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.

did have that moment

that wasn’t

be first in line

Truthfully, 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 inside yourself, you’ll see that you came out

but I don’t think I’ve ever stopped

to me.

right. Just not in the way he probably means.

www

literally torture, but I can do

saying that makes it all

I could go back and have a choice, I’d choose not to ever go

it puts me in greater danger from people like

if I decide to look at it from a different

Ronan continues in a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your

much this stranger has actually seen me- in a way Aaron and

they just not care?

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

mean in a spiteful way, I just

kind of way.

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 else, even if

I’m speechless.

to say, but I’m deeply touched

him, emotion catching in my voice.

smiles as he gets to his feel.

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

I reply, smiling, because I hope

we stand there looking at each

forward and hug him.

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