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

it hurt so much when I don’t even know this man

that I should long for something that I’ve never even

girl who chases after him when he’s already stated plainly that he doesn’t want

alone-Axel steps into

no effort to hide the fact that his gaze is dragging slowly up and down my body, and it leaves tendrils of

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

was in full swing, but I’ve been hiding up in my old/new

I want to protest.

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

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

of them

painful

barely acknowledge his presence as I pick

hip as I go by, leaving me shivering, but

Axel despises me.

Aaron requires it of

would he

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

the bottom, Aaron

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

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

thing I know he’s walked me up to a group of people and then it’s a

And everything in between.

expect me to remember

Or anyone’s names?

but it’s clear I’ve forgotten a

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

act like the sister

gracious when people seem genuinely happy to

getting

feels like too

too bright. The music and