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.”

”

said, “And every part of me wishes I could just completely hate him…but I can’t. This mate bond or whatever it is it’s like

more I’m

that’s usually how those things go. I imagine it’s more subdued for you since you’re human, but it sounds like you’re

it.”

–

much time around him, I’m going to 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 couples before. They pretty much revolve around each other and that’s it. But it’s not like I can do anything to stop it, I’m trapped

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

–

you know how to navigate all

–

which you don’t, I’m

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

own. I regularly got lost on the way to school, there was no way I’d make it through a thick Canadian forest alone. If I didn’t

chance was hitching a ride with someone who was

wouldn’t immediately find me and report me to Griffin. Someone I could reasonably trust more than a

Someone like Alessia.

it, I was turning to Alessia with frantic eyes. “Alessia,” I said, “I know we don’t know each other very well but you could be my ticket out of here. You’re visiting just like everyone else, which

soon I could

at me like I’d grown three

wasn’t trying

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if I did agree to help you, I’m pretty sure my head would end up on the floor

out.

her. Suddenly, the gears in my head

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

you out? You’re the literal

crossing her arms.

1

“Some people know about me…but

drives you to the airport? I doubt word has spread 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, you’re home

–

“My pack is in California and there’s no way

California.

lived. Or that’s where she used to live as far as I knew. It’s not like I had a current address for

“I have family in California. I just need you to

wouldn’t want to be in your position, and normally,

helping me was a big risk. for

I’m on

she suddenly asked. She

“What do you mean?”

scent I caught last night – it’s coming from you but it’s not actually you. God, it smells so good.

eyes gleamed in the