The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

The Alpha King’s Human Mate AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (9) Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (9)

“Changing is what people do when they have no options left.” Holly Black

Victim or survivor?

Those three words rattled through Aria’s brain for the next few days as she avoided anyone with a pulse, including her mate. She knew that it hurt him ~ he’d knocked on her door a few times per day, but after several minutes of no reply

from her, she’d always hear his footsteps echo away.

Victim or survivor?

Aria wondered if it was really that simple. Alessia had made it sound so easy like flipping a switch.

And maybe it was, but Aria had no idea where that switch was.

On day three of her self-imposed isolation, Sebastian came knocking

again — and this time, he didn’t take no for an answer.

“aria,” he said, and she swore she could hear the frustration in his voice, “I know you’re in there, I know you don’t want to

talk to me…or

anyone else, but we need to.” AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (9) She laid in the guest bed, curled into the

fetal position and ready to wait till he left, but his next words made her freeze.

“aria, I’m leaving.”

Her breath caught ~ leaving?

She didn’t say it out loud, but he answered her unasked question anyway. “I don’t want to, but I’ve been here much

longer than I was supposed to,” he explained, his muffled voice floating through the closed door. “My father and my

pack need me, and I can’t delay any

longer. I have to leave in the morning.”

Something cold and paralyzing shot through her as her wolf howled inside her head ~ he’d be gone in less than twentyfour hours.

He was leaving. Leaving her.

Sebastian’s voice cut through her internal spiral once more. “I came to ask if you’d come with me,” he said, and there was a new tinge of nervousness to his tone. “I know that we’ve had a…rocky start, but

we’re mates. We’re meant to be together. I want to show you my home. I

want it to feel like yours.” So, he wasn’t leaving her. He wanted her to come.

There was a moment of relief as she realized he didn’t intend to leave AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (9)

her there ~ only to have it followed by crushing fear.

Flashes of her father and mother ran through her head, of the way her mother was never allowed to leave the grounds

without their father’s permission.

And then flashes of her, just as trapped at Liam’s pack. Is that what it would be like with Sebastian? She wondered.

For the first time in days, Aria spoke just loud enough for him to hear it through the door. “A-are you ordering me to

come?” She asked, and she barely recognized her own voice.

yes — of course she would – but the thought of being trapped like

handle it. There was silence on the

beginning to wonder if he’d heard her, he

“Order? No,” he said.

you still think I’d order you to do something you didn’t

thought…” He paused. “I thought you might want to

willing to

AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian

she realized that

same way she’d been with Liam. He hadn’t been trying to

whole life.

her a choice, let her choose

opened her mouth to say something ~ she wasn’t sure what ~

to be alone,” he murmured, “So…ll leave you to

his footsteps echo through the halls, and a massive lump

had she said that? He’d proposed it like a question, not an order.

he hadn’t acted like either of

she wasn’t sure why her brain constantly made

to say, Aria did not sleep that

mind: Sebastian’s AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria &

offer.

had good intentions. He was offering her to come with him because

entirely sure

pieces missing, and she wasn’t

to try, but he’d

Victim or survivor?

through her train

reading this book on n??el5s.com, you

there to dive into the next

it really that

just decide she wanted to be

in this

leave with Sebastian.

she couldn’t

although part of her wondered if she’d been

castle.

A victim forever? AKHM –

a chill down her spine. As safe as her isolated

it wasn’t feasible

going to want to venture outside, to see if she could put the pieces

be too late

she had

rays of dawn filtered through her window, the

staying a victim forever. But

I’m too late?

thought him to be

the first time in days. She was only wearing pajamas, but that hardly crossed her

through the hallways.

of Sebastian. Had

corner and nearly ran into what

she got out, “Where is he? Has he

as her urgency, but after a moment, he said, “‘Bout to

gate last time I

seemed to catch onto her next question because he added, “I can

let him lead the