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

Before she could reply, I swiped my shirt sleeve across my face

I’m sorry ~ I wasn’t trying to stare. It’s just…you reminded me

thought you were

me guess,” I said, “She’s a redhead with

Sorry. I didn’t mean to make you feel

with cream.” “Coming right

I settled into one of the armchairs by the

broke through the silence. “Clark? Clark Marshall? Is

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

“Aiden?”

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

he was less scrawny

but there was no mistaking the same blue eyes and fluffy blonde hair. ) This was

and interrogated me

could do was stare at him with wide eyes. Of all the people

come from? What was

reading this book on n??el5s.com, you might be missing out on

dive

Yorba Linda?

to see you,” Aiden said with a bright smile and he plopped down on the empty chair across from me,

believe it was you when I walked in.

remembered them to be and I couldn’t help but blush. Suddenly, I felt all

was or how big Steve’s jacket must’ve looked

run into somebody I know when

I told him, “You’re not seeing things…but what

a second. “In

not happy to see you. I guess I just really

remember, you were living in Washington

been going to the local college a town over, but

for coffee ~ nothing

From what I remembered about him, his parents frequently moved for his dad’s job.

were kids, relocated to Oregon when we started dating, and now it seemed

back in California. ‘)

me to run into him, it

turn,” Aiden said, sipping his own drink, “How’d you end up in Yorba

strict about your whereabouts.”

mom for a while,” I said, “We’re catching up.” It wasn’t technically

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

I don’t suppose I could see you again? It’s been two years – I’m sure you and

do too.” \”)

he asking me out?

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

area, Could going out with him really

you’re not reading this book on

there to dive into the

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