The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

hapter 36 Chapter 36

“Growing up happens when you start having things you wish you could go back and change.” (“)

Cassandra Clare | *

Steve had brewed herbal tea for both mom and me, but none of us had taken a sip yet. She stared at

her hands, wringing them together and I watched the steam rise from my tea. I knew she was

gearing up to tell me something big, so I didn’t rush her.

I was still trying to make sense of what she had said about my dad just a couple of minutes ago. He

had stopped her from contacting me ~ could that really be true? I didn’t want to believe it, but I

couldn’t help but think of every time he’d brushed me off when I asked about my mom.

I knew she – and the fact that she’d hidden my existence from him for eleven years was a sore spot

for him. But had he really told her never to contact me?

“[ guess I’ll just start from the beginning,” mom finally spoke, and her eyes were glassy with unshed

tears, “You remember when we were living out of that dingy little motel on Burke Street? When you

were

eleven?” “Oh, definitely,” I smiled, “I remember that old little TV in our room. It only got, like, two

channels and you had to keep the satellite in the perfect position.”

My mom smiled ruefully. “God,” she said, “I can’t believe we really lived there – that I let you live

there for so long.”

“Mom, it’s okay,” I said, “It wasn’t that bad. We had food and electricity

“Oh, Clark,” she cut me off, “It was that bad, honey. You were just a kid, and I was doing my best to

hide it from you, but I was spiraling. My drug addiction was getting worse. I could hardly keep food

on the table for you. My debt was so bad that the only places I could live were off friends’ couches

or dingy motels like that one. And it was only going to get worse from there.”

I sat in silence and let her talk.

“Steve was the one who finally got through to me,” she said and placed her hand over his. They

exchanged smiles. “When I called to borrow money from him for the thousandth time, he finally

gave me a bit of tough love. He told me I couldn’t continue on like this, and if I did, he couldn’t

watch me do it. He told me I needed to get help. Real help ~ rehab.”

“All I knew,” Steve added, “Was that I was watching the woman I loved hit rock bottom and drag

the first one to get through to

“But the only problem with rehab was that I couldn’t

that was too long for me to let you stay with

be your actual

left

guess,” I said,

pleading. “You have to know that I never wanted

with his world.

werewolves.”

glancing at Steve. He

existence of werewolves, but I

aware.

look so surprised, kid,” Steve said, chuckling, “Your mom has told me everything. I’m

biological father shapeshifts into a giant furry

a

my mom continued, “Had I known what your father was going to

I’m not sure what I would have done, but

something else out. I wouldn’t have just let him

been faked. “I

a question best saved for my dad but I wasn’t here with him. I was here

mom.

around wolves,” my mom smiled bitterly,

want to be in control of everything — including their

,” I couldn’t help

“He was incredibly angry with me. I

flooded through me. “Punish you?” I repeated, “You’re my mom!

Keeping you away punished

idea how much I wanted to talk to you

your voice. I

ran

How many times had T been within a few

didn’t you tell

you’re not reading this book on

story. Head over there

much about

really,” I said, “He’s never talked about it, but my brother – Sebastian

it was a

California Your father came in one night, looking like he had the weight of

smile and I saw Steve roll

he confided in me. He didn’t tell me a lot of specifics at first, but

didn’t send you running

she shrugged, “But I came around to it. I bought into your father’s

— how he was terrified to let his pack down, how much pressure he was

of that stuff, so I was just an unbiased third party

his side.”

pretty third party,” Steve chimed

smiled, “Everything started out platonic between us but I did have

And then one night, he came in and I could tell he’d had a rough day. He drank

led to

hotel room.”

to have some answers.

had the one-