The Catalyst For It All

The sun was beginning to set when I could hear a commotion coming from the gates of the women's area.

The new fighters must have brought a woman with them. I really wish they would stop doing that.

They had such an inflated ego that they thought they could protect their women from anything, but I have yet to be able to see that.

Not even Rip could protect me from everything, and he was a frigging scary bastard that most didn't mess with. And by most, I mean no one messed with Rip.

And yet… here I was… in a cage not even big enough for a Bernese Mountain Dog.

I chuckled and rested my cheek against the bars on the ground, letting the words of Unknown Female #192 wash over me.

I hoped—No, hoping was just a different way of getting crushed. No point in hoping anymore.

The commotion was still far enough away that I couldn't hear any words, but what I could hear was Alpha's distinctive voice.