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.

have that moment with Axel earlier…

that wasn’t real..

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

extremely strong and brave. You survived that bad thing you went through. And

I’m definitely different, but I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to consider that I might be stronger

to me.

right. Just not in the

www

I can do things now that

saying that makes it

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

in greater danger

are benefits to the new me, if I decide

sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can probably see. But I get the feeling that’s also because you

can’t believe how much this stranger has actually seen me- in a way Aaron and Jessica and

they just not

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

in a spiteful way, I

kind of way.

any of

I’m speechless.

say, but I’m deeply

to him,

gets to

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

I hope

also get to my feet, and we

I step forward and hug him.

but then hugs me