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

more carnage and dead bodies, but

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

than Ryker.

Is pure.

to break him, he hadn’t set out to

love him a little more

James asks, shaking me

“Let’s look.”

get there, we find that most of the underground level is

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

a voice calls

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

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

and a mess

Council,” I reply. “Who are you? Why does the Council have you

willing to give. As to who I am, that’s not real important. The question is, who are you? Because I can scent Aaron all over

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

nods. “He had the cell across from me for a bit over a week. Now, your

mate,” I reply, crossing

torn

I say, looking up at the Beta. “We should

you can find

look like he thinks this is a good idea but nods anyway and then goes to

no idea how much

it,” 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 I

James had to take them off one of the bodies of the Enforcers Ryker had slaug tered. Or maybe James

to me. “We

are you looking for?” the guy asks

built that a faction within the Council stole,” I

guy nods. “Second floor, restricted access