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There was no way he could hold back anymore; the feelings were just too strong. He leaned in, placing his lips on hers, his whole body exploding with sensation as he tasted her for the first time. He gently drew her mouth open with his tongue, her moan reverberating through him as she kissed him back, soft and slow.
“Sorry.” Harlow pulled back, her face showing him she was uneasy about the situation.
“No, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to push you.”
“You didn’t… I wanted to. I want to. It’s just—”
He pressed a finger to her lips. “You don’t need to explain.”
Her eyes were wide, full of worry. “Actually, I think I do.” She took a deep breath and looked down at the floor. “I really like you, in a way I haven’t felt before. But so much has gone on, and I’m so confused.”
Colt took her hand and lifted her chin with his other. “Hey, it’s okay. You’ve been through a rough spot.”
“I was rejected,” she spat out the words as if they were something needing to be expelled. “At his ascension, my mate cheated on me, and chose someone else at the ceremony. That’s why I ran. I just don’t know that I can be involved with anyone again after that—whether it’s something serious or not.”
He felt her pain almost as if it were his own, and he knew then that this was more than just about lust or sex. “I get it. I’ve been through something like that myself. Being cheated on, I mean.”
“Ugh, really. Sucks, right?”
“Oh yeah. Lauren and me—we were a thing but then that happened. I’m sorry you had to go through that, especially at his ascension and all.”
“Yeah, it was too bad. But you know what was almost worse was that everyone else seemed to know. Like almost the whole pack, and they said nothing. I might’ve been able to cope better if it was just Vincent, but all of them?”
“Shit, now that really sucks.”
She gave him a flat smile and looked off into the distance at the wall behind him.
“Thing is, Harlow. I mean, I don’t really know how to say this, but I just feel this pull to you. I’ve never really known this before, and it’s so strong.”
Her eyes darted back to him, and in them he saw some recognition. “Yeah, I know,” she said, her brow furrowing. “It’s weird.”
He thought about his next move carefully, but there was no way to do it other than to be completely upfront now. “It gets weirder because Atlas feels the same.”
“What? Atlas!” She recoiled in shock and disbelief. “I thought he hated me. He’s just so… I mean last night he asked me to stay for dinner at his place, hardly spoke, and then almost kicked me out.”
Colt pinched the bridge of his nose. Jesus fucking Christ, dude. “Yeah, he’s not always easy to read, but trust me, I’ve always got the read on him. He’s been my best friend since forever.”
“Seriously though, Atlas!” she cried, obviously still not quite believing what was happening.
“Yup, but he’s not what he seems really. I know he’s got a certain way about him but there’s a reason. See, when he was younger, the pack was attacked, and his dad, the alpha, was killed. It was a lot of responsibility to shoulder and he became a little… hard. But those were some high walls he had to build.”
“Oh, I see,” Harlow whispered. “That’s pretty tough.”
“Look, I don’t know exactly what this all means. I’m just doing what any wolf would do and following my instincts.”
“Yeah, I get that.” She nodded.
“I can’t just turn off the way I feel, and if you’re honest, you probably can’t either.” The way she looked at him showed him he was right. “I’m not sure what it is or where it could be going. But maybe it’s worth just following the trail, you know?”
She inhaled deeply. “I do. And Atlas?”
“Well, maybe if we took things slowly, agreed to be exclusive, except for him, that might be a start.”
“It’s still hard to even think he feels that way. Although I’ve felt the pull to him, too.”
Colt stroked her cheek. “Like I said, take it slowly.” He knew Atlas better than anyone and he had no doubt he would be into this.
“Okay then. Let’s see where it goes.”
