The Alpha King’s Human Mate

“I’m not running away. I’m moving on.”

Irvine Welsh

It wasn’t the first time someone had referred to me by that title, but coming from Alessia’s mouth, it made me feel like even more of an imposter. It didn’t fit – I knew it, and given the amused expression on Alessia’s face, she knew it too.

“We could just go inside and talk, you know,” I said, taking her jacket, “That way, nob*dy has to stand out here with no jacket.” Although it still couldn’t compare to the Canadian cold, the jacket definitely helped me tolerate the freezing night.

Alessia rolled her eyes. “Please, there are guards everywhere,” she said, “You want the entire castle to hear our conversation?”

“Definitely not.”

“That’s what I thought,” she said, and then she gave me a teasing smile, “So, your Queen now, huh?” (3

“I’m surprised you heard,” I told her, “I didn’t see you at the meeting earlier.”

—

It was weird to think the meeting had only been a handful of hours ago it felt

more like months.

“Oh, yeah,” she shrugged, “I didn’t feel like going. A room full of territorial Alphas fighting over a pack dispute? No thanks. But the castle has been in an uproar given all the drama, I kinda wish I wouldn’t have missed it.”

“By drama,” I said dryly, “You mean Griffin recognizing me as his mate and then killing his father in the span of five minutes? I don’t know if I’d classify that as

drama.”

I guess so,” she chuckled, “So, how does it feel?”

“How does what feel?” I asked.

‘

“Being Queen, being the mate of the Alpha King – whatever you want to call it. Had I known you were going to be such a big deal when we talked last night, I would’ve k*ssed your a*s more.”

–

I couldn’t stop the laugh from bubbling up. Although I didn’t know Alessia well at all, something about her was comforting. She wasn’t someone to be trifled with the scar on her face proved that but she wasn’t fake either. She wasn’t afraid to tell me the truth, and in turn, it made me feel like I could be honest with her.

–

“You want the truth?” I asked her, leaning against the balcony.

She nodded.

“I can’t tell what’s coming from me and what’s coming from this stupid mate bond,” I confessed, “When Griffin recognized me as his mate, I was horrified. I know mates are supposed to be a good thing, and for werewolves, I’m sure they are. But I had a life, things I wanted to do…like go to college.”

“And if you’re chained to the King for the rest of your life,” she said, “You never

will.”

”

“Pretty much,” I said, “And every part of me wishes I could just completely hate him…but I can’t. This mate bond or whatever it is it’s like my feelings only grow

the more I’m around him.”

“Oh, that’s the mate bond for you,” Alessia said, “Not that I would know from firsthand experience or anything, but that’s usually how those things go. I imagine it’s more subdued for you since you’re human, but it sounds like you’re still feeling

it.”

–

“I’m worried,” I said, “I’m worried that if I spend too much time around him, I’m going to forget about everything else going to college, seeing my family, doing normal human things. I’m worried I’m going to lose myself. I’ve seen mated couples before. They pretty much revolve around each other and that’s it. But it’s not like I can do anything to stop it, I’m trapped here.”

“Well, I wouldn’t say you were trapped,” she said with that same teasing smile, “I mean, by yourself sure. You don’t stand a chance of getting away from the King or his pack on your own. This place might be a castle but it’s an isolated fortress

–

too. Unless you know how to navigate all that forest

–

which you don’t, I’m

guessing you’re screwed. The only other way you’re getting out of here is if you leave undetected with someone else who’s allowed to leave.”

She spoke as if she was just thinking out loud but it did get me thinking. Alessia was right. I was smart enough to at least realize I couldn’t navigate the forest on my own. I regularly got lost on the way to school, there was no way I’d make it through a thick Canadian forest alone. If I didn’t die of hypothermia first, Griffin or one of his pack members would most likely just find me and bring me back.

My best chance was hitching a ride with someone who was already leaving the

castle – someone who wouldn’t immediately find me and report me to Griffin. Someone I could reasonably trust more than a stranger.

Someone like Alessia.

As soon as I thought it, I was turning to Alessia with frantic eyes. “Alessia,” I said, “I know we don’t know each other very well but you could be my ticket out of here. You’re visiting just like everyone else, which means you’ve got to go home to your

pack soon I could come with you!”

Alessia looked at me like I’d grown three heads.

“Are you crazy?” She hissed, “I wasn’t trying to give you ideas, Clark! There’s no

way it would work, and even if I did agree to help you, I’m pretty sure my head would end up on the floor like the former Alpha King’s did once your mate found

out.

“Not if we succeeded,” I told her. Suddenly, the gears in my head were turning as I

tried to think this is through. “You would just have to smuggle me out of here.”

“And how do you suggest I smuggle you out? You’re the literal Queen,” she said,

crossing her arms.

1

“Only as of today,” I said, “Some people know about me…but it’s unreasonable to

think that everyone would, right? Like whoever drives you to the airport? I doubt word has spread that far. You could just say I’m part of your pack one of your warriors sent to protect you. Once we make it onto that plane, you’re home free.”

–

“And where are you going to go after that?” she asked, “My pack is in California and there’s no way you’re staying with me.”

California.

That’s where my mom lived. Or that’s where she used to live as far as I knew. It’s not like I had a current address for her.

“I’ll be okay,” I said, “I have family in California. I just need you to get me out.”

Alessia scoffed, shaking her head. “Look, I sympathize with you, girl – I do. I wouldn’t want to be in your position, and normally, I’d be all for sticking it to the monarchy but not when it comes at the price of my own head.”

Realistically, it was hard to argue with her. I knew that helping me was a big risk. for her, and it’s not like I had much to offer in return.

Guess I’m on my own.

“What is that smell?” she suddenly asked. She sniffed the air with her eyes closed.

“What do you mean?”

“It’s you,” she said, and her eyes narrowed. She walked closer to me, nostrils flared. “It’s the same scent I caught last night – it’s coming from you but it’s not actually you. God, it smells so good. It smells like mate.”

Her eyes gleamed in the darkness.

Mate? How could I smell like her mate if I’m not actually her mate? It must’ve been someone I interacted with or shared clothing with or

Reality suddenly dawned on me. D

I couldn’t believe I hadn’t pieced it together before. Last night, I’d shared a bedroom with Lily before I talked to Alessia. Today, I was wearing Lily’s dress that

she had left me.

I wasn’t Alessia’s mate. [2

But my sister was. 6

Granted, it was just a theory but it made sense. Who else had been in such close contact with me today and last night? Not even Sebastian had gotten that close and her mate certainly wasn’t Griffin.

“Alessia,” I said, “What if I told you I could you offer something in return? For

helping me?”

Her eyes narrowed dangerously. “Oh? Like what?”

“Like the name of your mate and where they are. I have a pretty good idea of whose scent you keep smelling.” O

She growled. “You know my mate?”

“If you’re sure the scent you’re smelling belongs to your mate, then I know who it

just the teensiest, tiniest favor in return.”

“Let me guess,” she huffed, “You tell me the name of my mate and I let you leaveContentt bel0ngs to N0ve/lDrâ/ma.O(r)g!

the castle with me. Tell the driver and anyone else we encounter that you’re a part

of my pack.”

Coercing Alessia’s help felt manipulative but she was my only shot out of here. I didn’t know her that well but I at least knew her better than the other forty Alpha kids who had made an appearance at the diplomatic meeting.

And if worst came to worse, I’d protect her from Griffin. I wouldn’t let her head up on the floor. She wouldn’t suffer for me. I’d throw myself at his feet and beg his forgiveness, lock the chains on myself I’d do whatever I needed to protect Alessia from his wrath.

But it won’t come to that. @

You’ll get away and nob*dy will get hurt. It’ll all be worth it.

“So, that’s it then? I help you and you tell me where my mate is,” she said. Her face was blank again, unreadable.

“Yeah, that’s the deal.”

She sighed, looking up at the moon. “Moon goddess help me,” she muttered, “I’m only doing this because you know the name of my mate. And I want to stick it to the monarchy. And also…you’re kind of okay.”

I grinned. Relief flooded me – I was going to get out of here. I could be in California by this time tomorrow.

“You’re pretty okay too, Alessia.”