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

you were the first one to get through to me,” she

problem with rehab was that I

months and that was too long for me to

I needed someone that could be your actual

only left

I said, “My

Clark,” she said, practically pleading. “You have to know

be involved with his

werewolves.”

glancing at Steve. He looked completely unfazed.

about the existence of werewolves, but I had no idea that Uncle Steve

aware.

so surprised, kid,” Steve said, chuckling, “Your mom has

father shapeshifts into a giant furry dog.”

cracked a smile at

have to know,” my mom continued, “Had I known what your father

brought you to live with him. I’m not sure what I would have done, but I

have just

have been faked. “I don’t

for my dad but I wasn’t here with him. I was here

mom.

my mom smiled bitterly, “You know what they’re

They want to be in control of everything — including their

,” I couldn’t help

said, “He was incredibly angry with me. I think

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

Keeping you away punished me

to talk to you all these

your voice. I

ran

How many times had T been within a few

didn’t you

there! Just a friendly reminder that if you’re not reading

over there to dive into the next chapter—it’s all

know much

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

was

came in one night, looking like

and I saw Steve roll his

he confided in me. He didn’t tell me a lot of specifics

raised my eyebrows. “And that didn’t

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

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

I had no idea about any of that stuff, so I was just an unbiased third party to

his side.”

third party,”

too,” my mom smiled, “Everything started out platonic between us but I did have a little

And then one night, he came in and I could tell he’d

he started sweet-talking me. One thing led to another and, well…he ended up

hotel room.”

I was also glad to have some answers. The

and you guys had the one- night