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.”

rush off,

floor, finding more carnage and

a force of death,

powerful than Ryker. Far

Is pure.

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

love him a little more for

about the basement?” James asks, shaking me from

“Let’s look.”

go down, but when we get there, we find that most of the underground level is set up

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

a voice calls

we stop outside of a cell where a man is locked behind

I can scent blood, a lot of it,”

and a mess of sandy blond

reply. “Who are you? Why

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

that this confirms my suspicions

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

I

“Aaron was real torn up when he thought you were dead.

at the Beta. “We

you can find some keys to

thinks this is a good idea but nods anyway and then goes to do

got no idea

the guy says

he was down here, especially after

with blood. No doubt James had to take

opens the cell and then turns to me. “We

you looking for?” the guy

built that a faction within the Council stole,” I

“Second floor, restricted access