Bad Love An Alpha’s Regret

I’m on the ground.

Brian is standing in front of a bonfire and at least a dozen wolves have formed a circle around us and the flames.

It’s…eerie.

Something about these woods feels too still. Forests are normally teeming with life and this one seems desolate. I don’t think because it’s a man-made copse, that it’s vacant. The reason seems darker, deeper, like there is something wrong with the earth beneath the trees.

“Why did you bring me here?”

Brian arches a brow.

“I mean, I know why. But why here? Why not go back to your lands or somewhere else?”

It’s closing in on midnight and I need to buy time. I won’t be able to stop the transfer of power. An Alpha can connect to anyone in his bloodline or pack, and in choosing me, my father ensured that his power would go to me. I could be on the other side of the world and it wouldn’t make a difference.

I can’t stop the influx. But maybe I can distract Brian enough to stop him from ki lling me.

I’m not stu pid. Brian brought me to a scrap of land that’s in a neutral territory. We’re far from my father’s pack, from Aaron, from the Council.

I just need to keep him talking.

I twist my wrists and try to pull one of my hands free. The shackle bites into my skin and I bleed..

I use my blood to try and slicken my skin but even though I’m tugging hard, I can’t get the cuff past my bones. Desperate, I yank my thumb out of its socket and muffle a scream.

The cuff slides off, but I fist my hand around it so it isn’t

obvious.

talking. He’s pointing out at the rows and rows of

trees.

surrounding the circle start

probably fight over my bones. After Brian ki lls

I shudder.

are bound, and with this many wolves, on this terrain, they’d

Brian to get closer. When he attacks, I need to be ready.

And I am.

ball my hands into fists.

ied

“What?”

why I chose this

AARON

see the dozen or so men spread out around the fire. Leah’s standing

no honor in what

our laws, he could challenge the Roberts Alpha. If he prevailed in a battle to the death, then he’d

doesn’t

murdered the man

Leah, even if he does ‘challenge’ her

as witnesses, what honor is

human who cannot defend

co

my mo uth and my

rip his head from

wonders if Leah will even be able to sustain the influx of power when it comes. She’s so si ck. I see that now. I think I’ve known for a while but just didn’t want to face what my

Brian strikes

and she whirls with a muffled