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

why?” I whisper this time, looking up at

for the

looks torn for a second and I think maybe he’s

me after all.

go from here if he can’t

to give in to whatever thoughts are

his head.

pulling me closer still, holding me properly now, his touch tender. “Well, it was, just not

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

I’m in his embrace in a way I never imagined

one that’s sad and haunted. “I’m centuries old, and 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

to realize I’ve never considered things from

perspective.

makes total sense

trying to save both of us from the inevitable

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

wasn’t all,” he continues. “I’ve made

long lifetime, and I will no doubt make many more in

a mate, any of

me in countless terrible ways.”

I realize that all this time, I thought Axel’s

had been selfish, that he

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person who simply didn’t want to be with

like I am.

he was trying to protect me.

were the least selfish ones he could

come up with.

it hurts that my

such a terrible position, and there’s

him.

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

do with

I nod emphatically.

I want to do is

been doing these past weeks.”

wasn’t your fault, Emily,” Axel replies. “I played

well.”

into a hug, and for a moment, we stand

trust and depth of

between us.

be in my life

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