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.

Sebastian – he’d stood up for

her, and yet, when he got upset on

the table and

good his intentions, no matter how gentle

capable of

angry at her. It would only be a

at her, not Alessia. Bonus

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

her tracks ~ especially when she realized the scent

“Alessia,” a gruff

continue taunting her now that Sebastian

side of the door, and Aria could almost imagine her rolling her eyes as she

you off. I’m here to

Alessia’s mouth, it wasn’t that. Was she joking, and just

open the door so

was she really trying to make up for the

but it might upset Alessia even more if she rejected a genuine

reconciliation…

with her back straight. Whether her

to just get it

door, her footsteps heavy and her hands in Bonus Chapter

~ or the way that

it.

in the guest room as well as Aria’s casual PJs.

with sarcasm. “I

want to

Just a friendly reminder that if you’re not reading this book on n??el5s.com, you might be missing

over there to dive

bed sheets as she replied, “It’s no problem. You

to apologize?”

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

should apologize for

way she dodged

laughed in his face, of course,” Alessia said, her full

into a smile.

done yet. “But then,” she continued, “My

to you,

a lot

stared at the window

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

was pretty pathetic – you even got

me…but I’m sure I’ll be out Bonus Chapter

once I tell her we’re

gaze to Aria. She remained silent, clearly waiting

to reply.

then she started shaking

and hot, ran through her

or swallow it down, that anger, for the first time in years,

standing up from the bed

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

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

to hear any kind of apology from you, especially

And no, we’re not cool, regardless of

breathing heavy, her finger still pointed towards the

took her a moment to realize what she’d done, but as soon as it registered, her eyes widened and her heart

Bonus Chapter – Aria

yelled at

someone, but a woman with enough muscles

ever lost control of her anger

was going to tear out

reminder that if you’re not reading this book on n??el5s.com, you might

dive into the next chapter—it’s

curly-haired woman didn’t look like she was about to