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.

who I am, and Jessica

I took

having them together and against me is going to

I reach the doorway, I hear James

you were coming

where they

listen in.

I not come home? I heard about

every wolf in Montana

as I

mate. I

the funeral.”

and walk away, not waiting to hear

response to that.

an old, familiar churn of jealousy and anger.

to claim

life.

real love

shared was nothing compared to whatever young romance

I came along.

to swan around the mansion and grounds, acting like she’s the widow and her whole life is over while I do the real work of

packs and running

doesn’t have a clue, and I can only hope she’ll go back to wherever she

Emily back in the picture, I get the

Tera. As I’d hoped, it’s time

sit in the new nursery that James put together while Aaron

Aaron’s bedroom, and I have to say,

did a wonderful

chair to sit in while

or settling Ethan, and I

arms, fussing for his bottle.

gulping down his milk, I smile and feel grateful for this small slice of quiet and peace with

far between, with our lives being so complicated like they are, so I want to make sure I treasure the times when its

the bottle empties and Ethan starts lulling off to sleep, my mind