Show No Fear (Rising Goddess Book 1) Read online

  His bark of laughter draws Kaden’s gaze, even over the sound of the blaring music and again, I can’t help but wonder just how many of the frat guys are wolves? Or maybe all of them are and that's why they have to keep their frat so exclusive? After all, if they were wolves, they’d need somewhere relatively private where they could shift without humans seeing them.

  A warm breath brushes against my ear, sending shivers through me as Kaden leans in close to be heard over the music. “That guy in the kitchen is Alex. He’s the one I was telling you about. He’s wanted to talk to you for a while now. Actually, so have I…”

  I pull away from him and disappear into the throng of students, rather than staying behind to hear the rest of what he wanted to say.

  As I make my way through the sweaty bodies, my gaze is drawn to a group of girls over in one corner of the room. They’re all dancing provocatively, seemingly in the hopes of drawing the attention of one of the guys. I’m not at all surprised to see Frannie in among them. I would think they were all strippers if not for the scant amount of clothing they’re wearing. Do guys really fall for that shit? Just a shake of the hips and then bam, sexy time?

  I turn away from her and look back, seeing Kaden approach. He grips my hand in his and I ignore the glares I get from the girls in the corner. Without a word, he pulls me after him. It amazes me, seeing the crowd part easily for him as we pass.

  He leads me out a door and onto the back patio. I pull my hand from his and rest my arms against a wood railing overlooking the backyard.

  Considering it’s one of the smaller fraternities, I expected it would have a small backyard, but I’m surprised by how big it is. There's a group of almost fifty people gathered out on the lawn, forming a large circle. The crowd begins shouting their encouragement, making me think there’s a fight going on in the middle.

  "Is that a fight over there?" I ask Kaden, wondering why so many people are cheering, rather than trying to break it up.

  I hesitate for a moment, wondering if I should step in. I don't like showing my strength, but if someone is delivering a beat down and no one else is willing to help, I won’t just stand idly by.

  Kaden smirks and leans over the railing. He turns his head to watch me, looking as if he can sense the thoughts going through my mind. "Yes, it's a fight, but it’s probably not what you're thinking. We like to have a little match between us and a few other guys on campus. Since we don't allow our members to hook up at our parties, it's a good way for us all to burn off some energy. Plus, we place bets, so it’s a quick way to get some fast cash from noobs who think they're tough."

  I stare down at the two shirtless men fighting, watching their moves and noticing how their reflexes are slightly above that of a human, marking them both as wolves. I can tell that the dark haired one pulls his punches and the light haired guy is pretending the hit hurt more than it did. Everyone watching would have no clue unless they were wolves too, but even though they’re concealing most of their true strength, the humans in the crowd seem to think it’s brutal.

  "Really? So how would one go about putting their name forth? Is there a buy in?”

  His eyes narrow slightly and a frown crosses his features. "You don't get to put your name forth. Only guys are allowed to participate after a particularly nasty incident when one of the girls landed on her face and ended up with a nosebleed. So now girls can watch, but they aren’t allowed to participate because we don't want another father storming up to the frat house and demanding to know who the hell beat up his little girl. Besides, girls don't offer much of a challenge anyway. Mainly they just do it because they want to feel like they’re a part of the experience."

  To be fair, my father would have been pissed too if he found out I was involved in some kind of fighting ring. And while I want to let it slide, Kaden’s comment that girls don't offer much of a challenge really pissed me off. Just because we're female, they automatically assume we’re weaker? Even without the ability to shift, I could kick most of their asses. Strength isn't just physical, it’s mental too. Maybe these boys need a dose of their own medicine in order to learn that.

  "Are you seriously implying that girls are weaker and can’t offer a proper challenge?"

  "Well..."

  I harden my gaze in defiance. "When's the next match and how much is the buy in?"

  He shakes his head in blatant refusal. "Nope, you're not going in."

  I feel that ball of rage inside me growing by the second at his denial of my request. I narrow my eyes at him and his gray eyes widen, clearly seeing how serious I am. "How much?" I demand.

  He stares at me for a moment, as if he thinks his hard gaze alone will make me back down. I stare right back, not even slightly intimidated. Finally he admits defeat with a heavy sigh. "It's five hundred to buy in and you're only going in for one round. I'll make sure it’s against me, because at least I can control my punches a lot better than some of the other idiots around here. But if you lose, you can’t go crying to Mommy and Daddy that you got hurt. You don’t tell a soul what happened, or where you got your injuries. You will accept defeat and move on, never to fight again. Understand?"

  I almost retort that I don’t have a mom or dad, not anymore at least, but I hold myself back. Instead, I push down my pain, channeling it into the fight ahead that I have every intention of winning. I smirk, feeling the excitement build within me at the chance to face someone who actually might be able to hold their own against me, at least for a little while. "Understood."

  Even though it’s been ages since I went to an MMA class, I'm still confident I can kick his ass, especially now that I know what he is. I’m actually surprised he hasn’t caught on about me yet, but I guess he may not be able to sense Seth’s claim on me. But I figured he would at least still feel Drew’s.

  Oh well, guess I’ll just have to show him what I am and what I can do.

  We make our way down to the lawn below and I begin to stretch out, still in my jeans and t-shirt. Kaden explains to the crowd what’s going on and all the guys who were in the fight circle gather around, watching as I do my stretches.

  I think most of them believe I won’t go through with it, because they start making bets, not only on who will win the fight, but also on whether I will back out before it even begins.

  It was pure fucking chance that I had the five hundred cash on me tonight. I had to count it out to be sure. That’s when I realized I hadn't spent a dime of my allowance, which made me breathe out a sigh of relief.

  I always tend to carry around a large sum of cash, because you just never know what might happen to you. I learned my lesson and since then, I never go anywhere without cash or my wallet at the very least.

  A few months before the accident, Seth and I had a big blow up, again over when it would be time to let my heat cycle take its course and have a baby together. I had stormed out of the restaurant, furious that he tried to press the issue in a public place. Without waiting for him, I just started walking home. Seth didn't follow, catching the hint I needed some time alone. However, while Seth didn’t come after me, a creepy guy in a van did.

  Suffice it to say, I was glad I knew how to defend myself but it was a harsh reminder that being prepared doesn't just mean being able to fight your way out of situations. It also means not leaving your phone or wallet behind with your mate, especially if he takes his sweet ass time to follow after you.

  And while the five hundred on me is all I have to live on until Aunt Dee sends more from my trust fund next week, I am pretty confident in my abilities.

  "You sure you want to do this?"

  I look up at the handsome man, the one who was tending bar in the kitchen earlier. He is also the one Kaden said had a crush on me, Alex I think he said his name was. His eyes run over me and while I find it sweet that they're filled with concern, it’s also kind of patronizing. Like he's worried about the weak little girl, afraid she’ll get hurt.

  His eyes make me want to melt, but I know better than
to fall for a pair of baby blues. I get to my feet and meet his gaze, determined to prove myself. "Yep, I definitely want to do this. Maybe afterwards, you guys won't treat women like they're weak." I hand him the money for the fight, watching as he shoves it in a back pocket that looks to be overflowing with cash already.

  He shakes his head at me as if I'm crazy, but it's not me who's insane; it's them. As I walked down here, I was able to pick up the scent of multiple wolves and realized most of the people gathered in the circle were wolves, all men to be exact. I wonder if they don’t have any female wolves?

  Alex grins and backs away, obviously giving in. "Alright then, but don't blame me when I say, 'I told you so' as I'm carrying your bruised body back to the dorm."

  Ha! He wishes! Seth was my MMA trainer and he made sure I was able to defend myself against anything because I couldn't shift. He knew that one day if we ever found a pack, I would end up getting challenged, because I appeared human. It's just how wolves operate. They instinctively feel the need to dominate each other, and Seth wanted to be sure I could protect myself if that happened.

  After a few moments, I start to hear cheers and clapping from the outer ring of guys. They part to reveal a now shirtless Kaden.

  I can't help but laugh. Full-blown ‘bent over with hands on my knees’ kind of laughter. The group quiets, some with confused looks on their faces, as I wipe away a stray tear.

  "I don't know who you think you're fooling, Kaden, but you could be naked and I would still kick your ass," I mock, gesturing to his bare torso.

  He flushes and I can tell by the twinkle in his eyes that my suspicion was right. He took off his shirt in an attempt to fluster me, but I'm not so easily thrown off balance. Oh yes, he looks like a shirtless god right now, but hormones are something I battle with every month, so fighting them off now is no trouble.

  He smirks and stretches his arms over his head, drawing my attention to the chiseled abs on his stomach as he flexes.

  Okay, maybe he's a little impressive.

  He sees the direction of my gaze and grins teasingly. "You sure my rocking body can't sway you into working out some of that frustration in another way, Katie?"

  I chuckle under my breath and remove the hair tie from my side ponytail, which hides my mark. I grin at him as I shake my hair free, and start using my fingers to comb through it. Then I pull it all up in a high ponytail. "Oh trust me, Kaden, as much as your 'rocking body' tempts me," I tease, moving my head slightly to the side. I see his eyes widen as they zero in on my mark, "I'm pretty sure I've already seen what a guy like you has to offer."

  Alex is standing right behind him and his gaze is also drawn to the mark on my neck. The same can be said of a few other people around the circle. The humans don't seem to understand the significance, but I can see in the wolves’ eyes just how surprised and nervous they are now.

  Kaden and Alex both seem to know exactly what my mark means based on the shock in their eyes and the tense way they hold themselves. They aren’t too sure what to make of me now. Even just flirting with another’s mate is a big no no in shifter culture but having me, a mated female, participate in something like this? If my mate were still alive, it could be grounds for him to kill the offending wolf.

  "Well, let’s get this show started then," I call out, clapping my hands together in anticipation. The crowd around me cheers. I feel empowered to see not only the humans, but the wolves cheering me on as well. It makes something inside me settle. That deep ball of rage within me softens and for the first time, I wonder if that rage is a manifestation of what my wolf would have been.

  Alex and Kaden remain quiet, watching me warily, as do the rest of the guys who noticed my mark and seemed to understand the significance of it. But the rest of the drunk frat guys cheer wildly, either not having noticed my display or because they are just eager to see a fight. Either way, I'll take that kind of encouragement over boos any day.

  Kaden hesitates and I grin tauntingly. "What's wrong, Kaden? Afraid a girl may be able to beat you up?" I mock, enjoying the way his eyes flash amber as he gets riled up.

  Ah, silly wolf. Letting his anger get the better of him and revealing his nature. I'm sure most of the people here would forget in a nanosecond if they saw, or chalk it up to being drunk, but there are always a few you have to be careful around.

  "Everyone back up," Kaden calls out to the surrounding crowd. It’s mainly comprised of guys, but there are a few girlfriends or ‘girls for the night’ as I like to call random hook-ups, who are clinging to their guys and watching with wide eyes.

  At Kaden’s order, everyone steps back about five feet, giving us a wide berth. I grin in anticipation, stretching my neck from side to side and enjoying each crack that sounds.

  Kaden steps up close, invading my personal space, and I almost back up, but then I realize what he’s doing, so I stand my ground, unafraid. He leans in close and his lips brush my right ear. I guess whatever he wants to say isn't for human ears. I know every wolf present will be able to hear his words, regardless of whether he whispers.

  "Where's your mate? He should be protecting you, not encouraging you to do this kind of shit. He must be a terrible fucking mate to let you go ahead with this."

  I flinch as if he just slapped me and take a step back, meeting Kaden's gray eyes with my own cold ones. "My mate is dead. But thanks for your concern," I whisper back harshly.

  Before he can react, I drop to the ground and slide out a leg to sweep his feet out from under him. He hits the ground with an ‘oomph’ and by then, I've already moved into a defensive position a few steps out of reach.

  Everything falls silent and the crowd stares at us in shock. Even Kaden, who is looking up at me from the ground, looks completely astonished.

  I circle him, wearing an eager grin, my cockiness showing in the way I stalk around him. "What's wrong, Kaden? Did I hurt you?" I ask with a mock pout.

  He gets to his feet slowly, watching me with a guarded expression. I raise my hands in a stance Seth showed me many times, but before I have a chance to blink, Kaden is on me, throwing hit after hit. I block his attacks as best I can, but even with the enhanced speed that comes from being mated to a wolf, a few hits make it past my defenses.

  We fight for who knows how long and while he’s able to get in a couple more hits, I too break past his defenses a few times.

  Not that it really matters, since I'm holding back. Something that Seth had always encouraged me to do, regardless of who I faced. Whether in a sparring match or a fight for your life, you should never let your opponent know your true strength unless it’s your only option, or if you’re absolutely certain you can take them out.

  I take a risk, aiming a punch at his solar plexus. Unfortunately, I miss and leave myself open for his next attack. His fist connects with my jaw and the force is enough to send me falling back onto the ground. I wrinkle my nose as the metallic tang of fresh blood fills my mouth.

  I stand, anger clouding my vision, and run my tongue over the wound in my mouth. I bit the inside of my cheek hard enough to cause some damage. The only positive is that I heal faster than a human would, so it will be better in just a few days. Even so, I want to make him suffer for it and let him see the full strength I hold.

  Kaden is standing stock still, his face pale as I wipe away the blood that has begun to spill from my mouth on the back of my arm. I turn to the right and spit the excess blood in my mouth to the ground. Then I turn back to Kaden with a glare. "You know, I was taking it easy on you. I didn't want you to get embarrassed in front of your friends for getting your ass whooped by a girl. But now, I don't think I really care what your friends think anymore."

  I move fast, faster than he’s expecting if his look of surprise is any indication, and lunge at him. He falls back, but tries to get the upper hand by twisting us, making me land on my back. When I hit the ground, I give a fake cry of pain. Kaden hesitates for a moment, which was all I needed.

  I wrap my legs around hi
s waist and roll us over so he’s on the ground beneath me. But before he can move, I flip him so his face is buried in the ground.

  I pull his right arm behind his back, his shoulder verging on dislocation as I hold it tight. I lean forward, my lips brushing his ear as I speak. "I'll let you up when you say, 'Katie is a fucking goddess. Mighty and powerful.' Or, you can stay here until you pass out, which is bound to happen if you keep breathing in dirt."

  I don't actually expect him to say the words; I just wanted to rub it in that I handed his ass to him.

  He grunts from underneath me and I decide to take pity on him. I let go, releasing him and climbing to my feet. Silence greets me, everyone around us is silent, too shocked to say anything. With a broad smile, I waltz right over to Alex, the man holding the money for this fight, and hold my hand out.

  “So, I’m pretty sure I won since Kaden landed flat on his ass, so how about you hand over the cash?” I smirk at him, wiggling my fingers to get him to speed things along.

  He crosses his arms over his chest, a curious look in his eyes. “I’ll give you the money, but only after you tell me how you did that. Kaden and I are the strongest ones here tonight and there is no way you should have been able to beat him so easily, or move the way you did. You’re not one of us, yet you’ve been claimed. And even with the added gifts that come with being claimed, you still moved more like wolf than human.” He keeps his voice low enough that the humans around us won’t be able to hear. If anything, to them it probably just looks like we’re having a lovers’ quarrel. The wolves, however, will have heard every word as clearly as if he were on loudspeaker.

  “Sorry, Alex, but a girl’s gotta have some secrets. Besides, I don’t go spilling my life story to people I don’t even know. Maybe sometime in the future, though?” I tease, a flirty smile in place.