He stared down at my finger. Stepped back so it fell off his rock-hard chest. “I wouldn’t hurtyou, but you’ll lose.”
“You don’t think very highly of me, do you?”
His eyes darkened.
“What if youlose?” I asked.
“I won’t.”
I hadn’t decided what to do yet, but that…that decided me. “I see cockiness runs in the Kolane family.”
He scowled as he backed out of my bedroom. “You know what? Go for it. Challenge me.” He rolled his fingers into fists and cracked his knuckles. “It’ll be my pleasure to teach you a little humility.”
I felt the color rise in my cheeks. When he left, I slammed my door shut and stared at the wood paneling until my breathing no longer came in rough pants.
I DEBATED a long while whether to head down to dinner. Going would show Liam I didn’t care that he’d come inside my bedroom to threaten me. But going also meant having to bust out small talk, and I was in too foul a mood to carry on any conversations.
I yanked off my jeans and black swing top, then pulled on leggings, sneakers, and an exercise bra. Sticking my hair into a ponytail, I tore through the empty hallway, down the deserted stairs, and straight for the cavernous gym.
I shut the door then flooded the room with light and music. I dragged the dummy from where it lurked in the shadowy corner like a stalker and thrust my hands into a pair of boxing gloves. Jeb and Lucy stocked this place with more exercise gear than the shoddy gym I’d spent hours in before Mom got sick.
I squinted at the dummy, replacing its blank face with Liam’s. I kicked and jabbed at it. It shifted on its springs as I pummeled my fists and feet into it, but it didn’t bleed and it didn’t bruise.
Liam thought I didn’t stand a chance. He was wrong.
Wrong
Just because I was a female didn’t mean I was weak.
Asshole.
I pounded my fists at dizzying speed into the dummy. Sweat slicked down my spine, soaked the back of my exercise bra, dripped down the sides of my face. I swiped my forearm over my brow, then wound my arm back and let my fist fly. A hand hooked around my bicep and wheeled me around. I reacted with a direct punch to the gut. A breath whooshed out of August’s mouth as my glove connected to his abdomen. He released me and rubbed the spot.
“I’m so sorry,” I yelled over the thumping music.
Tearing my gloves off, I crossed the room toward the water fountain to saturate a towel with ice-cold water, then brought it back to him, but he shook his head at my offering.
A crooked smile replaced his grimace. “Where’d you learn to punch like that?”
“Self-taught.” I used the towel on my face and neck, chilling my flushed skin. “Is dinner already over?”
“No. We’re at the main course.”
“Then why are you here?”
“Because the seat I saved you was empty.”
I lowered my gaze to the black rubber flooring. “I wasn’t hungry.”
“You’re not hungry or you’re mad?”
“Maybe both.”
“What did Liam tell you?”
I whipped my gaze back to his. “How do you know he came to see me?”
“I heard him ask your aunt for your room number.”
So that’s how Liam knew where to find me… The fact that Lucy had doled out this information peeved me. Did she think his visit would be pleasant, or was she happy to encourage his intimidation technique? Probably the latter.
“Yeah. He dropped by.”
“Look, I didn’t come down here to discuss him.”
“I hope you didn’t come down here to drag me to dinner, because I’m not going.”
“As much as I admire your spunk, I think you shouldn’t go up against Liam. You don’t want to be Alpha, Ness. Even I wouldn’t want to lead the pack.”
I tried to steady my breathing, but my larynx felt snarled. “Why not?”
“Why not what?”
“Why don’t you want to lead the pack?”
“Because dealing with overblown egos and temperaments takes a toll on you. Even though Heath was…well, not the finest specimen…he gave a lot to the pack.”
“He might’ve given a lot to the pack, but he took a lot from people who weren’t part of the pack.”
August’s full mouth thinned.
“Everest’s girlfriend tried to take her own life from shame,” I continued.
“He’s gone now.” August’s voice was low. “He paid for what he did.”
“Hemight be gone, but Liam Kolane isn’t.”
August touched my bare shoulder. “Liam isn’t Heath.” When I didn’t shrug his hand off, he closed his fingers over my rotator cuff and squeezed gently. “Let him have this.”
A new aroma ribboned over August’s sawdust and Old Spice scent-flowery, watery. In the open doorway, I spied a pale face set with glittery eyes.
“Your girlfriend’s here,” I muttered.
He didn’t release me. “If you want a place in the pack, I’ll make sure you get it, but don’t do this.”
The beat-heavy Drake song faded. Just before a new song came on, Sienna spoke August’s name. He didn’t acknowledge her.
“You will lose,” he said.