Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 289

LEAH

I’m sitting in our bed, reading a book to Ethan, who is drifting off to sleep after just finishing a bottle, when Aaron slips into the room.

He looks weary, like the weight of the world is sitting on his shoulders, as he comes over and stretches out on the bed next to us, trailing his fingers over Ethan’s soft curls.

“How did things go with Emily?” I ask, even though I can tell they probably didn’t go well.

“It’s worse than I thought,” Aaron replies in a heavy voice. “I’m worried she might never recover from this. We still might lose her, if she can’t take it anymore and goes rogue.”

Guilt for the part my family played in this-in destroying an innocent girl’s life-is like acid in my veins.

“Aaron, I’m so sorry,” I tell him, the words desperate and heartfelt.

“I know,” Aaron says with a quick smile. “But it’s not your fault, Leah. You can’t be held responsible for the actions of your

Brother and father.”

Aaron’s words might be true-and I’m grateful to hear them- but it doesn’t make me feel any less guilty.

“Maybe there’s something I can do to help,” I offer. “Maybe I can talk to her-”

But Aaron quickly shakes his head.

“Yeah…that’s not a good idea right now, Leah. In time, yes, I want you both to get along, maybe even become friends for the sake of Ethan, our family and the larger pack. But right now, Emily can’t see past her hatred toward you for what your father did to her.”

closes his eyes for a moment, an

even want to imagine what those ba tards subjected her to. I don’t know if I can hear it without losing it to the rage already festering inside me. I’ve told her she needs to start seeing the pack therapist, but eventually I think

and take

also don’t want to think about what terrible things my father and brother might have

was impossible, that

people who would hurt an innocent girl

of simply hurting

now I

be okay, left to her own devices?” I ask, wondering if I dare approach Jessica and ask her to keep an eye out and let me

especially now that he has

and looking after its members is the least I can do for him. And it is partly my

biggest fan, but in the few days since she returned, she’s actually been surprisingly nice and even somewhat respectful

what she did while she was away, but it seems to have changed her

her,” Aaron says. “Same way it’s James’s job to

that’s a good idea,” I

chafe against James following me everywhere, always

I thought he hated

good times and the bad times, even when I didn’t want him

become one of the most

My best friend.

can be

you think so,” Aaron said with an amused look.

I say confidently, even though

it’s what Aaron

it is what I