32. Wolf
Mumford Son’s The Wolf flows over me, hyping me up as I get my hands wrapped by Jedd before the final fight of my career. I mouth along to the lyrics of my entrance song, the same song I play on repeat before every fight I’ve ever had.
Sheltered, you better keep back from the door
He wanders ever closer every night
And how he waits, begging for blood
“Ye’d think, after all this time, ye’d be sick of this song,” Jedd murmurs. He’s always a pain in the ass, but the emotion behind this being our final pre-fight ritual is hitting both of us hard. While I’m happy as fuck to stop the physical abuse to my body, I’ll miss seeing my coach regularly. Though, if I know Jedd, he will guilt me into coming back to the gym frequently.
“You going to start crying, old man?”
“Oh, feck off, pissant.” Jedd cuts off the end of the wrap, securing it to my hand. Holding up the roll, he shows me that it’s nearly finished. “Ye got any more in that bag?”
“Shit, no. I thought I had enough.”
“Fecker. I’ll swipe from Gage.” Jedd ambles out of the room, leaving me to my thoughts. I spoke with Serena again this afternoon and confirmed that she would be in the crowd with my cousin, Ava, and the rest of my family. She seemed calmer about it than she did earlier in the week, but based on the conversations we’ve had over the last couple of weeks, I know that she gets anxious easily.
The door to the room opens, and I look up, expecting to see Jedd striding over to me with a roll of tape in his hand. Instead, Kelly enters the room.
“Kelly, what the fuck are you doing here?” I look at the clock above the door and note the time—Gage should be entering the cage soon, and she has no reason to be in my room when she’s with him.
“I wanted to wish you luck,” she offers with a sultry smile. Six months ago, my cock would have gotten hard at the promise in her voice and what she’s so obviously offering. Now, I feel nothing except pity and disgust.
“Where’s your boyfriend?”
She shakes her head, and I know before she even says the words what’s about to come out of her mouth. “We broke up. I realized I made a mistake, Wolfie.” Her voice takes on a whiny tone, one that grates on every sensibility I have.
Looking to the ceiling, I step back as Kelly approaches, moving as far away from her as fast as I can. “Kelly, go back to Gage.”
“But—”
“No,” I cut her off. “Go back to Gage. There’s nothing left here. Just fucking go.”
“I love you. Please, just let’s try.”
“Kelly,” I lower my voice, gentling it as much as I can despite my irritation. “You left me for another man. I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you. But me? I’m happy. So please, go back to Gage, or don’t. Be by yourself, find happiness, or find it with someone else. But leave me alone. I’m done.”
“Okay, ye overgrown horse’s arse, let’s feckin’ get this on—oh, Kelly—” Jedd stops short, looking from me to Kelly, then back to me. “Gage is almost up. Shouldn’t ye be over there?”
She grinds her teeth, an angry habit I became familiar with during our relationship, before nodding to Jedd and walking out of the room. We both watch her go, not speaking until she’s cleared the door, and it clicks silently behind her.
“The feck she want?”
“Nothing. Let’s get this wrap on.” Jedd eyes me, suspicion on his face, but he doesn’t say anything. Wrapping my remaining hand with a speed and dexterity that belies his experience. When he finishes and snaps off the remaining piece, I nod, silently thanking him.
“Alright, I won’t give ye any pointers since ye won’t follow them anyway. So, get the job done, McCleery.”
Clapping him on the back, I tug on my black sweatshirt with a large, embossed wolf head and zip it before tossing the hood up. I had the sweatshirt custom-made when I first started fighting, and I’ve worn it for every entrance since. Jedd disappears behind the door for a minute, giving me a semblance of privacy, before he reemerges with three of the other guys on my team. Gage’s fight must be finished already if they’re all back here, except that doesn’t explain why Jedd never left my side.
“Did you watch Gage’s fight?” As a coach, Jedd typically stays with each fighter on the side of the cage, yelling out encouragement, observations, and instructions. It just hit me that he didn’t perform that task with Gage.
“No. Caleb handled it.”
My eyes narrow on my trainer and friend. “Why?”
“Because the fecker is switching gyms, and he’s a gobshite, that’s why.”
“Oh fuck. He’s going to another gym?”
“Feckin’ eejit.” I can’t disagree; Gage is a goddamn fool for leaving Jedd, especially since there have been whispers about more endorsements coming his way based on his performance. To have any real shot, he needs Jedd, not just because of skill but also because of the discipline Jedd mandates of all his fighters. Shaking my head, I expel all outside thoughts: Kelly, Gage, and even Serena, and focus on what matters right now: getting out of the cage with as minimal pain as possible and closing this chapter of my life.
Serena:
“I’m so nervous, I think I’m going to throw up,” Ava shouts, causing an infinite amount of heads to swivel in our direction. We’ve been here for two hours, watching men from all different weight classes pummel each other until the main event.
I don’t know how to feel about what I’ve seen tonight, but I do know that Ava throwing up on me will not help matters.
“Please don’t, Aves.”
“God, where is Greyson? He went to the bathroom thirty minutes ago.”
“Ava.” I turn to look at my friend, taking in the lines of worry on her face. “Why are you freaking out right now?”
She stops her frantic search for her boyfriend and turns to look at me, her eyes pleading but somehow embarrassed at the same time. “Wolf’s like an annoying big cousin, you know? I’ve only come to one other fight, but it was bloody and ended dangerously. I don’t love violence like C, and I hate the thought of someone I care about getting hurt, especially this close to retirement.”
Swallowing back my nerves, I offer Ava a small smile. “I don’t think C loves violence, but she is pretty good at it, isn’t she?” A laugh bubbles out of Ava’s throat, and I breathe out a sigh of relief. “It’s going to be okay, Aves.” Pausing, I point to the doorway. “Look, there’s Greyson, Dante, Lincoln, and Celeste. Who’s that with them?” Trailing behind Celeste is a middle-aged couple that wasn’t part of the Downing or Ink and Needle clans I met earlier tonight. Aubrey painstakingly introduced me to everyone from the tattoo shop, though I already knew Trent and Sloan from my previous appointments.
“Is that Wolf’s mom with CeCe, Ava?” Ava doesn’t have a chance to answer as Greyson scoops her into his arms, pulling her tight to his chest and giving her a hard kiss. I look over at Dante, who tries to pull Celeste into the same passionate embrace, but she gives him a hard look that promises pain if he even attempts it. I don’t need to be a lip-reader to know that Dante responded with, “Don’t tempt me with a good time, Red,” since he yelled it loud enough for the entire section to hear. Celeste’s answering hit is not a surprise.
“Celeste Lauren Downing,” the woman next to her, presumably Wolf’s mother, chastises her. “Stop hitting your boyfriend.”
“Aunt Glynnie,” Celeste whines, sounding like a petulant child who just got caught stealing a cookie.
“No, now introduce me to your friends, you insolent little beauty.” The way she says it, it sounds like she’s putting on a performance, one intent on displaying the maximum amount of emotions to her audience.
“Fine. You know Ava”—she gestures toward Ava and Greyson—“and that’s her boyfriend, Grey. Next to her is Serena, our friend from school.”
“Hi, Mrs. McCleery, Mr. McCleery.” Ava greets her and her husband with a wide smile, wrapping Mrs. McCleery in a hug before falling back into Greyson’s embrace. Greyson offers a hand to both of Wolf’s parents before returning it to Ava’s waist.
Clearing my throat, I step forward, offering my hand in the same manner Greyson did. “Oh no, young lady. You give me a hug; I’m too young to be so formal.”
“Oh,” I squeak as Wolf’s mom throws her arms around my shoulders and pulls me in for a tight hug. I feel like my organs are about to burst from the pressure when she finally releases me, stepping back but keeping a hold on my shoulders. I’m not sure what I expected, but it definitely wasn’t a pint-sized tyrant with death-gripping hugs.
“I’ve heard so much about you, Serena. I’m so happy you’re here. This is my husband, Lachlan. Lock, say hi,” she commands, nudging her husband forward. Mr. McCleery offers a hand and smiles, greeting me in a silent hello that is the polar opposite of his wife’s display. “He doesn’t say much.”
“Aye, because ye speak enough for the both of us, woman,” Mr. McCleery teases in a light Scottish accent, glancing at his wife with affection. “It’s lovely to meet ye, Serena. Wolf’s told us much about ye.”
“He did?” CeCe and I ask in unison, though my voice sounds confused, and hers sounds excited. Cutting my gaze to her, I narrow my eyes at her outburst, but she just tucks her lower lip beneath her top lip and acts like she can’t see my questioning glare.
“Yes, sweetheart. I am so excited to get to know you. I’m sure we’ll become great friends,” Mrs. McCleery responds.
I smile at her, sure that it looks more like a wince than anything resembling enthusiasm. “Great. Sounds good.”
“Wolf and CeCe have always been the closest of the bunch, you know,” Mrs. McCleery says beside me. “And I’ve always viewed her like my daughter, especially since my little sister has all the emotional output of a broom. Celeste doesn’t let many people in, so the fact that you have befriended her and Ava in such a short time tells me all I need to know.”
“They’ve become my best friends,” I answer truthfully. “I don’t know what I would have done without them the last few months.”
The hands holding my shoulders pull me back in for another tight hug before releasing me. “That’s good, honey. Now, tell me about yourself.”
“Oh, there’s not much to tell. I’m a junior at Marymount in the English program.”
“‘That is part of the beauty of all literature. You discover that your longings are universal longings, that you’re not lonely and isolated from anyone. You belong.’”
I pause for a moment, reflecting on her words and where I’ve heard them before. “Fitzgerald?”
Mrs. McCleery smiles, pleasure lighting up her face. “Good girl. Are you a Gatsby fan?”
Shaking my head, I wince. “Not really. If I’m reading anything from that period, it’s Wharton or Eliot, maybe Hurston. But I’m not a huge fan of Fitzgerald. Daisy annoyed me.”
“Well, we can’t all be perfect, can we, my dear?” she says with a wink. She opens her mouth to add something else to the conversation when a high-pitched voice calls out to her.
“Oh my goodness, Glynnie. How are you?” Slender arms wrap around Mrs. McCleery’s neck and pull her in. From my viewpoint, it looks like this new pink-haired woman is trying to suffocate her with her embrace.
“Kelly, how lovely,” Mrs. McCleery responds, sounding like the words tasted like sawdust on her tongue. I look past her to see Mr. McCleery scowling at the woman who just joined us.
“You look amazing. Have you lost weight?”
“No.” Kelly’s smile falters at Wolf’s mother’s flat tone, but she doesn’t seem deterred. “New haircut then?”
“No, same style I’ve had for the last fifteen years.”
“Then—”
“Kelly, nothing’s changed. How is Gage?”
Kelly’s smile becomes brittle. “Oh, Wolf didn’t tell you? We’re not together anymore. You know Wolf and I were talking earlier; we think we deserve to give it another chance. There’s so much love between—”
“Have you met Wolf’s girlfriend, Serena?” Mrs. McCleery interrupts, shocking both Kelly and me if my sputter and Kelly’s icy stare are any indications.
“Mrs. McCleery,” I start, shaking my head emphatically. The last thing I need is for Wolf to think I’m telling his friends and family that I’m his girlfriend.
“Glynnie, dear. Remember?” No, I don’t remember.
“I—”
“… am so modest. But tell Kelly how you two met.” Raising her voice, she explains, “Wolf gave her a tattoo. Isn’t that romantic? And she’s one of Celeste’s best friends. And you know how discerning our CeCe is when it comes to character.”
Giving me the attention she didn’t think I was warranted when she first interrupted us, Kelly surveys my form, dragging her eyes from the tip of my black sneakers, up my baggy jeans, and to the tight, off-the-shoulder top I’m wearing. Though my shoulders are on display, I’m a lot more conservatively dressed than some of the other women here, Kelly included. In her pink minidress and heels, we look like we’re going to two different events.
“Hmm. Anyway, Glynnie, it was so good catching up. Lunch soon? I’ll tell Wolf to set it up.” Her words show her dismissal, her analysis that whatever Wolf and I are, it’s no competition for her.
“I’m with my son’s girlfriend, Kelly. I don’t believe Wolf will be inclined to set anything up. It was nice seeing you. Say hi to Gage for me.” Mrs. McCleery turns from her, pulling me with her to hide within the crowd we’re with.
Once Kelly is out of earshot, Mrs. McCleery releases my arm and offers me an eye roll. “I hate rooting against women, you know? I’m all for empowerment, going after what you want, and being the maker of your destiny. But that girl, my goodness, what a viper.” Shaking her head, she shivers before continuing, “When Wolf told me they broke up, I felt bad for him, but I was so relieved she would be out of our lives, especially after he told me what she did.”
Furrowing my brow, I can’t help but ask, “What did she do?”
Mrs. McCleery scoffs, not hiding her distaste. “She left him, practically in the middle of the night, for one of his teammates, or training mates, whatever the hell it’s called. Wolfric is retiring after this game. Kelly was against it and tried to convince him to postpone his retirement.”
“I think it’s called a fight. And Wolfric? That’s his real name?”
“Yes, I went through an Old English phase for a while. He was almost Ultread, but my husband wouldn’t allow it.”
“Thank God,” I mutter. “No offense.”
“None taken.”
“Mrs. McCleery—Glynnie—I’m sorry to disappoint you, but I’m not Wolf’s girlfriend.”
She shrugs like it’s of no consequence. “Yet, but I’m sure you will be. Now, shh, I hear Wolf’s entrance song.” She turns, giving me her back and effectively ending the conversation. I feel like I have whiplash from the amount of information I learned in the last fifteen minutes.
“Told you she was fiery,” Ava whispers into my ear. “But you and Wolfie, huh? Freaking knew it.” She holds up her hand in an invitation to high-five me.
“I am not giving you a high-five,” I grumble, earning laughs from both her and Greyson. We sober as soon as we hear a loud wolf howl, followed by the opening chords of Mumford Son’s The Wolf. The lights dim, casting us all in shadows as a spotlight shines on the mouth of the entrance. “Ava, I thought Wolf was an amateur fighter?”
CeCe butts in, answering my question. “He’s not, technically. He got his start in jiu-jitsu championships, then worked his way into the MMA world.”
I nod, feigning understanding. I could ask more questions, but I stand enraptured by the hooded figure walking out to the lyrics about a wolf on the hunt for blood. His journey to the cage is timed perfectly with the song and the lyrics; he walks through the crowd as the song croons, You have been weighed, you have been found wanting. He steps up to the platform as the singer taunts, You better keep the wolf back from the door. And finally, he arrives at his corner of the mat with the lyrics, I promised you everything would be fine.
Howls and claps usher him in, sealing his control over the crowd. I don’t pay attention as his opponent’s song begins, nor do I give the same focus to the coordination of their entrance song and their arrival in the cage. My eyes are trained on Wolf as he strips to a tight pair of shorts and his tattoos.
The other fighter strips quickly, and a man in a referee shirt walks into the middle of the cage, announcing the rules to Wolf and his opponent before ordering them to shake hands and retreat into their corners. A sound like sticks breaking goes off, and then Wolf sprints.
For someone of his size, I never would have expected the speed with which he can move, but he charges at the other fighter so quickly, in such a blur, that the punch combination he lands takes him down immediately. As soon as his opponent drops, Wolf is on him, giving one final blow until the ref rushes out, stopping Wolf’s punches and signaling the end of the fight.
The crowd becomes pandemonium; frantic energy seeping out of everyone’s pores as we collectively process what the hell just happened and how, not even eight seconds into the fight, Wolf laid that man out. The ref holds Wolf’s arm up, declaring him the winner as his team storms the stage. In the brightness surrounding him, I doubt he can see me, but I scream, cheering for the man who just ended his career so viciously that there’s no doubt his fight will be remembered.
Mrs. McCleery grips my arm, squeezing so tightly that I’m worried I’m going to be the next one down for the count. “Mrs. McCleery—”
“Aunt Glynnie, Rena, come on. We need to go back to the family section and wait for him before this place becomes a madhouse.” Keeping my forearm in her grasp, Wolf’s mother clutches her husband’s hand and leads us through the crowd. I’m thankful for the anchor she’s providing as we weave through the crowd, giving me direction as my emotions riot inside.
We break through the hoard and slip through a doorway, bringing us to a large hallway filled with all of the fighters’ family and close friends. Easing through a door, we’re deposited into a large room to wait.
Mrs. McCleery finally eases her grip off me, letting me go with a sharp gasp as Wolf enters the room thirty minutes later. I thought it would have taken longer for Wolf to bask in the adoration of his fans one last time, but one look at his face tells me that he’s ready to get out of here.
“Hey, Ma.” Wolf pulls his mom into a hug, dwarfing her with his size. Looking up, Wolf grabs his dad and pulls him in, too, embracing both of his parents in a sweet gesture that seems so out of place in the brutality of the night, yet still strangely right. I hang back, stepping next to Ava as Celeste runs at Wolf, throwing her arms around his waist.
“Holy shit, what a combo,” she rushes out, bouncing on her heels in excitement. “What a way to go, Wolfie. You annihilated him.”
“Yeah, he’s okay though, in case you were wondering, killer,” Wolf replies dryly, easing Celeste’s arms from around his body. He nods at Dante before making his way around the room. He thanks each cousin, each friend, and each person from his gym for their support, giving hugs, handshakes, and backslaps as necessary before making his way over to me. Though I’m the last person he approached, I feel the weight of everyone’s eyes intimately and shrink back, blushing furiously at the attention. Wolf sees what I’m trying to do and mumbles under his breath, “Don’t think so, princess,” and hauls me forward, crushing me against his body.
“I fucking knew it,” Celeste calls out behind me, and I blush deeper as I push against Wolf’s hold.
“Wolf,” I mutter, putting distance between us so that I can look into his face. “That fight was—” I pause, shaking my head to find the right word but coming up short. “Incredible.” The word doesn’t feel like it has enough currency to fully describe my thoughts, but it’s the best I have.
“Thanks, princess. You ready to get out of here?”
I furrow my brow, shaking my head at his question. “But, what about everyone here? They all came for you.”
“They’re going to the bar; my parents are probably going home. I just need some time to decompress. You game, princess?”
Swallowing down the denial lodged in my throat, my guilt at taking him away from the people who want to celebrate him is pushed aside, and I slip my hand into his. “Sure.”