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 earlier…

that wasn’t real..

anyone–would be first in line to kill me if or when the

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

don’t think I’ve ever stopped to consider that I might be stronger for what happened

to me.

Just not in the way

www

experiments were literally torture, but I can do

that makes

to ever go through

greater danger from people like Axel.

if I decide

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

actually seen me- in a way Aaron and Jessica and Axel and everyone else maybe never will.

just not care?

gone for ten

spiteful way,

kind of way.

see any of that. You’re strong. You’ve proven that to yourself.

I’m speechless.

say, but I’m deeply touched by

to him, emotion

gets

times a week,” he says. “Maybe

I reply, smiling, because I hope I do

my feet, and we stand there looking at each

forward and hug

then hugs me back,