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, deeper into

ground floor, finding more carnage and dead bodies, but

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

than Ryker. Far more

Is pure.

they lied and cheated and did everything to break him, he

a

asks, shaking me from my

“Let’s look.”

there, we find that most of

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

a voice calls

walk down until we stop outside of a cell where a man

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

and a mess of sandy

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

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

know Aaron?” I ask, worried that this confirms my suspicions about

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

mate,” I

guy says. “Aaron was real torn up when

up at the Beta. “We

can find some keys

idea but nods anyway and then goes to do as I

you’ve got no idea

it,” the

helping Aaron stay 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

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

the cell and then turns to

looking for?”

that a

“Second