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

that I should long for

the pathetic girl who chases after him when he’s already stated

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

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

a low drawl-the way he always talks,

party was in full swing, but I’ve

I want to protest.

fight and run and tear off this

consequences if I don’t cooperate, and part

either of them

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

his presence as I pick

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

Axel despises me.

tolerates me because Aaron

would he

downstairs, the noise of the party coming up to

the bottom, Aaron appears from

can do the

me a chance to reply or catch my

thing I know he’s walked me up to a group of people and then it’s a blur of, “you remember this

And everything in between.

me to remember

Or anyone’s names?

them are vaguely familiar, but it’s clear

after me like a silent shadow, and the more 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

to be gracious when people seem genuinely happy to

it’s getting harder and

feels like

lights are too bright. The music and chatter