Page 80 of Tempted By the Alpha Outlaw

“I know what it’s like,” she starts, “to come into this pack from the outside. It’s not easy. People look at you differently, like you don’t belong, no matter how hard you try. But…you can prove them wrong.”

Colt doesn’t say anything, but the way his jaw tightens, his shoulders subtly stiffening, tells me her words hit home in a way that isn’t entirely comfortable for him. There’s a flicker of something in his expression—a shadow of doubt, of apprehension—that sends a chill rippling through me.

Tilda reaches out, her hand resting briefly on his forearm. “You’re lucky,” she says, glancing at me with a small, knowing smile. “Not everyone gets someone like Magnolia to fight for them.”

I manage a smile in return, but my focus is on Colt. The way his jaw flexes, the faint tension in his grip on my hand, the way he doesn’t meet my eyes…it’s subtle, but it’s there. Like he’s bracing for something. Like her words aren’t just a passing comment—they’ve struck a nerve.

And it terrifies me.

What is he hiding? What part of himself is he holding back, even now, after everything we’ve been through? My wolf stirs uneasily, her instincts prickling at the edges of my awareness. I try to remind myself of what I know—Colt loves me. He’s proven it in every way that matters. But the uncertainty I feel through the bond, the way his emotions flicker, makes my heart clench.

Tilda’s hand drops from his arm, her gaze lingering on him for a moment before she nods, satisfied. She turns back to Reyes, her hand brushing his as they step back toward their seats, leaving me and Colt alone again at the table.

I wait until they’re out of earshot before leaning closer to him, lowering my voice. “Are you okay?”

He blinks, like I’ve startled him, and then forces a smile. “Yeah,” he says. “I’m fine.”

I search his face, looking for something more, but his walls are back up, his expression carefully composed. “You sure?”

His eyes meet mine, and for a moment, there’s a flicker of something vulnerable—but then it’s gone. “I promise,” he says, his thumb brushing over my knuckles in that way that always calms me. “I’m good, angel.”

And maybe it makes me a lovesick fool, but I believe him.

We’re finishing up the last bites of roast and potatoes when a small tug at Colt’s sleeve draws my attention. I glance to the side, and my heart gives a little squeeze when I see Lucy standing beside him, her curls bouncing as she shifts her weight from foot to foot. Her tiny hand is gripping his arm, her big, round eyes wide and earnest.

Colt looks down, clearly caught off guard, but he leans toward her, his expression softening. “Hey, little one. What’s up?”

My sister doesn’t hesitate. “Will you read to me?” she asks, her voice small but confident in the way only a child can manage. “After dinner?”

My breath catches as I watch the scene unfold. Lucy has always been shy around people she doesn’t know well, especially someone as intimidating as Colt. But here she is, tugging on his arm like she’s known him her whole life.

Colt blinks, and for a second, I think he might say no. But then his expression shifts…and he softens. He leans down, meeting her gaze at eye level. “Yeah,” he says, his voice low and gentle. “I can do that. What book?”

Lucy’s whole face lights up, and she bounces on her toes with excitement. “The dragon one! The one with the knight!”

Colt chuckles, the sound rich and warm, and ruffles her curls with a hand that’s far too big for her tiny head. “Sounds like a plan,” he says. “After dinner.”

She beams at him, practically glowing, and scampers off to her seat next to my mom like she’s just won the lottery. My heart squeezes in my chest, a deep warmth spreading through me as I watch her go…and it’s even more intense when I see my mother smile like there’s a chance–just a little chance–that she’ll accept Colt. When I turn back to Colt, he’s watching Lucy with a look I can’t quite describe. Something soft. Something reverent. Like he can’t quite believe what just happened.

“You’re good with her,” I murmur, my voice quiet but full of meaning.

Colt glances at me, and for a moment, I see something raw and unguarded in his eyes. “She’s a good kid,” he says, his voice rough but gentle. “Kind of reminds me of you.”

I have to swallow past the lump forming in my throat. “That’s sweet,” I whisper, my fingers tightening around his. “Thank you.”

He smiles at me then, the kind of smile that makes my heart stutter. “Thank you,” he says, and there’s a weight to the words, a sincerity that makes my chest ache.

As the pack begins clearing their plates and drifting into smaller conversations, I let myself imagine the future. I glance at Colt, and I realize I want more of this. More of him. More of us.

A life. A family.

The thought sneaks up on me again, unbidden but impossible to ignore. A little girl with his stormy blue eyes and my curls. A baby who grows up knowing they’re fiercely loved. My wolf stirs, a low hum of approval threading through my thoughts, and I know it’s not just me who feels it.

Colt’s hand tightens around mine, and I glance at him to find his gaze already on me. His eyes are steady, searching, like he’s trying to read the thoughts I can’t quite bring myself to say out loud.

“Now it’s my turn to ask–are you okay?”

I nod, my throat tight with emotion. “I’m fine,” I whisper. “Just…happy.”

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