Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret (Leah and Aaron) novel Chapter 269

Chapter 269 

At first, I think I can’t have heard that correctly. 

“I’m sorry, did you say she’s your mate?” I repeat with a bewildered shake of my head. 

I didn’t realize Ryker and Karolina even knew each other. 

They certainly haven’t made their relationship public knowledge, and I wonder why that is. 

“Yes, it’s true,” Ryker says, going to pour himself a second 

drink. “You are surprised. I was also, when I first came to this 

country and met her.” 

I want to ask so many questions, but I keep my mouth shut. 

It’s not really any of my business, and it may not have any bearing on what’s happening within the Council and what happened to Aaron. 

Then again, it might have everything to do with it. 

“Though we are mated, it has been somewhat contentious,” Ryker continues, and I’m glad he’s giving some explanation, so I’m not left with something else I need to dig into. “I don’t 

agree with much of what your Council and Karolina does and believes. They have strayed too far from the Old Ways. 

Meanwhile, Karolina believes I am stuck in the past and 

the traditions that don’t serve us any longer in this modern 

world. But, without traditions, who are we as a species? In the 

absence of traditions, there is chaos, and I think your Council 

aptly proves that. So yes, while we might be mates, it is not exactly a happy occurrence for either of us.” 

“I’m sorry to hear that, Ryker,” I murmur, and I actually mean 

1. it. 

For every couple who finds something amazing like the relationship Aaron and I had, there are other couples on the opposite end of the spectrum who are enemies or can’t see eye to eye on the important things, and I wonder why the Moon Goddess paired them as mates when they will never be able to get along. 

It’s clear that is what’s happened for Ryker and Karolina, and I can only imagine how difficult it must be. 

Live with a mate who will never understand you, maybe never even like you, let alone love you, or break the bond and risk never having another mate in your life again? 

Not many wolves get second chance mates. 

I’ve heard of it happening, but I’ve never met anyone in real 

life who has been blessed like that. 

“Now, Leah Luna,” Ryker says, clearly ready to change the 

subject. “I assume now that we’ve lost Aaron, you’ve come to ask my help in tracking down the missing Al technology your father and brother were foolishly responsible for creating.” 

I stop dead in my tracks at his words. 

“How did you know?” I demand, wondering–not for the first time–if Ryker has the ability to straight up read people’s minds like it’s rumored the Alphas of the Old Country used to 

be able to do. 

“Aaron brought me in on the problem a few weeks ago,” 

Ryker responds, which puts an end to my question about 

mind–reading. 

“Oh,” I reply, wondering why Aaron never mentioned it. Maybe he just forgot with everything else going on around us. 

Then, obviously, his main priority was keeping Ethan safe by keeping him a secret from the world. 

“Then you know everything I need you to know. That we 

have to find it before it falls into the wrong hands–if it hasn’t already–and I have absolutely no idea where it could be.” 

Ryker nods thoughtfully. “Aaron had some suspicions that 

were confirmed before Tobin’s death–that the Council were 

involved.” 

“As do I,” I reply, even though I’m now reluctant to bring these suspicions to life, given the startling fact that Karolina is Ryker’s mate. 

But I’m here, and my options are getting narrower and narrower. I either lay everything out on the table and hope Ryker can help me, or I walk away now and don’t use one of the last resources I might have left.