The Alpha King’s Human Mate

“Never argue at the dinner table, for the one who is not hungry always gets the best of the argument.”

Richard Whately

After Sebastian and Lily left, loneliness crept over me like a blanket. There was no denying it now – I was alone here now. My siblings would be in a completely different country in a few hours. In fact, everyone I knew would be in a completely different country. 2

What was it that Ezra had said to me at that dinner party?

That I was stuck in the wolf’s den?

Although he had just said it to intimidate and tease me, there was some truth to

but more importantly, I was in the biggest, baddest.

wolf’s den of them all.

–

I curled up in Griffin’s b*d for a while, alone with my thoughts.

I drifted off at some point and it was only the knocking on the door that awoke

Griffin?

No, he wouldn’t knock to enter his own room.

“Who’s there?” I called, rubbing the sleep out of my eyes.

“It’s Esther. May I come in?”

I was definitely surprised to hear my castle “guide” on the other end of the door, but at least it wasn’t Griffin. Of all the people who could be visiting me, Esther was far from the worst.

“Sure,” I said, and not a moment later, she was walking through the door. I expected Esther to look as cheery as always, and while she had a smile on her face, she looked nervous too.

Surely she’s not nervous to talk to me? Maybe she thought Griffin would be here too.

I slid off the b*d, trying not to think about what a mess I must’ve looked like to her. My hair was knotted and frizzy from my cat nap, my makeup had definitely smeared hours ago, and the green romper l’d worn to the meeting was full of wrinkles. [3

“Your Majesty,” Esther said, “The King has asked that I come and inform you that he’d like to see you in the dining room in an hour. I’ve brought some of your belongings from your old room.” She waved her hand and a burly guard entered the room, carrying my backpack.

Your Majesty.

That certainly doesn’t feel right.

Esther using that title only made me feel like an imposter. I was no Queen or any form of royalty – I was just a teenage girl who happened to make eye contact with the wrong person. Absolutely nothing about me qualified me to be a queen. Not only was I a teenager with limited knowledge of werewolf customs, but I wasn’t

even a werewolf.

Esther didn’t seem to have a problem with addressing me as royalty but I wondered if she could see through me – see how unfit I was for that title.

I didn’t let any of my inner turmoil show. Instead, I squared my shoulders and forced a smile. “Thank you, Esther,” I told her.

She didn’t move from her spot. “Do you need any help, Your Majesty? The King has instructed me to help you with anything you might need. I could draw you a bath if you’d like?”

I might not be fit to be a Queen but I’m at least more capable than a toddler.

“No, that’s okay,” I told her, “I think I can manage just fine. Thank you for

bringing my belongings.”

“I’m at your service, My Lady,” she said, and she bowed her head, “You are my Queen now, the Luna of Lunas. If there’s anything you need, you must simply just ask. i will be back within the hour to escort you to the dining room.” With that, Esther left the room, the burly guard behind her.

Luna.

I’d heard that word before – Lily and Sebastian’s mom was the Luna of Blacktooth pack. It was a title given to the mate of an Alpha. Lunas were like housewives on steroids. They took care of their own children but they usually helped take care of other pack children too. They’d run daycares, organize pack functions, and make food for pack members and all with a smile on their faces.

–

I had seen Grace do it for years. My dad might’ve been the Alpha, but behind closed doors, she was the one who kept the pack functioning. She was the real caretaker and she worked tirelessly at her “job.”

Personally, I was never sure how she was able to do it. She got respect as the Luna but not in the same way that my dad did. Nob*dy was asking her opinion on pack disputes or asking her to go to diplomatic meetings. She did it all without much gratitude, and what did she get in return? A mate who cheated on her.

For the most part, being a Luna was a thankless job and while I knew Griffin’s pack structure wasn’t the same as a regular pack, I didn’t want any part of this Luna stuff. 2

If Griffin thinks I’m going to spend my time with crying babies or making potluck dinners for hundreds of people, he’s got another thing coming. 12

–

–

Sighing, I opened up my backpack and began searching for something fit for dinner. Given that I’d only packed for three days and most of that was heavy jackets to bear the Canadian cold my options were very limited. The wrinkled green romper wasn’t an option either. That outfit had been through enough today, and if I’m being honest, wearing the outfit I’d watched a man get beheaded felt kind of morbid. O

Why does it even matter?

Why am I trying to look nice for this guy?

It’s not like this is a real date or someone I’m trying to impress. What difference does it make if I show up in jeans and an old t-shirt?

Although I hated to admit it, I couldn’t deny that a small, teeny, tiny, absolutely

minuscule-part did care. That traitorous part of me did want to look nice for Griffin – for him to think I was pretty.

Stupid, stupid mate bond.

Just as I was about to shove that part of me away and settle for a pair of jeans, I found a dress folded into the bottom of my backpack.

I didn’t pack this.

I pulled it out

—

it was a white and blue floral sundress.

This is Lily’s. She must’ve put this in here.

Lily wasn’t one to lose track of her clothes so leaving the dress must’ve been intentional. Maybe she was leaving me a reminder of home or just took pity on my limited clothing options, I’m not sure. Either way, the gesture brought a smile to my face.

I pulled the dress close and took in the scent – it smelled exactly like Lily. (4

It smells like home.

For the near future, this is one of the last things I’ll have of my family. At least until I can find a way out of this. 1

There was a lump in my throat and I tried to will the tears away. I didn’t want to cry. This wasn’t the end. I was going to get out of this mate bond, and once I did, my life would feel like my own again. (2)

With that in mind, I tugged the dress on.This belongs © NôvelDra/ma.Org.

Time to get ready for a date with the big, bad wolf.