The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 171

ARIA

I watched the vampire charge toward us, my body instantly switching to warrior mode—exactly what Gabriel had spent years training me for. The bloodsucker's eyes gleamed with hunger as he lunged for Luna Seraphina and me.

"Watch out!" I shouted as Seraphina attempted to fight back. As Luna, she never received warrior training—not a real fighter. She managed to push the vampire away, but I knew that victory was temporary.

The vampire adjusted quickly and charged at Seraphina again. This time he grabbed her, fangs dangerously close to her neck. No time to think. I lunged forward, grabbed the vampire's throat, and threw him hard against the wall. Perfect takedown move, exactly how my foster father taught me.

The first vampire shot me a threatening smirk. "Aria!" Seraphina called, her voice filled with warning. My attention had already shifted to three more vampires pouring through the broken door.

Too many enemies. My heart raced, but I forced myself calm. Not my first time facing overwhelming odds. I'd handled similar situations during border patrols. Just need to hold on until Jace and others arrive...

"Human warrior," the first vampire growled, "your blood will taste better than ordinary humans." He lunged at me, claws reaching for my throat. I dodged instinctively, thanking those countless hours on the training grounds. Human I might be, but ordinary? Hell no.

He attacked again, this time catching me and dragging me from my position. I twisted my body quickly, avoiding his fangs.

The vampire grew frustrated and shoved me hard. I stumbled backward, falling heavily as he immediately pinned me down. I caught glimpses of another vampire attacking Seraphina, one assaulting Greta, while the last searched the room.

God, please don't let him find that hidden door in the wall. Aurora, Eliana, and the pups were hiding in that small bathroom. I had to protect them.

The vampire attacking me kept trying to bite me, and I blocked him repeatedly using techniques Gabriel and Lucas drilled into me. His frustration mounted. "Damn human, stop fighting!"

Now. I seized my opportunity, quickly gripping his neck. Gabriel always said, "Find the weakness, attack without hesitation." I tightened my fingers, feeling the strength of a human warrior flowing through me. Surprise flashed in the vampire's eyes as I pushed him off.

We both stood up, and he charged straight at me. Ready this time, I grabbed his throat again while thrusting my other hand into his chest. My fingers found the beating heart, and just as I prepared to rip it out—

Blinding pain. His fist slammed into my abdomen. As I fell, my hand yanked from his chest, pulling his heart out with it. The vampire instantly turned to ash.

I lay on the floor clutching the motionless heart, terror suddenly consuming me. My stomach. My baby. No, no, NO! Overwhelming fear made my entire body shake. I carried Jace's child—our daughter. Now she might be...because of this hit...

The door burst open as Jace rushed in with Marcus, Lucas, and Desmond. His eyes found me first, sprawled on the floor beside a heartless vampire corpse. Then he noticed the other vampires, including the one who'd just discovered the bathroom door.

Marcus, Lucas, and Desmond immediately pounced on the three vampires. Jace—my Alpha, my mate, my king—ran straight to me. His eyes flashed ice blue, Phantom's shadow rippling behind him.

"Aria." He whispered my name while checking for bite marks.

"He, he...I'm sorry." Words failed me.

"Why apologize? For fighting? You had no choice, little one." After confirming I hadn't been bitten, he kissed me gently.

"He hit me. He hit my stomach." Tears began streaming down my face.

Jace's entire body froze. Phantom's growl echoed in my mind. His eyes turned pure blue—the dangerous sign I knew too well.

"It'll be okay. We'll get Dr. Maya to check you and our little pup." He held me tight. "This isn't your fault. Do you hear me? This isn't your fault."

After the battle ended, warriors reported all vampires attacking the Pack House had been eliminated. I couldn't care less. My only concern was the child in my womb. Jace immediately carried me to Dr. Maya.

In the Healing Center, I lay on the bed as Dr. Maya moved an ultrasound probe across my abdomen. She turned the screen away from us, examining it intently. Those minutes felt eternal.

"Maya?" Jace broke the silence.

Dr. Maya turned, her expression making my heart sink. "I'm sorry, but I can't find a heartbeat anymore."

My world collapsed. I broke down sobbing, completely losing control. Why? Why my baby? What did I do wrong? This isn't fair, goddamn it!

Jace stood, cupping my face, turning my head to meet his eyes. Pain, sorrow, and deep guilt flickered in his gaze.

"Little one, look at me. This isn't your fault. Don't blame yourself, never blame yourself."

"I should have hidden with Aurora and Eliana," I cried.

"If you had, they would have killed Seraphina and Greta. Then they would have found you, Eliana, and the pups. You did what you had to. Your warrior training saved many lives today."

Dr. Maya left to give us privacy, then returned to explain: due to werewolf and primal wolf genes, although the fetus showed no life signs, it remained inside me. They needed to induce labor to prevent complications dangerous to my human body.

The procedure was agonizing—not just physically but emotionally. Jace stayed with me throughout, holding my hand despite his own grief. When they wrapped our tiny baby in a traditional Moon Shadow blanket and placed her in our arms for goodbye, I felt a part of me die forever.

We said farewell, knowing tomorrow she would receive a moonlight burial in the forest.

That night, Jace carried me home—to our private quarters, not our room in the Pack House. He bathed me and held me tight all night. Phantom's presence offered slight comfort, but the pain of losing our child tore at my heart.

"Atlas and Aurora are safe," Jace whispered, "They're with Seraphina and Marcus."

"I love you, Aria," he murmured in the darkness. "Nothing that happened was your fault. You saved many lives. You're the bravest warrior, the best mother."

Words failed me. I could only cry in his arms.