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.

she would – but the thought

could handle it. There was silence on the other

heard her, he answered. His voice was quiet and sad, like

“Order? No,” he said.

“After all this time, you still

yours, it was always yours. I thought…” He paused.

to try with me.”

Bonus Chapter

the crushing fear was replaced by guilt as she realized that Sebastian hadn’t been trying

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

whole life.

her a choice, let her choose to come solely

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

alone,” he murmured,

echo through the halls, and a massive lump

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

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

she wasn’t sure why her brain constantly made

Suffice to say, Aria did not sleep that

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

offer.

to come with him because he

wasn’t entirely sure

the pieces missing, and she wasn’t sure how to

been willing to try, but he’d give

Victim or survivor?

sliced through her train

friendly reminder that if you’re not reading

there to dive

it really that

just decide she wanted to be

even if she did, what would a survivor do in this situation? Probably swallow down all their fears and anxieties

leave with Sebastian.

surely she

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

castle.

be if I continued to stay here? A victim forever? AKHM –

As safe as her isolated little guest room might’ve felt most of

it wasn’t

was going to want to venture outside, to see

it could be

she had to choose

rays of dawn filtered through

meant not staying a victim forever. But Sebastian said he was leaving

I’m too late?

thought of him heading home, still convinced she thought him

She was only wearing pajamas, but that hardly crossed her mind as she

through the hallways.

no sign of

ran into what

is he? Has he left yet?” AKHM – Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian

well as her urgency, but after a moment, he said,

last time I

question because he added, “I

let him lead the