Page 42 of The Night Movers: Season One

Sugar coaxed the crowd to go silent once more.

“But before we get there, let’s go over the rules.

First: No weapons. Tonight is all about strength, reflexes, and instinct.

If you can’t win without cheating, what the fuck are you here for?

Second: No interfering. Once a fighter steps into that ring, they’re on their own.

Anyone who breaks that rule will find themselves in the cage next…

with me! Third: Betting is mandatory. Yes, that’s right, folks.

You gotta pay to play. If you can’t afford it, then go the fuck home, stay the fuck home.

Fourth: Winner takes all. You get the pot and the glory.

And your opponent goes home with nothing. ”

Sugar looked around at the crowd. “How do we determine the winner? That’s simple. The match ends when one competitor taps out or is down for a count of ten. If you can’t take your opponent down before the bell, you both lose.”

The crowd started to stomp their feet. This was so…barbaric. These people were betas. They had the choice to live a normal life and yet, they were here, watching alphas attack each other for sport, completely comfortable with omegas being abused right before their eyes.

It was disgusting.

These people were disgusting.

“Brace yourselves, because tonight’s fights are not just about the win—they’re about survival, reputation, and the kind of legacy that makes or breaks an alpha. Are you ready?” The crowd roared once more.

Sugar went on to introduce the first fight, giving a spiel about each one. When he finished, he said, “The betting starts…now.”

Ridley caught his breath as a flurry of activity broke out around him. Men in red coats moved through the crowds collecting little slips of paper.

Sugar left the ring, striding towards him with purpose. Ridley thought he would say something but, instead, he used his ponytail to tip his head up, kissing him until he was dizzy with it. By the time his brain caught up, Sugar was pulling away.

What the hell?

Jensen nuzzled his face into Ridley’s neck, inhaling deeply, before pressing a kiss to his pack bite.

Before Ridley could ask what that was for, he was walking towards a small table that definitely wasn’t there a minute ago.

He flipped open a metal chair and opened a black leather-bound book.

Where had that come from? The men in the red jackets began to appear before him, handing Jensen the slips of paper.

He then recorded the information in his book.

Those must be the bets.

Ridley’s gaze fell to the Maulers. Rurik stared at him, unblinking.

When Ridley met his eyes, defiant, he yanked hard on Rain’s collar.

Ridley couldn’t hear the boy’s cry over the crowd, but he saw the anguish on his face.

Ridley bolted to his feet. Rurik grinned, the metal on his teeth glinting.

He pulled Rain to him by his hair, then pressed his mouth to the boy’s, pushing his tongue inside.

Rain just…let him. Ridley’s heart broke for him. He was already so broken.

Ridley felt like he was going to puke. He stomped to where Sugar now stood with Jensen. “I want him taken away from that man. Right now.”

Sugar frowned. “You know we can’t do that, Strawberry.”

Ridley’s chest rose and fell rapidly. “Why? Isn’t he part of the pot? Would you let a person offer up their car but then allow them to vandalize it before the match?”

“No?” Jensen asked, like he wasn’t sure what the correct answer was in the current situation .

“He’s torturing him,” Ridley said, trying and failing to push Sugar’s large frame towards Rurik and Rain. “Go over there and tell him that Rain has to stay with Jensen until the death match is over.”

Sugar sighed. “You’re a real pain in the ass, you know that?” Ridley stared at him, hand on his hip, brows raised until Sugar sighed. “I-I gotta clear it with Titus, but I’ll see what I can do.”

Ridley went up on his tiptoes to give Sugar a lingering kiss, moaning when his hands came around to squeeze his ass. When Sugar broke the kiss, he smacked it for good measure. “Go sit down.”

Ridley smirked. “Yes, Alpha.”

He didn’t miss the low growl that erupted from the man. He returned to his seat only to find Diesel stone-faced.

“What is it? What’s wrong?”

Diesel didn’t answer, just cupped Ridley’s chin in his palm, tipping his head up, pressing their mouths together in a filthy upside-down kiss. Ridley whined into his mouth.

When Diesel pulled back, he tugged Ridley’s jaw open. “Stick out your tongue, princess.” Ridley flushed, slick soaking his underwear. Ridley did as he asked, shuddering when the alpha spit into his mouth. “Swallow it.”

Ridley made a show of it, then showed Diesel his tongue.

“Say ‘thank you, Alpha,’” Diesel demanded.

“Thank you, Alpha,” Ridley repeated, a little dazed.

Diesel slapped his cheek gently, then rubbed the spot. “Good boy.”

Ridley gave a stilted nod, turning mechanically towards the ring. What the hell was that for? A sign of ownership? Was he signaling to everyone in the room that, special privileges or not, Ridley still belonged to them? It aggravated and turned him on in equal measure.

They had to show Ridley wasn’t treated like other omegas, but they couldn’t let them forget that he was, in fact, an omega.

The pack was doing what it could to show the others that Ridley was treated better than their omegas.

But they were still claiming ownership of his body.

He still belonged to them. He was still their possession, just a prized one.

It was like walking a tightrope over shark-infested waters; leaning too far on either side would end them all.

Ridley fought the urge to chew on his fingernails as he watched sweaty alphas beat each other up. Two fights came and went before Ryker approached Rurik and attempted to remove Rain. Diesel stood as a fight erupted, but the other pack members relinquished the boy. Diesel sat once more.

“Are you my babysitter tonight?” Ridley asked.

Diesel’s lips pressed to his ear. “Someone has to stay with you, princess. You have a target on your back the size of the moon. You go nowhere alone.”

Ridley shivered, as much from Diesel’s low voice in his ear as from the threat hanging in the air.

Still, something unknotted when Ryker brought Rain to Jensen.

Ridley’s heart shattered as the boy folded gracefully to the floor, legs underneath him, then rested his head on Jensen’s thigh like a puppy looking for affection.

Jensen didn’t skip a beat, scribbling numbers into his ledger with one hand, carding his hands through Rain’s silky tresses with the other.

Rain’s eyes drifted closed before the third match began and remained shut even through the shrill bell that signaled the beginning and end of the match.

He looked so peaceful there. Ridley knew that sleep.

The kind of sleep you can only get when you can let your guard down.

When you know that nobody is going to hurt you. Rain knew that Jensen was safe.

Instinctively.

Ridley started to smile but then his world tilted on its axis, the scene before him melting, replaced by another. Rurik on his knees, begging for his life. Titus turning his back to look at Ridley. Rurik attacking Titus from behind. Sinking those metal teeth into his neck. Blood. So much blood.

As his vision faded, Ridley made a low whine in his chest, drawing Diesel’s attention .

Diesel frowned. “What’s wrong, princess?”

“I need to see Titus,” he said frantically, already standing. “Right now!”