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.

over to humans. Not willingly,

anyway.

not the result I was hoping for but I’ve bought my father

has to count for

than I can

keeps his hand on my arm and brings me out of the building to the car. He opens the door, physically lifts me into the backseat and fastens my seatbelt before

door ever so gently.

the kind of intentionally gentle gesture that lets me

to slam

climbs in from the opposite side,

he’s sitting next to me

3/5

but Cedric at the wheel this time, and I wonder what that’s about. Typically, Aaron doesn’t go anywhere without James or William, so it’s weird

vehicle with

two other vehicles are nowhere to

Aaron instructs the driver to

we going?”

purses his lips bemusedly.

I promised. Hoping he’d save my

dad.

to going wherever he wants to go and not asking too many questions.

been avoided,” he says, “If you’d trusted

me.”

make a face. I stare at him

“Oh. You’re serious.”

I am.”

4/5

who runs around with another she-wolf and rubs it in my face. The man who locks. me in a room with no food for a week. The man who set me up to be convicted of embezzling-only to

Aaron tenses.

imprisoned me… but I am the one with trust issues.” I shake my head.

beast along his forearms, a sign

has impeccable control.