The room had become hotter since we started, thick with sweat, testosterone, and the sharp animal scent of wolves being pushed close to the surface. Shoes squeaked against mats, someone hit the floor hard enough to make the nearest ropes tremble, and Mercer’s voice kept cutting through everything whenever somebody got too enthusiastic.
By the time two more rotations had passed through my ring, breathing no longer made me want to murder Bryce Callahan all over again. The ache was still there, but Cami had taken care of the worst of it.
I smiled despite myself.
Then Mercer’s whistle shrieked again, and Ring Three cleared.
Apparently my break was over already.
My third opponent was waiting on the other side of the ropes by the time I climbed back in.
He was leaner than the first two, da
