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.

am, and Jessica hates

I took from

way in which having them together and against me is

I hear James greet his

were

pause just inside the doorway where they

listen in.

I not come home? I heard about what happened

every wolf in Montana is talking about

home as soon as I heard. Aaron was the love

been my mate.

the funeral.”

walk away, not waiting to hear

response to that.

my stomach tighten with an old, familiar churn

to claim Aaron

life.

she knows what real

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

came along.

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

welfare of the packs and running the businesses.

she’ll go back to

with Emily back in the picture, I get the feeling hoping Jessica

go upstairs and find Ethan with Tera. As I’d hoped, it’s time for his

James put together while Aaron and I were being

Aaron’s bedroom, and

a

recliner/rocker chair to sit

Ethan, and I sink into the comfortable

my arms, fussing for

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

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

Ethan starts lulling off to sleep, my mind starts going