The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

The Alpha King’s Human Mate

Chapter 91 Chapter 91

“It’s not the pain and the wounds that are the worst. The worst is the humiliation.”

Pascal Mercier

I could tell almost immediately by the soft footsteps that echoed down the hallway that it was Aria who’d come to visit

me, not Liam or anyone else. That was only confirmed when she ducked into the cell looking as nervous as always.

But any relief I might’ve had about not dealing with Liam became trepidation when I saw that Aria wasn’t holding food in

her hands, but a stack of clothes.

“What’s going on?” I asked. “You brought…clothes?”

Aria looked even less enthusiastic than I did, which was an accomplishment these days. Then again, our last conversation

hadn’t gone well, and most of that was my fault. I’d been too forceful about getting her to see she wasn’t being treated

right. I’d pushed too hard.

Aria could hardly meet my eyes. “Alpha Liam has requested for you to change and join his party,” she murmured.

If there was any sentence that could make my stomach drop, it was Chapter 91

that one. “His party?” I asked suspiciously.

“Yes,” Aria said, keeping her eyes on the floor, “Alpha is throwing a party in honor of his allies. He likes the girls to serve

drinks and food at these events, and…he asked for you to serve too.”

“Why does he want me? He hasn’t asked for my presence once since I’ve been here.”

“It’s not my position to question his commands,” Aria told me, thrusting the pile of clothes into my arms, “But you’ll

need to follow me upstairs so you can clean up. Alpha Liam said he’d like you to look pretty.”

A lump made its way into my throat, and I didn’t move from my spot on the floor. I wasn’t sure what Liam’s “parties”

entailed, but I could only assume this was a humiliation tactic. If he was asking me to serve food and drinks, it wasn’t

because he was short-staffed — it was because he and whoever else in attendance wanted to laugh at me. They wanted

to watch the human Queen debase herself in front of them.

Or worse. I didn’t want to think about what worse might be.

“You need to follow me,” Aria said, her voice a little firmer this time, “I don’t want to force you, but I will if I have to.”

Chapter 91

For a brief moment, I considered resisting. I considered pushing Aria against that heavy silver door and making a run for

it. But just as soon as I thought about it, | realized it was impractical.

Maybe I could overpower Aria, but I had no idea what awaited me beyond this cell. If Liam was throwing a party with all

of his allies, then this place was probably packed full of wolves who would love to sink their teeth into the human on the

run.

Escaping was a nice thought, but it wasn’t time. Yet.

Instead, I grabbed the clothes and heaved myself off the floor, following Aria out the door. After several days in the dark,

the lit hallway was almost blinding. It took me a minute to adjust to the light, and Aria said nothing as she waited for me.

Once I was no longer blinded, I got a full look at my surroundings for the first time.

This place really is a dungeon built hundreds of years ago.

The halll had the same dirty stone floor, and despite the brightness, the only source of light was the torches lining the

wall. Down the hallway, I could see several silver doors that looked identical to mine, and most likely, they led to cells

identical to mine too.

I didn’t get a ton of time to study the dungeon before Aria was urging me on. “Let’s go,” she said quietly and gestured

to a steep stairwell I hadn’t seen before. Following her lead, I began to ascend the stairs. Chapter 91

As we walked, the muscles in my legs were already burning and I realized that sitting on a dungeon floor for days had

done me no favors. I’d likely lost a chunk of the muscle mass I’d built in the self-defense

lessons with Ivan. .°) Just another reason why making my escape now isn’t the best choice.

When we reached the top, Aria glanced back to make sure I was still with her. She led down another hallway, but this one

didn’t look like it belonged to a dungeon — it had hardwood floors and real lamps.

We’re in a pack house, | realized.

They’ve been keeping me in a pack house this whole time. Liam’s pack house, I assume.

It didn’t look quite the same as the one at my father’s pack, but it was similar enough for me to recognize the structure.

T almost made a snarky comment about Liam having a medieval dungeon in his basement, but I managed to hold my

tongue. I had a

feeling Aria wouldn’t appreciate any backtalk about her Alpha.

There were several doors in the hallway, all of them closed, but Aria stopped in front of one. This one just looked like a

regular door, not like the heavy silver ones in the basement.

Aria turned the doorknob, revealing a small bare bedroom. There

it — just a

a vanity on the other side of the

bedroom?” I asked. She’d begun pulling out all sorts of makeup products and laying them out

table.

“It’s not just mine – a

bed. “Doesn’t that

here very often,” she confessed, “And when we do, it’s usually one at a

about to ask where she did sleep when I realized I didn’t need

girls must’ve too or maybe with someone close to his

seen in the room, one that led to a bathroom. “You can take a shower in

in the shower. Please make it quick though. I’ll be

as the bedroom. Just a small shower, sink, and toilet with white tile floors. Not even a mirror to

clean myself in days.

even changed my outfit had been right before the coronation. The dingy cell

hadn’t been

layer, and my hair was so knotted that I was afraid it

permanently stay that way.

only happening so that I could look

turn down my first opportunity for a

I could to appease Aria. I scrubbed at my skin until it rubbed red, and tackled

had become my hair.

but not even a locked bathroom

Liam’s pack house, and he ~ or anyone else – could tear

had me finishing the shower much sooner than I would’ve liked. I toweled myself

that I’d gotten from Aria: a plain pair of panties, a bra,

too short.

confirmed – the dress dipped low enough to show

of my thighs. It wasn’t as form-fitting as I thought it would be, and the bottom

of dress you’d wear toa club, but something

part of the dress was that it contained pockets.

wasn’t my style by any means, but I also didn’t want to complain. Who knew what

with a sigh, I tugged the dress down as far as it would go and opened the

dressed in a similar sundress and doing her makeup. “How

over my outfit.

guess this is the uniform for

pretty,” and I guess this was his interpretation of that. The outfit was more feminine than anything else

outfit,” Aria said, gesturing to the dirty coronation

you.”

my hands clutched the fabric tightly. She

I wasn’t going to give this dress

of my status as Queen. I’d worn this on what was supposed to be

I wasn’t going to let anyone just toss

anyway,” Aria told me,

I glared at

deal,” she told me softly, “You know it’s true. Besides, women like you and me ~ we’re

of positions.”

down the anger that threatened to

engage, Clark. It

“But… want to keep it. Just as a token.

a previous

didn’t immediately reply,

tell anyone I let you keep it. Alpha Liam would

make about Alpha Liam. I’d gotten to

now.

if you’re not reading this book on

over there to dive into the next

the vanity,” Aria said, “You can come do your makeup. Nothing crazy. Women

Her eyes trailed over the frizzy, knotted

hair up.”

What does that even mean? I wasn’t aware that makeup c

a

a seat at the vanity and began applying natural makeup. As Aria instructed, I

With each stroke of the mascara brush or

to take this mascara brush

with something in the closet. There wasn’t

vanity table for some bobby pins

products, and then I froze.

the closet to make sure Aria was still occupied before pulling it out

what I think it

the vanity table like something long forgotten, but as I held it in my fingers, there was no

it, but the actual comb

know that silver hurts werewolves. Chapter

use this

bristles weren’t knives by any means, but if I stuck someone

you finished

of Aria’s voice drifting behind me, I moved quickly, shoving the comb into the pocket of my

possible. And as she walked over, she didn’t appear to have seen

movements.

her. I grabbed a

me softly. “You look good. Are you ready

silver comb in my

allies carried down the hallway, and it was a familiar

the warriors, to get a little

around them, not for a moment. More often than not, I blended in

never feared

the men from my

men sounded like were my mother’s drunk or high ex boyfriends,

touched my hair and told me

stood in the kitchen with Aria and several other girls dressed

to mentally prepare myself for whatever I was about

embarrass me in front of these

alive as “bait,” but there was no

going to be okay. No matter what happens, it’s going to be okay. It’s

with plenty of embarrassment in your

Nothing they say or

tried not to let the bundle of nerves in my stomach overwhelm me. I