CHAPTER 58

ARIENNE CALLOWAY

Fear is only as powerful as you allow it to be.

That's what my mom had told me when I finally admitted to her what had happened with Mateo. I had expected her to be furious, to tell me to drop everything and run.

But instead, she had looked me straight in the eyes and said, "If someone tries to use your identity against you, you don't run. You prove to them why they should have never dared to cross you in the first place."

So here I was.

Not running.

I walked toward the ring, my opponent standing tall beside me. Kade. Ruthless, fast, and known for his knockouts. He had taken down fighters twice his size before, and he was one of the few I had been cautious about even before I injured my damn leg.

I didn't need to look at Fay and Blair to know they were panicking. I could feel it.

But I couldn't let that shake me.

As I walked forward, I lifted my chin slightly, my gaze sweeping over the roaring crowd. My expression was unreadable, calm—because that's what The Goddess was. Unshaken.

And then, I saw him.

Zayn.

Sitting near the front row, his expression sharp as hell, eyes locked straight onto me.

Shit.

For a second, something flickered across his face—recognition? Suspicion?

No. Stay cool, Ari.

I acted as if I was just scanning the crowd, my eyes shifting away without hesitation. If he thought I was her, he'd need a hell of a lot more proof than just a gut feeling.

The announcer's voice echoed through the stadium.

"Fighters, to your positions!"

I rolled my shoulders, adjusting my stance. Kade cracked his knuckles, a smirk tugging at his lips like he was already planning how fast he'd end this match.

The bell rang.

Round One: The Goddess Strikes First

Kade lunged first.

I dodged—barely. My ankle screamed in protest, but I ignored it. If he landed a hit this early, I'd lose my momentum, and I couldn't afford that.

He came at me again, fast. His right hook swung toward my side, but I twisted at the last second, catching his wrist and flipping him over my shoulder.

The crowd roared.

Kade hit the mat hard but rolled back up instantly, eyes burning with irritation. I knew that look—I had pissed him off.

Good.

I kept moving, feinting to the left before twisting to the right, landing a sharp kick to his ribs. Pain shot up my injured leg, but I gritted my teeth and didn't let it show.

Kade stumbled back.

I could see the shift in his stance now. He wasn't taking it easy anymore.

He lunged again, this time with a sharp uppercut. I dodged, barely managing to avoid the hit. But instead of backing off, I countered with a rapid spin kick, knocking him off balance.

He staggered.

I took the opening.

A sharp elbow strike to his jaw. A sweeping kick to his legs. He hit the ground.

The bell rang.

Round One: Winner—The Goddess.

The crowd erupted.

I stepped back, breathing hard, my leg aching now, but I forced myself to keep my expression cool. I didn't look at Fay or Blair. I sure as hell didn't look at Zayn.

Because this wasn't over.

Not yet.