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

I took from

way in which having them together and

doorway, I

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

doorway where they can’t

listen in.

I not come home? I heard about what

in Montana is talking about it.

left to come home as soon as I

mate. I needed to be here

the funeral.”

away, not waiting to hear what

response to that.

make my stomach tighten with an old, familiar churn of

doesn’t have the right to claim Aaron

life.

real

and I shared was nothing compared

came along.

I’m sure she’s going 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

packs and running the businesses.

and I can only hope she’ll go back to

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

Tera. As

in the new nursery that James put together while Aaron and I were being held captive.

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

did a

comfortable recliner/rocker chair to sit in

I sink

my arms, fussing for his bottle.

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

complicated like they are, so I want to make sure I treasure the times when its just me and him, and things

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