Chapter 22
LEAH
The rest of the meeting is a blur.
Aaron hauls me to my feet and starts talking over the noise in the room about ‘personally conducting an investigation.’ And then, out of deference to me, he offered to pay my father’s bad debt so that the Regional Council would not be impacted
while he sorted through matters.
Which, of course, made everyone think he was some kind of
savior.
But could you really praise a firefighter for saving a burning building if he was the one who started the fire in the first
place?
No. Of course not.
And what Aaron did is criminal and gaslighting and all kinds
of twisted.
But it isn’t just Aaron who came out of the meeting smelling
like roses.
I made a good impression too, apparently. I struck a chord with some of the Elders. And they’ve granted my father a
reprieve because of it.
2/5
In the old days, loyalty was most prized because it held packs. together. At least a few of the council members appreciated my display of loyalty and my willingness to sacrifice myself for my family.
In the time of the Elders, matters of treachery or broken laws would be handled internally.
They’d never turn a wolf over to humans. Not willingly,
anyway.
It’s not the result I was hoping for but I’ve bought my father
time, and that has to count for something.
It’s more than I can say for me.
I’m seething as Aaron keeps his hand on my arm and brings me out of the building to the car. He opens the door, physically lifts me into the backseat and fastens my seatbelt before
closing the door ever so gently.
It’s the kind of intentionally gentle gesture that lets me know
he wants to slam it.
He climbs in from the opposite side, slides across the bench
seat until he’s sitting next to me and then barks, “Drive!”
3/5
It’s not William but Cedric at the wheel this time, and I wonder what that’s about. Typically, Aaron doesn’t go anywhere without James or William, so it’s weird not to see one of them
in the vehicle with me.
Our two other vehicles are nowhere to be seen.
Instead of turning left Aaron instructs the driver to go right.
“Where are we going?” I ask.
He purses his lips bemusedly.
Right. I said I’d do anything. I promised. Hoping he’d save my
dad.
I guess that extends to going wherever he wants to go and not asking too many questions.
“All of this could have been avoided,” he says, “If you’d trusted
me.”
Now it’s my turn to make a face. I stare at him for a few
seconds. “Oh. You’re serious.”
“Of course, I am.”
4/5
“I’m supposed to trust you… the man who runs around with another she-wolf and rubs it in my face. The man who locks. me in a room with no food for a week. The man who set me up to be convicted of embezzling-only to pin it on my father.” I scoff. “You do realize, if my father does have to testify in court, he’ll probably still end up getting me indicted.”
Aaron tenses.
“You’ve lied, tricked and imprisoned me… but I am the one with trust issues.” I shake my head. “Holy shit, you must be joking.”
Aaron’s eyes are gold. His hands flex and I see the ripple of his beast along his forearms, a sign that he’s a hair’s breadth away from shifting.
This wolf has impeccable control.
Well, most of the time.
Just not when it comes to me.
We drive for nearly an hour before he instructs Cedric to pull
over.
“Move up front,” he says.
I slowly get out of the vehicle. We are in the middle of nowhere. A good hundred miles or more from any major city.
Cedric gets out of the car and starts walking in the opposite direction. Aaron slides behind the wheel and drives away.
We’re a long way from the packlands.
Aaron drives for another three hours. When he pulls off onto
an unmarked road and starts up a steep incline, I kind of start
to worry.
I’m alone with this Alpha.
In some foreign territory.
He’s furious with me for the things I’ve done and said tonight.
“Aaron, where are you taking me?”
His smile has a dark edge to it. “You’ll see soon enough…”
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Gifts
Bad Love: An Alpha’s Regret
