Page 40 of Alpha's Claim
Colt was already waiting for her in the shade of the porch, leaning against one of the posts, his arms crossed over his broad chest. The sight of him sent a pleasant warmth spreading through her, and she couldn’t help the smile that tugged at the corners of her lips.
“There’s my mate,” Colt said, his deep voice wrapping around her like a warm blanket.
Briar climbed the steps, drawn to him as if by some invisible force. When she reached him, Colt pulled her into his arms without hesitation, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. She melted into him, her body relaxing in his familiar embrace.
“Come on,” Colt murmured, his lips brushing against her temple. “Lunch is ready.”
They made their way to the small table set up at the edge of the porch, where a simple spread of sandwiches and fresh fruit waited. The meal wasn’t elaborate, but Briar appreciated the care Colt had taken in preparing it. It was these little things—his attention to detail, the way he made her feel seen and cherished—that meant the most to her.
They sat together, the warm breeze stirring the air as they ate in comfortable silence. Colt handed her a glass of sweet tea, watching her with that steady, grounding gaze that never failed to make her feel safe.
It wasn’t until they were halfway through their meal that Colt broke the silence. “You don’t need to worry about Elle.” His tone was calm, but the import of his words was not lost on her—an unspoken promise that he’d taken care of things.
Briar raised an eyebrow, curiosity flickering in her green eyes. “What do you mean?”
“Landon escorted her back to Dallas,” Colt explained, setting his sandwich down and leaning back in his chair. “He told her if she steps foot on this ranch again, she’ll be turned over to the pack in Galveston.”
Briar frowned, her brow furrowing. “I don’t know, Colt… That doesn’t sit right with me. Forcing her into another pack feels... wrong.”
Colt’s golden gaze softened as he reached across the table, taking her hand in his. His touch was warm, steadying, and Briar found herself relaxing under the power of his presence.
“It’s not about forcing her into anything,” Colt said gently. “It’s her choice if she comes back. She knows the consequences now. If she can’t respect what we’ve built here, then she’ll have to deal with the consequences. That’s on her—not us.”
Briar bit her lip, still not entirely comfortable with the idea. But she also knew Colt was right. Elle had been given every chance to do the right thing, and she’d chosen not to. If she returned, knowing what awaited her, that would be her decision to make.
“I suppose you’re right,” Briar murmured, squeezing Colt’s hand. “I just… I hate the thought of anyone being exiled.”
Colt’s thumb stroked the back of her hand, his touch reassuring. “You’ve got a good heart, Briar. But some people won’t change, no matter how many chances you give them. You’ve already given Elle more grace than she deserved.”
Briar exhaled slowly, nodding. A comfortable silence settled between them as they finished their meal, the tension fromearlier melting away. Briar’s heart felt lighter knowing that the trouble with Elle was behind them—that Colt had taken care of it, just as he’d promised.
When they finished eating, Colt leaned back in his chair, his gaze lingering on her with a warmth that made her cheeks flush. “You okay now?” he asked, his voice low and full of quiet concern.
Briar smiled softly, her heart swelling with affection for the man sitting across from her. “I’m okay,” she whispered. “Thanks to you.”
Colt gave her a crooked grin, the kind that made her pulse quicken. “Good.”
And in that moment, with the sun shining down on them, Briar knew she was exactly where she was meant to be—at Colt’s side, building a life together, one moment at a time. But still there was that niggling feeling that Elle wasn’t done with them yet.
Chapter
Sixteen
COLT
Colt leaned back against the edge of his desk, his arms crossed over his broad chest as he studied Landon. His brother stood on the opposite side of the room, hat stuck firmly on his head, his expression serious. The easy grin Landon usually wore was conspicuously absent, replaced by a grim look that put Colt’s instincts on high alert.
“She’s in Dallas,” Landon said, voice low and even. “Dropped her off at a mid-level hotel near the edge of the city. Gave her a lump sum—enough to last her six months if she’s smart about it.”
Colt gave a slow nod, his gaze steady. “Think she’ll stay put?”
Landon shifted his weight, frowning. “Doubt it.” He leaned his shoulder against the door frame, sighing. “Colt, I don’t think we’ve seen the last of her. Something’s off with Elle. This isn’t just jealousy or disappointment over losing out on some childhood fantasy. It’s… something darker.”
Colt’s jaw tightened as he settled his hand on the desk. His wolf stirred beneath the surface, snarling in silent agreement. He hated to admit it, but Landon was right. He’d known Elle for as long as he could remember. He almost felt badly that he couldn’t remember if she’d been born here. Copper CanyonRanch had been in his family for generations. Elle had been circling the ranch like a hungry predator for as long as he could remember. But this? This wasn’t the behavior of someone nursing a bruised ego.
“It’s obsession,” Landon continued, removing his hat and running a hand through his dark hair. “You should’ve seen the way she looked when I dropped her off. It was like she wasn’t even reallythere—like all she could think about was getting back here. To you.”
Colt’s lips pressed into a thin line. He exhaled slowly, the consequence of the situation settling over him like a heavy blanket. Obsession. It explained a lot—why Elle had escalated so quickly, why she’d lied to and threatened Briar, and why she’d desecrated the garden like a woman possessed. Briar didn’t know he knew, but there was little that happened on the ranch that he didn’t know about.