth clicked

into his jacket pocket and pulled out his phone. “How

I could

make it an even two

stared at him.

dollars.” He was already pulling up his banking app. “Should

proper training gear.”

can’t take two

two thousand.” He looked up from his phone, his expression serious.

focus if you’re worried about where you’re

“But I’ll owe you-”

167 Chapter 167

time and gives me everything she’s got in training” He went back

it

In me. In my ability to get

know what to

grocery store job and

I blinked. “What?”

up again. “You need to quit. Today. Tonight. As soon

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