The Alpha King’s Human Mate

The Alpha King’s Human Mate

Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

“Rivers know this. There is no hurry. We shall get there someday.” A.A. Milne

After downing the cup of tea Sebastian had given her, Aria drifted off to sleep again. It was if her b*dy was trying to make up for lost time. The mattress in the guest room was probably the most comfortable b*d she’d ever slept on. It was

much cozier than her childhood b*d, and it was about ten steps up from the bunk b*d she’d had at Alpha Liam’s pack.

At least she’d gotten a bunk b*d. The women had slept ten or fifteen to a room, and only the favorites got bunk b*ds.

The rest had been relegated to thick mats and blankets on the floor.

Still, it wasn’t a very restful sleep — she had nightmares of Alpha Liam.

Weirdly enough, she didn’t dream of the last moments she saw him or when he’d threatened to kill her. No, she dreamt

of their first moments together — when he sat at her father’s kitchen table and his dark eyes slid over her, and when he

cornered her in the kitchen alone.

For some reason, those were the moments that made her shoot up in Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

b*d, gasping for air.

Her heart was beating like a drum, but when she realized Liam wasn’t actually there and she was safe, her boddy sagged

with relief. She could no longer see the snowy mountains when she looked outside either, it was just the inky darkness of

the night sky. She must’ve slept through the rest of the day.

“Hey, are you okay?”

Aria gasped again when she heard another voice, but she almost immediately relaxed when she recognized her mate’s

voice.

She turned to look at him, and her eyebrows furrowed when she saw he was sprawled out on a recliner next to the b*d, a

light blanket in his lap. From the way his dark hair stuck up and he rubbed his eyes, she could guess that her nightmare

had woken him up too. He wore a tight tank-top that strained against his broad chest, and she tried not to think about

how beautiful he looked half-asleep.

“What are you doing here?” she asked, but there was no real malice behind her words. Just confusion. If the Alpha King

could grant her ~ a traitor from the other side ~ a guest room, surely he could provide accommodations for Sebastian.

“Pm sleeping,” he replied, raising an eyebrow, “Or was sleeping, I should say.”

“Yes, but why?” she asked, “Did the King not give you your room?” Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

“I didn’t ask,” he shrugged.

“Oh, are you intimidated by him?” Aria asked. She wasn’t even sure why she was pressing, but the thought of her mate

not being comfortable made her cringe. “I can understand why you might be ~ he’s quite scary. But I might be able to

ask the Queen.” She fiddled with the silk comforter on her b*d before saying, “I wouldn’t exactly call us friends, but I am

familiar with her…perhaps I can ask if she’d be willing to give you a room.”

He blinked at her.

“If it’s a supply problem, I wouldn’t mind giving up this room,” she finished nervously. “The Queen is quite nice…and

forgiving. I’m sure she’d be willing to arrange something for you, especially since you helped save her.”

He continued to stare at her, and then suddenly, burst out laughing.

The noise startled her, but not in an unpleasant way. Sebastian’s laugh was deep and smooth, and it sent a flurry of warmth straight to her lower belly.

He laughed for at least a full minute, and when he was done, he was still smiling wide. Aria’s wolf purred deep in her

brain – she’d done something to make her mate happy…even if she wasn’t sure what it exactly was that she’d done.

“Sorry, I don’t mean to laugh at you,” he finally managed to say Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

between chuckles, “It’s just…you’re so cute.” Her cheeks warmed. “Cute?”

“Yeah,” he chuckled, “You’re so considerate, and I guess I should’ve mentioned it when I introduced myself, but I’m, uh,

quite familiar with the Queen myself.”

Aria wasn’t expecting the surge of jealousy that coursed through her veins when he said that.

Familiar? What does he mean by that?

Logically, she knew that it probably didn’t mean what her worst fears thought it did. If he was familiar with the Queen —

at least in that way ~ the King would’ve killed him.

“Familiar?” she echoed, and she tried to keep the jealousy out of her voice.

Amusement flashed through Sebastian’s eyes. “Yeah, familiar – as in, family. She’s my little sister.”

All at once, the jealousy turned to relief and then horror.

“Your sister?” she whispered almost to herself, her words laced with panic,

The amusement fell from Sebastian’s face immediately. “What’s

wrong?” he asked. Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

“She’s your* sister,” she repeated.

“Yeah, Clark’s my baby sister,” Sebastian said, and then his posture seemed to change. He straightened up a little bit, his

eyes narrowing. “That’s not a problem, is it?”

“Yes, it’s a problem!” Aria replied, her hands clutching at the silk sheets, “God, you must hate me. I helped Alpha Liam

keep her there – I brought her food and water. I was an accomplice.” Tears threatened to fall down her face, butNôvel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive © material.

somehow, Aria held them back.

She’d known that her mate would probably reject her once he found out how she’d been sullied, but this…his connection

to the Queen only made it worse. He wouldn’t just think she was damaged goods ~ he’d hate her. He’d probably want to

kill her.

Aria whimpered.

He moved from the chair in a flash, and she flinched when she saw his hand reach for her – but he only placed it on her

back. He began to rub soothing circles on her skin, and she clutched at the sheets harder. Why

wasn’t he taking his anger out on her?

“Hey, you don’t need to be scared,” he said gently, “I can hear your heart beating a million miles in there – I’m not angry,

and I’m not going to hurt you.”

“Why not?” she whispered. “I deserve it.” Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (5)

Sebastian growled, and Aria nearly jumped. When she gained the courage to look at him, she could see anger flash

through his eyes. “No,” he said, and his voice was much firmer than she’d ever heard it. “You don’t deserve that.”

“I do,” she countered, “I was complacent in the kidnapping of your sister, of holding her prisoner.” “”)

When he spoke again, Sebastian’s voice was back to that gentle tone. “From what my sister told me,” he said, “She wasn’t

the only one being held prisoner there. She was just the only one in a cell.”

Aria didn’t reply, and after a moment, Sebastian continued. “I don’t know exactly what you went through while you were

there, Aria, but I need you to understand something. Look at me.”

She did. His eyes were full of something so intense it made her breath catch. Nob*dy had ever looked at her like that.

“You will never deserve to have anyone, especially me, hurt you,” he explained softly, “And I know you may think

otherwise right now, but it’s not true.” He paused before adding, “And when you’re ready to talk about what happened

to you at that place, I’ll be here.” He got up and settled back into the recliner, pulling the blanket back over himself.

“Literally.”

Aria felt much warmer when she crawled back under the covers, but the feeling was short-lived. Bonus Chapter – Aria &

Sebastian (5)

As soon as Sebastian closed his eyes and begun softly snoring, the doubts crept in again. She wanted to believe him, she

really did.

But she knew the softness in his eyes would turn to disgust once he figured out what she’d really done and what she

really was.

Damaged goods.