The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 163

ARIA

I sat by the window, staring absently at a book in my lap. The words blurred together as my mind reached for Jace. Our mental connection always weakened with distance, and being thousands of feet in the air made it impossible to feel him at all. The emptiness left me hollow, like missing a limb I'd grown used to having.

The pregnant she-wolves from Black Forest Pack dozed quietly in the back of the plane. Lucas sat across from me, alert as always. I tried to focus on my book again, but thoughts of Gabriel's peaceful face as we buried him kept surfacing. At least he was with Bree now.

Suddenly, warmth bloomed in my mind – familiar and comforting.

I'm halfway through my third book when I feel it—that familiar tug in my mind. After hours of nothing but silence, the sensation is almost startling.

*Little one, finally.*

*Jace!*

Relief floods through me. The emptiness I've been carrying since boarding the plane suddenly fills, making me feel whole again. Complete.

*Not feeling our mental link was strange. I didn't like it.*

*Me neither, dear.* I close my book, savoring the connection. *It felt like missing a limb.*

*How are you holding up?* His concern wraps around me like a warm blanket.

*I'm okay. Gabriel would be happy knowing he's with her now.*

*We'll visit him again together. I promise.*

*Thank you.* I swallow hard, pushing back tears. *The pregnant females from Black Forest are with us. Four of them, all close to term.*

*I'll have quarters prepared near the safe room. Dr. Maya will check them after they've rested from the journey.*

Our conversation continues until Lucas approaches my seat. "We're beginning our descent, my queen. About twenty minutes to landing."

I nod. *Jace, we're landing soon.*

*I'll see you shortly, my love.*

*See you soon.* I close the connection, excitement building at the thought of seeing him again.

---

The landing is smooth. When we exit the plane, I'm surprised to see additional warriors and vehicles waiting. Lucas notices my expression.

"Extra precautions, my queen. King's orders."

We quickly load into the vehicles. The pregnant females are carefully helped into a larger SUV with three warriors assigned specifically to them. The hour-long drive to Moon Shadow territory begins.

---

Halfway there, fog starts rolling in—thick, unnatural fog that seems to appear from nowhere. I notice Lucas and Marcus exchanging tense glances.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

Lucas's jaw tightens. "Vampires."

"Vampires?" I repeat, disbelieving.

"Gabriel never told you much about them because we've had a truce for centuries," Lucas explains. "Vampires have cold skin, cold blood. When they enter warm territory—"

"It creates fog," I finish, remembering fragments from books I'd read.

Marcus nods grimly. "Exactly."

"How many?" I ask, scanning the thickening mist.

"At least twenty," Marcus estimates. "Maybe more."

My thoughts immediately go to the pregnant wolves. "The females—"

"The three warriors in their vehicle will stay with them," Lucas assures me. "Their only job is protection."

I reach for Jace through our link. *Jace.*

*I'm on my way,* comes his immediate response.

*Don't come alone!*

*I have fifty warriors with me. The rest are with Hunter and Alpha Randall at the Pack House on high alert. Luna Seraphina, Eliana, and Greta have moved all cubs to the safe room.*

His mental voice fades as he closes the connection to focus on speed.

Marcus turns to me. "My queen, I know telling you to stay in the car is pointless, so I'll just tell you this. There are two ways to ensure a vampire stays dead. Burn them or rip out their heart. We don't have fire, so go for the heart."

His eyes harden. "And one last thing—don't let them bite you. Arm, leg, doesn't matter. It will either kill you or turn you."

I nod, then reach for another connection. *Sage?*

*We're ready,* comes the immediate response from my inner wolf.

The impact comes without warning. Our SUV flips, rolling off the road. Glass shatters. Metal crunches. When we stop, I'm hanging upside down in my seatbelt.

"Aria!" Lucas's voice sounds distant through the ringing in my ears.

We scramble out through broken windows. I glance back at the road—the vehicle carrying the pregnant females is untouched. Thank goddess.

I feel Sage surge forward, enhancing my senses, my strength. The world sharpens into crystal clarity.

Five vampires emerge from the fog. Their skin is alabaster white, their movements unnaturally fluid.

"Stay close to me, Aria," Lucas orders. "If you get hurt, Jace will kill me."

They attack without warning. Two go for Marcus and Lucas. One lunges at me.

The cold surprises me—like grabbing ice with bare hands. The vampire hisses, trying to sink teeth into my neck. I kick hard, sending him flying back. He leaps again. I stumble but recover quickly.

Marcus's words echo in my mind. I wait until the vampire comes close, then thrust my hand into his chest. The sensation is revolting—cold, wet resistance giving way. I squeeze and pull. His heart comes free in my hand, still and gray.

The vampire's eyes widen in shock before he crumples.

Marcus and Lucas have dispatched their attackers. I turn to see another vampire trying to get into the vehicle with the pregnant females. I attack from behind, ripping out his heart before he knows I'm there.

A loud, dangerous howl cuts through the fog. Jace. The sound is followed by dozens more as wolves pour from the mist.

Phantom—Jace's enormous black wolf—bounds to my side, nuzzling me frantically, checking for injuries. When he's satisfied I'm unharmed, I feel his relief through our bond.

*Stay with me,* he commands.

*I will,* I promise, my hands still shaking.

We fight side by side, taking down vampire after vampire. The fog begins to thin as more fall. The survivors retreat, disappearing into the remaining mist.

The bodies of the fallen vampires begin to smolder, then burst into flames, reducing to ash.

"The fog is lifting," Marcus explains, still in human form. "Sunlight's breaking through. It'll help burn them."

A shout for help draws our attention. I scan quickly—none of our wolves are down, but a warrior is calling from the roadside.

We rush over to find Eli lying on the ground, another warrior kneeling beside him. He's still breathing, but barely. Two bite marks mar his skin.

Jace examines the wounds. "He was bitten twice. From the marks, the second was likely after he fell."

"I tried to fight them off, my King," Eli whispers weakly. "I swear I tried."

"I know, I know. I believe you," Jace soothes him.

I notice the pregnant females emerging from their vehicle, all safe. At least that's something.

Eli's breathing becomes labored. "My King, please," he begs. "I can feel it changing me. Please, I don't want to become one of them. Please."

Jace looks at me, grief in his eyes, then back to Eli.

"You fought bravely, protecting your Queen. Rest now, with honor." Jace plunges his hand into Eli's chest and removes his heart.

I turn away, tears streaming down my face.