The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

“I’m not running away. I’m moving on.”

Irvine Welsh

It wasn’t the first time someone had referred to me by that title, but coming from Alessia’s mouth, it made me feel like even more of an imposter. It didn’t fit – I knew it, and given the amused expression on Alessia’s face, she knew it too.

“We could just go inside and talk, you know,” I said, taking her jacket, “That way, nobody has to stand out here with no jacket.” Although it still couldn’t compare to the Canadian cold, the jacket definitely helped me tolerate the freezing night.

Alessia rolled her eyes. “Please, there are guards everywhere,” she said, “You want the entire castle to hear our conversation?”

“Definitely not.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said, and then she gave me a teasing smile, “So, your Queen now, huh?” (3

“I’m surprised you heard,” I told her, “I didn’t see you at the meeting earlier.”

—

It was weird to think the meeting had only been a handful of hours ago it felt

more like months.

“Oh, yeah,” she shrugged, “I didn’t feel like going. A room full of territorial Alphas fighting over a pack dispute? No thanks. But the castle has been in an uproar given all the drama, I kinda wish I wouldn’t have missed it.”

“By drama,” I said dryly, “You mean Griffin recognizing me as his mate and then killing his father in the span of five minutes? I don’t know if I’d classify that as

drama.”

I guess so,” she chuckled, “So, how does it feel?”

“How does what feel?” I asked.

‘

“Being Queen, being the mate of the Alpha King – whatever you want to call it. Had I known you were going to be such a big deal when we talked last night, I would’ve kissed your ass more.”

–

I couldn’t stop the laugh from bubbling up. Although I didn’t know Alessia well at all, something about her was comforting. She wasn’t someone to be trifled with the scar on her face proved that but she wasn’t fake either. She wasn’t afraid to tell me the truth, and in turn, it made me feel like I could be honest with her.

–

“You want the truth?” I asked her, leaning against the balcony.

She nodded.

“I can’t tell what’s coming from me and what’s coming from this stupid mate bond,” I confessed, “When Griffin recognized me as his mate, I was horrified. I know mates are supposed to be a good thing, and for werewolves, I’m sure they are. But I had a life, things I wanted to do…like go to college.”

the King for the rest of your life,” she

will.”

”

much,” I said, “And every part of me wishes I could just completely hate him…but I can’t. This mate

I’m around

that I would know from firsthand experience or anything, but that’s usually how those things go. I imagine it’s more subdued for you

it.”

–

forget about everything else going to college, seeing my family, doing normal human things. I’m worried I’m going to lose myself. I’ve seen mated

you were trapped,” she said with that same teasing smile, “I mean, by yourself sure. You don’t stand a chance of getting away from the King or his pack on your own. This place might be a castle but it’s an isolated

–

how

–

which you don’t, I’m

of here is if you leave undetected with someone else who’s allowed

at least realize I couldn’t navigate the forest on my own. I regularly got lost on the

best chance was hitching a ride with

and report me to Griffin. Someone I could

Someone like Alessia.

with frantic eyes. “Alessia,” I said, “I know we don’t know each other very well but you could be

could

me like I’d

crazy?” She hissed, “I wasn’t trying to

might be missing out on

to help you, I’m pretty sure my head would end up on the floor like the former

out.

her. Suddenly, the gears

this is through. “You would just have to smuggle me out

smuggle you out? You’re the literal Queen,”

crossing her arms.

1

as of today,” I said, “Some people know

that far. You could just say I’m part of your pack one of your warriors sent to protect you. Once we make it onto that plane,

–

to go after that?” she asked, “My

California.

as far as I

said, “I have family in California. I just need

girl – I do. I wouldn’t want to be in your position, and normally, I’d be all for sticking it to the monarchy but

it was hard to argue with her. I knew that helping me was a big risk. for her, and it’s not like I had much to offer in

on my

is that smell?” she suddenly asked. She sniffed

“What do you mean?”

and her eyes narrowed. She walked closer to me, nostrils flared. “It’s the same scent I caught

gleamed in the