26
NIRVANA
I instantly saw Luka, McKaye, and Kaleb outside the building, which looked like a nightclub named Lioness.
“Alpha, Vana.” Kaleb met us at the parking lot. “The show is about to start.”
“All right. Who else is with us?”
“Guys from the pack house. They came with us when I told them you would be here.”
“Is Kailin with you?”
“Yes. She’s with the guys,” replied Luka while I was still confused about what was happening.
Knight turned to me. “Nirvana, McKaye will take you to Kailin. Stay with them and keep your phone with you all the time.”
“Why? What’s exactly going on?” My heart started beating fast. I had a feeling a terrible thing was about to happen.
“Hey. Don’t worry. I’m just going with the guys at the back.” He rubbed my arms as he might see the fear in my eyes, but I was not entirely convinced about going with the guys if it would not involve something dangerous and reckless.
“We’re in a nightclub, Knight. Unless you’re preparing for a dance number, which I am sure you’re not, I know you’re planning on doing something reckless after what they did to the twins. Tell me, or I walk out.”
Luka and Kaleb just stood there, hiding their smiles from their alpha.
“Yes, this is a nightclub owned by the bikers, and it’s still closed, but there’s an underground fight club under it.”
“A what?” I asked in shock and terror. And you’re going to fight?”
“Yes.”
“Are you kidding me?” I punched his chest. He didn’t even budge or react. “Is this what you meant by putting an end to this? What if you get hurt?”
“He’s a fighter and an alpha. Don’t sell him short,” Kaleb defended his alpha.
“I’m not going to watch you get punched, Knight. I’m going home.”
“I’ll be fine. I promise.” He cupped my head and kissed me on the forehead, causing these two idiots to grin.
“Shut that grin off, or I will knee your nutsack.” Glaring at them made them more amused. “Unbelievable.”
“Mac, take her to Kailin, and please, don’t let her out of your sight,” he told McKaye, who was coming over to us.
“No! I’m not going in there.” I stepped back. “I can’t!”
“He’s gonna be fine. I bet my hundred bucks on him,” said McKaye as he gestured for me to join him. “Come on.”
“You are all crazy. God, what did I get myself into?” I narrowed my eyes at them, especially Knight, who seemed too calm and relaxed, given that he was about to face his death. “If you lose, I will go back to New York. That’s a promise, alpha.”
“Let’s go then, and if I win?”
“Then you’re lucky.”
“No, I want more.”
“What do you want?” I challenged him, which was a terrible idea because I had no clue what he could do besides grow fangs and transform himself into a wolf.
“You’re coming home with me and finish what we started.”
My face heated while he was beaming at me, and we just got whistles from the guys.
“No deal.”
“Then I might just let the bad guys win.”
“Fine!” I went with McKaye, still mad and worried at the same time. “How good is he?”
“You just lost your bet, Vana.”
I stared at him in disbelief. “You’re kidding, right?”
“He’s that good. You’ll see.”
“Shit.”
We went to the front door and walked through the long hallway. Next door had two guards wearing bikers’ leather jackets named Coyote Bikers Club on them.
McKaye pulled out his wallet and gave them two hundred bucks. “For me and the lady.”
The bikers barely nodded with the same pissed-off look.
The taller guy said, “Your guy is gonna die today.”
“Good luck with that,” said McKaye, smirking before we entered the door.
“Who’s Knight’s opponent?”
“Their best fighter.”
“What?” I grabbed him by his shirt. “He’s fighting the biker’s champion? How do you think Knight will have a chance over him?”
“He’s a werewolf. He’s stronger than any of us. What do you think his opponent had against him?”
“Is that even legal?”
“This is illegal, and they play dirty.”
I closed my gaping mouth when I couldn’t think of anything but fear.
We stepped down to the crowded area. Men and women were waiting for the main events while the fight was still ongoing in the ring.
“Five hundred for the opponents.” McKaye had just placed the bets, and the man on the table snorted at him before giving him the bet slip.
“I’m not gonna bet for him.”
“Just fifty bucks. Come on. This is your first underground fight club experience.”© 2024 Nôv/el/Dram/a.Org.
“Fine.” I rolled my eyes as I took some bills from my crossbody bag. “You guys are unbelievable.”
After betting, we went to find Kailin.
Her eyes widened to see me joining her. Roisin, Aspen, and the guys were also there.
“This is insane.”
“Oh, my Goddess!” She got up and pulled me into a hug.
“Hey. You’re here,” Aspen said. Roisin, Maddox, the Goldilocks, and Zander waved.
“It’s my initiation day. I guess I’m joining the club, but I’m terrified.” I turned to Kailin. “I thought you’re working.”
“My boss is out, so there’s no reason for me to keep working.” She strolled her gaze from my head down to my toes. “Flushed face, dilated pupils. I take it your date went well.”
“You’re wrong. We fought on our way here. I’m still pissed off hence the flushed face, and he’s going to get himself killed.”
“When I told you he’s protective of his guys. This is his way of protecting us. Sit with me.” She turned to her brother. “You’re staying?”
“I’m here to babysit our luna.”
“Stop it,” I told McKaye. “You can go with them. I’m fine with K.”
“Alpha’s order. Not breaking it.”
This was absurd even for McKaye. “You’re not serious.”
“It’s like god’s words. I don’t disregard Knight’s order.”
“He’s fine. We’re close to the ring. We can watch Alpha closely.”
The winner was announced, and the guy with a bloody nose and swollen eyes won. The loser hadn’t moved on the ground, causing me to palpitate.
“Is he dead?”
“Good as dead.”
“Oh, my God.” I could hardly breathe, knowing Knight could be next on the ground.
The announcer started introducing the man to fight against Knight, and my heart hammered even more. He was bigger and an inch or two taller than Knight. “Bulldozer!”
“I can’t breathe. How will he take that giant down, K? And who named him Bulldozer? Seriously!”
“Relax. Our guy’s gonna receive some punches, but he’s gonna win. Trust me.”
“Oh, God. Why did I even come here? This is insane.”
“And the man who has enough courage to take the title from the defending champion. From the left…”
Boos erupted from the audience. Irritation filled my chest.
“Assholes,” Kailin grunted while McKaye just sat calmly next to me.
“Let’s give a hand to the man calling himself Alpha!” Knight took off his shirt and boots but wore the same pants. He was magnificent shirtless, showing off the prominent V between his hips and his sinewed muscles. Damn.
The enthusiastic crowds erupted to boo and cheers.
“Please win this fight.” I found myself standing, applauding, and supporting Knight.
“You know the rules,” said the announcer. “There are no rules!”
The crowd just went wild.
“Let the fight begin!”
I held my breath from the moment Knight’s opponent came, stalking him. I’d never watched violent sports before, even wrestling on TV. I just couldn’t stomach watching someone bleed and knockdown to the ground.
They started throwing punches, and I cringed every time it almost hit Knight. That guy had longer limbs and just kicked Knight in the abdomen.
I started hyperventilating as I watched Knight fall to the ground, hitting his back against the ring. The crowd roared.
“Breath, Vana. This is just the beginning.” K shook me. “Breath, and don’t ever pass out in here.”
“Okay, okay.” I took deep breaths.
Knight stood up and went on his stance. I hugged K tightly and hid my face on her back when the big guy tried to block Knight’s strikes.
“Just get it done!” said the man a few seats to us.
“Bulldozer! Bulldozer!” They began chanting his name as he threw punches and kicked Knight.
“Maybe you can link him and tell him to knock that giant down. Why is he getting all those punches and not striking back?”
“Hey. He’s just warming up. Where’s the fun in that?” McKaye chuckled.
“Fun? He’s getting beaten by that hippopotamus!” I just received a glare from the D-cup-size woman sitting before us. “What? Do you want punches?”
McKaye held his laugh enough for his face to turn red while the woman with big fake boobs chewing gum just pissed me off.
“Alpha, I’m getting bored! Unless you’ll finish him now, or I’m going home!”