The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 176

AURORA

I woke up early. Sun barely peeked through my curtains. Sleep had been restless again - dreams of running through forests on four legs, something my human body couldn't do. Twenty-two years old, still no wolf. Still broken.

My stomach growled. No point staying in bed. I grabbed some clothes and headed to Dad and Mom's place. They lived away from the main castle, preferring family home over royal chambers.

I walked into their kitchen and caught them kissing. Dad had Mom pressed against the counter. I cleared my throat. They broke apart, Mom blushing while Dad just grinned. Even after all these years, they couldn't keep their hands off each other. Part of me found it gross. Another part envied them. Would anyone ever want me that way? Doubtful, after Romeo's rejection.

"Morning, princess," Dad said, not embarrassed at all.

I rolled my eyes. "Dad, I'm not a baby anymore."

He laughed. "I know that, but you will always be my princess."

Mom squeezed my arm. Her touch always calmed me. "Breakfast? I was about to start."

"I actually want to talk with you two later if you have time." My heart raced. The question I'd practiced for weeks needed to come out.

Mom's eyes softened. She never pushed, never pried. Just waited. "Of course, sweetheart. We will always find time, always. What about after training and breakfast?"

Before I could answer, my siblings burst in. Atlas, my seventeen-year-old brother already tall and broad-shouldered, entered first, followed by my twin sisters Bree and Natalie. At fourteen years old, they were bundles of energy, talking over each other about school projects.

Dad kissed Mom once more before grabbing Atlas. "Come on, son. Training time."

The twins started gathering their school things, supervised by Mom. Seeing everyone in motion calmed my nerves about the conversation to come. This was my family - they'd understand. They had to. The alternative terrified me.

After the chaos cleared, Mom turned to me. "Ready for our session?"

We headed to their private training room. Mom might be human, but she was the fiercest warrior I knew, even after she gained the powers of a wolf. She'd insisted on teaching me self-defense since I was young, knowing I couldn't rely on a wolf form for protection.

"Focus, Aurora," Mom instructed, dodging my punch and tapping my ribs. "An attacker won't wait for you to get ready."

I blocked her next move and hit her shoulder. Sweat ran down my face as we circled each other. This was our time - no words needed, just movement.

I remembered when I was seventeen, attacked by a rogue wolf. Mom appeared from nowhere, taking down a wolf twice her size with just a silver dagger. She never saw me as weak just because I had no wolf yet. She just wanted me safe, and I loved her for that.

We trained for an hour before heading downstairs. Dad and Atlas were back, sweaty and laughing. Breakfast was eggs, bacon, toast, fruit. Pack life centers around food and family.

"Dad," Atlas said, mouth full of eggs, "there's this gathering in the forest tonight. A bunch of us want to go."

Dad's face hardened instantly. The King replaced the father. "A party in the forest? At night? Absolutely not."

"But Dad—"

"What if rogues attack and I have 20-50 young wolves gathering and being distracted? No, it will not happen, and I will use Alpha compulsion if I have to, to stop it."

Atlas's shoulders dropped. "You're right, Dad, and I didn't think about that. Sorry."

"Maybe you should issue an order," he added. "I'm not the only one planning to go."

Dad nodded. "I will. I understand you all want to celebrate, but safety comes first. Always."

Talk moved to border patrols and school events. I barely spoke, practicing what I wanted to say. My hands felt sweaty. I couldn't eat.

After breakfast, Atlas left to shower. Dad leaned back in his chair and looked at me with those blue eyes that saw everything. The same eyes I saw in my mirror every day.

"So what did you want to talk about, princess?"

I took a deep breath. "I want to find Vanessa."

The name hung between us. I never called her "mother" - that title belonged to Aria, who raised me, trained me, loved me.

"I love you both, and nothing is wrong, but I just have these questions that only she can answer—"

Mom reached for my hand. Her touch calmed me instantly. "Aurora, stop. Don't get nervous. We have always known that one day, this would come. We are not mad or disappointed, not even sad."

Tears formed in my eyes. My throat felt tight. "I don't want to find a mother. You're the best mother anyone could have." I looked straight at Mom. "I need to hear her tell me why she hurt me so bad and never cared. Yes, she came back once, but only because she wanted to be Luna, not because she wanted me."

The words burned coming out. For years I wondered what was wrong with me, why my birth mother couldn't love me. That emptiness never fully disappeared.

Mom's eyes were calm. "It's okay, Aurora. I'm not hurt. I would have done the same in your position."

Dad cleared his throat. "Yes, of course. I will try to contact the Alpha I communicated with when she left."

Relief flooded through me. "Thank you, Dad." I hugged him, smelling pine and strength.

He hugged back. "You're welcome, princess."

Back in my quarters, under the hot spray of the shower, I shook my head at my earlier nervousness. My parents were the most level-headed, reasonable werewolves I'd ever known. It's why the pack loved them so deeply. Dad ruled with wisdom, not just strength. Mom brought compassion and strategy equally. Together they led with their minds and hearts, putting the safety of every pack member first, treating everyone fairly regardless of rank.

Water cascaded down my back as I leaned against the cool tile, letting tension flow away. I wasn't looking for a mother. I already had the best one. I was looking for answers from the woman who gave me life, yes, but also the woman that abandoned me and broke my heart.

The journey would be difficult, probably painful. But with my family behind me, I could face anything - even the ghost of Vanessa Wintercrest and the questions that had haunted me since childhood.

Would her answers heal the broken part of me that couldn't shift? Probably not. But maybe they'd help me finally move forward. Stop wondering. Stop dreaming of what I couldn't have.

I turned off the water and stepped out, wrapping a towel around myself. Through the window, I could see pack members going about their day - training, laughing, living. My place was here, with or without a wolf.

And finally, maybe, I'd get the answers I'd been waiting for all my life.