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

looking up at him,

the

I think maybe

after

from here if he can’t be truthful

he seems to give in to whatever thoughts are going

inside his head.

at all, Emily,” he says gently, pulling me closer still, holding me properly now, his touch tender. “Well, it was, just not in the way you’re thinking.”

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daring to lift

chest, enjoying how I’m in his embrace in

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 I went mad from grief over losing my

startled to realize I’ve never considered things from this

perspective.

it makes total sense why he rejected

of us

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

he continues. “I’ve made

and I will no doubt make many more in the

any of them

me in countless

heart melts for him as I realize

me had been selfish, that he was

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person who simply didn’t want to be with

like I am.

trying to protect me.

the

come up

and I realize it hurts that

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

him.

he whispers, as if he

to do

I nod emphatically.

to do is

doing these

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

well.”

and for a moment, we

trust and depth of our

between us.

be in my life

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