Page 106 of Tempted By the Alpha Outlaw

His head lifts slightly, his gaze meeting mine—raw, unguarded. “It means I’ll do whatever it takes,” he says, his voice hoarse. “You tell me what you need from me, Magnolia, and I’ll do it. You want me to rebuild trust with the pack? I will. You want me to keep my distance until I’ve earned the right to stand beside you again? I will.” His throat works around a swallow. “You want me to spend the rest of my life making this up to you?” His voice cracks. “I will.”

I suck in a breath, fighting the way those words tug at my heart.

Because I want to believe him.

God, I want to believe him so badly it hurts.

But he already promised me forever once.

And he lied.

I close my eyes, shaking my head. “You don’t get to just say that and expect it to be enough.”

Colt sighs. “I know.”

My breath shudders out of me. I shake my head, pressing my fingers to my temple, trying to find solid ground.

I want to yell at him. I want to cry. I want to hit him, to make him feel this, to make him understand that no amount of swearing, no amount of kneeling will ever undo what he did.

But I just stand there.

Shaking.

Hurting.

Talking in circles because I don’t know what else to do.

“I don’t even know what I’m saying anymore,” I whisper.

Colt exhales, his voice low and careful. “It’s okay.”

“It’s not.” My throat tightens, a frustrated burn rising behind my eyes. “None of this is okay.”

“I know,” he says again.

I press my knuckles against my lips, squeezing my eyes shut for half a second, trying to fight back the pressure building behind my ribs.

I can’t do this right now.

I can’t stand here, picking at wounds that are already bleeding, trying to find words when there are none.

I open my eyes again, meeting his, my breath still shaking.

“I don’t know if I can ever forgive you,” I whisper.

Colt’s jaw tenses, but he nods. “I know.”

I exhale, long and slow. “But I meant what I said. If you love me, if you love this baby, you’ll work.”

His throat bobs. “I will.”

I nod, swallowing against the lump in my throat. “Then that has to be enough for now.”

Colt bows his head, his hands clenching at his sides.

I don’t say anything else.

I just turn and walk away.

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