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.”

we rush off, deeper into the Council

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

could’ve done this. He could’ve been a force of death, indiscriminately sweeping through. these hallowed halls

far more powerful than Ryker.

Is pure.

him, even though they lied and cheated and did everything to break him, he hadn’t set out to destroy it. When faced with his own death, he still chose pack-all packs-over

love him a

James asks, shaking

“Let’s look.”

down, but when we get there, we find that most

was down here?” I ask James in confusion, then wonder if this is where they were keeping Aaron, and

voice calls

until we

I can scent blood, a lot of it,” the man says with a southern accent, glancing

and a mess of sandy

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

I wasn’t willing to give. As to who I am, that’s

ask, worried that this confirms my suspicions about my mate being

across from me for a bit

mate,” I reply, crossing my

guy says. “Aaron was real torn up when he thought

looking up at the Beta. “We should

see if you can find some keys to

he thinks this is a good idea but nods anyway and then

sweetheart, you’ve got no idea how much

the guy says

sane and not going rogue while he was down here, especially after he thought I died,” I reply with a shrug. “It’s the least

to notice how they’re slippery with blood. No doubt James had to take them off one of

then turns to me. “We need to

are you looking for?”

my family’s company built that

nods. “Second floor, restricted access