The Alpha King’s Human Mate

“Stone walls do not a prison make, nor iron bars a cage.

Richard Lovelace

The first thing I noticed as I awoke was just how dry my throat was. It felt like I was swallowing sand as if I hadn’t had a sip of water in days.

–

The second thing I noticed was that the soft silk sheets I was lying on were not my own. As nice as my bedroom at dad’s house was, he wasn’t splurging for Egyptian.

cotton.

Wait, is someone stroking my hair?

Still half-asleep, I forced my eyes to open and tried to blink the blurriness away. It took a second, but slowly, an unfamiliar room and b*d came into view. This elaborate bedroom was ten times more luxurious than my castle suite. Dark furnishings and expensive art hung on the walls, and to my right, there was a large glass window where you could see the castle grounds sprawled out below.

Before I could take in any more of my surroundings, the dryness in became overwhelming and I started to cough.

“Would you like some water?”

I nearly jumped out of b*d when I felt Griffin’s hand rub my back.

When did he get here?

my throat

I managed to nod my head once my coughing fit ended and I watched him disappear into what I assumed was an in-suite bathroom.

Where am I?

As soon as he was out of sight, I whipped my head around, trying to discern ast much about the bedroom as possible. It didn’t feel like a guest bedroom. The furnishings were too lavish and all of the decorations felt personal.

This must be his bedroom.

Oh, God.

I’m in his bedroom.

He must’ve taken me here after I fainted.

Like a tidal wave, the events of the past few hours came rushing back all at once

Griffin declaring me his mate, the King’s threats, the beheading, and my fainting

spell.

Anxiety clawed at me and I threw the covers off.

I have got to get out of here.

“Where do you think you’re going?” My feet hadn’t even touched the floor before Griffin was at my side again, a glass of water in hand. “You need to get back into b*d, sweatheart.” In one fell swoop, I was back on the b*d and laying underneath.

the covers. 4This is property © of NôvelDrama.Org.

Geez, he’s fast. @

“Come on, little mate,” he said, “You need water.”

Well, he is right about that. I could definitely go for some water.

I’ll drink this and then I’ll be on my way.

I tried to grab the glass from his hand but he pulled it out of the way. I gave him at questioning glance – was that not for me?

A teasing smile played at Griffin’s l*ps, and I’m ashamed to admit this, but the sight actually gave me butterflies.

Stupid mate bond.

Still keeping the water out of reach, Griffin pulled me up with one hand and that arranged himself so that he was behind me on the b*d. In other words, I was practically lying in his lap. O

Alright, this is embarrassing.

I made another grab for the glass of water but he jerked it away from me – again!

Okay, what is this guy’s deal?

If his goal was to keep me dehydrated while simultaneously touching me as much as possible, he was certainly achieving it.

“Are you done being stubborn?” Griffin asked but his voice was light and teasing. I wanted to scoff or roll my eyes – anything that would avoid amusing him more but I was also incredibly thirsty.

So, I nodded my head.

“Good girl,” he said, his voice low and smooth.

God, his voice is hot. I could just

–

No, no, no! Stop it right there, Clark! This isn’t you talking. It’s the mystical, stupid mate bond that’s making you feel this way.

You need to keep it together. You need to get out of here.

Slowly, Griffin brought the glass to my l*ps and tilted it just far back enough for me to drink comfortably. I gulped the water down like a hungry animal and drowned the glass within seconds.

“You really were thirsty,” Griffin said, placing the glass on the nightstand beside us. I expected him to get up but he remained behind me, petting my hair.

His hands were soft and gentle, and just as I was beginning to relax in his hold, I remembered what he’d done with those hands earlier today.

He beheaded his own father in front of everyone.

I stiffened and Griffin must’ve felt it because he stopped petting my hair.

“What’s wrong, love?” he asked.

Where do I begin?

–

Should I start with the facts that it’s absolutely ridiculous I’m mated to you or how you committed regicide earlier? O

I knew I had to tread carefully here. Although Griffin hadn’t given any indication. he wanted to hurt me, I’d known him less than a day and most of our interactions had been bloody. He wasn’t just unpredictable, he was also the most. powerful werewolf in the world right now. The last thing I needed was me or someone I knew ending up without a head.

“Earlier today,” I started, swallowing down my anxiety, “You killed the King.” Your father, I added in my head.

Griffin hummed thoughtfully. “Yes, I did.”

“Why?” I asked, turning my head around to look at him. His dark eyes were unreadable and his face was blank. “I know he threatened my life, but he was your family, right? I don’t understand.”

I don’t understand how you could murder your only living parent and then sit here, acting like it was nothing.

–

Griffin’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, he was my father,” he said, “But you said it he threatened your life. I know him more than anyone. It wasn’t an idle threat and I would never let anyone put my mate in danger not even my own father.”

His words sent a chill down my spine.

–

I’d heard all my life about the mate bond – how werewolves would do anything for their mates, but this was the first time that I was seeing anything in action. And even worse, I wasn’t a bystander here. I had a front row, center stage seat.

“You must understand something, little mate,” Griffin said, and his face softened, “I have waited nine years for you. That’s nearly a decade that I’ve felt this emptiness inside me. Part of me began to wonder if you didn’t exist or you’d already died. And then I found you, right inside my own home.” (@

He used one of his hands to stroke my cheek and tingles erupted everywhere.

“I’ve spent enough time without you and I will not let anything else keep us apart. Not other wolves, not my drunken father who’s barely held himself together the past twenty years, not your family and not even you.” (14)