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

I whisper this time, looking up at him, searching

for the

for a second and I think maybe he’s

after

know where to go from here if he can’t be truthful with

he seems to give in to whatever thoughts are going

inside his head.

Emily,” he says gently, pulling me closer still, holding me properly now, his touch

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

embrace in a way I never imagined I would

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

I’ve never considered things from this

perspective.

it makes total sense why

save both of us from the

sounds very lonely,” I tell him in a quiet voice, and a

he continues.

and I will no doubt make many more in

If I had a mate, any of them could easily

countless terrible ways.”

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

had been selfish, that

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person who simply didn’t want to

like I am.

was trying to protect me.

the least selfish ones he could

up

I say, and I realize it hurts

terrible position, and there’s nothing I can do to

him.

if he

what to do with

I nod emphatically.

thing I want to do is make your

doing these

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

well.”

and for a moment, we stand there holding one another.

feel the new trust and depth of our relationship blooming

between us.

won’t be in

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