Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 199

LEAH

It’s late at night and I can’t sleep.

Not after everything that happened at the council meeting.

My thoughts had been spinning after I’d finished talking to Karolina. I’d hurried straight over to one of the Rathborn SUVs and jumped in behind the wheel. One of Aaron’s guys-luckily not James, because I couldn’t have faced him then-had seen me and quickly climbed into the passenger seat before I’d gone tearing out of the parking lot.

The other SUV’s we’d arrived with hadn’t take long to catch up,

and everytime I’d glanced in the mirror, I’d seen James behind

the wheel of the vehicle directly behind me the whole way

back to Rathborn pack lands.

I’d rushed inside before James could climb out of the other

vehicle and then shut myself in my bedroom.

Now, however, I’m roaming the halls like a lonely ghost.

I think about shifting and running, but my appetite for that

has been curtailed after the incident on Roberts pack lands.

Arguably, I know Rathborn lands are much more secure, but it’s getting to the point where I don’t feel safe leaving the house, especially without Aaron’s larger than life presence looming protectively over me at every turn.

My wandering brings me to the library, and I step in to find a cheery fire roaring in the hearth, and soft candle light illuminating the space.

Outside the window, new snow is falling in the light of a

half-moon.

The room is cozy and inviting, and I wonder who left it this way…until I step further into the room and find James lounging on the rug in front of the fire, reading a book of poetry.

He straightens when he sees me, snapping the book shut.

“Leah! Is everything okay? Why are you still awake?”

I think about fleeing, but I know I can’t avoid James forever, not when his one sole duty is to protect me.

“I couldn’t sleep,” I admit, crossing my arms.

unfolding his large form

anything I can do?” he asks in a low

I can tell he

that he cares about me any

ask anything of him right now, and

it for me.

exactly did things between us change so

collide in my

to this point, ending with him asking for a

me how Aaron is

even a little, then maybe I should

break the

up to find James

distance between us

anyone

from a child, into a

understand what it is

want a man.

time, I seriously wonder what

attractive to me, if not for Aaron

I can’t help but wonder exactly what James

I was

you see?” I ask, feeling my body warm, knowing I’m treading into dangerous territory. “Earlier, at

take back

Leah, you should know, my

words, but at

I need

and for all, I need to know

of James’s

his face, but he doesn’t

kiss him.

can sense he’s

want

cared about that. Aaron never held back

I realize now that I prefer

nice, but it’s kind

There are no fireworks.

overwhelming desire crashing

me forget

now is

the only answer I’ll