Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron) novel Chapter 182

Chapter 182
Ryker smiles at me, the expression amused and victorious.
He obviously enjoyed slaug htering his way through those unknown wolves, and no doubt he now thinks I owe him.
Except all I can think about is the last night I saw him.
The night he helped Liam betray me.
Some of the fury I’ve been keeping bottled up since I woke up and realized the extent of my loss comes screaming up within me in a rush of heated anger.
Before I know it, I’ve partially shifted and lunged at him in a blind rage.
I collide into him and we go down to the forest floor, but as I go to slash my claws through his flesh, he reaches up and catches my wrists.
“So feisty! I knew you had the soul of a warrior, but not many Alphas would dare attack me.”
He’s not offended or pis sed off. All I’ve managed to do is entertain him, which makes me even angrier.
“Do you have any idea what you cost me that night?” I snarl at
him.
At this, the smile slips from his face and he nods.
“I’m sorry for your loss, Luna. If I could go back and change things, I would.”
The howls of the Roberts and Rathborn wolves are closing in,
almost upon us, and I give half a thought to tying him up in a basement and not letting him go until I feel better about what happened that night.
Which will be never.
However, he rolls suddenly, putting me underneath him.
“What are you doing here?” I ask him again, less heat to my
words this time.
I let my emotions get the better of me and foolishly attacked a dangerous, Old Country Wolf. He could have easily killed me if
he’d wanted.
He leans down, and my heart sk ip s in wild panic-and maybe something else-as for a second I think he’s going to kiss me.
“I’m here for you, Leah. That’s all you need to know right now.”
With that, he rolls off me, and by the time I glance over, he’s shifting back into wolf form and streaking off into the forest.
I sit up just as a huge group of wolves burst into the clearing.
James immediately shifts and comes sprinting over to me,
Adam not far behind.
“Leah, are you okay?!” James demands as he drops down next to me, large hands landing on my shoulder as his panicked
gaze tracks over me. “Where are you hurt?”
“Most of it is not my blood,” I tell him in a thick voice, feeling a bit faint after everything that happened.
Maybe Adam was right, da mn him, and I’m pushing myself
too hard.
“But I did get bit on my shoulder,” I continue, the sting of it making itself known.
Adam leans around me to have a closer look.
“It’s already healing,” he confirms. “But we should get your back to the house so we can check you over properly.”
A few of the other guys have shifted, and they’re glancing
between me and all the dead wolves that are easily twice my
size. They’re staring at me in awe and whispering among
themselves.
James seems to pick up on it, and then glances around, as if
he’s been so focused on me before now, he didn’t even notice
the carnage.
“Leah,” he says in a strangled voice. “How the hell did you
survive?”
“I don’t know,” I tell him honestly, as he and Adam help me to my feet.
James’ nostrils flare and for a second I wonder if he can scent
Ryker. However, if he does, he doesn’t say anything.
Meanwhile, I don’t volunteer the information. I don’t think
James would be happy to learn about Ryker, especially
considering the way James had reacted to Tobin, and Ryker is arguably much worse.
Besides, what Ryker said to me, I need to figure out what he
meant by it.
I’m here for you, Leah.