Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 313

He holds out his hand and I take it, shaking.

His grip is firm and cool, and there’s something almost comforting about it.

“I’m Emily,” I tell him in return.

His smile deepens. “That’s a pretty name.”

I laugh at this.

Ronan might be too charming for his own good.

“I think it’s pretty basic myself, but you’re welcome to your opinion.”

He gives a quick, friendly laugh.

“So, Emily, what has you out here looking so down on a day like today?”

I take a slow breath, working out how I can explain without sounding crazy.

“Something bad happened to me, something traumatizing,” I begin, choosing my words carefully. “Something that went on for a long time. I finally got out just recently, and now my family are treating me like I’m fragile and broken. Maybe because I am.

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But I don’t want to be. And I can’t stay with my family, I can see that. It’s just not going to work. They’ll hate me when the realize the truth of everything that happened to me. Except I don’t know what to do, and don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Ronan nods, listening with sympathy and understanding.

And I realize it’s something no one has bothered to do since I got home.

They all just assume they know what happened to me, and what they should do about it.

have that

wasn’t

than anyone–would be first in line to kill

I’m pretty sure the fact that you’re here talking to me points to you actually being extremely strong and brave. You survived that bad thing you went through. And maybe these might seem like empty words, but I’m sure if you look

think I’ve ever stopped to consider that I might be stronger

to me.

right. Just not in the way he probably means.

www

literally torture, but I can do

not saying that makes it all worthwhile.

ever go through that, because I can’t exactly say

me in greater danger from

to the new me, if I decide to look at it from

that you’re special, Emily,” Ronan continues in a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can probably see. But I get

actually seen me- in a way

they just

in their own drama–and I was gone for ten years, so

way, I just mean

kind of way.

to remember it’s them, not you,” Ronan says conspiratorially, leaning forward a little. “It’s also their loss if they can’t see any of that. You’re strong. You’ve proven that to yourself. You don’t need to prove it to anyone

I’m speechless.

what to say, but I’m deeply touched by his

say to him,

smiles as he gets to his feel.

a few times a week,” he says. “Maybe I’ll see

smiling, because I hope I

my feet, and we stand

I step forward

but then hugs me