Chapter One

Faith

"Hey. Hey. Focus."

Blood spins through my head, rushing to the sound of his voice.

Fang puts his hands on my shoulders. "Remember what I told you?"

Something is different about him. His scars have never looked more striking, like all the color has been drained out of his body. He's scared, my inner omega tells me.

I put one of my hands on top of his.

I remember.

He exhales. "K-4 is strong—too strong to take down head-on."

I've seen K-4 fight as many times as he has. Wondered how it would feel if she clipped me with one of those powerful fists. She's one of the ringmasters' favorites, after all. Undefeated.

Too bad for her, so am I .

"You're winning this," Fang asserts. "Show those fuckers how good you are."

Already, I can hear the crowd pooling in—jeering alphas in expensive suits taking their seats up in the stands. We're just here for their amusement—rogue alphas pitted against rogue alphas; omegas against omegas—and for their cash. They bet on us. Then, if we can survive a hundred rounds in the ring, they bid for us.

Today is my hundredth fight. Soon-to-be hundredth win .

I need to secure the highest bidder possible. Someone who can afford to get me the fuck out of here.

Only then, once I'm on the other side, will I be able to free Fang.

I'll beat her, I sign. No matter what .

His lips are parted like he's going to answer, but I already know what he wants to say. That he'll be watching me. That he'd take my place if he could.

It's no use. Fang's already won twice as many matches as me—and not one bid. Apparently a feral omega is a fun trophy, whereas a feral alpha? More fun from a safe distance.

Which means it's up to me to save us both.

I'm coming back for you , I remind him.

Fang smirks. "I'll be waiting."

The cell is getting restless, the other rogues hissing and rumbling. They know.

I'm out of time.

" Ladies and gentlemen, " a voice blares through the speakers—my least-favorite ringleader, Hamish, riling up the crowd. " Welcome to our annual bidding night !"

He prattles on, already giving me a migraine, when Fang cups my jaw in both hands.

"Don't be scared," he murmurs. "Have faith."

My heart clenches. The first time he spoke those words to me, I was a fresh-faced rookie, too scared to enter the ring. Fang held me just like this, and he stared deep into my eyes, and he said just loud enough for me to hear—

Have faith.

A guard grabs my arm before I can kiss him goodbye. Before I can sign thank you .

To my mate, who gave me my name.