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

trouble agreeing with Axel’s assessment

this time, looking up

the truth.

a second and I think maybe he’s not

after

where to go from here if he can’t

to give in to whatever thoughts

his

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

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say, daring to lift my hands and

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

says, 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

I’ve never considered things from this

perspective.

it makes total sense why

trying to save both of us from the

sounds very lonely,” I tell him in a quiet voice, and a hint of gratitude crosses his face at

all,” he continues. “I’ve

will no doubt make many more in the

If I had a mate, any of them could easily threaten or use her

countless terrible ways.”

as I realize that all

selfish, that he

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simply didn’t want to be with

like I am.

he was trying

were the least

come up with.

I realize it hurts that my

position, and there’s nothing I can

him.

he whispers, as if he can’t

to do

I nod emphatically.

last thing I want to do is make your

been doing these past

fault, Emily,” Axel replies. “I played my part in

well.”

me into a hug, and for a

can feel the new trust and depth

between us.

be in my

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