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

with Axel’s assessment of me.

time, looking up at

for the truth.

second and I think

me after

know where to go from here if he can’t

to give in to whatever thoughts are

his

me closer still, holding me properly now, his touch tender.

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it to me,” I say, daring to lift my hands and rest

his chest, enjoying how I’m in his embrace in a

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 if I went mad from grief

I’ve never

perspective.

makes total sense why he rejected

was trying to save both of us from the inevitable pain.

lonely,” I tell him in a quiet voice, and a hint of gratitude crosses his face at my understanding.

all,” he continues. “I’ve made

and I will no doubt make many

mate, any of them could easily threaten or use her

in countless terrible ways.”

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

been selfish, that he

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want to be

like I am.

trying to

were the

come up with.

say, and I realize it hurts that my

a terrible position, and there’s nothing I

him.

if he can’t quite believe it, or

what to do with the fact.

I nod emphatically.

want to do is make

been doing these past weeks.”

“I played my part in

well.”

and for a moment, we stand there holding one

feel the new trust and depth of

between us.

won’t be in my life

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