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.”

nods and we rush off, deeper

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

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

far more powerful than Ryker.

Is pure.

the Council failed him, even though they lied and cheated and did everything to break him, he hadn’t set out to destroy

him a little

basement?” James asks, shaking me from my

“Let’s look.”

there, we find that most of the underground level is set up like

were keeping Aaron, and how bad it must have been for him,

voice calls

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

blood, a lot of it,” the man says with a southern accent,

a mess of sandy

most of the Council,” I reply. “Who are you? Why

am, that’s not real important. The question is, who are you? Because

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

nods. “He had the cell across from me for a bit

my mate,” I reply, crossing

you must be Leah,” the guy says. “Aaron was real torn up when he thought you were dead. Glad you’re still

up at the Beta. “We should let him

find some keys to

like he thinks this is a good idea

no idea

the guy

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

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

the cell and then turns to me. “We need to get back to

for?” the guy asks

company built that a

“Second floor, restricted access