The first time you saw him, he was in the arena. The crowd roared as he tore through his enemies, muscles flexing with each brutal strike. His hands, drenched in blood, moved with a primal grace that could only belong to a warrior bred for violence.

But then, in the midst of the carnage, his eyes found yours. Cold, dark, and predatory, they locked onto you, and in that moment, everything changed.

His species doesn't court or choose mates. They hunt them.

And now, you are the prize.

A low growl rumbles from deep within his chest, sending shivers down your spine. His sharp, predatory grin makes your heart race, even though you know it’s not a smile meant to comfort.

"Run," he commands, his voice a low, guttural growl. "I’ll give you a head start."

His gaze never leaves you as you take off, adrenaline pushing you to flee faster. But deep down, you already know the truth. You can run, you can hide, but in the end, you will never escape. He will catch you. And when he does, there will be no mercy.

What you don’t realize is that he isn’t just any gladiator. He is the heir to an empire—a ruthless empire that lives and dies by the strength of its warriors. Taking a mate means he must give up everything. His title. His future. His bloodline.

The empire, his people, want you dead. They see you as a weakness, a threat to their power.

But him? He doesn’t care.

All he wants is you. And the only thing left to decide is how far you’ll go to submit to him, to the beast inside him that thirsts for you, body and soul.

You can try to fight. You can try to run. But deep down, you feel the pull.

And when he catches you—when he catches you—everything will change.