Chapter 10 CHAPTER 010
The ring. Soren misses it because the moment he steps inside the cage, something inside of him seems to settle.
The basement is loud with men shouting and money being slammed onto tables, followed by drunk screams, while the air is thick with sweat and cheap beer mixed with alpha pheromones. This is the scene Soren is used to.
This is home, and across from him stands a tall alpha built like a truck, with veins bulging down his arms, and confidence dripping from his stupid smirk.
“Didn’t think you’d come back,” the alpha says, rolling his neck, and looking at Soren like he's about to break him into pieces. “Heard you went soft.”
Soren cracks his knuckle, a matching smirk stretching on his lips. “I don’t go soft,” comes his reply, and then the bell rings, and just like that, the alpha comes fast, too fast for someone that size, as his fist cuts through the air, and Soren barely tilts his head in time as his punch grazes his cheek.
In an instant, pain spreads, and Soren stumbles but immediately catches himself. He grins. “That's how you want to play, huh, big guy?”
Soren steps in, throwing a left hook that lands square on the alpha’s ribs, which has the crowd roaring.
The alpha swings again, heavier and wilder, but Soren ducks under it, pivots, and drives his fist into the man’s kidney. The alpha grunts, stumbling, while all Soren feels is adrenaline surging through his veins like fire.
Fuck. He didn't think he missed throwing punches till now. Suddenly, the alpha grabs him by the collar and slams him against the cage, and the metal rattles behind his head, and for a second, Soren swears stars flash in his vision while the crowd screams louder.
“Finish him!”
The alpha drives a punch into Soren’s stomach until Soren tastes blood on his tongue, but then something in him snaps as he drives his knee upward, hard, and the alpha folds just enough, and that's all Soren needs as he shoves him back and swings, throwing punch after punch that's cleaner than the last.
The alpha tries to cover up, but Soren doesn’t give him space. He presses forward, relentless, and breath is harsh in his throat, while sweat drips down his temples. The alpha throws a desperate punch that catches Soren across the jaw, and holy fuck, it hurts.
God, it hurts, but Soren laughs, wiping blood from his lip with the back of his hand and steps in closer. “You’re slow,” he mutters, and with that, he drives his fist straight into the alpha’s nose, and there’s a crack, followed by blood.
The alpha staggers, but Soren doesn’t stop as he throws another punch and another until the man drops to his knees and then on his face, knocked out cold.
In a second, the bell rings frantically, and the crowd erupts.
“FOX! FOX! FOX!”
Soren stands there, chest heaving, knuckles raw and split, with blood smeared across his cheek. His heart pounds so hard it feels like it might break through his ribs, but he doesn't hesitate to bask in his victory as he raises his hands, nodding to the roars, knowing once again, Fox is going home with another win, but that's when it happens.
Soren barely sees the tall alphas in suits coming before the doors of the cage rip open, and they are surrounding him. He looks at them in confusion, but is ready to fight, but suddenly, all of them are grabbing his arms.
“Hey, let go of me!” He struggles against them, and he barely has time to fight back before they drag him away as if he weighs nothing.
“Where are you taking me?!” Soren demands, eyeing the familiar halls that lead to the Big Boss's office, and when they get there, Soren is thrown inside.
For a moment, it's as if time stopped as Soren takes a second to look at his surroundings, and then a gasp rips through his throat at what greets him.
The Big Boss is held down on his knees by two men in suits. Theo is also in the room, but his hands are cuffed like he's some criminal. Soren reads the look of displeasure in his eyes, and Soren suddenly recalls how Theo tried to warn him.
And lastly, Soren's gaze lands on him: Reign, sitting behind the desk with his leg crossed over the other, coat draped over his shoulder like he owns the air in the room, while his eyes stay pinned on Soren with a dangerous glint that sends a shiver down Soren's spine.
He gulps and takes a step back, realizing the presence of a domineering scent that lingers forcefully in the space. Soren gulps as a bead of sweat rolls down his temple, a cough forms in his throat, and he forces his hands to stop twitching at his side.
“What is the meaning of this?” He asks.
Reign leans forward slightly. “You tell me.”
The Big Boss lets out a nervous laugh. “It was just business. He agreed to fight. We didn’t force him. I didn't even think he was going to show up here ag—” his words were cut off by the men holding him down, and he instantly shut his mouth with a painful grunt.
“Let go of them. I decided to come. It has nothing to do with them,” Soren states, realizing how much he has fucked up by coming here again when his name is bound to the Enigma.
Reign's eyes dance on him, unimpressed by his answer, while his fingers tap lazily on the table as if he has all the time in the world.
“Perhaps you need a reminder that you are no longer a nameless boxer in a basement.” He slowly shifts his gaze to the Big Boss. “Perhaps you'd like to see your basement burnt to the ground…", then he shifts his gaze to Theo, and a small smile stretches on his lips. "...Or perhaps, you no longer wish to run your little bar."
Soren's eyes widened at the meaning behind the words. He takes a step forward. “I told you they had nothing to do with me coming here. It was my own damn decision; leave them out of it. If you want to punish someone? Punish me.”
Reign's eyes twinkle. He slowly rises from his seat and approaches Soren, who fights the strong urge to take a step back at the strong yet controlled pheromones of the Enigma. He clenches his hands at his side and holds his breath as Reign stands tall and mighty in front of him. Slowly, he hooks a finger under Soren’s chin, lifting his face and staring into his eyes as if he can see through his soul.
Soren fights to stay still while Reign roams his eyes all over his face.
“I told you, whatever you do reflects on me, and when you go against my orders, I won't punish you, but I can't say the same for your sister and your friends.”
Soren's eyes widen, and his nails dig into his palms. The words don’t land; they sink deep in his system, and for a second, Soren forgets how to breathe. “My sister?” His voice comes out rough and disbelieving. “You would drag Iris into this?”
Reign's eyes dance dangerously as his thumb presses slightly firmer beneath Soren’s chin. “I don’t drag innocents into things,” he says calmly. “You did,” he concludes with a whisper. “I don't give warnings, but you're an exception. I hope you'll understand, sweetheart.”
The only thing Soren understands is that Reign is going to hurt his sister and friends if he goes against his orders again. Soren's heart hammers hard against his chest, and his knuckles turn white.
“I understand,” he whispers, forcing the words out of his throat as if they burn, while his gaze turns stoic and piercing.
Reign smiles coldly, and he withdraws his hand from Soren's chin. "Good. You learn fast."