The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

Chapter 34 “There is no land like the land of your childhood.” Michael Powell

My heart was a drum pounding in my chest as I stood on the porch of a tiny white house. It was tiny

and tucked into the suburbs, so much so that even my Uber driver had missed it. There wasn’t

anything glamorous about it but I could tell it was well-loved. The tiny garden by the front of the

house was blossoming and the white picket fence looked freshly washed. |)

This was the address Steve had given me. It was nearly an hour from the airport in a tiny, suburban

town called Yorba Linda. It was a relatively easy trek from the airport even if the Uber ride had been

costly.

This is it, Clark. Just ring the doorbell.

As I pressed the doorbell, I could feel the adrenaline pumping

through my veins. Fight or flight, Clark? It’s not too late.

Part of me wanted to turn around and take off. Where I’d go, I’m not sure. But now that I was

actually standing in front of the door, all I wanted to do was flee. I felt completely unprepared. It

had been seven years — what was I supposed to say to the woman who abandoned me seven years

ago?

Unfortunately, I didn’t have any more time to mull it over. I heard the echo of footsteps on the other

side, and then suddenly, the door opened and I was face-to-face with Uncle Steve.

Fight, it is.

A knot settled into my stomach. He looked almost identical to what Iremembered him to be – with

just a few more wrinkles and a thinner face.

pulled me into a

to wrap my

He smelled just like I remembered too — like tobacco

a thing

large man. Not as tall as my dad or most of the male

He was a gym rat and even with my head buried into his shoulder, I could tell

as big

heavily-tattooed arms didn’t make him look

him as

guy” part.

He pulled

on his

kid,” he said, and I could see tears

“But enough of this sappy stuff. Let’s get inside. I’m

drink.”

couldn’t deny that

cozy as the outside,

meo

I could remember,

Clark. A lot

of his neck.

uh, awhile.

about that later, but

as a kid. You were also rescuing

yours

gave me a half-hearted chuckle. “Speaking of your mother,” he said, “She’ll be getting

work any minute. Why don’t you take a seat at the table and I’ll whip you up some food? I

across the

cheese?”

said, taking

hen t

things [’d learned to cook for myself. I couldn’t always count on my mother

was on a bender

I moved in with my dad, the days of box mac and cheese were over. Worrying

longer my responsibility. That was now Grace’s responsibility. |