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

when I don’t

cruel that I should long for something

after him

alone-Axel

to hide the fact that his gaze is dragging slowly up and down my body, and it leaves tendrils of heat in its

time for you to come down,” Axel says in a low drawl-the way he

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

I want to protest.

want to fight and run and tear off this stu id

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

either of

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

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

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

Axel despises me.

tolerates me because Aaron requires it

why would he

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

bottom, Aaron appears

down. We can do the rounds before they start

a chance to reply or catch my

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

Or anyone’s names?

vaguely familiar, but it’s

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

act like the sister Aaron expects me to

gracious when people seem genuinely happy to

getting harder

feels like too

bright. The music and chatter