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 and intentions

much when I don’t

long

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

summoned by my thoughts alone-Axel steps into the room before I can even give

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

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

the party was in full swing, but

I want to protest.

want to fight and run and tear off this stu id

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

of them would physically hurt

far more painful and deeper ways to be hurt, other than

answer Axel, I barely acknowledge his presence as I pick up my skirt from the floor and

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

Axel despises me.

because Aaron

why would he touch

of the party coming up to meet me, while Axel is a step behind me the entire

bottom, Aaron appears from somewhere, looking

you came down. We can do the rounds before

a chance to

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

And everything in between.

he expect me to

Or anyone’s names?

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

the more people we

polite and smile and act like the sister Aaron

gracious when people seem genuinely happy

it’s getting harder and

feels like too

lights are too bright. The music and