Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 281

LEAH

My breath catches in my chest as Ryker and Aaron rush at each other, clashing in the middle of the room in a flurry of splintering furniture, savage snarls and slashing claws.

I’m terrified for Aaron, but I can’t just stand there and watch him fight Ryker. I need to trust he can take care of himself.

James and I hurry around the perimeter of the room to reach the remaining Councilmembers who are cowering in the corner. These are older wolves, delegates. Not warriors or fighters like my husband or his adversary.

We urge them to run, keeping ourselves between them and Ryker.

He sees what’s happening at one stage, and rushes toward us, but James steps in and shoves Ryker back, while Aaron catches him and flings him into a nearby bookcase.

The whole thing comes crashing down on top of him, and for

a second we all pause, watching as Ryker drags himself from

beneath the pile of books and splintered wood.

Us can react, Ryker fully shifts and goes

streaking out of the room.

Aaron growls and then shifts as well, sprinting off after him.

I want to chase after them as well, if only to keep Aaron in my sight so I know he’s okay.

I’m terrified of losing him yet again, and for some reason my brain thinks as long as I can see him, I can stop that from happening.

But I don’t have the luxury of doing that.

We came here for a reason, and it’s time we took care of that.

I turn to James. “Come on, we need to find the tech.”

and we rush off, deeper into the

more carnage and dead bodies, but don’t turn up

that Aaron could’ve done this. He could’ve been a force of death, indiscriminately sweeping through. these hallowed halls and killing everyone

far more powerful than

Is pure.

everything to break him, he hadn’t set out to

a little

the basement?” James asks, shaking me

“Let’s look.”

find that

they were keeping Aaron, and how bad it must have been for him, down here away from natural

a voice

glance at each other and then walk down until we stop outside of a cell where a man is

lot of it,”

eyes and a mess of

slau htered most of the Council,” I reply. “Who are you? Why does the Council have you

wanted something from me I wasn’t willing to give. As to who I am, that’s not real important. The question is, who are you? Because I can scent Aaron

know Aaron?” I ask, worried that this confirms my suspicions about

the cell across from me for a bit over a

I reply, crossing

guy says. “Aaron was real torn

at the Beta. “We should let him

find some

a good idea but nods anyway and then goes to

you’ve got no idea how much

the guy

down here, especially after he thought I died,” I reply with a shrug. “It’s the

I try not to notice how they’re slippery with blood. No doubt James had to take them off one of the bodies of

then turns to me. “We need to get

are you looking for?” the guy

tech my family’s company built that a faction within the Council stole,”

guy nods. “Second floor, restricted