The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

“Fate is not an eagle, it creeps like a rat.”

– Elizabeth Bowen

If you were to ask my parents to describe my older brother, they’d tell you he was a natural leader. Fearless and courageous, the kind of man born to lead armies.

And if you asked them to describe my sister, they’d gush about her sweet disposition and her selfless heart.

But me?

There’s only one word my parents would use to describe me: human.

You might not think that “human” could be used as an insult, but somehow, I’ve spent my entire life wearing this word like a badge of shame. When I showed up on my Alpha father’s doorstep at twelve, he told the rest of the pack that I was there because of my human mother’s failure. I was thrust into the wolf pack – literally – but my status as the only human there made me an instant outcast. I couldn’t run or wrestle or shift into wolves like the rest of the neighborhood kids. I’d never meet my mate or experience that instantaneous true love that mated pairs had.

I was still the Alpha’s kid, and while that might’ve saved me from the bullies, it didn’t mean I fit in. The werewolf world was drastically different from the human one, and to them, my humanity was a weakness.

My father never told me he was ashamed of me, but I could still feel his disappointment – it hung in the air every time he called me his human daughter or explained that I was the product of a short affair with a human woman eighteen- years-ago. 2

My stepmom, my father’s true mate, did try to make me feel included. She was the epitome of the perfect Luna – gentle and good-natured – but I could still tell she was ashamed of me. If there was ever evidence that her family wasn’t perfect, I was living proof of it. Every time she looked at me, she was reminded that her mate had cheated on her.)

Try as they might, none of this made a good recipe for the perfect family. I’d spent

six

years living under my father’s roof, in his pack, and in the werewolf world, but I’d already accepted that I’d never fit in there.

*Or so I thought. *

Despite making plans to go to college far, far away from the pack that had no room

for me, my life was about to change completely. Something technically,

someone

—

of space in the werewolf world for

*Dear Clark Bellevue,

inform you that we are unable to offer you admission into the University of Florida at this time. We appreciate the time and effort put into your application, but unfortunately, this year’s large pool of applicants

confident you will go on to achieve great things in your studies, and we wish you the

*Best Regards,

Dean of Admissions

University of Florida*

–

another generic rejection email from another college that didn’t want me. My senior year

–

for

was finding a college that was far away. Somewhere far enough where I’d have an excuse not to

rainy Washington, Florida’s sunny (and distant) climate would’ve been perfect – but it didn’t look

“Clark!”

pity party got cut short by the sound of my sister, Lily, yelling my name. I barely had time to exit out of my Gmail screen before Lily

she sighed, leaning against my door

that never seemed frizzy or out-of-control. Her and my brother both shared my father’s bright, blue

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I wasn’t trying to tune you out, Lil,” I said,

she seemed to accept my apology. “Dad wants to see us, there’s a big meeting tonight at the pack

Pack meetings weren’t unusual for

only resident human, I wasn’t a huge part of pack business. I couldn’t

dad asking for me?” I

shrugged, “He just told me to come get you. I’m sure it’s

wouldn’t bring you around

more time waiting for me, and

room.

even the golden child knows why I’m being

of the largest in the pack a perk that came with being part of the Alpha’s family. Photos of Lily and my brother, Sebastian’s, accomplishments

the recliner like it was his throne with Grace perched on his

said, and his booming voice echoed around the room, “We’ve got a pack meeting tonight

look a day over thirty. He shared the same fair hair and blue eyes as Lily, and his strong jawline and intimidating frame made

Sebastian, was just as tall as my dad, but he got his chestnut brown hair from his mother, Grace. Grace – or Luna Grace if you weren’t her step-daughter was my dad’s true mate and Seb and Lily’s biological mom. She was the final piece to this picture-perfect family my dad had created.