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

that I should long for something that

who chases after him when he’s already stated

alone-Axel

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

it’s time for you to come down,” Axel says in a low drawl-the way he always talks, as if normal

swing, but I’ve been hiding up in my

I want to protest.

and tear off this stu

be consequences if I don’t cooperate, and part of me is terrified. to find out what

don’t think either of them would physically hurt

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

his presence as I pick up my skirt from the

his fingers across my hip as I go by, leaving

Axel despises me.

tolerates me because Aaron requires it of

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

can do the rounds before

give me a chance to reply or catch

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

And everything in between.

me to

Or anyone’s names?

of them are vaguely familiar, but it’s clear I’ve forgotten a lot in

more people we talk to, the more it feels

act like

be gracious when people seem genuinely happy to

it’s getting harder and

feels like

lights are too bright. The music and chatter are too