Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 255

LEAH

I still don’t feel steady as the Enforcers march us out of the room and back to the main hall, that is now empty of an audience.

At least we won’t have to do this part in front of all the regional Alphas and their Lunas.

Probably the only reason is because the Council keeps the method to breaking a mating bond tightly under wraps, only allowing it under strict circumstances that don’t crop up very often.

I feel like I’m walking in a nightmare.

All I can think over and over is that this can’t be happening.

Things can’t have spiraled this far out of control.

There has to be some way to stop this before our mating bond

is broken and Aaron is executed under the next full moon.

But no last–minute stay of execution–literal or figurative- comes about.

Aaron and I are left standing on the stage hand–in–hand, while Samsen sets an old, leatherbound book on the table

next to a silver ceremonial knife.

There’s only a few Councilmembers present–including Petyr,

while the ones who thought he was innocent have made themselves scarce, maybe not wanting to witness this

ready to proceed with the ceremony?” Samsen

clear he wants this over and

destroying lives

evidence.

we don’t have a choice, do we? So let’s

narrow, obviously not like Aaron’s tone or his arrogance, however, he turns

Rathborn, as the claimant, it is

draw blood with this silver

book, and then

over the claiming bite to sever the

stiffly, and my heart starts hammering in my chest.

to protest.

want to

my knees and beg for them to have mercy, to hold the trial again, fairly this time, but I know all those words will

me to be strong.

can go home to him, even if it means living without my mate and

every muscle in my body and force myself to breathe slowly and not hyperventilate or pass out again like I did earlier.

takes the knife and scores it across the meaty part of his palm,

Leah Roberts Rathborn, of the Roberts bloodline. No longer shall our bond exclude us from all others. No longer do

own.”

something starting to rend, and from the subtle flinch Aaron gives, I

is done in blood, so it will be undone