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.

to go if he said yes — of course she would – but the thought of being trapped like she’d been

handle it. There was silence

to wonder if he’d heard her, he answered. His voice was quiet

“Order? No,” he said.

even more quietly, he said, “After all this time, you still think I’d order you to do something you didn’t want

thought…” He paused. “I thought

willing to try with

Chapter –

by guilt as she realized that Sebastian hadn’t been trying

He hadn’t been trying to leash her the way her mother had been leashed

whole life.

choice, let her choose to come solely because they were

say something ~ she wasn’t sure what ~ when his dejected voice floated through the

he murmured, “So…ll

footsteps echo through the halls,

a question, not an order. She’d been the only one to

wasn’t Liam or her father ~ he hadn’t acted like either of them

why

to say, Aria did not

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

offer.

intentions. He was offering her to come with him because he wanted to work

entirely sure how to “work

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

try, but he’d give

Victim or survivor?

words sliced through her train of

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

to dive into the

really that

decide she wanted to be a survivor, and that’d

what would a survivor do in this situation? Probably

leave with Sebastian.

surely she

although part of her wondered if she’d been choosing that since the moment she arrived at

castle.

here? A victim forever? AKHM – Bonus Chapter –

thought sent a chill down her spine. As safe as her isolated little guest room might’ve felt most of the time,

wasn’t feasible

outside, to see if

could be too

she had to

rays of dawn filtered

staying a victim forever. But Sebastian said he was leaving this

I’m too late?

him to be

door for the first time in days. She was only wearing pajamas, but that hardly

through the hallways.

no sign of Sebastian.

corner and nearly ran into what looked like

was all she got out, “Where is he? Has he left yet?” AKHM –

as well as her urgency, but after

west gate last

next question because he added, “I

and let him lead