Bad Love an Alpha’s Regret by Elise Sinclair

Chapter 345

I can’t bring myself to name what I’m feeling.

If I do, it’s putting too much power behind the emotion.

“Axel, why did you break the bond?”

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I didn’t mean to blurt that out, but once the words are out there, I

watch him flinch.

But he keeps walking.

Axel?” I try again.

He doesn’t answer right away, and I swallow down the lump in

my throat. But I don’t turn back. I follow him into the annex. To the

far end, pushing into the bathroom after him and not caring if he

wants his privacy or not.

He washes himself in the sink. The blood sluicing off his arms and

chest.

I wait as he cleanses away the remnants of the fighting. I want to

help him. To take the towel from his hand and care for him myself,

but I know it’s not what he wants right now.

“Why, Axel?” I repeat. “Is it because of what happened to me?

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Because you knew I would be some broken, fragile mess?”

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He hurls the last of the rags aside and steps forward. He catches. my upper arms, his expression fierce.

“I don’t think that about you at all, Emily,” he says in an intense tone. “I think you’re strong and resilient. I think you’re amazing. Instead of being broken by what you went through, you let it make

you stronger. Not many people can claim that.”

I let a wan smile tug at my lips.

Not many people have been through what I went through, and I

Axel’s assessment of

whisper this time, looking up

for the truth.

looks torn for a second and I think maybe he’s not going to

after all.

to go from here if he

then he seems to give in

his head.

holding me properly now, his touch

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me,” I say, daring

chest, enjoying how I’m in his embrace in a way I never imagined I would be.

in all the time, the Moon Goddess never once granted me a mate. I understood why. I live a dangerous existence. And I’m immortal. What good would it do to have a mate for a single, mortal lifetime, only to lose. her and then maybe lose myself in the process. How would I go on living and upholding the peace between wolves and vampires

never considered

perspective.

sense why he

save both of us from

I tell him in a quiet voice, and a hint of gratitude crosses his

he continues. “I’ve made many

no

I had a mate, any of them

me in countless

melts for him as I realize that all this time, I thought

reject me had been selfish, that he was some kind

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simply didn’t want to be with damaged goods

like I am.

he was trying to protect me.

were the least selfish

come up with.

understand,” I say, and I realize it hurts

there’s nothing I can do to

him.

whispers, as if he can’t quite believe it, or

what to do with the

I nod emphatically.

I want to do is make

doing these past

Emily,” Axel replies. “I played my part in

well.”

me into a hug, and for a moment, we stand there

trust and

between us.

be in

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