Chapter 7

• As suggested by the owners of the company, that next week Anna spoke to the fans about what happened with the attempted kidnapping in a backstage interview, live on the show. Unfortunately, it was under a fake digitized voice, making her feel even more as if her life was not her own. She had never spoken on camera before due to her character being completely mysterious, but this made the feeling of imposter syndrome skyrocket. Typically, Grayson did the talking but Luca was adamant she needed to do this on her own.
• During the segment, she shared a few of the dark memories that haunted her while the fans listened in silence. Although the FBI didn’t let her reveal the truth about the werewolf, at least she was able to tell what abuse she had endured. The reality of some of her hidden pain had been revealed and slowly would lead to her coming out of the shadows. Being able to talk to the main staff of the fight club over the course of that week, had been somewhat therapeutic, but the chats with Simone seemed to do the most to set her on a road to healing. Due to Simone being half-human, she had a unique insight into the Lycan world and had something to bond over.
• Over the next few months, Anna remained stuck behind the mask, but evenings were not as lonely. Spending nights sneaking out to clubs, or just playing cards with Luka, who had taken her under his wing, life was having some normalcy again.
• On club nights, she would pretend to be Luka’s girlfriend since he was recently single himself. The truth of the matter was that he felt overwhelming guilt for allowing Grayson to make her hide behind the mask, and he was desperately trying to find ways to fix it. Not only that, but he also wanted the lonely woman to have her life back. People assumed they were starting to be a couple, but it was far from the truth. He saw her as the sister that he had never had and a dear friend.
• Walking down the ramp to the empty arena, Anna pulled her mask up, tightening the strings as she nodded to a security guard.
• “Morning, Miss Gold.”
• “Morning Anton. They set the ring up early today.”
• “Yep. Luka told the crew to get started so you could get some practice time alone.”
• “Cool. Hey, Anton.”
• “Yes.”
• “You’ve been my guard for what… three years?”
• “Yes, Miss Gold.”
• “We’ve never really talked, have we? But we spend every day together.”
• Dropping his shoulders, he tilted his head, giving her a curt nod. “Yes, ma’am. Grayson wouldn’t allow it.”
• “Well, would you know me fairly well?”
• “I like to think so, considering the circumstance. I’ve been your guard for a while now.”
• “Do you think people will like me when the mask comes off? Or do you think they will think I’m a fraud?”
• “Well, I know the rumors. I know people think you’re a monster under that mask. But you know what I think?”
• “What’s that?”
• “I think they are going to love you.” He smiled graciously. “The truth is, little lady, what’s not to love? You’re as sweet as they come. And no matter what they think, you’re beautiful on the inside.”
• Scrunching up her nose, she really didn’t like that answer. “So, you think I am, too? That I’m disfigured or something.”
• “It’s not for me to judge, but I say no matter what’s under that mask if they don’t like you, the hell with them.”
• Studying the man, she wasn’t sure she believed that. The rumors of her being a monster or disfigured had gone on for so long that she thought maybe people hoped she was. Maybe Grayson was right. Once the veil came off, she was just Anna, and she wasn’t sure she could live up to the legacy set before her when coming out of the shadows of Lady Gold.
• She wondered if she was ever going to be good enough. After years of pretending to be something she wasn’t, the fear of being a failure was now starting to weigh on her as much as the threats to her life. It was all relative. Everything that would happen going forward would mold her life into what it would be. Either she would be a true success story or a failed attempt at fame. Sadly, she never got the start she had dreamed of, and now she was going to have to make the best of both worlds. But how? She didn’t know.
• ***
• Back in Tennessee, Fallon leaned over his knees, trying to catch his breath. “Girls, your old dad isn’t as young as he used to be. We need to slow down.”
• “Come on, Dad. You’re not even that old. You act like you’re ready for the nursing home. It’s been a month since we saw you and we want to work out with you. We miss our family workouts.”
• Sitting down on the weight bench in his basement gym, he smiled up at his twin daughters. Twins were common among wolfpacks, and he loved those shifter teens more than life itself.
• “I never told you both how much you mean to me. I never meant to disappoint you the way I did after your mother passed. I’m really trying to get better so I can be the best father I can be for you both.”
• “We know, Dad. Uncle Elias says you’ve been going to therapy and haven’t been drinking,” said Payton as she sat beside him, cuddling under his arm.
• “Yep. Chase told me if I didn’t pull it together, he would release me from my Ritual-X Legends contract. All those years of wrestling under the human company would have been a waste. I can’t risk that because it pays our bills. Especially now that it’s upgraded with the battle warrior code. I have to take care of you girls the best way I know how, and that’s in the ring. I didn’t realize how expensive teenagers were.” He chuckled. “Prom is coming up next week, and that’s going to break the bank.”
• “But your little princesses will get to wear pretty dresses.” Paige giggled as she joined them on the bench.
• “Yuck… with stupid teenage boys. Can’t you two go alone? I don’t like my pups having those guys' paws on you.”
• “We’re not pups anymore, Daddy. We’re grown,” Payton huffed. “Besides, they are just our friends. We’re not dating.”
• Agreeing, Paige rested her head on her dad’s shoulder, holding her hand. “Daddy, I think Uncle Elias is going to beat you up for having that woman spend that night at our house. That woman really scared us. There was something not right about her.”
• “Yeah, he’s still pretty mad at me. I don’t blame him either. I’m mad at myself for bringing her home like that and letting her in my bed. I should have never put you girls in that situation. Especially since it’s not been long since your mother passed. I miss her so much and I feel like I’ve failed her.”
• The twins wrapped their arms around their father’s waist, hugging him, as Paige said, “We miss her too, Daddy.”