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.

7

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.

that moment with Axel

wasn’t real..

than anyone–would be first in line to kill me if

to me. Truthfully, I’m pretty sure the fact that you’re here talking to me points to you actually being extremely strong and brave. You

know I’m definitely different, but I don’t think I’ve ever stopped

to me.

not in the

www

I can do things now that I couldn’t

saying that makes it

go back and have a choice, I’d choose not to ever go through that, because I can’t exactly say

in greater danger from

if I decide to look at it from a different

special, Emily,” Ronan continues in a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can probably see. But I get the feeling that’s also because you don’t want them to see.”

a way Aaron and Jessica

just not care?

own drama–and I was gone for ten years, so they’ve all moved on without me–that they just don’t

a spiteful way, I just mean

kind of way.

remember it’s them, not you,” Ronan says conspiratorially, leaning forward a little. “It’s also their loss if they can’t see any

I’m speechless.

what to say, but I’m deeply touched

to him,

as he gets to his feel.

to hike these trails a few times a week,” he says. “Maybe I’ll see you around again

because I hope I do see

also get to my feet, and we stand there looking

I step forward and hug

then hugs