Page 70 of Bonds of Pain
“Ares,” she nods, her voice deep and rich. “Been a while. This must be the royal pack princess I’ve heard so much about.”
Maya opens her mouth, and I can practically see the impertinent question forming on her lips, but Dani cuts her off with a raised hand.
“No questions here, little one. That’s the first rule. Nobody asks who you are, where you came from, or what you do outside these walls. Makes things simpler. But I’ll assuage some of your curiosity…yes, I’m an Alpha and female. No, I have no idea how many of us there are, but it’s probably more than you think. And finally, yes, I’ve taken Ares here in a fight, but it was long enough ago I’m not willing to risk a rematch.”
Maya’s mouth snaps shut.
“Maya, this is Dani. We’ve known each other since we were kids,” I add with a chuckle.
“Since this one was a scrawny runt getting his ass kicked for show,” Dani replies, her eyes darkening. “He trained here so his beta parents could use him like a fighting dog for money in the underground circuit.”
I feel Maya’s eyes on me but keep my gaze locked on the fighters selecting new opponents in the ring.
None of it is really a secret, but that doesn’t mean I want to dredge up the past for Maya to hear. Trust Dani to run her mouth as fast as she does her fists.
“They’d bet against me,” I say flatly, at Maya’s questioning look. “Because I was always so big, the odds were always good, and they made more money when I lost by betting against me. So, I learned to lose convincingly.”
“Until he didn’t,” Dani says with a grim smile. “Broke a man’s neck when he was fourteen. His parents sold him to the royal guard the next day. Now, I only get visits from him on special occasions.”
Maya’s gaze on me has turned speculative, though I don’t want to look deeply enough to know if it’s pity I see in her eyes or something else.
“Since you’ve got some natural aptitude, I thought you might want a lesson,” I tell her. “Dani would be more than happy to give you a few pointers.”
“You want to try?” Dani asks Maya, nodding toward the ring. “We’ve had more than one Omega who can drop an Alpha with the right technique.”
Maya’s eyes light up for the briefest moment, but I don’t miss the internal war she has with herself. The desire to say yes fighting against how much she thinks she should say no. GoodOmegas don’t join underground boxing gyms or enjoy getting the chance to punch another woman in the face.
She finally gestures down at herself, at the dress that likely costs more than all the dues this club collects for a month. “I can’t do much of anything in this.”
Dani jerks her chin at the nearby locker room. “We’ve got some spare gym clothes in the back. Help yourself.”
Maya hesitates for another millisecond, looks from the expectant expression on my face to the amused one on Dani’s, then scurries toward the locker room so fast that her skirt tangles around her ankles.
Once Maya disappears into the locker room, Dani turns to me with a smirk that’s too damn knowing for my comfort.
“You could teach her a few moves yourself, big guy.” She crosses her arms, biceps bulging impressively. “Why bring her to me?”
I shrug, keeping my eyes on the ring where two new fighters are circling each other. “She needed a break from the palace. This was the safest place I could think of.”
“Safest for who?” Dani laughs, deep and throaty. “Afraid you wouldn’t be able to keep your dick to yourself if you got too close during training?”
I hate how easily she reads me. Always has, ever since we were kids scrapping in these same rings.
“That too,” I admit.
“I knew you hadn’t fucked her yet!” Dani’s voice booms through the warehouse, drawing a few curious glances.
“Keep your voice down,” I hiss, glancing toward the locker room to make sure Maya hasn’t emerged. “It’s not like that.”
Dani leans against the wall beside me, shoulder brushing mine. “What’s not like what? You brought the pretty little Omega that belongs to your pack to my gym instead of taking her somewhere private. What are you waiting for?”
“It’s complicated.”
“What’s complicated about it?” Dani’s eyebrows shoot up. “I see the way she looks at you, and she belongs to your pack. Where’s the complication?”
I struggle to find words that don’t make me sound pathetic. “Her bond with Logan is new. It’s still messy.”
“Since when has making a mess ever stopped any of you?” Dani scoffs. “I’ve known you since you were a skinny kid getting your ass handed to you in this very ring. You’ve never hesitated to take what you want.”
