The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

The Alpha King’s Human Mate

Chapter 63

Chapter 63

“Fathers — half of anyone’s life seems to be about who fathered them.” Nancy Springer

Although I could tell that some of Griffin’s councilors looked uneasy at the thought of not being able to commemorate

his father’s death with a funeral, none of them voiced their disagreement.

As | listened to one of the councilors continue to drone on about a minor pack dispute, the situation nagged at me. I

knew Griffin and his father didn’t have a close relationship. He’d confided in me that his father blamed him for his

mother’s death, how his father spent most of his time in the bottom of a bottle.

And there was clearly enough distance between them that Griffin could slice the former Alpha King’s head clean off and

not even bother to give the guy a funeral. He’d said it was because the former King had threatened me – and maybe that

was part of it – but I knew Griffin’s disdain went much deeper. Whatever it was, it was more than just resentment for a

neglectful father.

Iwas curious, but I also wasn’t going to question him in the middle of a meeting with his councilors. Even I knew that wasn’t going to end well. Those questions could wait till later when we were alone. Chapter 63,

Instead, I kept still and tried to soak up as much information from the councilors as I could.

If I’m going to be Queen, I’ve got to know everything about this world. 1 didn’t take my werewolf education very

seriously when I lived with my dad, and I’ll probably be paying for it now.

But in my defense, I had no idea I’d end up here.

By the time the meeting was over ~ almost two hours later ~ I had a splitting headache from focusing too hard. I asked a

few questions about some of the disputes the councilors brought up, and as far as I could tell, nobody seemed upset that

I was trying to learn. And if they were ~ well, at least they were smart enough not to become frustrated

with me in front of Griffin.

“told you that the meeting would be boring,” Griffin said as we walked back to our bedroom. When we reached the large

set of bedroom doors, he dismissed the guards standing watch and led me inside.

“[ mean, it wasn’t all bad,” I said, following him in, “Some of those

pack disputes seem like real issues. Especially that Alpha Liam guy.”

“He’ll be dealt with soon enough,” Griffin said. He walked towards the closet and began shedding his clothes like it was

no big deal.

Technically, it shouldn’t have been a big deal – I’d been sharing a bedroom with Griffin for almost a week now. I’d seen

him strip down a couple of times, and each time, the sight of Griffin’s bare skin always Chapter 63 seemed to fluster me. I wish I could’ve blamed my red cheeks or the quick beating of my

heart on the mate bond, but I was pretty sure I’d be having this reaction even if Griffin wasn’t my destined mate.

Griffin was attractive. There was no denying it. The moonlight creeping through our open window cast soft light onto his

dark hair and bronze skin. Even across the room, I could clearly see the outline of his toned abdomen and his sharp

jawline.

men as being beautiful, but Griffin

teasing voice tore my

as subtle

reply, Griffin – still shirtless – crossed the room in

love knowing that you’re affected by me the same way I am by you,” Griffin

eyes down

things you wanted to talk to him about. You can

any time you want.

lips in another

chest, stopping his movement. “What’s wrong?”

continue this,” I said,

to talk about?”

you, and you’re thinking

teasing tone, I could see Griffin’s body tense up

If I didn’t want him to shut me down,

to take a seat on the bed, but he

where this was going. “I don’t want to pry into something you’re not ready to talk about,

with your dad…it seems like it’s weighing on you. You’re not

a funeral? After

“If anything, you should be happy that I’m not giving him a

attend the funeral of someone who threatened

navigate through a minefield, but I continued to press on. “Look, I won’t deny that

said, “I

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

glad you protected me that day. But I also don’t think this is just about me. And even

I’d never want you to call off a funeral just because of

of me. I think it’s because of your own unresolved baggage with

okay to talk about

may be.”

for several moments, his body still tense and rigid. “When I killed him,” he started, and

I’d be able to

the entire truth about him. There’s nobody alive that can remind me

My own councilors want to throw some lavish

anything to truly celebrate.”

I grabbed one of his hands. I wasn’t sure if holding his hand would

comfort to Griffin, but right now, it felt like one of the only ways I could comfort him, He didn’t reject the gesture. He only wrapped

to yourself isn’t going to erase the pain he caused,” I said gently, “It’ll just make

of neglect Griffin seemed to have gone through, I

internalized my father’s

I couldn’t shift?

that you couldn’t shut out

or another, you’d have

who taught me that lesson is sitting across from me, trying to learn

and his grip tightened on my hand, “I

time drinking…but that’s just the tip

quiet, waiting for him to continue talking. Griffin’s face was twisted into a pained frown like he

words

mother so I can’t say

“But he certainly wasn’t one after her death. Much of my father’s views aligned

he thought humans were weak and a female wolf’s place was breeding and

weakness, not to their mates and not to

Alpha King had struck me as traditional the two times I’d interacted with

realized he

wasn’t allowed to be as radical as he would’ve liked as King,” Griffin continued, “The

in private, he tried to instill those same beliefs in me. Even as

of weakness ~ or what he perceived as weakness — in me. Showing

father thought those were some of the biggest weaknesses a man