The Alpha King’s Human Mate

The Alpha King’s Human Mate

Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1) Chapter 1 – Aria & Sebastian

“a good woman follows tradition.”

Lebo Grand

Warning: this chapter includes themes of S**ism as well as grooming of a minor.

Aria Thomas had grown up her entire life learning how to be a good ‘woman, but it wasn’t until the age of twelve that

she learned what a bad woman was. She could still remember the way that Lucy Warner, who was only two years older,

cried and screamed as they did it.

On the weekends, Lucy liked to sneak away to a local bookstore, where she’d meet her human boyfriend, Bryan. Aria

didn’t know anything about Bryan – really, she didn’t even know he existed – until it happened.

Aria’s father, the Alpha of their pack, called for a mandatory pack meeting. That was rare. Most of the time, Alpha

Thomas preferred to keep pack business where it belonged: behind closed doors with his most trusted advisors and

warriors. Aria sometimes heard their loud, booming voices coming from his home office, although she never listened in.

Aria couldn’t shake the pit in her stomach the day her father called the Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1)

mandatory meeting. She stayed tucked under her mother’s arm the entire time, Luna Thomas’ hands shaking as they

clutched her.

Lucy looked rather confused as they led her out in front of everyone, and she kept looking back at her parents with

confusion. Most people looked confused ~ until they brought out Bryan.

He was scrawny, even for a teenager, and he couldn’t even hold himself up when a pair of pack warriors threw him at

Lucy’s feet. Her eyes had immediately widened with fear.

Although she hadn’t shifted or gotten use of her full abilities yet, Aria could smell the fresh blood that tainted the air.

“You have grown up learning the ways of our pack, just like everyone else here,” Alpha Thomas had boomed. “And yet,

you chose to break one of our cardinal rules ~ having relations with a human.”

Gasps rippled through the pack, and Aria watched as those confused looks turned to disappointment. Lucy lookedConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

horrified.

“What do you have to say for yourself?” Alpha Thomas said, crossing

his burly arms across his chest. The hard look in his eyes made Aria’s stomach turn. She’d never seen that hard look

directed at her, but he’d

given it to her mother from time to time. Lucy was shaking like a leaf, her brown eyes glistening with tears.

“alpha,” Lucy said, and Aria could see her bottom l*p wobbling from Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1)

several feet away. “I didn’t mean to break your rules, it was just -”

“But you did,” he cut her off, “You not only disrespected your pack, but your future mate as well. You sullied yourself with

a human of all things.”

Lucy began sobbing, choking out apologies in between her cries. None of it phased Aria’s father.

As broken and bloody as Bryan already was, his death was quick. His n*eck snapped like a toothpick in the hands of her

father.

Aria didn’t look away once during any of it. Nob*dy told her that she had to look, but everyone else was watching. Once

Lucy had collapsed over Bryan’s lifeless b*dy in a puddle of tears, her father finally sidled up to them and regarded Aria

with cool eyes.

“Did that scare you, Aria? What I did to that boy?”

“No,” Aria said meekly. The words tumbled out like they’d already been sitting on the tip of her tongue, ready to use.

“Lucy should never have been with a human,”

“She should never have been with anyone who wasn’t her mate,” her father added harshly, “You can learn a lesson from

this too, Aria. A good woman is supposed to be pure and untouched. Nob*dy wants a bad

woman.” Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1)

Nob*dy wants a bad woman.

The last thing Aria wanted to do was end up like Lucy ~ a bad woman. ‘The world was a dangerous place, and one day,

she’d need her mate to protect her. If she was a bad woman, her mate wouldn’t want her.

Aria would be a good woman. She’d make sure of it. When Aria was sixteen, she met Alpha Liam for the first time.

She’d just come back from the nursery, where she always spent her afternoons, to find him parked at her kitchen table

with her father. Her mother stood over them, and Aria didn’t need to use her supernatural senses to know she was

dishing her homemade potato casserole onto their plates.

“Aria!” Her father boomed, gesturing her over. He looked nervous, but Aria wasn’t sure why. Her father was too strong of

a man to ever be nervous. Still, she took hesitant steps over.

“This is my daughter, Aria,” her father said, “She just turned sixteen.”

The man beside her father was much younger. He was handsome too, with brown eyes, brown hair, and a sharp jawline.

Aria’s eyes only met his briefly before she averted her gaze. If he was dining with her father, he must be important, and

she didn’t want to be disrespectful. Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1) “aria,” the man said, and she couldn’t stop the

blush from blooming across her cheeks, “Have you shifted yet?”

“Yes, sir”

She glanced at her father, and she didn’t miss the flash of disappointment on his face. He must’ve been hoping she’d be

the mate of this man, whoever he was.

If only I’d be so lucky.

“You can address me as Alpha Liam,” the man said. “I’ve just taken over my father’s pack.”

“Oh, I’m sorry,” Aria murmured, “I didn’t realize you were an Alpha.”

Alpha Liam’s handsome face cracked into a crooked smile. “An obedient one, isn’t she?”

Her father chuckled. “She’s turning into a good woman, I’ve made sure of it. Made sure she’s nothing like those wild

she-wolves running around these days,” he said.

“Most packs have no regard for the qualities of a good woman these days,” Alpha Liam said, “They let their girls run wild

and become bad women. That’s exactly the kind of backwards thinking I’d like to stop, but I need allies. Other

traditionalists.”

Alpha Thomas glanced at Aria. “Go help your mother in the kitchen, Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1)

will you?” She nodded and scurried away without another word.

As she turned her back on them, she could hardly suppress the excitement. Her father was proud of her ~ he thought she was turning into a good woman and introduced her to that young, handsome Alpha. She was becoming a good woman,

he’d said.

That smile didn’t leave her face for the rest of the night. DoDI

For the next few weeks, Alpha Liam continued to return for regular dinners at their house. He mostly conversed with her

father, but whenever she refilled their drinks or made up their plates, his eyes would slide over her in a way that left her

blushing.

If only she’d gotten lucky enough to be the mate of a man like Alpha Liam.

One night, after another dinner with Alpha Liam, she hummed quietly as she finished off the dishes.

“You’ve got a beautiful voice.” Aria startled, nearly dropping the plate she’d been cleaning. She turned

around to face Alpha Liam, her face already turning a tomato red. He leaned up against the entrance of the kitchen, that

same crooked smile Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1)

on his face.

“Oh, you scared me,” she said. “I didn’t realize you were still here, Alpha Liam.”

“Your father had to handle some last-minute pack business,” he said,

“And your mother wasn’t feeling well. Guess that makes you my host. “I suppose so,” she said, “Would you like

something to drink?”

“No, no, you don’t need to do alll that,” he waved her off before raising an eyebrow. “You really are a polite little thing.”

If Aria’s face wasn’t red already, it was now. “Oh, I don’t know about that…”

“No, you are,” Alpha Liam took a step into the kitchen, his eyes fixed on hers, “You’re modest. You do as you’re told

without complaint. That’s all I could want from a woman.”

Her heart pounded in her chest. Was it possible Alpha Liam was flirting with her?

No, he’s far too handsome to be flirting with someone like me, she thought to herself.

“You don’t know how rare it is to find a good woman these days,” he continued, “Even my own mate wasn’t a good woman.”

Aria perked up. Alpha Liam had a mate? He hadn’t mentioned a mate in Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian (1)

all the time he’d spent with her family.

“Alpha Liam, I don’t want to pry, but…” Aria trailed off, averting her eyes.

“It’s quite alright, sweetheart,” Alpha Liam said. “I don’t mind sharing with you. You’re quite easy to talk to.”

He had a mate, he’d just said so. Aria really didn’t want to think he was flirting with her — even if the thought of it sent a

thrill of excitement

down her spine.

“[ had a mate,” Alpha Liam explained, closing the distance between them until he was leaning against the counter beside

her. Aria continued to half-heartedly wash the dishes although he had every ounce of her attention. “But the Moon

Goddess picked wrong for me. She picked a bad woman. My mate” – he practically spit the word out —“was closeminded and unwilling to listen to reason. I was willing to give my loyalty to her. Protect her with my life. I wanted to raise

a family together. She wanted none of it. She would’ve tore my heart from my chest and stomped on it if she could.”

Aria could hardly believe what she was hearing. What woman didn’t want a family with her mate? Or protection? That

was the kind of thing that little girls dreamed of.

“She didn’t grow up the traditionalist way that you and I did,” he continued, “And she was unwilling to even understand

our beliefs. To understand me. I tried to work with her, but eventually, it became clear Bonus Chapter – Aria & Sebastian

(1)

she was never going to learn. So, we parted ways, so to speak.” Aria’s skin prickled. It must’ve been the water turning

cold. “Pm so sorry,” she murmured, “You must’ve been heartbroken.”

Alpha Liam leaned a little closer. “It’s not something I like to dwell on, but yes.”

Without warning, one of his hands came up to flick away a soap bubble that had landed on her shoulder. “You’re a very

beautiful girl for your age, Aria,” he said, his voice much quieter this time, “Obedient. Untouched.”

Aria’s breath hitched.

“Lve become quite fond of you,” he went on, “Your father and I have been in negotiations about warriors and land for the

past few weeks, but I’ve asked for something else too. I told him I want you, and he agreed.”

Her heart raced with excitement. Alpha Liam had asked for her? He wanted her? She could hardly believe it. To think such

a handsome, sought-after Alpha wanted her.

“When I return to my pack in a week’s time,” he said, his gaze finding hers, “You’ll return with me. You should count

yourself lucky. I’m picky about those who I bring into my cause, especially women