The Alpha King's Human Mate by HC Dolores

Chapter 39 Chapter 39 "Good friends, good books, and a sleepy conscience: this is the ideal life” (2 Mark Twain It had been nearly two weeks since I'd arrived in Yorba Linda, and each day that passed without incident allowedto slowly relax. I felt like I was slowly sinking into the easy routine that cwith living here.

Neither my dad nor Griffin had shown up, banging on the door and ready to dragback. Even if my dad had known I was visiting mom, he still wouldn't have found~ not unless he'd been keeping close tabs on her whereabouts for the past seven years.) There's no way Luna Grace would've been cool with that.

And if Griffin hadn't been able to findyet, maybe he'd already given up. I knew he'd gone to Blacktooth Pack a week ago - that's how my dad knew I was even missing at all — but I hadn't heard anything more about him since.

He's probably already moved on. Maybe he's taking applications for his new Queen. |! Somehow, that thought didn't feel comforting to me. By the tFriday, the day I had agreed to see the movie with Aiden, rolled around, I was more relaxed than ever. It no longer felt like Griffin was going to be waiting to abductevery tI left the house." Steve and mom seemed to pick up on my relaxed mood too. "So, tellabout this boy," mom said teasingly.

She was chopping up an onion for dinner while I washed dishes. 1 couldn't deny that her cooking skills had vastly improved in the past seven years.

"There's nothing to tell," I told her, "He's just an old friend. We dated for, like, a couple of months two years ago but it never went anywhere. We ran into each other at that little cafe and he askedto catch up ~ as friends." I left out the part about how Aiden and I had been frequently texting since our reunion at the coffee shop. Most of it was casual, but there was slight flirting too. 7 "Hm, okay," mom said, hiding a smile, “I'm just glad you're settling in and making friends here. I was a little worried about you those first few days. You were very jumpy and nervous." "Yeah, well, I am on the run," I told her, "Coming here was a risk. Part ofwas terrified that Griffin was going to just show up and dragback to the castle, but it looks like laying low has paid off. I'm in the clear." "Griffin," she tested his nout like she was sampling a new dish, "That's your mate? And he's the King?" I nodded. It felt weird to discuss Griffin with my mom. Truthfully, thinking or talking about Griffin left an odd, uncomfortable feeling in my stomach. It also inevitably ledto think about things I shouldn't like how expressive his dark eyes were, how lean and tall he was, or his infuriating nicknfor me.

I wanted to leave Griffin in the past. That's where he belonged now.

"What was he like?" she asked.

Despite how uncomfortable I was with the subject, my mom didn't seem to pick up on any of my unease.

It tooka moment but I managed to answer her. "Well, I didn't know him that well," I said, “I only spent a day with him before I left. But he was definitely domineering...but still affectionate. He always had his hands on me." I hadn't meant to say that last part out loud, but somehow, it still slipped out.

with an eye roll, "Your father was that way can be hard ie theater that Aiden wanted us to meet at was within . Since this was definitely not a date, I'd kept my outfit casual: a light dress and a cardigan from my mom's closet. Since I'd makeup but nothing too time-consuming. Minim As I turned the comer to see the tiny movie theater and its bright lights, I smiled - Aiden was already here. He was leaning against one of the pillars, staring at the bright screen of his phone.

in a hoodie and jeans. He gavea bright smile as soon as he sawand I "Hey," he said, “You, uh, look good." As soon as I reached him, he leaned over to givea quick hug. I barely had tto think about was before he w years and most of our original ttogether had been making out in his cramped Honda. And now we w ractically preened at my praise, and I was struck again at just Why are you thinking about Griffin right now? You're hanging out with Aiden.

"You wanna grab our tickets?" Aiden asked. I nodded and he directedto the booth.

We both paid separately and I almost let out a sigh of relief when Aiden didn't offer to pay for mine.

e chatted about how pricey the concession stand was. None of it was very deep, but by the twe were seated in our cha even som

the previews played. We tried to stay quiet given how full the theater was. I to was surprised to see so many "It was ten. We watched, like, three Aiden chuckled but the title credits began to play so he didn't reply. ) ay Aiden's hand kept brushing against mine or how he shifted in se d To silently make my point, I moved my arm from the armrest to my lap. He stopped fidgeting after that and I let out a silent breath, fixing my eyes on the black-and-white screen.

But it was halfway through the movie when I felt it.

tire body tensed. I felt exposed and vulnerable, like prey si Something is off paying attention to me. Everyone, including Aiden, was completely engaged in the movie. I peer

Still, I couldn't shake the feeling that something was different. Every bit of relaxation I'd felt before had been sucked from my body. All I could feel now was the twisting of my gut and the beating of my heart.

t being paranoid and anxious f predator had stepped into the room and mach d

I recognized that power, that tangible tension that cfrom a certain someone's presence. I had felt it before mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1 mmMwWLliIofiflo&1 mmMwWLlilofiflo&1