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.

feelings and intentions

hurt so much when I don’t

It’s cruel that I should long

girl who chases after

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

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

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

party was in full swing, but

I want to protest.

and run and tear off this

don’t cooperate, and part of me is terrified. to

think either of them would

the hard way that there are far more painful

presence as I pick

feel the trail of his fingers across my hip as I go by, leaving me shivering,

Axel despises me.

because Aaron requires

would he

of the party coming up

the bottom, Aaron appears

We can do the rounds before they start bringing out

chance to reply or catch my

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

And everything in between.

expect me to remember everyone’s

Or anyone’s names?

familiar, but it’s clear I’ve forgotten a

people we talk to, the more it feels like the walls are

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

to be gracious when people seem genuinely happy to see

it’s getting

feels like too

lights are too bright. The music