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

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

to be the pathetic girl who chases after him when

alone-Axel steps into the

my body, and it leaves tendrils

way he always

in full swing, but I’ve been hiding

I want to protest.

this stu id

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

think either of them

painful and deeper ways to be hurt, other than just physical

acknowledge his presence as I pick up my skirt from the floor and

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

Axel despises me.

Aaron

would

party coming up to meet me, while Axel is a step

reach the bottom, Aaron

you came down. We can do the rounds before they start bringing out

me a chance to reply

it’s a blur of, “you remember this pack member, right?” Or, “this

And everything in between.

expect me to

Or anyone’s names?

are vaguely familiar, but it’s clear

shadow, and the more people we talk to, the more it feels like the

and act like the

people seem genuinely happy to see me

getting harder

feels like too

The music