Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 267

LEAH

I don’t know why I’m surprised to find out Emily and Jessica were best friends, considering Aaron and James are equally close, and they all grew up together.

I climb slowly out of the SUV and then walk around to join James.

“Did you know she was coming home?” I ask him, trying to

keep the accusation out of my voice.

He knows how contentious things have been between me and Jessica over the years, with Aaron firmly in the middle. The least he could have done was given me a heads up.

“No, I didn’t know,” James says, shaking his head.

I can tell he’s being truthful, so that alleviates some of my annoyance at least.

Aaron had mentioned that Jessica had taken an extended vacation and gone to stay with some relatives in another pack somewhere–at his expense of course–and it’d been easy to put her from my mind and simply believe she might never

come back.

Her timing, however, couldn’t have been worse.

I don’t want to have to deal with her and all that petty rivalry right now with everything else going on.

Eventually, Emily and Jessica are over the shock of their

unexpected reunion and I slowly walk toward the mansion, debating whether I should ask Jessica why she’s come back.

As I get closer, her eyes narrow, and that pretty much seals

the deal for me.

Jessica and her nastiness are not worth my time or energy right now.

I ignore her and keep walking, but I can hear her and Emily whispering between themselves, and know they’re talking

about me.

for who I am, and Jessica

I took from

which having them together and against me is going to end

reach the doorway, I hear James

didn’t know you were coming home,” he says, and

doorway where they can’t hear me

listen in.

home? I heard about what happened

wolf in Montana is talking

home as soon as I

should have been my mate. I needed to be here

the funeral.”

not waiting to hear what

response to that.

words make my stomach tighten with an old, familiar churn

claim Aaron

life.

what real love

of soul–deep connection that Aaron and I shared was nothing compared

I came

and her whole life is over while I do the real work of

packs and running the businesses.

I can only hope she’ll go back to wherever she was once the funeral

I get the feeling hoping Jessica will leave might

Ethan with Tera. As I’d hoped, it’s time for

in the new nursery that James put together while

across from Aaron’s

a wonderful

recliner/rocker chair to

I sink into the

in my arms, fussing for his bottle.

down his milk, I smile and feel grateful for this small slice of

so I want to make sure I treasure the times when

as the bottle empties and Ethan starts lulling off to sleep, my mind starts going back to all