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.

go if he said yes — of course she would

could handle it. There was

her, he answered. His voice

“Order? No,” he said.

this time, you still think I’d order

choice is yours, it was always yours. I thought…” He paused. “I thought you

were willing to try

AKHM – Bonus Chapter –

crushing fear was replaced by guilt as she

with Liam. He hadn’t been trying to leash

whole life.

give her a choice, let her choose to come solely because they were

say something ~ she wasn’t sure what ~ when his

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

through the halls, and a massive lump swelled

not an order. She’d been the only one

hadn’t acted like

why her brain constantly made him out to

Suffice to say, Aria

and turned with only one thing on her mind: Sebastian’s AKHM – Bonus Chapter

offer.

knew that he had good intentions. He was offering her to come with him because he wanted to work things out

Aria wasn’t entirely sure

of the pieces missing, and she wasn’t sure how to put it back

been willing to try,

Victim or survivor?

words sliced through her train of

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

there to dive into the

it really

she wanted to be

did, what would a survivor do in this situation? Probably swallow

leave with Sebastian.

she couldn’t

her wondered if she’d been choosing that

castle.

A victim forever? AKHM – Bonus Chapter

as her

it wasn’t feasible

to see if she

it could be too

knew she had

filtered through her window,

not staying a victim forever. But Sebastian

I’m too late?

thought of him heading home, still convinced she thought him to be some monster, was

door for the first time in days. She was only wearing

through the hallways.

was no sign of Sebastian. Had

turned a corner and nearly ran into what looked like a burly

Has he left yet?” AKHM – Bonus Chapter

her urgency, but after a moment, he

west gate last

onto her next question

let