Chapter 17


    I leave Jessica and try to dispel the things she’d said from my


    mind. Jessica would slide into Leah’s shoes in a heartbeat.


    She’d assume the role of Luna, dedicate herself to me and


    our pack and I wouldn’t have to doubt hermitment or


    integrity.


    She’s been loyal for as long as I’ve known her and she’s been


    patient.


    I don’t think that either of us expected this situation with Leah to be permanent. Certainly not when she


    was a minor and


    then even after I married her there was always this notion


    that things would not be permanent.


    But as the years have gone by, my thoughts on that have


    changed.


    My goals have changed.


    James is standing outside of the mansion and he’s pensive.


    He’s working hard to step up but I can’t overlook the missteps that have been made. He moves to the


    driver’s side of the


    Range Rover. And I stop him.


    “No. I’ll drive.”


    2/4


    He frowns but tosses me the keys.


    When he moves to get into the passenger side, I lock the door.


    “I’m going to take this meeting alone,” I tell him.


    He opens his mouth but what can he say? He frowns. “Aaron,


    I…”


    I know he is gutted by that announcement because it conveys


    Content from N?velDr(a)ma.Org.


    that I’ve lost trust in him. But there is nothing to be done for it.


    Trust is earned.


    It is not something that can be assumed or demanded. And though James is my beta, I’m beginning to


    regret promoting him to the position.


    While grounded in the hurts her pack caused ours, his actions.


    toward Leah, speak of prejudices that he’s allowed to cloud


    his judgment, and that is not eptable.


    “Where are you going?” he asks.


    I don’t say. “Reinforce the patrols along the borders and ensure that the mansion has a contingent of


    guards.”


    He nods.


    3/4


    I start the car and drive off. He’s still standing there when I


    peel out of the long driveway.


    It’s a good thirty minutes before I’m on the main highways for this region and I drive toward a small


    town for a meeting with our human CFO of the pack’s corporation. Normally, I’d take that meeting in our


    corporate headquarters, but what I want to say and do, I don’t need witnesses to.


    It’s a n that has been a long timeing.


    Jeffrey Quinton is waiting at the coffee shop. His briefcase is on the table and he has stacks of


    documents in front of him.


    “This isn’t our normal venue,” he says. “You could’vee to


    my office.”


    I smile easily. “I like to change up the scenery.”


    I sit across from him and offer to grab him a coffee. He rattles off some fancy mocha-chino thing and


    I’m grateful the


    barista overhears. I hold up two fingers, not that I intend to drink that sugary shit, but because it’s


    easier.


    I’m not here for caffeine.


    I’m here to secretly buy stocks and property.


    Bad Love: An Alpha’s Regret


    I don’t see Aaron again until the Council Meeting several days.


    Hees and goes, and I hear him, but he makes it a point to


    avoid me.


    Since he isn’t home to force me to stay in his bed, I go back to my own room. It’s easier not to think of


    him when I’m not


    sleeping in his space.


    Sometimes at night I think I hear him, but even when I rush and open the door there is no one in the


    hallway.


    I’ve started the medications that Adam left me. It’s not so bad, at least not yet, but as the drugs build up


    in my body, I’m told I’ll feel worse and probably be bedridden at least a few days.


    I try not to think about that.


    A progression of wolves are piling out of the mansion and into the waiting vehicles. They’ll run security


    and escort Aaron to