Ethan A metallic taste fills my mouth, and I cough, stumbling back. Four paws melt into two feet as my vision clears. Suddenly, before I can process what’s happening, a slew of scents and sounds assault me. A man yells something before he grabs my arm and thrusts it into the air. Screams mix with excited shouts. The metallic, iron scent of blood fills the air. It mixes with a heavy, sweaty musk. I blink, and with each blink, my eyes clear up. The red fades away, but everything is still too far away. What the hell happened? “Alpha!” The word feels far away, drowned out by the heavy haze filling my head. The cheering crowd comes into view, and with it comes the realization of what happened. Slowly, hesitantly, I look down. Bloody and beaten, my opponent lays at my feet. His skin is