Page 77 of Tempted By the Alpha Outlaw

“Depends on what you’re here for,” Sarita says, her tone cool. “If it’s about Maggie…”

I swallow hard, my throat feeling tight, and nod. "It is," I admit, glancing between them. Bruce crosses his arms and leans against the wall, his expression neutral, but Sarita sets her mug down with a deliberate clink.

“Go on, then,” she says, gesturing for me to continue. Her voice is calm, but there’s an edge to it, a warning. She’s not going to make this easy, and honestly, I don’t blame her.

I shift my weight, suddenly feeling like a kid about to get scolded. “I wanted to talk to you both,” I begin, forcing myself to meet Sarita’s gaze. “About my intentions.”

Bruce raises an eyebrow, clearly interested despite himself, and I see a flicker of curiosity soften the lines of his face. Sarita, though, doesn’t so much as blink. She’s stone-cold, her hands wrapped tightly around her coffee mug.

“I care about your daughter,” I say. “A lot. I know this is…fast. I know I’ve barely scratched the surface of earning your trust. But I want you to know I’m serious about her. About us.”

Bruce nods slowly, his expression thoughtful, but Sarita remains stiff, her knuckles white around her coffee mug. I take a deep breath, pushing through the weight of her scrutiny.

“Look, I’m not blind to the fact that I’m probably not what you would’ve picked for her,” I add. “Hell, if I were in your shoes, I’d have my doubts too. I don’t have the kind of background that screams ‘stable future,’ and I’m not gonna stand here and pretend I do.”

Bruce shifts, leaning back against the counter. Sarita doesn’t look any softer, but she’s listening. At least, I think she is.

“But Magnolia…” I pause, swallowing hard, letting the weight of her name settle in my chest before I continue. “She’s made it clear what she wants. And it’s me.”

I lift my gaze to meet Sarita’s, even though it feels like staring down the barrel of a gun. “I’m not willing to deny her that. I can’t. She’s…” My throat tightens, the words threatening to choke me, but I force them out anyway. “She’s the best thing that’s ever happened to me. And if she’s willing to fight for me, for us, then I’ll spend the rest of my life fighting to be the man she deserves.”

“You think you know what Magnolia wants?” Sarita scowls. “Because I’ve known her a lot longer than you, and let me tell you, what she doesn’t need is a man who’s going to bring trouble into her life.”

The words sting, even though I expected them. My wolf stirs uneasily, growling at the challenge, but I keep my voice calm. “I understand why you’d think that,” I say. “But I’m not here to hurt her. All I want is to make her happy. To give her the kind of life she deserves.”

“Well,” he says, his tone measured, but there’s a glimmer of warmth in his eyes. “I’ll give you this, Colt. You’ve got guts. And Magnolia…she’s stubborn as hell, just like her mother.” He shoots a teasing look at Sarita, who doesn’t react. “If she’s made up her mind, there’s not much anyone can do to change it.”

Sarita looks at her husband, her jaw tightening like she wants to argue, but Bruce’s calm demeanor seems to soften her—if only a little. She exhales through her nose, setting her mug down before crossing her arms over her chest.

“Guts won’t get you far, Colt,” she says. “Neither will sweet words. Magnolia is... she’s special. She deserves someone who’s steady. Someone who can handle her heart with care. Can you be that for her?”

The question feels like a punch to the gut, not because I don’t have an answer, but because I do. “Yes, ma’am,” I say firmly, my voice unwavering. “I can. I know I’ve got a lot to prove, and I’m not expecting anyone to take my word for it. But I’ll show you. Every day, I’ll show her—and you—that I’m the man she deserves.”

Sarita’s expression doesn’t change, but there’s a flicker of something in her eyes—reluctance, maybe, or a crack in the wall she’s built around herself. Bruce, on the other hand, is watching me with quiet approval, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth.

“She’s stubborn, like I said,” Bruce says, his voice easy and warm. “And if she’s picked you, there’s no talking her out of it. I trust my daughter’s instincts, Colt. But you’ve got a tall order ahead of you. Sarita’s right—this family doesn’t need trouble.”

“I know,” I say, the weight of their expectations settling heavily on my shoulders. “I’ve got some things in my past I’m not proud of. Things I can’t change. But I’ve left all that behind. Magnolia’s my future now. This den, this pack—it’s where I want to be.”

Bruce nods, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. “Good answer,” he says, his voicealmostapproving. “You seem like a man who’s willing to put in the work.”

Sarita doesn’t look convinced. Her eyes bore into mine, searching for any hint of weakness or deception. “Words are easy,” she says flatly. “Promises don’t mean much if they’re broken.”

“I understand that, ma’am,” I say, meeting her gaze head-on. “And I’m not making empty promises. I know I have to earn your trust, and I’ll do whatever it takes to prove to you that I’m here for the long haul.”

For a moment, there’s silence. The weight of Sarita’s scrutiny is suffocating, but I hold steady. Finally, she exhales. “We’ll see,” she says, her tone grudging but not outright hostile. “Magnolia’s happiness is all that matters. If you’re what she wants…you’d better not let her down.”

“I won’t,” I promise, the words coming out rough but true. “Not now. Not ever.”

Bruce claps a hand on my shoulder, the gesture solid and reassuring. “You’ve got your work cut out for you, son,” he says, his smile widening just a fraction. “But I’ve got a good feeling about you. Don’t make me regret it.”

“Thank you, sir,” I say, my chest tightening. “I won’t.”

Sarita rises from her seat, her movements brisk and efficient as she clears her mug from the table. “I’ll hold you to that,” she says over her shoulder. “You’ll have to.”

Bruce gives me a knowing look, his eyes crinkling at the corners. “She’ll warm up to you eventually,” he says in a low voice. “Just don’t screw it up.”

“I don’t plan to,” I reply. “Not with her.”

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