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.

didn’t often think of men as being beautiful, but

fox?” Griffin’s teasing voice tore my eyes

as

– still shirtless – crossed the room in a few strides and pulled me into a

way I am by you,”

his eyes

he is shirtless but there are actual things you wanted to talk to him about. You can make out

any time you want.

lips in another kiss, I pressed my Chapter

movement. “What’s wrong?” He

this,” I said, “There’s something I wanted to

you want to talk about?” “Your dad,

raised an eyebrow. “I’m trying to kiss with you, and you’re

see Griffin’s body tense up at the mention

to shut me down, I’d need

on the bed, but

to figure out where this was going. “I don’t want to pry into something you’re

weighing on you. You’re not even entertaining the

narrowed, “You want me to give him a funeral? After he threatened your life in front of

at me. “If anything, you should be happy that I’m not

funeral of

I was trying to navigate through a minefield, but I continued to

I said,

a friendly reminder that if you’re not reading this book on n𝘰𝚟el5s.com, you might

into the next chapter—it’s all free! mean, clearly he was…and I’m glad you protected me that day. But I also don’t

you to call off a funeral just because of me. But if I’m being honest…1 don’t

it’s because of your own unresolved baggage with him,

it’s okay to talk about it, whatever that

may be.”

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

heard before, “I thought I’d be able to leave him behind. Forget about

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

he’s haunting me. My own councilors want to throw

anything to truly celebrate.”

beside me on the bed, and I grabbed one of his hands. I wasn’t sure if holding his

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

going to erase the pain he caused,” I

Griffin seemed to have gone through, I

How many years had I internalized my father’s disappointment? Or his

because I couldn’t

you couldn’t shut out an entire part of your

or another, you’d have to

a bit ironic that the person who taught me that lesson is sitting across from me, trying

my hand, “I told you that

much time drinking…but that’s just the tip

him to continue talking. Griffin’s face

form words

mother so I can’t say for sure if he was a

wasn’t one after her death. Much

thought humans were weak and a female wolf’s

never show weakness, not to their mates and not to

struck me as traditional the two times I’d interacted with him, but

realized he

be as radical as he would’ve liked as King,” Griffin

he tried to instill those same beliefs in me. Even

bit of weakness ~ or what he perceived as weakness — in

those were some of the biggest weaknesses a man could