The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

Chapter 47 “Happiness can only exist in acceptance.” George Orwell

Later that evening, when Griffin returned to our rooms, I decided to put my new attitude into work. I’d already tried

running away and fighting fate. For the time being, it was time to see where actual acceptance might get me.

So, when Griffin entered the room, I didn’t turn away or try to argue with him like I might’ve done a couple of days ago.

Instead, I turned to him and actually smiled. The gesture still felt forced and I could see Griffin raise his eyebrows almost

immediately ~ he clearly hadn’t been expecting me to look happy to see him.

“Hello, little fox,” he said, bounding across the room and taking me into his arms. “I missed you.” His embrace was warm

and firm, and rather than pull away, I let myself sink into his arms and hug him back.

“Yeah, me too,” I told him. It wasn’t a complete lie. Other than Dr. Inessa, Griffin had been primary human interaction for

the past day. Even if he’d spent a good portion of that time “punishing me,” his presence was better than nothing.

In response, Griffin only stiffened under my touch. Was he expecting me to reject his touch?

“What’s wrong?” I asked as Griffin stiffly pulled away from me, staring at me with narrowed eyes.

“What are you trying to pull?” he asked, his voice low and barely above a growl. 2)

“What do you mean?”

“That smile when I walked into the room,” he said, “Telling me you miss me too, hugging me back…what sort of game are

you trying to play with me?”

offended that he was so suspicious of me. After all, I had literally run away from

If I was him, ’d

eyes bore into his and I tried to communicate every ounce

seriously, there’s no ploy here. I’ve had pretty much the

bond. Whatever you want

raised his eyebrows, but I could’ve sworn I saw something flash in his

Suddenly, it was all I could do

a way that I’d rarely felt before. It

rejection.

done everything I could to break this bond, and now I’m

I tell him I want to

I’ve been pretty against this whole thing,” I said, “And

recognize that I probably didn’t handle my part

you mean running off at the first opportunity

had

with you meant my entire future might end up slipping away. A human future. But

I owe this whole thing

embarrassment and I couldn’t bear to make eye contact with him.

me shy away. Clasping my chin in his grasp, he turned my face towards his

look

it. I’d seen that look in mated

I’d just told him he won the lottery or like I was proposing marriage. “T knew you would

that you belong to me eventually. There is no fighting fate.

leads to

down the last of my vulnerability. His possessive words didn’t terrify me

to accept the mate bond or I’d just heard him tell me that I belonged to him too

times.

I clarified, “I need to take things slow. This kind of stuff…it’s new to me. You can’t throw me

me to roll with it. I’ll just disappoint