Max's POV
Mariyah's voice cut through the air like a blade, her announcement freezing every muscle in my body.
"Evan Clemens will fight Alpha Swift."
The words hit me like a punch to the gut. My blood turned to ice in my veins.
Swift. Fighting Jasmin.
My eyes snapped to the center of the training ground where two figures stepped forward. Both blindfolded, both moving with deadly precision. Jasmin stood across from Swift, her spine straight, every line of her body radiating lethal grace.
Half the Academy watched from the sidelines, but all I could see was her.
My mind exploded into chaos. If I had known this would happen, if anyone had whispered even a hint that she would end up facing that bastard, I never would have withdrawn from the challenge. I would have stayed in that ring until my bones shattered. I would have taken Swift on myself, consequences be damned.
But now she stood there instead of me.
And it was too fucking late to change anything.
