Chapter Three: Kaine

"What the fuck do you want Jaxon?" I growl. 

My brother rolls his eyes and walks into the office. "The Ring is the most popular club in the pack, it's all I ever hear about. I'm really impressed with how much effort you've put into it even though it's technically not even yours," he says making me growl again.

I stand up from my desk and push past him, walking out of the office. "Did you really interrupt my work just to tell me you're impressed?" I snap.

I walk behind the bar counter and he sits down on one of the stools. I grab the clipboard on the wall and start checking the stock of liquor behind the bar. Out of the corner of my eye I see Jaxon sigh.

"Actually, I came to talk to you about Maia," he says and I pause.

"What about Maia?" I ask. As much as my twin sister irritates the hell out of me, I still care about her.

"Well I'm really worried she is going to find her mate next week. I mean mom and dad let her invite the entire pack and dozens of wolves from other packs to come to the party," he tells me.

I look at him through narrowed eyes. "Why are you worried about her finding her mate? That's supposed to be a good thing."

He grunts. "She's going to want to tell him about the three of us, and I don't trust anyone with that secret," he explains.

"Okay, what the hell do you want me to do?"

"Well I would say something, but Maia trusts you a lot more than she trusts me and—"

"Oh, fuck no!" I snap. "I am not going to talk to Maia about her mate! That needs to stay between her and mom."

"Kaine come on! You're her twin brother! And it's your secret too," he hisses.

I glare murderously at him. "Get out of my club Jax," I growl.

He sighs again. "Fine, but you really should talk to her," he mutters as he walks away.

I can feel a growl rumbling in my chest as I watch him leave. "I'm not talking to her," I growl to myself.

***

I down the rest of my drink as the bell dings again. The unconscious wolf is dragged out of the ring while the winner pumps his arms in the air.

"And Hunter Coleson is victorious once again! That puts him in third place!" Megan, my announcer, says through the microphone.

She glances over at me from her booth and I give her a small thumbs up. She grins then continues to announce the next fight.

"She's a lot better than Zack," my bartender, Lindsay, tells me.

"Yeah, I think it also helps that we finally got a booth. That way people can't steal the microphone anymore," I mutter.

She laughs. "Yeah, that was funny for a while but then the random drunk announcements just got annoying," she agrees.

I nod, pushing my glass towards her. She fills it with an amber-colored liquor and hands it back to me. I turn around on the stool, letting my gaze wander around the packed club.

People surround the fighting ring as well as the dance floor. At least half of them are drunk or high—which takes a lot of drugs or alcohol when you are a shifter. I'm not even paying attention until I hear Megan say my name over the microphone.

I look up with furrowed brows to see her waving me over to the booth. I set my glass onto the bar counter and make my way through the horde of drunk wolves. I heard around to the back door and step inside the 5 by 5-foot room.

"What's going on?" I ask. 

Megan turns around, pulling her headphones down so they rest around her neck. "Uh well you know that guy Hunter Coleson? Well he requested to fight you," she tells me.

I smirk. "Did he now?"

She nods. "What should I tell him?"

"Tell him I accept and announce the next fight; for the championship title," I say.

I exit the booth and head towards the edge of the ring. It is massive, raised up off the ground and surrounded in a wire metal cage.

"The next fight will be for the title of Ring Champion! Hunter Coleson, our now second place fighter, has challenged our current Champion, Alpha Kaine!" Megan announces and I hear dozens of gasps from the crowd.

Everyone instantly goes silent, even the music is turned down. Hunter is standing inside the ring already and grins when he sees me.

I step up into the ring, closing the door behind me so the guards can lock it. I crack my knuckles as Megan announces the rules.

Well Lucifer, want to make this quick or fun? I ask.

Make it fun, I could use a punching bag, he growls.

I hear the bell ding and Hunter darts toward me. My fist collides with his face before he can reach me.

He careens backwards into the metal caging. I smirk when I see blood dripping from his broken nose and busted lip.

He wipes his mouth with his arm, glaring at me furiously. I see rage in his eyes and a fire starts pulsing through my veins.

He rushes at me again, aiming for my stomach. His shoulder connects with a powerful force, but I don't even move. I bring my fists down onto his back and he collapses.

He lands flat on his chest, gasping for air. I take a step back when he eventually rises to his feet. He puts up his fists and growls angrily.

We're just pissing him off, Lucifer remarks.

No shit Sherlock, I mutter.

Hunter charges at me a third time. He throws a punch at my face, but I duck to the side and bring my knee up forcefully into his stomach.

He drops to the concrete where he immediately doubles over. He staggers to his feet, his face screwed up in pain as he sucks in a wheezing breath.

His eyes suddenly flash yellow and I plant my feet. He shoots forward, shifting mid-stride. The large brown wolf leaps for my throat.

I easily catch him by the scruff of his neck. His paws flail desperately, and his claws tear my shirt to shreds, narrowly missing my chest. I toss his body to the side.

He hits the caging and falls to the floor. The wolf lets out a snarl as he pushes himself to his feet.

Growing irritated with his persistence, I decide to finish this. When he jumps at me again, I smash my fist into his muzzle.

A sickening crack echoes through the ring as the wolf's jaws snap together against the cement. Blood flows thickly from his mouth as Hunter shifts back.

He lays on the floor, naked and unconscious. I hear the bell ding but not what Megan says after.

As I step out of the ring, I yank my torn shirt over my head and discard it. Everyone immediately moves out of my way, providing a clear path to the bar.

A few minutes after I sit down, the music gets louder, and they start dancing and drinking again. Lindsay leans against the counter, watching me with amusement.

"Nice tattoo," she remarks, looking at the black tribal markings that cover my back.

"Thanks," I mutter. I down what remains of my drink—still sitting on the counter where I left it—and motion for her to give me another.

"You know I keep forgetting you're only 15—well 16 next week," she sighs.

I shrug nonchalantly. "I guess some shifters just mature faster than others."

That is complete bullshit and you know it, Lucifer snorts.

Will you shut up? I snap.

Lindsay suddenly leans in closely, a sly grin on her face. "What kind of shifter are you?" She asks quietly.

I growl in annoyance, "Lindsay I've told you a million times, I'm not fucking allowed to tell you that."

And that is why you should talk to Maia, to make sure she knows that she isn't allowed to tell anyone either, Lucifer interjects. I growl and block him from my mind.

"Oh, come on! We've known each other for like ten years! Please Kaine?" She pleads.

My face hardens. "No."