Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron) novel Chapter 216

Chapter 216
AARON
I head back to the Rathborn mansion, sad to be leaving Ethan, but I know he’s in good hands with Lillian, who is the pack’s main nanny.
I feel bad that the rest of the Rathborn pack is being denied her services right now, but there was another wolf Lillian has been training who was happy to step up and take Lillian’s place while Lillian is on ‘holidays.
The need to see Leah has been like a thorn in my skin for the past few hours.
I know much of it is driven by the desire of my wolf to see his mate, but a lot of it is also the simple fact that I’ve finally allowed myself to fully love Leah with everything that I am.
It’s almost impossible to tell where my feelings as a man who loves Leah end, and the instincts of my wolf to be with his mate begin, so I don’t even try.
The fact is, we both want Leah and her wolf, and that’s all that matters.
I was wrong before, thinking I was better off keeping myself
detached.
That I could somehow be with her and keep her at arm’s length for our entire lives.
Thinking that I could resist falling for her.
From the day she was brought to my house, I knew there was something special about her.
It was an honor to watch her grow into the woman she’s become today, despite all the challenges she fa ced, including my own indifference at times.
Now I can see I was living this half life, existing in the shadows, punishing Leah for my own insecurities and shortcomings.
I don’t want to lie to her, or keep parts of myself hidden any longer.
But of course, I’m keeping the biggest secret-have spun the biggest lie-of my entire life, keeping the existence of Leah’s son from her.
And I know how wrong it is, but everytime I think of how close I came to losing him during the attack at the hospital-
It’s like my entire body gets jolted by a live wire.
I’ve never felt absolute body-numbing fear the way I did that day.
I never imagined this tiny person-my own flesh and blood-could rip my heart out of my chest and send me to the kinds of extremes I’d fa ced when my son’s life had been in danger.
I refuse to ever feel that way again.
So until I get to the bottom of who is trying to k ill me, and who orchestrated that attack on the hospital, the lie has to stand.
I’m already vulnerable enough with my mate and the love of my life walking around.
I’m doing everything in my power to protect Leah, but if someone got to her, and she let slip the truth our son was still alive-
Not that I think she ever would, at least not without getting pushed past the breaking point through some kind of torture.
However, Leah can’t confess what she doesn’t know.
And anyone who sees how she’s grieving-with her heart on her sleeve-it helps sell the lie.
As I park my SUV and then climb out, I see Adam being escorted out of the mansion by a couple of my guys.
They’re being less than gentle, and I can tell they’re both p issed.
Plus, Adam looks like he threw down with an Alpha and got his
ass handed to him.
“What’s going on?” I ask my guys as they march Adam to his car and then practically shove him inside of it.
“Luna Leah has banished Adam for his transgressions against her.”
My blood immediately boils, and I don’t know whether
Adam sees the look on my face, or it’s just a coincidence, but suddenly his sedan shoots into motion, tires spinning as he leaves the circular part of the drive directly in front of the mansion and careens off down the driveway.
I debate going after him, but if something has happened to Leah, then I need to see her right away.
Depending on what’s happened, I can always track down Adam later if need be.
And ki ll him for whatever he did that was bad enough, my wife need to banish her oldest friend.