Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 309

My whole body goes cold as I hear Aaron’s order for the doctor.

Well, colder than I already felt, anyway.

It’s like there’s ice water in my veins instead of blood.

I wonder if that’s better or worse than the white–hot lava of rage that’d been boiling through my body since Aaron told me he was leaving and I saw that bitch, Leah, who just keeps ruining my life over and over.

Axel helps me to my feet and then leads me over to the bed.

“That won’t be necessary,” Axel says in a clipped tone, and I can practically feel him standing protectively over me. “She’s calm now. She won’t get angry like that again, will you, Emily?”

The way he says my name–almost making it sound exotic when it’s plain as Jane–makes me shiver and I quickly shake my head, avoiding the judging gazes of both Aaron and the doctor.

“She did cut her hands, though,” Axel continues, tone a little more reasonable now it seems like Aaron’s not about to sedate me into oblivion. “So maybe the Doc can take a look at that.”

The doctor looks questioningly at Aaron, waiting for permission, only moving toward me when Aaron gives a single nod.

eyes are ghillering with his wolf.

Anger is practically radiating off him.

I know he’s upset about what I did–attacking his wife and mate, the woman who is technically my Luna and the one I should look to above all other female pack members–but I think he’s also pissed at what he overheard.

About Axel being my mate and rejecting me.

I wonder what Aaron is angrier about.

The fact that someone like Axel is my mate in the first place, or that Axel rejected me out of hand without even giving us a chance to know one another?

What will I do if Aaron insists on Axel honoring the mating bond after all?

I’m intrigued or terrified by

and clamped

about how my body was reacting, that I could want someone who has treated me so terribly. Someone who hasn’t bothered hiding the fact that he doesn’t

had been on top of me–the weight of him bearing

the alluring, masculine scent of him inundating my senses–all I’d wanted to

beneath him and let him do

a weakness to want

was a weakness to want to kiss him

I’ve spent enough years being weak and helpless.

instead, I’d turned that want

myself in the

to becoming the monster on the outside that I

I’d only been furious

I knew, wouldn’t inspire Aaron

if he didn’t just hand all of my responsibilities over to Jessica when he left, because I’d demonstrated yet again how I couldn’t handle things.

since we’d had the party, and I’d slowly but surely felt more comfortable with members of the pack

being brought back to life.

it’s dangerous to feel those things.

get complacent and actually think I belong here among these wolves,

I’m going to have to work out where to go and what I’m going to do,

did today, and I know I wouldn’t be able to live with

says the wounds are superficial and should heal quickly enough on their own.

then checks me over while Aaron

and disappointment settling on my shoulders.

to Aaron and tells him I seem fine now, as though I’m

you to leave several doses of sedative with

demand, even though I’m sure I don’t want to hear

answer.