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

time, looking up

for the truth.

a second and I think maybe he’s

me after

go from here if he

to give in

inside his head.

wasn’t about you at all, Emily,” he says gently, pulling me closer still, holding me properly now, his touch tender. “Well,

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say, daring to lift my hands and rest them

chest, enjoying how I’m in his embrace in a way I never

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

realize I’ve never considered

perspective.

it makes total sense

of us from

him in a quiet voice, and a hint

all,” he continues.

and I will no

mate, any of them could easily threaten

in countless terrible ways.”

him as I realize that all this time, I thought

selfish, that he

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who simply didn’t want to be with damaged

like I am.

he was trying to

were the least selfish ones he

come up

and I realize it

terrible position, and there’s nothing I

him.

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

to do with the

I nod emphatically.

last thing I want to do is make your

doing these past weeks.”

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

well.”

a moment, we stand there holding one

new trust and depth

between us.

in my life

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