Bad Love An Alpha’s Regret

I don’t know why I’m surprised to find out Emily and Jessica were best friends, considering Aaron and James are equally close, and they all grew up together.

I climb slowly out of the SUV and then walk around to join James.

“Did you know she was coming home?” I ask him, trying to

keep the accusation out of my voice.

He knows how contentious things have been between me and Jessica over the years, with Aaron firmly in the middle. The least he could have done was given me a heads up.

“No, I didn’t know,” James says, shaking his head.

I can tell he’s being truthful, so that alleviates some of my annoyance at least.

Aaron had mentioned that Jessica had taken an extended vacation and gone to stay with some relatives in another pack somewhere–at his expense of course–and it’d been easy to put her from my mind and simply believe she might never

come back.

Her timing, however, couldn’t have been worse.

I don’t want to have to deal with her and all that petty rivalry right now with everything else going on.

Eventually, Emily and Jessica are over the shock of their

unexpected reunion and I slowly walk toward the mansion, debating whether I should ask Jessica why she’s come back.

As I get closer, her eyes narrow, and that pretty much seals

the deal for me.

Jessica and her nastiness are not worth my time or energy right now.

hear her and

about me.

for who I am, and Jessica

I took from her.

way in which having them together

I reach the doorway, I hear James

didn’t know you were coming home,” he says,

the doorway where they

listen in.

I not come home? I heard about what happened

Aaron. Basically, every wolf in Montana is

as soon as I heard. Aaron was the love

mate. I needed

the funeral.”

and walk away, not waiting to hear what

response to that.

words make my stomach tighten with an old, familiar churn of

right to claim Aaron was the love of

life.

real love even

shared was nothing compared to

I came along.

mansion and grounds, acting like she’s the widow and her whole life is over while I do

the packs and running

clue, and I can only hope she’ll go back to wherever

the feeling hoping Jessica will leave might be wishful

upstairs and find Ethan with Tera. As I’d hoped, it’s time

in the new nursery that James put together while Aaron and I were being held captive.

in a room across from Aaron’s bedroom, and I

a wonderful