Bad Love An Alpha’s Regret

Chapter 313

He holds out his hand and I take it, shaking.

His grip is firm and cool, and there’s something almost comforting about it.

“I’m Emily,” I tell him in return.

His smile deepens. “That’s a pretty name.”

I laugh at this.

Ronan might be too charming for his own good.

“I think it’s pretty basic myself, but you’re welcome to your opinion.”

He gives a quick, friendly laugh.

“So, Emily, what has you out here looking so down on a day like today?”

I take a slow breath, working out how I can explain without sounding crazy.

“Something bad happened to me, something traumatizing,” I begin, choosing my words carefully. “Something that went on for a long time. I finally got out just recently, and now my family are treating me like I’m fragile and broken. Maybe because I am.

7

But I don’t want to be. And I can’t stay with my family, I can see that. It’s just not going to work. They’ll hate me when the realize the truth of everything that happened to me. Except I don’t know what to do, and don’t have anywhere else to go.”

Ronan nods, listening with sympathy and understanding.

And I realize it’s something no one has bothered to do since I got home.

happened to me, and what

that moment with

wasn’t

be first in line to kill me if or when the truth came out.

says thoughtfully. “You don’t seem broken and fragile to me. Truthfully, I’m pretty sure the fact that you’re here talking to me points to you actually being extremely strong and brave. You survived that bad thing you went

I’m definitely different, but I don’t think I’ve ever stopped to consider that I might be stronger for

to me.

in

www

were literally torture, but I can do things

that makes it

choice, I’d choose not to ever go through that, because I can’t exactly

greater

are benefits to the new me, if I decide to look at it from a different

a sincere voice. “In a way that no one in your family can probably see.

believe how much this stranger has actually seen me- in a way Aaron

they just not care?

I was gone for

I don’t mean in a spiteful way, I just mean in an

kind of way.

conspiratorially, leaning forward a little. “It’s also their loss if they can’t see any of that. You’re strong. You’ve proven that to yourself. You don’t need to prove it to anyone else, even if they are your family.”

I’m speechless.

what to say, but I’m deeply

to him, emotion catching in my

smiles as he gets to his

hike these trails a few times a week,” he says. “Maybe

I reply, smiling, because I hope I do

also get to my feet, and we stand

step forward and hug