The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

The Alpha King’s Human Mate

Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (8) Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (8)

“The good news is that you survived. The bad news is that you’re hurt, and no one can heal you but yourself.”

Clementine Von Radics

Just as she’d expected, the moment of comfortable silence was short- lived. Just as Aria was spooning mashed potatoes

into her mouth, Alessia broke the quiet. “So, Aria,” she started, “We all had to deal with that loser Liam, but you’re the

one who had to actually live with him. What was that like?” The question was phrased so casually, like she was asking Aria

what the weather was like – and not loudly announcing her greatest shame.

Everyone else at the table tensed immediately ~ Aria, Sebastian, the King, and the Queen. Alessia might as well have

presented a ticking time bomb for dinner.

To her surprise, it was Sebastian who answered. “Alessia,” he said, his voice low and frustrated in a way that Aria had

never heard it. “We don’t need to talk about that.”

Alessia shrugged. “What? I’m curious. I want to know if the guy was as delusional in private as he was to the rest of the world.” She leaned closer to Aria from across the table, her eyes lit with curiosity. “So…was Bonus Chapter – Aria &

Sebastian (8)

he?”

Aria wasn’t sure why the mashed potatoes in her mouth – which had melted against her tongue moments ago — now

tasted like she was trying to choke down sand. “I -”

“Sebastian is right,” Queen Clark cut her off, shooting Alessia a pointed look. “We don’t need to talk about it. Aria

doesn’t need to explain anything to you.”

Alessia rolled her eyes. “You’re right. She doesn’t have to do anything. She could tell me to fuck right off if she wanted to,

but the poor girl hasn’t been able to get a word in edgewise since I’ve met her. Everyone around her treats her like

glass.” Her voice was taunting as she turned to Aria. “Is that what you are, Aria? Glass? Are you going to break into a million pieces if someone says Liam’s name?” (!

Part of Aria ~ no, most of her ~ wanted to crawl under the table and never come out. She wanted to hide from the curlyhaired girl’s hard gaze and her taunting tone.

But another part, much smaller, wanted to wipe that cold, teasing smile off her face. (“)

“Alessia, this conversation is over,” Sebastian said, his eyes dark and his

voice a growl.

‘The sound of his anger sent Aria’s heart racing and her stomach twisting into knots. Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian

(8)

Alessia rolled her eyes again, but she stopped pressing the topic. It took every bit of Aria’s courage to pick up her

silverware and keep eating her now-bitter mashed potatoes with shaking fingers.

The rest of the dinner passed in uneasy silence.

GPLOIOP

Aria almost felt bad when she dodged Sebastian’s hug after dinner and scurried back to her room, but the relief of being

alone again was palpable. That dinner had to have been one of the most uncomfortable experiences she’d had in years. Going into it, she’d been worried about the King and Queen…but they hadn’t made her feel anxious.

If anything, Queen Clark continued to show her a level of compassion she was sure she didn’t deserve.

he’d stood up

trying to protect her, and

table and

no matter how

capable of

angry at her. It would only be a matter of time

he was growling at her, not

to push the thought from her head as she changed into a pair of pajamas, but a knock on the door

she realized the scent on the other side wasn’t

called out. “Alessia,” a gruff voice

want now? Had she come to continue taunting her now that Sebastian wasn’t here? Alessia

and Aria could almost imagine

piss you off.

she thought was going to come out of Alessia’s mouth, it wasn’t that. Was she joking, and

open the door so she could insult

really trying to make up for the tension

but it might upset Alessia even more if she rejected a

reconciliation…

Aria said, sitting on the edge of the bed with her back straight. Whether her intentions

just get it over

her footsteps heavy and her hands

Aria didn’t miss the gir!’s easy confidence ~ or the way that she entered every room like she

it.

in the guest room as well as Aria’s casual PJs. “Sorry to interrupt your bedtime,” she said, her

with sarcasm. “I

really want

if you’re not reading this book on n𝘰𝚟el5s.com, you might be missing

over there to dive

bed sheets as

to apologize?”

face twisted like she’d just swallowed an entire lemon. “Right,” she said, and she averted her eyes to

cornered me after dinner, and told me I should apologize for how

Even after the way she dodged

of course,”

into a smile.

but Alessia wasn’t done yet. “But then,” she continued, “My mate told me I

you, and

a lot

loud, dramatic sigh and stared at the window behind Aria’s head. “So, this is me…apologizing,”

it sound like the very word pained her. “Sorry if asking a couple of

for the rest of dinner. It was pretty pathetic – you even

to obtain, trust me…but I’m sure I’ll

the doghouse once I

to Aria. She remained silent, clearly waiting for

to reply.

started shaking — but this time, it

fresh and hot, ran through

for the first time in years, boiled over like

is wrong with you?” She hissed, standing up from the bed and marching over until her and

that an apology? Your questions at dinner weren’t innocent, and you

here, do it again, and expect me to just nod my head and hug it out?” She pointed her

I don’t. I have no desire to hear any kind of apology from you, especially

if that’s all you have to say, you can leave now. And no, we’re not cool, regardless of what you may try

time she was done, Aria was breathing

to realize what she’d done, but as soon as it registered, her eyes widened

Chapter –

yelled at

with enough muscles to break her in half

last time she’d ever lost control of her

was screwed. Alessia was going to tear out

Just a friendly reminder that if you’re not reading

to dive into the next

stuttering out apologies, but as she looked at Alessia, she realized the curly-haired woman didn’t look like she was about to break her