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 me.

this time, looking up at him, searching his

for the

for a second and I think maybe he’s

me after all.

here if

seems to give in to

inside his

me properly now,

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to me,” I say, daring to lift

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

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

I’ve never

perspective.

it makes total sense

to save both of us from the

tell him in a quiet voice, and a hint

wasn’t all,” he continues.

lifetime, and I will no doubt

mate, any of them could easily threaten or

in countless terrible ways.”

for him as I realize that all this time,

been selfish, that he was

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simply didn’t want to be with damaged goods

like I am.

was trying to protect me.

rejecting me were the least selfish ones he

up

I say, and I realize it hurts

and there’s nothing I can do to

him.

whispers, as if he can’t

do with the

I nod emphatically.

last thing I want to do is make your life harder, and that’s all

doing these past

Axel replies. “I played my part

well.”

hug, and for a moment, we stand there

feel the new trust and

between us.

won’t be in my life forever.

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