Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 294

EMILY

The following night, I find myself standing in front of a full-length mirror, glaring at the reflection of me wearing a silver, floor-length silky gown that no doubt cost a small fortune.

When I was younger-before I was taken-I used to love nothing more than picking out expensive couture dresses, spending pampered hours getting my hair, nails and makeup. done for a party just like this one.

I would have loved being the center of attention. I would have loved being all sparkly and frivolous, as I danced and laughed the night away without a care in the world.

That girl doesn’t exist any longer.

That girl was kidnapped, locked away in a tomb, forgotten, left to die a slow death alone.

The girl I am now-the monster-still looks pretty as a picture on the outside.

But inside is all twisted and broken and ugly.

I fear it’s only a matter of time before Aaron and the rest of the pack see what’s beneath the façade and reject me outright.

They’ll banish me from their pack-or worse-and go about their lives.

It’s probably what I deserve.

But it’s not what I want.

For a second, longing comes over me, and the girl I used to be wants her mate.

Axel.

For him to accept me and love me and save me from myself.

I turn sharply away from the mirror, because I can’t stand to look at myself any longer.

And I can’t afford to feel things like that.

Axel rejected me.

made his feelings and

much when

cruel that I should long

not going to be the pathetic girl who chases after him when he’s already

thoughts alone-Axel steps into the room before I can

dragging slowly up and down my body, and it leaves tendrils of heat in its wake,

low drawl-the way he always talks, as if

swing, but I’ve been hiding up in

I want to protest.

tear off this stu id dress and disappear out into the

me there’ll be consequences if I don’t cooperate, and part of me is terrified. to find out what those

of them would physically

far more painful and

answer Axel, I barely acknowledge his presence as I pick up my

his fingers across my hip as I go by, leaving me shivering, but I tell myself it was

Axel despises me.

me because Aaron requires it of

why would he

a steady pace downstairs, the noise of the party coming up to meet me, while Axel is a

I reach the bottom, Aaron appears from somewhere,

can do the rounds before they start

me a chance

group of people and then it’s a blur of, “you remember this pack member, right?” Or, “this pack member joined

And everything in between.

expect me to

Or anyone’s names?

are vaguely familiar, but it’s clear I’ve forgotten

after me like a silent shadow, and the more people we

polite and smile and act like the sister Aaron expects

when people seem genuinely happy to see

getting harder and

feels like

are too bright. The music