Chapter 26
Isabella’s POV
The next few days passed in a blur of bruises, exhaustion, and relentless training.
Marco was ruthless. He didn’t care that I was sore, didn’t care that my muscles ached so badly I could barely lift my arms in the mornings. He pushed me harder every day, forcing me to tap into a strength I didn’t even know I had.
At first, I hated it.
I hated the way my body screamed in protest, hated the frustration of not getting things right, hated the way Marco smirked every time I made a mistake.
But then something changed.
I stopped hesitating. I stopped doubting myself.
I started fighting. And with every punch, every dodge, every strike, I felt something shift inside me.
I wasn’t weak.
I wasn’t helpless.
I wasn’t just some omega waiting to be saved.
I was something more.
And I was done being afraid.
\---
On the fifth day, Marco finally called for a break.
I dropped onto the mat, panting, sweat dripping from my brow. My hands, now wrapped in protective tape trembled from the intensity of the training.
Marco chuckled, crouching beside me.
“Not bad, sweetheart.” I glared at him.
“I told you not to call me that.” He smirked.
“And yet, here we are.” I rolled my eyes, too tired to argue.
A shadow fell over me, and I looked up to see Alessandro standing nearby, his arms crossed as he observed us.
Marco stood and stretched.
“Your girl’s got potential, De Luca. But she still needs work.”
Alessandro nodded, his gaze settling on me.
“She’s getting stronger.”
Marco shrugged.
“Yeah, but she’s still too controlled. She thinks before she moves. That hesitation will get her killed.”
I stiffened at his words, but Alessandro only smirked.
“Then we’ll have to fix that.”
Marco raised an eyebrow. “And how do you plan to do that?”
Alessandro turned his dark blue gaze to me, something unreadable flickering in his expression.
“By giving her a real fight.”
A real fight? I swallowed, my heart pounding.
“What does that mean?”
Alessandro tilted his head.
“You’ll see.”
Oh not again. I grumbled under my breathe.
That night, Alessandro took me somewhere different.
After dinner, he told me to change into something comfortable and meet him outside. When I did, he was already waiting by his car.
“Where are we going?” I asked.
He opened the passenger door for me.
“Get in.” I hesitated but slid inside. He rounded the car and got into the driver’s seat, starting the engine with a low growl.
The drive was silent at first. The city lights blurred past us, casting long shadows against the streets.
I turned to him.
“You’re not going to tell me, are you?” His lips curled slightly.
“No.” I sighed, leaning back in my seat.
“You’re impossible.”
“And yet, you keep following me.” I bit my lip, not wanting to admit that he was right.
After a while, we pulled up in front of a large warehouse. The outside looked old, almost abandoned, but the faint sound of voices and music told me it was anything but empty.
Alessandro killed the engine and stepped out. I followed him, my stomach twisting with curiosity and unease.
As we approached the entrance, the heavy metal doors swung open, revealing a dimly lit underground fight club.
The air was thick with sweat, blood, and adrenaline. The scent of alcohol and cigarette smoke lingered in the air. A crowd had gathered around a fighting ring in the center, shouting and cheering as two men exchanged brutal blows.
I turned to Alessandro in shock.
“What is this place?”
“A proving ground,” he said simply. I frowned.
“For what?”
“For people like you.” I stiffened.
“People like me?” I asked and Alessandro’s narrowed his eyes.
“People who have something to prove.”
I looked back at the ring, watching as one of the fighters landed a devastating punch, sending the other man sprawling to the floor. The crowd erupted into cheers as the referee declared a winner.
I swallowed hard.
“You want me to fight here?” He nodded.
“You need to know what it’s like to fight for real, Isabella. No controlled training. No practice rounds. Just instinct.”
A cold wave of fear washed over me.
“I’m not ready for this,” I whispered.
Alessandro stepped closer, his fingers brushing against my wrist.
“Yes, you are.” I looked up at him, searching for doubt in his gaze, but there was none. He truly believed I could do this.
Did I?
Before I could answer, a man approached Alessandro. He was tall, broad-shouldered, with a scar running down the side of his face. His gaze flicked to me before settling on Alessandro.
“Didn’t expect to see you here, De Luca,” the man said gruffly.
Alessandro smirked.
“I’m full of surprises, Victor.” Victor snorted, then looked me over again.
“This the girl?” Alessandro nodded.
Victor let out a low whistle.
“She doesn’t look like much.” I bristled, my hands curling into fists.
Alessandro smirked.
“That’s what makes it interesting.” Victor laughed.
“Alright, I’ll set her up.” He turned to me. “Rules are simple. No weapons, no killing, and no running. You fight until one of you is down.”
My stomach twisted.
“Who am I fighting?” Victor grinned.
“You’ll find out soon enough.” I swallowed hard, my nerves buzzing like electricity under my skin.
Alessandro leaned in, his lips close to my ear. “
“You can do this.”
I wasn’t sure if I believed him. But there was only one way to find out.
\---
Minutes later, I stood in the ring, my heart pounding as the crowd roared around me.
My opponent stepped in—a woman, taller than me, with a muscular frame and a sharp, calculating gaze. She cracked her knuckles, smirking.
“You sure you’re in the right place, little girl?”
Anger flared in my chest.
I wasn’t weak. I wasn’t helpless. I wasn’t going to let anyone make me feel that way ever again.
The bell rang.
She lunged at me, fast and ruthless. I barely dodged in time, her fist grazing my jaw. The impact sent a jolt through my body, but I ignored it, focusing on what Marco and Alessandro had taught me.
Trust my instincts.
I moved before I could think, ducking low and striking out with my fist. She stumbled back, surprised.
The crowd roared.
Something inside me snapped. This wasn’t training. This wasn’t practice. This was survival. And I refused to lose. I clenched my fists, steadying my stance.
For the first time in my life, I wasn’t scared, I am not going to run away. I was going to fight. And I must win this time.