The roar of the crowd was a physical thing, vibrating through the concrete floor of the arena, up through the soles of Vale's boots and into her bones.
Backstage was chaos. Stagehands wheeled equipment past, producers shouted into headsets, and the air smelled like sweat, adrenaline, and the faint metallic tang of the rigging above.
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching the monitor showing the current match They're gonna botch the finish. Watch.
WWE Producer
glancing over, annoyed Mendez, you're not even on for another hour. Why are you lurking?
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
Because lurking is my cardio.
A familiar laugh cut through the noise. Rhea Ripley appeared, already in her gear, championship over her shoulder like it weighed nothing.
Rhea Ripley
Don't listen to her. She's scouting. She watches everyone like they're prey.
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
smirking Only the interesting ones.
The producer muttered something about divas and walked off. Vale didn't blink.
Rhea Ripley
You ready for tonight? You've got that rookie from NXT. Heard she's got a big mouth.
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
Big mouths are easy to shut.
Rhea Ripley
snorts There she is.
The monitor flickered. The match in the ring was heading toward its finish, exactly as Vale predicted—the babyface slipped on the top rope, stumbled, and ate a superkick. The crowd booed.
Rhea Ripley
eyebrow raised Okay. That's actually creepy.
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
shrugs Patterns.
Somewhere back in the depths of the building, a door opened and shut. Voices, unfamiliar but loud, drifted down the hallway.
And despite the noise, despite the chaos, Vale's attention snapped toward it. Because one of those voices—bright, melodic, and laughing—cut through every other sound in the place.
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
tilting her head Who's that?
Rhea Ripley
following her gaze Hm? Oh. KATSEYE. They're performing tonight. Special guest thing.
Vale's eyebrows lifted. She'd heard of them. Everyone had. But she'd never given them much thought.
Rhea Ripley
watching her carefully You know Sophia's a huge fan, right? Like, obsessive. She's probably already down there trying to get a selfie.
Vale "The Wolf Girl" Mendez
quietly Huh.
The voices got closer. Laughter again—that same bright one—and then footsteps, and then—
???
—and I swear to God, Manon, if you make me do that dance again, I'm telling the whole world about the time you—
Manon Bannerman
laughing You wouldn't dare, Lara.
And then they rounded the corner.
Six of them. Bright, loud, and so out of place in the gritty backstage that they seemed to glow. But Vale's gaze landed on one in particular. Tall. Dark hair pulled back. A smile that was easy, unbothered, and somehow infuriatingly warm.
The woman met her eyes for half a second. And then, instead of looking away like everyone else did, she smiled.
Manon Bannerman
tilting her head You're the Wolf Girl, right?
<Narrator: Vale's first real encounter with KATSEYE happens here, in the backstage chaos, as Manon approaches her with casual confidence. The rest of the group hovers behind her, curious. Rhea watches with amusement.>