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 and

hurt so much when I don’t even know

wolf? It’s cruel that I should long for something that I’ve

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

at the door, and-as if summoned by my thoughts alone-Axel steps into the room before I can even give him

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

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 made into some kind of

was in full swing, but

I want to protest.

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

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

of them would physically hurt

the hard way that there are far more painful and deeper ways to be hurt, other than just physical

his presence as I pick up my skirt from the floor

as I go

Axel despises me.

Aaron requires it of

would he touch

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

I reach the bottom, Aaron appears

the rounds before they start

brother doesn’t give me a chance to reply or catch

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

And everything in between.

he expect me to remember everyone’s

Or anyone’s names?

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

me like a silent shadow, and the more people we talk to,

and smile and act like

when people seem genuinely happy to

getting harder and

like too

lights are too bright. The music and chatter are