The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

Chapter 32 Chapter 32 "Running away is easy. It's the leaving that's hard." Samuel T. Herring Alessia's "theory" stuck withfor the entire five-hour plane ride ~ long after we stopped talking and she fell asleep again. Her words sent a chill down my spine. Was Griffin really going to huntlike prey? A couple of hours into the plane ride, I ended up falling asleep too but it was plagued with nightmares.

In my dream, I was a fox sprinting across the foggy forest. I was running away from something - I didn't know what - and tried to hide in a hollowed-out tree. I could hardly make out my surroundings while I was tucked in my little hiding spot, but then I saw it: the monster that was chasing me.

It was a large black wolf, bigger than anything I'd ever seen with piercing dark eyes and sharp canines. Its familiar dark eyes met mine, and I knew it hadtrapped. There was nowhere to run, and all I could do was watch as it stalked closer and closer. And then it pounced, razor-sharp canines headed foras I - I shot up in my plane seat, heart pounding. That was a hell of a dream. But it wasn't real - it was just a dream. *) I normally wasn't one to dissect dreams, but even that nightmare felt a little too on the nose to me. I had been running in the wolves as a literal fox - which was Griffin's favorite nicknfor- and the predator chasinghad been a wolf. Could the meaning get any more obvious than that? (° Clearly, I'm freaked out about what Alessia toldbefore I fell asleep and now my fears are manifesting in my dreams.

My heart continued to pound. Although Griffin and I were probably hundreds of miles apart by this point, the thought of him still managed to puton edge.

"Passengers, please make sure you're seated with your seatbelts on. We're beginning our descent, and we'll be wheels down at LAX in minus twenty minutes," the pilot's voice croaked through the speakers.

The feedback from the speakers roused Alessia from her own cat nap. Judging from the way she lazily stretched out, it looked like her dreams had been a lot better than mine.

"are we already there?" she asked me. “They said less than twenty minutes till we get to the airport," I said.

"Thank God," she muttered, smiling. "I hate flying. I want to put my feet — and my paws - on ssolid ground." too. Not the paws part, of course — but definitely my feet." At my response, Alessia looked at me, her smile vanishing. "Well, since we're almost there, it's tto fess up." "Fess up? About what?" Her eyes burned into mine and I could feel a shift in the air. The light friendliness between us was gone and I was suddenly reminded of who I was sitting next to: Alpha Alessia, who had slaughtered a member of her own pack to rule it. She meant business.

"It's tto tellabout my mate, Clarke," she said, her face blank.

Oh, that's what she wanted. Did you forget about your own deal, Clarke? Geez, I suck at this stuff. Mark that down for reason #497 for why I wouldn't make a good q ueen. I suck at negotiating. It's not that I was trying to withhold information or act coy, but I'd been so wrapped up in my own escape attempt that I'd almost forgotten what I had agreed to divulge for that escape attempt. "Right," I said, "Sorry, I just woke up like you. My brain is still a little fuzzy. I'll tell you who it is." body was tense, and it wasn't hard to understand And not just for her. For Lily too.

ultiple times," I told her, "You said it the scent on my clothes yesterday too." as faint but it was there. It w to be someone I interacted st get to the point, Clark," she rolled her eyes, "No offense but throat out. So, jus "Oh, right, got it," I said, eyeing her white knuckles, “In that case, I'm about 99% sure you're mated to my sister." There was silence. Alessia paused completely, like she was frozen in time. "Your sister?" she repeated, raising an eyebrow.

"Hearout. Remember the night we met?" I explained, "I was sharing a room with my sister, Lily. We had also spent all day together too — she sat next toon the plane and next toat ense why we'd smel Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on 5s.com, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter-it's all free! ed like she was trying t nt most of the day with Griffin, you were still able to smell her scent on me.

ced that she was no longer clu that I had seen before, but never on Alessia. It was the look that my dad an ght now, Clarke. He's part of the past now, yo d she just turned eighteen. Had you gone to the dinner part d, "Of course it makes sense. You didn'tit out sooner. I could just like I used to, I guess. Our pack is in Washington, they live on Blacktooth territory. And hey, now you can "Lily," she repeated again, "in Blacktooth territory. And you're sure about this?" I could see suspicion in her eyes. "You're not trying to screwover, right?" There was a dangerous edge to her voice as she spoke that last part. I guess I couldn't really blher for being cautious, but since Alessia wasn't shy about violence, I also didn't ogether until yesterday, but based on what you've told me, it's got to be her. There's nobody else I cin close contact with at definitely got to be the sister. I'm not int "Well, that settles it," I said, "You're mated to my sister...and I guess that makes us family." Although I'd known Alessia was mated to my sister for about a day, the information felt like it was just now sinking in.

Her connection to my sister would forever tie us together. Images of Alessia at family dinners and pack events ran through my brain like a movie montage - and honestly? I didn't hate it.

ad dreaded it. I didn't want to see my sister transform into ss n't like the rest. She hated the traditional Alpha system as much as I did. Truthful sia smirked, "Then it's a good thing I'm helping huck Hey there! Just a friendly reminder that if you're not reading this book on 5s.com, you might be missing out on the complete story. Head over there to dive into the next chapter—it's all free! "although I highly doubt I'll be seeing you at any family functions anytsoon," Alessia added, "I mean, have you thought this through? Long-term? Or do you just plan to be on the run from your mate forever?" I shook my head. "No, not forever...but definitely for awhile. I can't go back to my dad's place for awhile either, I know that. That would be the first place Griffin would look, but it's not like I plan to never see my dad, sister, or brother again. I just got to stay away long enough for Griffin to lose interest and move on." .°) And to make sure I don't get stuck living in Blacktooth pack forever.

Alessia rolled her eyes. "I'd tell you that you're delusional, but Kdon'm el? think you'd believe it," she

said, "I've already told you - there's no way your mate is just losing m ve interest or moving on. rks, but whatever help ffin would hold onto someone he didn't even know forever. He was eat dies down, maybe I can and the rest of the Blacktooth pack.

n to experience a little d, "Can you promise

"I assnow that I've told you about my sister," I said, "You'ben I I going to meet her soon, right?" g? I've got my mate's nand location — as ass is on the first f 's side of the family — not for a little while. And on the off-cha I'm o worry either. I want mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1