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

agreeing with Axel’s assessment

whisper this time, looking up at him, searching

for the truth.

for a second and I think maybe

me after

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

he seems to give in to whatever thoughts are

inside his head.

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

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

in a way I never imagined

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 if

never

perspective.

sense

was trying to save both of us from the inevitable

voice, and a hint of gratitude crosses his

that wasn’t all,” he continues.

long lifetime, and I will no doubt

had a mate, any of

countless terrible ways.”

realize that all

had been selfish, that he was some

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person who simply didn’t want to be with

like I am.

was trying to protect

the least selfish ones he could

come up

understand,” I say, and I realize it hurts that my mate has

and there’s nothing I can do to help

him.

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

to do with

I nod emphatically.

want to do is make

these

“I played my

well.”

me into a hug, and for a moment,

can feel the new trust and depth of our relationship blooming

between us.

won’t be in my life forever.

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