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 into the

search the ground floor, finding more carnage and dead bodies, but

a force of

than Ryker. Far more

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 it. When faced with his own death, he still chose pack-all

a

basement?” James asks, shaking me from my

“Let’s look.”

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

I ask James in confusion, then wonder if this is where they were keeping Aaron, and how bad it must have been for him, down

voice

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

lot of it,” the man

mess of

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

guy shrugs. “They wanted something from me I wasn’t willing to give. As to who I am, that’s not real

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

me for

my mate,” I reply, crossing

must be Leah,” the guy says. “Aaron was real torn

I say, looking up at the Beta.

can find some keys

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

sweetheart, you’ve got no idea how much

the

while he was down here, especially

keys, and I try not to notice how they’re slippery with blood. No doubt James had to take them off one of the bodies of the Enforcers Ryker had slaug tered. Or maybe James had to

to me.

are you looking for?”

company built that a faction

guy nods. “Second floor,