Page 26 of Tempted By the Alpha Outlaw

“Looks like we’ve got an audience,” he says, his voice dipping lower, and I follow his gaze to the faint shadow moving behind the curtain. My stomach drops as I realize it’s my mother, her silhouette unmistakable.

“Oh, no,” I breathe, stepping back instinctively. My face is burning, and I can’t even look at Colt now, too mortified to meet his gaze.

He chuckles. “Guess I’ll take that as my cue,” he says, stepping back and shoving his hands into his pockets.

“I should—” I start, but I can’t even finish the sentence. My thoughts are still scrambled, my chest tight with everything I don’t know how to say.

Colt nods, his smirk softening. “Goodnight, Magnolia,” he says.

“Goodnight,” I manage, my voice barely audible, and I watch as he turns and disappears into the shadows, his broad shoulders fading into the night.

I stand there for a moment longer, my heart still racing, my thoughts still tangled. When I finally turn and head inside, I can still feel the ghost of his hand against my cheek, the weight of his gaze, the promise in his voice.

And I already know I’m in so much trouble.

Not with my parents.

With him.

10

COLT

It’s dark out as I walk back to the workshop, the only lights a string of lanterns hanging along a walkway to my right. I keep to the fringes, not wanting to run into anyone–not when I can barely quiet my racing heart, when I’m sure my scent would tell any alpha or omega everything they need to know about where my head’s at.

Which is where, exactly?

Between Magnolia’s legs…on her lips, fingers tangled in her hair.

Fuck, I’ve never felt anything like this. The need to be with her is raw, undeniable, potent enough to drive a man mad. It’s the new moon, my wolf should be dormant, but he’s screaming at me to claim her.

I don’t know what I was thinking, asking to walk her home. It wasn’t part of the plan. None of this has been part of the plan.

She’s a risk I can’t take, not when I’m keeping secrets.

I should be focused on the job, on the payout waiting for me. Magnolia is a liability. But I can't stop thinking about her. Can't get my mind off her. Even though I've found the girl I'm looking for.

Peaches.

She's got to be the one–the Gulf Pack’s lost princess, Esther.

The story Peaches told tonight makes it clear that she’s the girl I’m after, and she’s not trying to hide it. If I were smart, I would get in touch with the Gulf Pack tonight and tell them everything–wait for a response on what to do next, then duck out of here forever and take my money.

And yet…

I’m not going to do that tonight. At least, I don’t think I am.

Because Magnolia’s face is still on my mind, the way her lips parted when I leaned in, the way her voice shook when she admitted she’d never been kissed. The way her scent wrapped around me, the way it’s still lingering on my clothes, on the hand that touched her hair.

Could I convince her to go with me? Could I claim her…take her away from this place that has held her to such rigid rules?

I shake my head, forcing the thoughts away. This is dangerous. She is dangerous. Not because she’s a threat, but because she makes me want things I shouldn’t.

Things I can’t have.

I’m almost to the workshop, the door just ahead. I exhale, trying to shake off the tension coiling in my gut. The sooner I get inside, the sooner I can message the Gulf Pack, buy myself some more time–

“Late night stroll, Morgan?”

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