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.

me for who I am, and

thinks I took

them together and against me is

I hear

know you were coming home,” he

doorway where they

listen in.

not come home? I heard about what

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

as soon as I heard. Aaron

mate. I needed to be here

the funeral.”

waiting to hear what James says in

response to that.

make my stomach tighten with an

the right to claim Aaron was the love

life.

what real

I shared was nothing compared to whatever young

came

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

packs

go back to

with Emily back in the picture, I get the feeling

As I’d hoped,

in the new nursery that James put together while Aaron and

across from Aaron’s bedroom, and I have to say,

a wonderful job.

to sit in

or settling Ethan, and I sink into

in my arms, fussing for his bottle.

his milk, I smile and feel grateful for this small

I want to make sure I treasure the

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