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.”

off, deeper

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

could’ve been a force of death, indiscriminately sweeping through.

far more powerful than Ryker. Far

Is pure.

though 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 packs-over

love him a

the basement?” James asks,

“Let’s look.”

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

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

voice

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

a lot of it,” the man

eyes and a mess

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

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

confirms my suspicions about my

across from me for a bit over a week. Now, your

mate,” I reply, crossing my

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

the Beta. “We should let him

find some keys to

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

got no idea

the guy says

here, especially

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 do some

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

you looking for?” the guy

that a faction

“Second floor, restricted