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

trying to protect her, and yet, when he got

table and

his intentions, no matter how gentle

capable of

at her. It would only be a matter of time before she pushed him

was growling at her, not Alessia. Bonus Chapter –

her head as she changed into a pair

in her tracks ~ especially when she realized the scent on

out. “Alessia,” a gruff voice

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

the other side of the door, and Aria could almost imagine

you off.

was going to come out of Alessia’s mouth, it wasn’t that.

Aria to open the door so she could

was she really trying to make up for

it might upset Alessia even more if she rejected

reconciliation…

bed with her back

to just get it over

door, her footsteps heavy and her hands in

Aria didn’t miss the gir!’s easy confidence ~ or the way

it.

guest room as well as Aria’s casual PJs. “Sorry

with sarcasm. “I

want to

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

to dive into the next chapter—it’s

in Aria, and she fisted the expensive bed sheets as she replied, “It’s

to apologize?”

twisted like she’d just swallowed an entire lemon. “Right,” she said, and she

and told me I should apologize for

way she dodged him, he’d still

in his face, of course,” Alessia

into a smile.

“But then,” she

you, and

a lot

and stared at the window behind Aria’s head.

very word pained her. “Sorry if asking a couple of innocent questions triggered

was pretty pathetic – you even got my mate’s pity, which

obtain, trust me…but I’m sure I’ll be out Bonus

doghouse once I tell her we’re

sighed again before finally turning her bored gaze to

to reply.

and then she started shaking — but this

fresh and hot, ran through her

down, that anger, for the first

She hissed, standing up from the bed and marching over until her and Alessia were

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

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

to hear any kind of apology from you, especially one as poor

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

breathing heavy, her finger still pointed towards the

a moment to realize what she’d done, but as soon as it

her throat. Bonus Chapter – Aria

yelled

enough muscles to break

time she’d ever lost control of her anger like that,

Alessia was going to

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

there to dive into the next

apologies, but as she looked at Alessia, she realized the curly-haired woman didn’t look