Bad Love: An Alpha's Regret

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.

“Karolina said something to me, while I was being held by the

Council before Aaron’s trial.”

Ryker doesn’t respond, other than to look at me with a questioning expression, and I know I’m about to

tread onto dangerous ground.

“It wasn’t so much what she said,” I push on determinedly. “It

was how she said it. I think she knows something about the tech. Maybe even where it ended up if

Tobin had it.”

Ryker stares at me for a long moment, and I think this is all probably about to go bad.

“You’re right,” Ryker eventually replies. “Karolina definitely knows something about the Al tech. There is

a very good possibility she even knows where it is.” ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I can’t believe Ryker is confirming my suspicions.

He and his mate really must not get along at all.

“However,” he says, and I think I may have spoken too soon. “As much as I do not agree with Karolina

or your Council, it is not honorable, nor my place, to meddle in their affairs. I am

not taking the side of my mate or her corrupt Council. But, know this Luna Leah. If you go after my

mate, I will consider

you my enemy.”