33. MAX
Chapter thirty-three
MAX
I might have to crack a few skulls before the end of the day. I don’t actually like hurting people; but for Katie, I will fucking smash some of these bros into the ground. Gods Above, don’t they know not to gawk at a woman while she’s working out?
Not that an Omega has ever been in my gym. We have plenty of female Betas that come for martial arts training, or even bodybuilding. And we have the most female Alphas on our rolls of any gym in Halvassa. But, Omegas don’t typically go for weights and boxing. And those that do train in martial arts always train at the Conservatory. Away from the hungry wolves.
Katie’s a champ, going through all my stretches and showing me some of what she calls “yoga” during our warm up.
“Layla is working on her yoga instructor certification,” she says, as she curves her back in what she said was “cobra position.”
It’s hot as fuck and I want to send all my gymbos away so I can have her go through these yoga posture naked. But instead there’s a dozen salivating Alphas all circling her like she’s fucking prey. Even with the best scent canceling spray I could get my hands on, her sweet and spicy aroma seeps through, that tantalizing hint of Omega perfume drawing every Alpha’s attention. Katie ignores them, because she’s a glorious queen. But I can’t.
Fuck. Maybe I shouldn’t have brought her until we have the scent canceling shampoo– and maybe I need to get body wash too. I hate the idea of dulling her divine smell, but if we want to take her out before we’re bonded, we might just have too.
“Relax and take your time,” I coach as she squats under the bar.
“My knee is shit, remember,” she snaps back at me, squatting deep, before forcing herself back up with a grunt. “I used to be able to squat twice this much, damnit.”
Her knee. Something happened to it, and Loren said it was because of her military service. Did she get shot? I want to Alpha bark across the fucking universe at whoever injured her. Bark at them until they’re a shriveled husk of a creature. Instead I turn to the watching gymbos and snarl.
“Nothing to watch here, go on!”
“One more?” Katie asks, as she sinks into another squat. Gods her ass is fine. Tight and round and perfectly hugged by those leggings.
“Yeah, last one,” I say, distracted.
I take the bar, helping her rack. She has a sheen of sweat on her chest and I ache to lick it off her, to taste her hidden perfume and her skin salt.
I’m going to have to go take a cold shower to hide this erection if I don’t calm down.
“Jesus, what do Omegas do when they want to come work out?” Katie says, taking a swig of water before sitting down on the bench.
I adjust the bar for her, watching as she places her hands in a comfortable shoulder width grip. She really does know her way around a gym.
She does five smooth reps with just the bar before I answer.
“Omegas don’t go out without their Alphas generally. Or maybe a pack Beta.”
I add twenty pounds to warm her up, and she scowls, before doing another smooth set of five reps.
“What do you mean? Omegas can’t go out at all?”
I add another twenty pounds. “No, they just have to have an Alpha or Beta with them.”
She does five reps. “Like a chaperone ?”
I add another twenty pounds. “I guess. I’ve never thought about it that way. But, that’s why unbonded Omegas live at the Conservatory–for safety. Some Alphas aren’t as well housebroken as I am.” I grin at her.
She does another set of five, grunting a little.
“That's bullshit. That means Omegas are under house arrest all the time.”
I add one last set of twenty. Her reps are slower this time. She could lift more, but this is enough for now.
“It’s not like that. You can go anywhere you want, just take one of us with you.”
“But what if I want to be alone ? I’m used to going wherever I want when I want.” She huffs, racking the bar and wiggling off the bench. “I can’t believe Omegas can’t have their own lives.” She glares around the gym at all the Alphas who are watching her.
“Want to hit something?” I ask. She raises her eyebrows. “We’ve got a full boxing circuit. Want to knock around a few bags?” I wiggle my eyebrows, letting her relax into a laugh at my ridiculous innuendo.
“Need a hand with her?” Ace, one of my long-time gymbos calls. He’s an Alpha in a Motorcycle Club in Old Third Ward, one of the few with a female Alpha. Nova, his female Alpha, also is a member of my gym, and a damn fine boxer.
“I wouldn’t let you near my Omega if you were the last Alpha in Halvassa,” I say. “How do I know you’re not going to spirit her away to your MC?” It’s a joke, but underneath it is as much truth as I am willing to voice. Almost all of the Alphas that are watching Katie are unbonded. There aren’t enough Omegas for all of the packs in Savolinna– not since the Omega sickness.
“She’s not my type,” he says, though his gaze has an air of longing. “I have enough feisty females to keep me busy.”
I snort at him, between Nova and his Beta Junie, I am sure he’s kept busy.
“Can I hit him ?” Katie asks. She looks annoyed, and I can almost see her back arching like a cat.
“If you want,” I say. “But let’s start here.” I indicate a body bag.
I show her a few jabs. She watches, mimicking my movements.
“Good,” I say, correcting her elbows as she hits the bag. “Stay light on your feet, and turn in a little for more force.”
“I know that,” she says, rolling her shoulders before sliding in close and pounding a few more hits. She does know what she’s doing, though her technique is a little off.
“Maddie is a kickboxer,” Katie says, jabbing the bag a few more times, then darting back. “She would spar all the time.”
“Maddie?” I ask.
“One of my younger sisters,” she huffs, pausing to look at me. Sweat trickles down her temple and I hand her the bottle of water.
“Right, Layla and Maddie are two of your sisters.” I try to remember the names of the others.
She swallows several mouthfuls of water before handing the bottle back to me. “Molly Beth is Maddie’s twin, but she’s more… delicate. And Norah is the youngest. It’s been my job to take care of them since our dad died– a long time ago. And now that mom’s gone,” she shrugs, then turns back to the bag, hitting it fiercely in a series of uppercuts and hooks.
Has she been carrying this all alone? My Tough Girl, taking care of her sisters. But who is taking care of her?
Us .
She was pulled across the stars to be with us. Because she needs us, even if she won’t admit it yet. And we need her.
Gods, I need her. Not just because I want to feel her coming around me, but because I need this strong, tenacious woman to call my bullshit, and to soothe that restless part of me that only seems to quiet when she’s around.
“If you want to try that on a real opponent, I’m game,” Ace says, a goofy grin pulling at his lips.
I want to bark for him to get back. He’s too close to my Omega. Too close because she’s unbonded, and he could sink his teeth into her neck and claim her before we get the chance.
But Katie sizes him up.
“Fine. But don’t cry if I break your nose.” She reaches for the bottle of water again and quickly drinks the rest down. I want to tell her she doesn’t need to bother with Ace, he’s all bluster and no bite. But I also don’t want her to think that I don’t believe in her ability.
“Head to the ring, we’ll be there in five,” I snap at Ace.
“Are you sure?” I say more quietly, just for her.
She grabs a towel from one of the stacked carts and wipes her face. “Of course. You wanted me to show you what I can do. So now, I do.”
My jaw tightens. But I nod.
I refuse to be the kind of Alpha that tells his Omega she can’t do things. Katie is strong and she can take care of herself. And, if she can’t then I’ll be here to bark any of these other Alphaholes down.
“Alright, go get him Tough Girl.”