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.

I am, and

thinks I took from

having them together and against

I reach the doorway, I hear James greet his

were coming home,”

the doorway where they can’t hear me

listen in.

I not come home?

in Montana is talking about

as soon as I

have been my mate. I needed to be

the funeral.”

and walk away, not waiting to hear what

response to that.

stomach tighten with an old, familiar churn of jealousy

claim Aaron

life.

doubt she knows what real love even feels like.

kind of soul–deep connection that Aaron and I shared was

came

to swan around the mansion and grounds, acting like she’s the widow and her whole life is

of the packs and running

she’ll go back to wherever she was once the

in the picture, I get the feeling hoping

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

put together while Aaron and

in a room across from Aaron’s

did a wonderful

recliner/rocker chair to sit in while I’m

I sink into the comfortable

arms, fussing for his bottle.

and feel grateful for this small slice of quiet and peace with my

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

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