The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

Chapter 38

“Your first love is your first love. It cannot be analyzed, explained, or forgotten.”

Aisling Bea

My mom had been right about the little cafe in town ~ it was cute and cozy. They also just had good coffee, much better

than the black sludge that Steve was drinking in his thermos every morning.

After I’d gone with her that first night, I started going there on my own. Sometimes I’d take a book to read, and other

times I would just people-watch with steaming hot coffee in my hand. \°)

Yorba Linda was definitely a small town, there was no denying that. Besides a grocery store, a movie theater, a library, and

the little cafe, there were just houses here. (*

But it was also peaceful and the people were nice but not intrusive. I was used to living in a small town — if you could

call the Blacktooth Pack a town ~ but the pack had never felt peaceful.

Everyone had heightened emotions, mates were all over each other, and people thought they were entitled to know

every aspect of your life. It probably had to do with their “mind link,” but as a human, it wasn’t great. Yorba Linda

might’ve been small, but nobody bothered you. People

went about their business and didn’t inquire about yours. It was nice. )

After ten days in the little town, I found myself spending another afternoon in the coffee shop. This time, I was equipped

with some mystery novel I’d pulled off mom’s bookshelf. Her collection was sparse, so I would need to make a run to the

local library soon.

I walked up to the coffee shop counter to place my order. The shop was a little busy, and I watched the barista ~ a

college-aged girl with dyed purple hair whose nametag read Amber ~ multitask like a pro.

Geez, she really moves fast. (: She slid someone’s mocha down the counter and then turned to me. Despite how quickly

she seemed to be working, there wasn’t a hair out

of place. She didn’t seem to be breaking a sweat. (=

“What can I get you?” she asked with a bright smile, and I saw her eyes

widen when she looked at me. “Woah,” she muttered under her breath. )

My cheeks instantly flushed. Why is she staring at me like that? “What?” I couldn’t help but ask. She was still staring. “Do

I have still

could reply, I swiped my shirt sleeve across my face several

wasn’t trying to stare. It’s

you were

“She’s a redhead with

it. Sorry. I didn’t mean to make

with cream.” “Coming

one of the armchairs by the window to read

nearly fifty pages in when a voice broke through the silence. “Clark?

head whipped up instantly, my body on high alert. I took a sharp inhale when I

“Aiden?”

than the last time I’d seen him two years ago. I could tell

he was less scrawny

was no mistaking the same blue eyes and fluffy blonde hair. ) This was Aiden,

and

stare at him with wide eyes. Of all the people who could recognize

had he come from? What was he doing in a tiny

that if you’re not reading this book on n??el5s.com, you might be

over there to dive into the next

Yorba Linda?

said with a bright smile and he plopped down

walked in.

be and I couldn’t help but blush. Suddenly, I felt all too

how big Steve’s jacket must’ve looked

when I look like I just rolled

I told him, “You’re not seeing

“In this coffee shop

that I’m not happy to see you. I guess I just really wasn’t expecting you.” “I

remember, you were living

moved to SoCal about a year ago. I’ve been going to the local college a town over,

~ nothing beats

From what I remembered about him, his parents frequently

California when we were kids, relocated to Oregon

back in California. ‘)

for me to run into him,

end up in Yorba

strict about your whereabouts.”

for a while,” I said, “We’re catching up.” It wasn’t technically a lie, I was doing those things. It just

saw him glance at his phone. “Shoot…I’ve got to go. I’ve got class in

“But I don’t suppose I could see you again? It’s been two years

do too.” \”)

asking

Aiden was cute, we had a brief history together, and he was probably the only

the area, Could

friendly reminder that if you’re not reading this book on n??el5s.com, you might be missing out on

over there to dive into

offer should’ve excited me, but something was nagging at me – some