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 Jessica hates

thinks I took from

no way in which having them together and against

reach the doorway, I hear James greet his sister.

you were coming home,” he says,

where they

listen in.

could I not come home? I heard

in Montana is

left to come home as soon as I heard. Aaron was the love of

mate.

the funeral.”

and walk away, not waiting to hear what James says in

response to that.

words make my stomach tighten with an old, familiar churn of

claim Aaron was the

life.

what real love even feels

shared was nothing

came

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

the packs

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

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

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

the new nursery that James put together while Aaron

from Aaron’s bedroom, and I have

did a

recliner/rocker chair to sit

settling Ethan, and I

in my arms,

and feel grateful for this small slice of quiet and peace

so I want to

to sleep, my mind