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 – but the thought of being trapped like she’d been with

handle it. There was silence on the

wonder if he’d heard her, he answered. His voice was quiet and sad, like a kicked

“Order? No,” he said.

more quietly, he said, “After all this time, you still think I’d order you to do something you

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

to

AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria

she realized that Sebastian hadn’t been trying to

hadn’t been trying

whole life.

give her a choice, let her choose to come

something ~ she wasn’t sure what ~ when his dejected voice

he murmured,

footsteps echo through the halls, and a massive lump swelled in her

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

her father ~ he hadn’t acted like

she wasn’t sure why her brain constantly made him

to say, Aria did not sleep

one thing on her mind: Sebastian’s AKHM

offer.

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

Aria wasn’t entirely sure how to “work

felt like a mismatched puzzle, half of the pieces missing, and she wasn’t sure how to put it

try, but he’d give

Victim or survivor?

through her train

if you’re not reading

story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter—it’s

it really

she wanted to be a

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

leave with Sebastian.

surely she couldn’t do

victim, although part of her wondered if she’d been choosing

castle.

to stay here? A victim forever? AKHM

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

it wasn’t

to see if she could put the pieces of

could be

knew she had to choose

filtered through her

staying a victim forever. But Sebastian said he was leaving

I’m too late?

heading home, still convinced she thought him to be some monster, was enough for her to

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

through the hallways.

was no sign of Sebastian. Had

and nearly ran into what looked like a burly castle

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

looked startled by the abrupt question as well as her urgency, but after a

last time I

to catch onto her next question

let him