Page 20 of Tempted By the Alpha Outlaw

“I’ll see you tonight, Magnolia,” he murmurs.

And just like that, he’s gone, his boots echoing against the wooden floorboards as he heads toward the front of the classroom.

I let out a shaky breath, pressing a hand to my chest as if that might somehow steady my racing heart. My thoughts are a tangled mess, even as Lucy grins, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. “He’s nice,” she says.

Yeah…that’s one word for it.

The late afternoon sun filters down on us as we leave the den to go back to my family home, the cool breeze a welcome contrast to the heat still lingering on my skin from Colt’s presence. Lucy chatters away beside me, her voice a cheerful hum against the backdrop of birdsong and rustling leaves.

But as we round the corner toward the main path, my steps falter.

There’s an alpha here–and not the one I was expecting.

Frankie is leaning against the side of the building, scowling. She straightens when she sees us, her eyes flicking between me and Lucy before settling on me.

“Maggie,” she says, her tone cautious. “Got a minute?”

I glance down at Lucy, who’s busy examining a cluster of wildflowers near the edge of the path. “What’s up, Frankie?” I ask, keeping my tone light, though my stomach knots at the sight of her guarded expression.

Frankie steps closer, lowering her voice so Lucy won’t hear. “I wanted to talk to you about Morgan.”

My heart sinks, and I resist the urge to sigh. “What about him?”

Her gaze sharpens, and for a moment, I feel like a bug under a magnifying glass. “I don’t trust him,” she says bluntly. “And neither should you.”

This isn’t entirely surprising, but it certainly isn’t welcome. I fold my arms, bristling at her tone. “He hasn’t done anything wrong.”

“Yet,” Frankie counters, her eyes narrowing. “But he’s hiding something, Magnolia. I can feel it.”

I glance back at Lucy, who’s still happily absorbed in her flowers, then lower my voice. “Frankie, you don’t even know him.”

“Exactly,” she snaps. “And neither do you. But you’re already—” She cuts herself off, her jaw tightening. “Just…be careful, alright? The pack’s been through enough without bringing in someone who might blow it all up.”

I swallow hard, her words settling over me like a weight. “I hear you,” I say quietly, not wanting to argue in front of Lucy. “But I think he deserves a chance.”

Frankie’s expression softens, just slightly, but the worry in her eyes doesn’t fade. “I hope you’re right,” she says. “For all our sakes.”

She steps back, giving Lucy a quick nod before heading down the path. I watch her go, my mind racing with everything she just said.

Lucy tugs at my hand, pulling me out of my thoughts. “Can we go now?” she asks, her voice bright and impatient.

“Yeah,” I say, forcing a smile as I look down at her. “Let’s go.”

But even as we walk toward our house, Frankie’s warning lingers in the back of my mind, a shadow I can’t quite shake.

Everyone’s telling me to stay away from him…and that just hardens my resolve to make him mine.

8

COLT

Alright…so maybe I’m playing dirty.

I know she wasn’t asking me out. I know I shouldn’t fuck around with her.

And yet, here I am…at story night.

The den’s community center is packed by the time I arrive, the warm glow of lanterns casting long, flickering shadows across the walls. People are gathered in clusters, some seated on chairs and benches, others lounging on blankets spread out over the floor. The air buzzes with quiet anticipation, the hum of conversation underscored by the occasional burst of laughter.

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