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 Jessica hates me

took from

no way in which having them together and against me is going to end well.

I reach the doorway, I hear James

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

pause just inside the doorway where they

listen in.

home? I heard

in

as I heard. Aaron was the love of

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

the funeral.”

spin and walk away, not waiting to hear what

response to that.

make my stomach tighten with an old, familiar

to claim Aaron was the love

life.

knows what real

of soul–deep connection that Aaron and I shared was nothing compared to whatever young romance they had

I came along.

widow and her whole life is over while I

of the packs and

a clue, and I can only hope she’ll go back

in the picture, I get the

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

together

Aaron’s bedroom, and I have

did a

to sit in

and I sink into

Ethan in my arms, fussing

I smile and feel grateful for this small slice

lives being so complicated like they are, so I want to make sure I treasure

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