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,

voice tore my

wasn’t as

I could reply, Griffin – still shirtless – crossed the room in

I am by you,” Griffin said when he pulled back from the

eyes

you wanted to talk to him about. You can

any time you want.

my lips in another kiss, I pressed

his movement. “What’s wrong?”

much as I want to continue this,” I said,

want to talk about?”

“I’m trying to kiss with you, and you’re thinking about my

teasing tone, I could see Griffin’s

shut me down, I’d

started. I moved to take a seat on the bed, but he didn’t join me. He remained

don’t want to pry

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

funeral? After he threatened your life in front of me?”

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

the funeral of

I was trying to navigate through a minefield, but I continued to press on. “Look,

said,

if you’re not reading this book

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 think this is just about me. And

a funeral just because of me. But if I’m being honest…1

I think it’s because of your own unresolved baggage with him, which is okay. I just

talk

may be.”

several moments, his body still tense and

that I’d never heard before, “I thought I’d be able to leave him behind.

the entire truth about him. There’s

he’s haunting me. My own councilors want

anything to truly celebrate.”

on the bed, and I grabbed one of his hands. I

could comfort him, He didn’t reject the gesture. He only

those memories to yourself isn’t going to erase the pain

experienced the kind of neglect Griffin seemed to have gone through, I was

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

because I couldn’t

I’d learned recently, it’s that you couldn’t shut out an entire part of your

you’d have to

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

tightened on my hand, “I told you that my father blamed me for my mother’s

that’s just the

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

words

never knew my mother so I can’t say for sure

Griffin told me, “But he certainly wasn’t one after her death. Much

and a

weakness, not

me

realized he was that

as radical as he would’ve liked as King,” Griffin continued, “The

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

bit of weakness ~ or what he perceived as weakness —

some of the biggest weaknesses a man