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.

I did have that moment with Axel earlier…

that wasn’t real..

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

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

I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to consider that I

to me.

not in the way he probably

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

that makes it all

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

puts me in greater danger

the new me, if I decide

in a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can probably see. But I get the feeling that’s also because you don’t

actually seen me- in a way Aaron and Jessica and Axel and everyone

just not

was gone for

don’t mean in a spiteful way, I just mean

kind of way.

also their loss if they can’t see any of

I’m speechless.

say, but I’m deeply

him,

as he gets to his

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

smiling, because I hope

to my feet, and we stand there looking at each

forward and

hugs me back, and it’s