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.

that moment with Axel

wasn’t

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

to you actually being extremely strong and brave. You survived that bad thing you went through. And maybe

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

to me.

in the way he probably means.

www

were literally torture, but I can do things now that I couldn’t do

that makes it all worthwhile.

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

since it puts me in greater danger from people

there are benefits to the new me, if I decide to look

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

in a way Aaron and Jessica and Axel and everyone else

they just not care?

gone for ten years, so they’ve

I don’t mean in a spiteful way,

kind of way.

just need 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

I’m speechless.

but I’m deeply touched

to him, emotion catching in my voice.

as he gets to

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

reply, smiling, because I hope I do see him

get to my feet, and we stand there looking

I step forward and hug

seems surprised, but then hugs me