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 intentions

so much when I don’t even

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

girl who chases after him

alone-Axel steps into the room before I can even give him permission to

makes no effort to hide the fact that his gaze is dragging slowly up and down my body, and it leaves tendrils of heat in its wake, making me feel all shivery and

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

the party was in full swing, but I’ve been hiding up

I want to protest.

this stu id dress and

Aaron and Axel have warned me there’ll be consequences if I don’t cooperate, and part of me is

of them would

there are far more painful and

as I

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

Axel despises me.

tolerates me because Aaron requires it of

why would he touch

noise of the party coming up to meet me, while Axel is a step behind me the entire

reach the bottom, Aaron

you came down. We can do the rounds before

chance to reply or

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

And everything in between.

he expect me to remember everyone’s

Or anyone’s names?

but it’s clear I’ve

people we talk to,

act like the sister Aaron expects me to

seem genuinely

it’s getting harder

like

too bright. The music and chatter are