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.

hates me for who I am, and Jessica hates me for what

took

having them together and against

I hear

were

the doorway where they can’t hear me

listen in.

could I not come home? I heard about

Aaron. Basically, every wolf in Montana is talking about it.

come home as soon as I heard. Aaron was the love of

should have been my mate. I needed to be here for

the funeral.”

waiting to hear what James

response to that.

with an

right to claim

life.

what real love even feels

Aaron and I shared was

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 looking after

welfare of the packs and running the businesses.

only hope she’ll go back to wherever

back in the picture, I get the feeling hoping Jessica will leave might be

As I’d hoped, it’s time for

put together while

in a room across from Aaron’s bedroom, and I

a wonderful job.

to sit in

I sink

Ethan in my arms, fussing for his

greedily gulping down his milk, I smile and feel grateful for

complicated like they are, so I want to make sure I treasure the times

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