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.

his feelings

can it hurt so much when

It’s cruel that I should long for something that I’ve never

going to be the pathetic girl who chases after

if summoned by my thoughts alone-Axel steps into the room

the fact that his gaze is dragging slowly up and down my body, and it leaves

said it’s time for you to come down,” Axel says in a low drawl-the way he always talks, as if normal words can be

knew the party was in full swing,

I want to protest.

run and tear off this stu id dress and disappear out into

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

either of them would physically

more painful and deeper ways to be

presence as I pick up my skirt from the floor and

across my hip as I go by, leaving me shivering, but I tell myself

Axel despises me.

me because Aaron requires it of

would he touch

with a steady pace downstairs, the noise of the party coming up to meet me,

reach the bottom, Aaron appears from

you came down. We can do the rounds

chance to reply or

a group of people and then it’s a blur of, “you remember this

And everything in between.

he expect me to remember everyone’s

Or anyone’s names?

it’s clear I’ve

shadow, and the more people we

and smile and act like the sister Aaron expects me to

seem genuinely

it’s getting harder and

feels like

are too bright. The music