Reborn and Engaged To My Ex's Alpha Rival

Chapter 5

Polly’s POV

“Marry me.”

The words hung in the air between us like a grenade.

Kieran Draven stared at me as if I had lost my mind. His cold grey eyes bored into mine with such intensity that my knees nearly buckled. Water still dripped slowly from his wet hair onto his broad shoulders, tracing paths down the dark tattoo on his chest, but I forced myself to keep my gaze locked on his face.

He didn’t laugh or shout. He simply took one slow step forward and the temperature in the locker room seemed to drop ten degrees.

“You’ve got to be f*****g kidding me,” he said, his voice dangerously low. “Noah Hale’s little pet sneaks into my locker room after their big victory night and proposes marriage? You really think I’m that stupid?”

I stood my ground even as every instinct screamed at me to run. My heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might burst.

“I’m not his pet,” I replied, my voice steadier than I felt. “Not anymore. And I’m deadly serious.”

Kieran took another step closer. Then another. His powerful frame towered over me, the scent of his shower gel and raw Alpha energy wrapping around me like a cold blanket. He kept advancing and I kept taking steps back until my back finally hit the edge of a locker with a soft thud. He placed one large hand on the metal right beside my head, effectively caging me in without even touching me.

His grey eyes searched my face, cold and calculating.

“Three seconds were up,” he murmured, leaning in slightly so I had to tilt my head up to meet his gaze. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t call my men right now and have them drag you back to Hale covered in bruises.”

I swallowed hard, feeling the heat radiating from his bare chest so close to me. My mind raced.

“Because I can give you something Noah never will,” I said quickly. “Information. Real information that will hurt him. Tomorrow night, after the victory celebrations, Hale Pack has an ambush planned on your team’s convoy. Three vans with silver-laced traps on the route back to your pack house. They’re planning to take out at least two of your key players to weaken you before the next league match.”

This was actually something Noah had requested my help with but I'd refused him saying it wasn't proper. Even so, I was sure he was still going to go through with it, even without my help.

Kieran’s eyes narrowed. He didn’t move away. If anything, he leaned in closer, his face now only inches from mine.

“Convenient,” he growled softly. “You expect me to believe that Noah’s own woman, or ex-woman like you said, is suddenly selling him out? What’s your game, Rivas? Spy? Suicide mission? Or did he send you here thinking I’d fall for a pretty face and a sob story?”

Pretty?

That was the first time anyone had ever called me that. Back in the pack, it was either fatso, fatty or anything related to my size, and that was when they were being nice.

“I’m not some pretty face,” I shot back before I could stop myself. “And he didn’t send me. He threw me away tonight like I was garbage. Framed me as a traitor working with you. He already transferred my company shares to himself. By morning, I’ll have nothing. He plans to have me killed quietly after labeling me a spy for your pack.”

Kieran studied me for a long, suffocating moment. His free hand came up, hovering near my throat as if deciding whether to squeeze.

“Bold claims,” he said, voice dropping even lower. “You expect me to believe that after you waltz in here, and stare at my body like you’ve never seen a man before, then offer marriage as a business deal. You must think I’m desperate.”

“I don’t think you’re desperate,” I whispered, refusing to look away even though my legs were shaking. “I think you’re smart. Marrying me publicly would be the perfect slap to Noah’s face. It would humiliate him in front of the entire league and the council. I have insider knowledge of his strategies, his sponsors, his weaknesses. I built his career from nothing. I know every dirty secret. Help me destroy him…and I’ll belong to you completely. A binding alliance.”

Kieran’s jaw tightened. He was so close now that I could see the individual droplets of water still clinging to his lashes. His presence was starting to get a bit too overwhelming for my little heart.

“You’re either the bravest woman I’ve ever met, or the stupidest. What makes you think I won’t just use you for the information and then discard you like he did?”

“Because you’re not like him,” I answered, my voice gaining strength. “You don’t pretend. You take what you want openly. And right now, you want to crush Hale Pack. I’m offering you the perfect weapon.”

For several tense seconds, silence stretched between us. His cold grey eyes drilled into mine, searching for any sign of deception. I could feel my pulse racing under his watchful gaze.

Finally, he straightened slightly but didn’t step back, still keeping me effectively trapped against the locker.

“Prove it,” he said, his tone deadly serious. “Tell me exact details of the ambush; time, location, who’s leading it. If even one thing is wrong, I’ll personally deliver you to Noah’s doorstep myself.”

My mouth went dry.

This was the moment. My entire second chance rested on whether he believed me.

I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could get the words out, heavy footsteps echoed from the hallway outside the locker room.

Multiple sets.

Kieran’s eyes flashed with warning as he glanced toward the door.

“Looks like your timing is perfect,” he said co

ldly, finally stepping back. “My Beta and security just arrived.”