Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 22

LEAH

The rest of the meeting is a blur.

Aaron hauls me to my feet and starts talking over the noise in the room about ‘personally conducting an investigation.’ And then, out of deference to me, he offered to pay my father’s bad debt so that the Regional Council would not be impacted

while he sorted through matters.

Which, of course, made everyone think he was some kind of

savior.

But could you really praise a firefighter for saving a burning building if he was the one who started the fire in the first

place?

No. Of course not.

And what Aaron did is criminal and gaslighting and all kinds

of twisted.

But it isn’t just Aaron who came out of the meeting smelling

like roses.

I made a good impression too, apparently. I struck a chord with some of the Elders. And they’ve granted my father a

reprieve because of it.

2/5

In the old days, loyalty was most prized because it held packs. together. At least a few of the council members appreciated my display of loyalty and my willingness to sacrifice myself for my family.

In the time of the Elders, matters of treachery or broken laws would be handled internally.

wolf over to humans. Not willingly,

anyway.

hoping for but I’ve bought

that has to count for

I can

seething as Aaron keeps his hand on my arm and brings me out of the building to the car. He opens the door,

ever so

kind of intentionally gentle gesture that

wants to slam

from the opposite

sitting next to

3/5

what that’s about. Typically, Aaron doesn’t go anywhere without James or

vehicle with

two other vehicles are nowhere to be seen.

of turning left Aaron instructs the driver to go right.

going?” I

purses his lips

I said I’d do anything. I promised. Hoping

dad.

guess that extends to going wherever he wants to go and

this could have been avoided,” he says, “If

me.”

face. I stare at him for a

You’re

course, I

4/5

face. The man who locks. me in a room with no food for a week. The man who set me up to be

Aaron tenses.

trust issues.”

His hands flex and I see the ripple of his beast along his forearms, a sign that he’s a hair’s breadth

wolf has impeccable control.