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.

I did have that moment with

wasn’t real..

know he–more than anyone–would be first in line

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 inside yourself, you’ll

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

to me.

Just not in the

www

do things now

makes it

to ever go

greater danger

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

Ronan continues in a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can probably see. But I

a way Aaron and Jessica and Axel and everyone else

they just not care?

they simply so caught up in their own drama–and I was gone for ten years, so they’ve all

in a spiteful way, I just mean in an oblivious

kind of way.

any of that. You’re strong. You’ve proven that to yourself. You don’t need to prove it to anyone else, even

I’m speechless.

what to say, but I’m deeply touched

I say to him, emotion catching in my voice.

smiles as he gets to

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

I hope

and we stand there looking at each

step forward and

seems surprised, but then hugs me back, and it’s