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 into the Council

and dead bodies, but don’t turn up

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

more powerful than Ryker. Far

Is pure.

to break him, he hadn’t

love him a little

asks, shaking me

“Let’s look.”

get there, we find that most of the underground level

in confusion, then wonder if this is where they were keeping Aaron,

voice

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

up there? I can scent blood, a lot of it,” the man says with a southern

and a mess of sandy blond

slau htered most of the Council,” I reply. “Who

me I wasn’t willing to give. As to who I am, that’s not real important. The question is, who are you? Because I can

I ask, worried that this confirms my suspicions

from me for a bit over a week. Now,

I reply,

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

up at the Beta. “We should

see if you can find some keys

a good idea but

sweetheart, you’ve got no idea how much

it,” the guy says

going rogue while he was down here,

not to notice how they’re slippery with blood. No doubt James had to take them off one of the

the cell and then turns to

looking for?” the

Al tech my family’s company built that a faction within the Council stole,”

“Second