Bad Love An Alpha’s Regret

I still don’t feel steady as the Enforcers march us out of the room and back to the main hall, that is now empty of an audience.

At least we won’t have to do this part in front of all the regional Alphas and their Lunas.

Probably the only reason is because the Council keeps the method to breaking a mating bond tightly under wraps, only allowing it under strict circumstances that don’t crop up very often.

I feel like I’m walking in a nightmare.

All I can think over and over is that this can’t be happening.

Things can’t have spiraled this far out of control.

There has to be some way to stop this before our mating bond

is broken and Aaron is executed under the next full moon.

But no last–minute stay of execution–literal or figurative- comes about.

Aaron and I are left standing on the stage hand–in–hand, while Samsen sets an old, leatherbound book on the table

next to a silver ceremonial knife.

There’s only a few Councilmembers present–including Petyr,

on Aaron’s guilt, while the ones who thought he was innocent have made themselves scarce,

you ready to proceed with the ceremony?”

clear he wants this over and done

doesn’t care that he’s destroying lives

evidence.

growls. “But we don’t have a choice, do we? So let’s get it over with.”

Aaron’s tone or his arrogance, however, he turns

claimant, it is

will draw blood with this silver knife, read the

and then mark

the claiming bite to sever

and my heart starts hammering in

to protest.

to

to hold the trial

to be strong.

can go home to him, even if it means living without my mate

body and force myself to breathe slowly and not hyperventilate or

the knife and scores it across the meaty part of his palm,

you, Leah Roberts Rathborn, of the Roberts bloodline. No longer shall our bond exclude us from all others. No longer

own.”

something starting to rend, and from the subtle flinch Aaron gives, I think he

blood, so it will be undone in blood,” Aaron