Chapter 19 Riley
NINETEEN
RILEY
The moment the referee raised Adrian's hand in victory, Riley felt her heart slam against her ribs with fierce pride and relief.
Her mate had won—decisively, brutally, and with the kind of primal dominance that left no doubt about who the superior fighter was.
But as Adrian turned toward her, sweat gleaming on his bare chest and blood still trickling from his split lip, she could see the storm of emotions churning behind his blue eyes.
He vaulted over the ropes with fluid grace, landing directly in front of her with the controlled power that never failed to make her pulse race.
His jaw was already darkening with bruises from Darius's landed blows, and she could see the careful way he held his ribs where he'd taken that vicious kick.
But none of that mattered when he pulled her carefully into his arms, mindful of her crutches.
"I'm sorry," he murmured against her ear, his voice rough with exhaustion and lingering fury. "I lost control in there. I—"
"No." Riley pulled back to look at him directly, her brown eyes blazing with understanding. "Don't apologize for defending me. If I'd been in that ring, I might have done the same thing."
Through their completed bond, she could feel the guilt eating at him, the way his tiger was still prowling restlessly. But she also felt his satisfaction—dark and primal—at having delivered justice for what Darius had done to her.
"But you stopped when I told you to," she continued, her voice softening. "You could have killed him, and we both know it. But you didn't. That's what matters."
Adrian's expression shifted, the tension in his shoulders easing slightly as her words sank in. She reached up to touch his bruised jaw gently, and he leaned into her touch like a man starving for comfort.
"What's more important is that you just won your first professional title," she whispered, her voice thick with pride and love.
Before he could respond, she pulled him down and kissed him deeply, pouring all of her admiration and fierce protectiveness into the connection. The taste of blood from his split lip only intensified the moment, reminding her of exactly what he'd risked for her honor.
Camera flashes exploded around them like fireworks, the media capturing every second of their intimate celebration.
Riley heard the crowd beginning to surge forward, their excited voices growing louder as they pressed against the barriers.
Within seconds, a wall of security guards materialized around them, creating a protective barrier that Adrian certainly didn't need, but that Riley appreciated while balancing on her crutches.
"Adrian!" A deep, authoritative voice cut through the chaos.
Riley looked up to see who she assumed was Council Leader Morris approaching with two other pride members, their expressions formal but respectful. These men commanded attention even in a room full of human spectators, their predatory grace marking them as something more than ordinary.
"We need to speak with you," Morris continued, his gaze flicking briefly to Riley before returning to Adrian.
Adrian's arm tightened around Riley's waist protectively. "I'll meet you outside in a few minutes."
Morris nodded curtly. "We'll be waiting."
As the Council members melted back into the crowd, Cameron appeared at Riley's elbow, his usually composed demeanor buzzing with excitement.
"Riley, we need to get you to the press conference now," he said urgently. "The media is going absolutely wild about what happened to you yesterday, and now with this..." He gestured at Adrian with obvious appreciation. "They want answers about everything."
Riley looked up at Adrian, who was still watching the retreating Council members with calculating eyes. She could feel his mind working through whatever conversation was about to take place.
"Go handle your press conference with your mom," Adrian said softly, turning his attention back to her.
"I'll go tell the Council that I'm officially accepting my Alpha title now that we're fully bonded.
That conversation might take a while, but.
.." His eyes softened as they met hers. "How about I meet you at your gym afterward? We can celebrate properly then."
The promise in his voice sent heat racing through her despite the chaos surrounding them. "That sounds like a perfect plan."
She glanced toward the ring where medics were carefully helping an unconscious Darius onto a stretcher.
From this close distance, she could see the extent of the damage Adrian had inflicted—the swollen face and the careful way they were moving him.
She knew that when Darius eventually woke up, he was going to be humiliated by this public defeat and probably furious enough to be dangerous.
But that was a problem for another day. Right now, she had her own battle to fight with the media.
"Come on," Cameron urged, already moving toward the arena's media room.
Riley squeezed Adrian's hand once more before allowing Cameron to guide her away, her crutches clicking against the concrete floor as they navigated through the crowd.
Behind them, she could hear Adrian's footsteps going in the opposite direction in the cadence of a man about to claim his birthright.
Once she got to the media room, her mother was already waiting with a proud smile that could have powered the entire arena. "That was quite a show," she said, pulling Riley into a careful hug.
"Adrian is incredible," Riley breathed, settling into the chair at the press conference table. "He's so much more than just strong and attractive, Mom. He's supportive and caring and everything a real man should be."
Cameron beamed as he took his position to the side of the room. "I have to say, Riley, I'm not surprised you chose someone who looks like he could be a fitness model and fights like a champion. You've always had excellent taste."
Riley laughed, adjusting the microphone in front of her as reporters filled the chairs. "He's perfect for me in every way."
As the questions began flying—about her injury, about Darius's role in orchestrating the attack, about her relationship with Adrian—Riley handled each one with the grace and directness that had made her the media favorite throughout her career.
But when they asked if moving so fast with Adrian wasn't risky, her answer came from the heart.
"The connection we have doesn't follow logic or timelines," she said firmly. "It's something I hope everyone gets to experience at least once in their lives."
Twenty minutes later, as she finally escaped the barrage of questions, Riley felt lighter than she had in days. The truth was out there now—about Darius's cowardly attack, about her love for Adrian, about the future they were building together.
"Ready to go celebrate?" her mother asked, gathering her purse.
Riley nodded, her heart already racing at the thought of seeing Adrian again. "Let's go to the gym. I have a feeling this is going to be a night to remember."
The fluorescent lights of the parking garage cast harsh shadows across the concrete as Riley navigated carefully on her crutches, each step sending a dull ache through her injured knee.
The celebratory high from Adrian's victory was still coursing through her veins, but the practical reality of her injury was becoming increasingly frustrating.
She'd never been good at accepting limitations, and these damn crutches felt like a constant reminder of her vulnerability.
"Slow down, sweetheart," her mother said gently, adjusting her purse strap as she kept pace beside Riley. "There's no rush."
Riley exhaled sharply, pausing to rest her weight against the concrete pillar. "I hate this. I hate being so damn helpless."
"You're not helpless. You're just injured," her mother corrected, her voice carrying that maternal tone that somehow managed to be both soothing and firm. "Adrian looked like he wanted to carry you the whole time."
Despite her frustration, Riley couldn't help but smile at that. Through their completed bond, she could still feel the echoes of Adrian's protective instincts, and his desire to shield her from every inconvenience. The intensity of his love still took her breath away sometimes.
"He probably would have if I'd let him," she admitted, adjusting her grip on the crutches. "But I need to be able to do this myself."
They were halfway to her mother's sedan when the screech of tires echoed through the parking garage.
Riley looked up to see a black SUV with tinted windows barreling toward them at a speed that sent alarm bells ringing in her head.
Her fighter's instincts kicked in immediately, but the crutches made her movements clumsy and slow.
"Mom, get behind me," she ordered, but it was already too late.
The SUV skidded to a stop mere feet away, and two massive men erupted from the vehicle like predators who had been waiting for exactly this moment.
Riley recognized them immediately as shifters—their movements too fluid, their presence too commanding to be entirely human.
In any normal circumstances, she could have taken both men down without breaking a sweat.
But balanced precariously on crutches with her mother to protect, she was at a devastating disadvantage.
"Riley Vaughn," the larger of the two men said, his voice carrying a satisfied edge. "You're coming with us."
"Like hell I am," Riley snarled, shifting her weight to swing one of her crutches like a weapon. But the second man moved faster than humanly possible, grabbing her mother's arm and yanking her forward.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you," he said coldly, his grip on her mother's arm making her wince. "Not unless you want mommy here to get hurt."