Resisting the Alpha Triplets by Cara Anderson

Ch, 52 CowardText property © Nôvel(D)ra/ma.Org.

Mallory’s POV

Colton’s kiss stole the breath from my lungs and the heart from my chest. It was heat and desire and worshipful all at once. The need I felt coursing through the bond from him was mind- numbing and toe curling. I’d never felt so cherished or so powerful, like I was vital to his very existence.

With every heartbeat, my mind slammed me with warnings. Stop, thump, this, thump, now, thump! Bad, thump, idea, thump! But I couldn’t be bothered to listen. I might regret it later, but those gorgeous baby blues of his, and all the love they held… he might as well have locked me up and thrown away the key for all the hope I had of breaking free from the spell he had me under.

“Fuck!” He cursed against my swollen lips before sinking his teeth into the bottom one and tugging at it. “I’ve never tasted anything as sweet as you, love.”

“Mmm,” I moaned, too drunk on his intoxicating flavor as well to say more.

Colt’s tongue delved back in, less insistently this time, like he wanted to explore every bit of my mouth, memorize my taste. I was content to floor his lead, sliding my tongue along the silk of his as he teased and tortured me. I wanted to savor his taste, his scent, the desperate way he needed me, for as long as I could.

Then suddenly he flipped me underneath him, pinning me to the bed with the weight of his body stretched out on top of me. He trapped my arms up over my head, caged in one of his broad hands, while grinding his sizable package exactly where I craved the delicious pressure. His kisses took on a more urgent tempo, bruising and biting, but I loved it.

His free hand went to my waist. Slipping under the hem of my shirt, his thumb caressing the soft skin of my belly before gliding up over my ribcage to cup my breast. When he circled my puckered nipple with his fingertip, I arched into him, seeking more, needing more. When he pinched the hardened bud, I screamed into his mouth.

“These are so fucking perfect.” He groaned, lifting my shirt to bare my tits to his view then leaning in for a taste. ” Mmm, so good.”

“Colton!” I whined in protest, needing him to stop talking so I could feel his warm mouth on my sensitive skin again.

“That’s it. Keep saying my name, little Omega.” He purred.

But it was the wrong thing to say. Because his use of the nickname, the memory of the last time he used it, right before he ran back to Darcy, had ice sliding down my spine and I

shivered in his arms. Misunderstanding my body’s response, he went back to teasing my nipple but I pushed him away.

“Colton! Stop!” I barked, making him flinch away from me.

“What’s wrong? I thought you wanted this. Wanted me.” The sting of rejection laced his tone.

“I do, it’s just. .” My eyes dropped to his chest, afraid to connect with his, afraid he’d see the insecurity hidden in them.

“Mal, look at me.” He didn’t force me, just waited patiently for me to comply. “I’m not taking you to bed with any secrets between us. So tell me what’s on your mind or this stops here.”

“You and Darcy had sex, like a lot.” The words spilled out before I could stop them.

For the briefest second, guilt and pain flashed in his eyes before he schooled his features again.

“Is that really what you want to talk about right now? I’m here with you, Mal. Not her.” He was exasperated with me and I couldn’t blame him. “Have you asked my brothers about every she- wolf they’ve been with?”

“Of course not, but that’s different. They’d just feed me some bullshit line about how sex will be better with me because all those women were meaningless and they actually care about me. But you… you loved Darcy.” I tried not to let jealousy color my words but failed miserably.

“I can’t believe we’re having this conversation right now.” Colton laughed dryly. “But okay, let’s talk about it, get it all out in the open.

“Yes, I cared about Darcy, even thought it was love at the time. And yes, we fucked every chance we got for the two years we were together. Right up to the day you came home from the academy and turned my world upside down. But who gives a flying fuck about any of that, Mal?”

“I do Colton! We were together for one night and you went back to her the next day. I can’t be with you, worrying the whole time that you are thinking about her, wishing I could make you feel as good as she did, that I could please you the way she did!”

“You insane little wolf!” He grabbed my chin, forcing me to look him in the eye, willing me to see the emotions they held for me. “Why on earth would I waste a second on thoughts of her when I’m busy praising the Goddess with every breath for giving me you, for granting me the privilege of holding you in my arms?

“There is nothing and no one on earth or the moon that I will ever love the way I love you or want the way I want you!”

“Colton,” I whispered, tears rolling down my face, summoned by the love and passion emanating from him.

“Mallory, I devote as little time as possible thinking about Darcy or the time I spent with her. Because when I do, all I feel is regret. I’d rather spend all my time focused on my future with you, on all the joy and pleasure we’re going to share together. And I promise you, it will be more pleasure than either of us has ever known. I’ll make sure of it.

“So the other day, you didn’t leave me, go back to her because you were disappointed with me?” I pushed, needing to hear him say the words.

He scrubbed a hand over his face and shook his head. Then he stared at me for a long moment, seeming to gather his thoughts before speaking, wanting to perfect the words in his mind before he said them out loud. I played with the worn fabric of my leggings, picking nervously at the little nubs created from too many wash cycles, while I waited for his response.

“I’m so, so sorry about that Mal. In my effort to be diplomatic and avoid making a scene in front of the pack, I did the last thing I would ever want to do. I disrespected their Luna.

“I let my guilt get the better of me. I basically used her for the last two years and now I’m breaking every promise I ever made to her. I only thought to spare her more humiliation.”

I sucked in a sharp breath at those words, something nasty like bitter envy twisting in my gut. But Colton reached out to stroke my arm, soothing away the ugly feeling.

“Hey, hey,” he cooed, “It wasn’t because I chose her feelings over yours. Not for a minute. I just never thought about what it would feel like for you to see that and I should have.

“I’ll never forgive myself for that infraction so I’ll understand if you can’t. But I need you to believe me when I tell you that I didn’t go back to her and I sure as hell didn’t want her to kiss me.

“You were right. I should have ended it with her the minute our bond snapped into place, regardless of whether you wanted me or not. I was a coward and you deserve so much better than a coward.”

“You’re not a coward, Colton.” I objected. “You’re an honorable man, one any woman would be lucky to have.”

“But I am a coward, Mal.” He argued. ” I’m a coward and it turns out, I’m a hypocrite too. The only reason I dated Darcy in the first place was because I was developing feelings for you and it scared the shit out of me.

“We all thought you were an Omega and I didn’t think you’d make a strong enough Luna. So I hid my feelings for you behind my prejudice. Little did I know, my mother is an Omega and her blood runs in my veins.”

“But her aura is so strong.” I wondered aloud.

“I learned the hard way that not every Omega is weak. Sometimes they’re as strong as an Alpha.” He said, winking at me. “So you see, I’ve waited a very long time to hold my Omega in my arms.

“Will you please let me do that? Will you please fulfill my wildest fantasy and let me make love to you?” He whispered the words against my lips while brushing his nose against mine, making me tremble in his arms.

All I could do was whimper and nod. But it was the only response he needed, claiming my lips in another soul- stealing kiss.