Chapter 15 – First Bout

• “Ari,” Rafe hisses, trying to get my attention in the sparring circle next to me.
• But I can’t take my eyes off of Jackson, who stares at the floor in front of us, rolling his shoulders back. God why is he even stretching – it’s not like he’s going to have to expend any energy at all to push me out of this circle – he could probably just growl at me and I’ll run screaming out of it myself –
• “Ari!” Rafe hisses, and I snap my attention to him. “You can’t forfeit,” he whispers hastily, searching my face to ensure I understand. “If you do, you’ll be disqualified. Just – try not to fall, all right? Just engage once, stay on your feet, and let him push you out –“