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?

Chapter 345

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

time, looking up at him, searching his

the

and I think maybe he’s not going to

me after

go from here if he

he seems to give in to whatever

his

about you at all, Emily,” he says gently, pulling me closer still, holding me properly now, his touch tender. “Well, it was, just not

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

how I’m in his embrace in a way

and a shadow enters his gaze, 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 and upholding the peace between wolves and vampires

startled to realize I’ve never considered things

perspective.

it makes total sense why he

was trying to save both of us from the inevitable

a quiet voice, and a hint of gratitude crosses his face at

he continues. “I’ve made many

I will no doubt make many

any of them

countless terrible

realize that

selfish, that he was some

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didn’t want to be with

like I am.

trying to protect

reasons for rejecting me were the least selfish ones he could

come up with.

I say, and I realize it

terrible position, and there’s

him.

do?” he whispers, as if he can’t

do with the

I nod emphatically.

to do is make your

been doing these past weeks.”

Axel replies. “I played my part in

well.”

draws me into a hug, and for a moment, we stand there holding one another.

new trust and depth

between us.

in my

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