Dumped Omega? Now Their Alpha King Begs at My Feet novel Chapter 33

Kai's POV

I was back in my own territory, in my pack's private gym, a space of cold steel and black rubber. I was pushing myself to the physical limit, trying to exhaust the restless, agitated energy coiling in my gut.

I slammed a heavy punching bag back and forth, the chains groaning with each savage impact. The repetitive rhythm of my fists hitting the bag was the only thing that quieted my mind. But it wasn't enough.

My thoughts were consumed by Valerie. Her defiance. Her sharp, brilliant mind. Her hidden, terrifying power. I replayed her words about my corrupt Beta, Marcus Thorne. She had handed me a problem I didn't even know I had, and a solution, all in one breath.

She was a fortress, and I found myself strategizing how to get past her walls. I knew the traditional methods of courtship would be useless.

Jewelry, gifts, pretty words—she would see them as the political maneuvering they were and dismiss them with that cool, unnerving calm. I needed a different approach. A direct one.

Jax entered the gym, his footsteps silent on the rubber matting. He waited for me to finish a brutal combination before speaking, knowing better than to interrupt me mid-flow.

"You have a gift," he said, his tone flat. "From Isabella Sterling."

I stopped, breathing heavily, and grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from my face. I felt a flash of deep annoyance.

"No," I snapped. "That would be a direct insult to Richard Sterling and would complicate the contract negotiations. Just do it."

"Run a full toxicology screen," I continued, my voice clipped. "Check for common wolf poisons, nightshade, silver derivatives. The usual. If it's harmless, give it to him. It probably won't do anything, but it's not worth the political headache to refuse."

I tossed the box to Jax without another glance. It was an insignificant detail in a much larger game.

I turned back to the punching bag, her face in my mind.