13. CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 13

The moment Renzo and Wilder ran toward them with their hands clasped, it felt as Coleson had been punched in the gut, repeatedly. He mentally kicked his own ass for harboring feelings for the stupid Alpha, who'd he'd actually thought might differ from the other Alphas out there.

That maybe, just maybe, he would find the love he'd always wanted and settle down with the man, who, despite Coleson's best efforts, had wormed his way into his heart. He really should have known better, and he only had himself to blame for believing differently.

That blatant display of not caring one wit about hurting either Omega proved no Alpha could be truly trusted. It just really pissed him off Renzo didn't think anything of holding another Omega's hand when he'd been flirting with Coleson. Or, at least, he'd thought that was what had been happening.

Had he read it wrong? Maybe Renzo had just been trying to be nice to him. Silently fuming at both himself and the asshole Alpha who caused the turmoil within him, Coleson had done his best to ignore Renzo as they drove to their next town.

Two more fucking weeks of having to sit there in the truck with him. Smelling his masculine scent that often had Coleson wanting to lean in and stick his nose against his neck and breathe deeply. Of having to hear his deep voice that had a way of soothing Coleson even when he hadn't realized he was stressed.

Damn him.

Unable to contain his anger any longer, he yelled at the Alpha to do a better job watching for pot holes despite not having hit a single one. Irrational? As much as he hated to admit, yes, it was.

When Renzo had the nerve to not respond to his childish outburst, Coleson became even more agitated. His fingers thrummed on the console between their seats in an effort not to punch something, namely the Alpha sitting there calmly driving as if nothing was wrong.

The anger inside of him was ready to boil over and he honestly did not know how to stop it. It nearly exploded when Renzo stopped the car, gestured for the others to go on without them before turning to him and said, "Out with it."

As if he had any right to order Coleson around. Fuck him and the horse he rode in on. If he thought for one second that because he was an Omega, Coleson would just do as he commanded, he had another thing coming.

Refusing to give in, he sat there, pouting. And fuck if that didn't make him feel like some stupid kid being reprimanded by his parents.

It was that bitterness of being in that situation that had him acting even more childish when Renzo got out of the truck and leaned against it just to get away from him. Instead of coming clean, he resorted to insults.

Pushing open the door, he got out and accused Renzo of what Coleson had been doing. "Are you going to stop pouting and drive?"

Worse, he just kept going with the insults. "I swear you Alphas are all the same. Don't care who you flirt with so long as an Omega pays attention to you and if one doesn't, your feelings are hurt and you act like a child with his toy taken from him."

Shit. Had he just said that? He hadn't meant to give that kind of power to Renzo. If the Alpha was going to flirt with multiple Omegas, Coleson couldn't stop him, but hadn't planned on letting the man know how much it had hurt him.

Renzo turned to face him with confusion written all over him. Clearly, having had enough of Coleson's erratic, short-tempered attitude, he yelled, "Who in the fuck but you have I ever flirted with? Hell, I haven't even looked at anyone but you since we met, even though you treat me like I was the devil."

"Don't you fucking swear at me." As much as he wanted to hit Renzo for getting him to basically admit he was jealous, Coleson instead pointed his finger at him as he stomped around the front of the truck like some little kid. "Just because I'm a lowly Omega doesn't mean you get to act all superior Alpha ."

Before he even had time to react, powerful hands pulled him in by his shoulders and firm lips were kissing him hard. His heart soared at the sensation of having Renzo's mouth on his, branding him as if he belonged to the Alpha.

That thought was like having a bucket of ice water thrown over his head. "How dare you kiss me after holding Wilder's hand?"

What he'd expected, Coleson honestly couldn't have said, but it wasn't Renzo laughing. No. Not just laughing, but like holding onto the truck, so he didn't fall over in hysterics.

Incensed, Coleson turned on his heel and walked in the direction the others had taken the horses. Hopefully, they hadn't gone too far before stopping for them to catch up, but there was no damn way he was getting back in that truck with the insufferable ass.

Worse, Renzo didn't even try to explain or stop him. But he shouldn't want that, right? No. Definitely not. He didn't care one little bit about the Alpha. Really. He didn't.

So why was his heart breaking with each step he took without Renzo even trying to stop him? Stealing himself when he felt tears prick at the corners of his eyes, he resolved to not let them fall. He wasn't about to give the jerk the satisfaction, even if it meant he had to rip out his tear ducts to do it.

He heard a growl a second before he was suddenly scooped up into arms that were a lot stronger than he would imagine considering Coleson wasn't exactly small. Yeah, Renzo was bigger, but not enough that he thought he could pick him up as if he weighed nothing.

"No more running," Renzo told him in no uncertain terms. "No more silent treatment. And definitely no more ignoring the fact that I'm in love with you and whereas you might not be there yet, I damn well know you have strong feelings for me."

When Coleson opened his mouth to tell him exactly what those feelings were at the moment, Renzo glared at him. "And no, I'm not talking about anger, frustration, or even your refusal to believe I'm not like the other Alphas who have disappointed you your whole life."

Not liking Renzo could so easily read him, he was about to give him a piece of his mind, but once more Renzo stopped him by setting him on the tailgate of the truck and trapping him between the arms he placed on either side of Coleson. Those golden eyes glowed with passion, sending a shiver of desire down Coleson's spine.

"I love you," Renzo stated matter-of-factly. "Your spirit. Your kindness to others in need. Your willingness to get your hands dirty if necessary to get the job done. Your determination to live life on your own terms. Even your stubborn pride makes my heart soar with happiness."

Based on the heat suffusing his cheeks, Coleson had zero doubt he wasn't just red, but glowing the color, like some sort of stop light.

Just when he thought Renzo was done, he continued as he touched one of his cheeks like he wanted to test to see how warm they were. "The way you wear your heart on your sleeve, even though you try to hide it from everyone but your friends. How your eyes shine like gems when you've accomplished something you set out to do. The way you give your time and care to the others, even when you're so exhausted, you're ready to collapse."

He was hypnotized. That had to be the only reason he didn't balk when Renzo leaned in until their lips were just barely touching. "And I love the way you look at me when you think I don't notice it. Because I know you want me as much as I want you, love. I'm willing to wait for you forever, but I'm no longer willing to deny my feelings for you."

Then their lips were moving together in a kiss that was so achingly sweet it caused those tears he'd tried to hold back earlier to tumble down his cheeks. Except, this time, they weren't caused from heartbreak but happiness. An emotion he'd hadn't thought he'd get to experience, at least not regarding an Alpha.

Oh, he'd hoped. But life had taught reality rarely lived up to his dreams. Yet, in that moment, it far exceeded any fantasy he'd ever had.

Curling his arms around Renzo's neck, he thrust his fingers into his thick hair, loving the texture against his skin. Almost as much as the several days' growth along his chin and cheeks. The way it abraded his face just right had his thoughts instantly going to what it would feel like along the inside of his thighs. Or, even better, his balls.

A moan he hadn't planned escaped into the kiss, bringing him back to what they were doing. Was he crazy? Pulling back, he stared into those golden brown eyes as if he could read Renzo's very soul by staring into them.

His breath caught in his throat. It might not be his soul, but love shone in them. He had a choice to make. One might save him from a broken heart, but he wasn't certain that wouldn't already happen, considering he was falling for this man. The other…

He closed his eyes for a moment, desperately trying to gather his thoughts. Could he really find happiness with Renzo? But even as he thought it, he wondered, would he ever be happy alone?

He'd been the one to encourage Ford to take a chance with Lowen. Maybe it was time for him to do the same thing. Still not quite ready to speak the words aloud, Coleson dove back into the kiss, pouring his emotions into the act, praying Renzo could understand them, anyway.

It was a huge leap, but it was also one he had to take if he wanted all his dreams to come true.