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 intentions

so much when

long for something that I’ve never

going to be the pathetic girl who chases after him when he’s already stated

summoned by my thoughts alone-Axel steps into the

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

to come down,” Axel says in a low drawl-the way he always talks, as if normal words can be made into some kind

in full swing, but I’ve been hiding up in

I want to protest.

off this stu

cooperate, and

think either of them would physically

are far more painful

I pick up my skirt from the

I go by, leaving me shivering, but I tell myself it was probably

Axel despises me.

because Aaron

would he touch

up to meet me, while Axel is a step behind me the entire

Aaron appears from

do the rounds before they

brother doesn’t give me a chance to reply

I know he’s walked me up to a group of people and then it’s a blur of, “you remember this pack member, right?” Or,

And everything in between.

me

Or anyone’s names?

vaguely familiar, but it’s clear I’ve

trails after me like a silent shadow, and the more people we talk to, the more it feels like the

to be polite and smile and act like the sister Aaron expects me to

people seem genuinely happy to see me

it’s getting harder

like

are too bright. The music