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 me,” she

“But the only problem with rehab was

too long for me to let you

I needed someone that could be your actual parent, your legal guardian while I

left one option.”

guess,” I said,

pleading. “You have to know

be involved with his world.

werewolves.”

shock, glancing at Steve. He

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

aware.

so surprised, kid,” Steve said, chuckling,

that your biological father shapeshifts into

cracked a smile

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

you to live with him. I’m not sure what

else out. I wouldn’t have just let him take you like

that couldn’t have been faked. “I don’t

saved for my dad but I wasn’t

mom.

around wolves,” my mom smiled bitterly, “You know what

They want to be in control of everything — including

,” I couldn’t help

she said, “He was incredibly angry

flooded through me. “Punish you?” I repeated,

was punishing. Keeping you away punished me too.”

have no idea how much I wanted to talk to you all these years. How much I just

your voice. I

ran

T been within a

you tell him

if you’re not reading this book

out on the complete story. Head over there to

know much about

head. “Not really,” I said, “He’s never talked about it, but my brother – Sebastian

was

bar in Northern California Your father came in

cracked another smile and I

didn’t tell me a

didn’t send you running

I came around to it.

how he was terrified to let his pack down, how

that stuff, so I was just

his side.”

third party,”

out platonic between us but I did

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

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

hotel room.”

glad to have some

had the one-