The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 177

JACE

I stared at the communication screen in my office, waiting for any sign of connection. Finding Vanessa had proven more difficult than expected. Aurora deserved answers, and as her father, I'd move mountains to get them. The screen finally flickered to life.

"King Jace, my apologies for the delay." The Beta's voice crackled through.

"Is your Alpha available?" I asked, keeping my voice neutral despite my growing frustration.

"I regret to inform you that our Alpha passed away six months ago, my King. A rival pack ambushed him and his family outside our territory."

My stomach dropped. Dammit. The wolf who'd helped me when Vanessa abandoned us was dead. Another debt I could never repay.

The door opened behind me as Aria entered. Her scent immediately calmed my wolf, even as my human side grappled with this news. I motioned for her to join me.

"What happened exactly?" I asked the Beta.

"The attack came without warning. Most of his family was killed. Our Alpha suffered critical injuries and succumbed weeks later. Our pack merged with neighboring territory. Some wolves left, some stayed. Vanessa Wintercrest was among those who departed."

I nodded, feeling a hollow ache. "Do you know her current whereabouts?"

"Per the agreements, she remains in European territory. Beyond that, we've had no contact."

After thanking him for the information, I ended the call. Aria's hand touched my shoulder.

"I'm sorry about what happened," she said quietly. "He helped us when we needed it. I wish we could have returned the favor."

"Yeah. Me too." The guilt weighed heavily. Another ally lost while I sat safely in my territory.

"You'll find another lead," Aria reassured me. "For Aurora's sake."

She kissed the corner of my mouth before leaving. She knew me too well – could sense the guilt eating at me without a word being spoken.

Twenty minutes later, my communication device buzzed again. Alpha Bradford Sterling. I steeled myself, slipping into my formal role despite hating the rigidity of it.

"My King," Sterling's deep voice rumbled. "I have information regarding your inquiry."

"I appreciate your quick response, Alpha Sterling."

"I fear the details are sparse, my King. The former Beta confirmed she was indeed among those who left. He's received little word about her over the years. Last he heard, she was heading toward southern Italy. Apparently, she grew tired of the northern cold."

That sounded like Vanessa. Always chasing comfort, running from responsibility.

"Thank you. Your assistance won't be forgotten."

AURORA

The shower felt amazing after training with Mom all morning. Hot water washed away sweat but couldn't touch the emptiness inside me. Twenty-two years old, royal bloodline, and still broken. No wolf. No shift. Always the outsider.

I dressed quickly and headed to the Wolf Cub Center. Teaching the pups traditional songs and basic defense moves gave me purpose. They watched me with such admiration, not yet old enough to realize what I lacked. Their innocent eyes saw only the King's daughter, not the defect.

After several hours, exhaustion crept in. I needed air. Finding a bench at the training grounds edge, I closed my eyes, grateful for the momentary peace.

"Eww, look who decided to grace us with her presence."

My muscles tensed instantly. Melissa Canton – the pack's cruelest she-wolf, surrounded by her usual followers. They hadn't noticed me behind the storage shed.

"The crippled princess of Ancient Moon Shadow," she continued. "Carter family's bloodline stain."

My fingernails dug into my palms. Get up. Walk away. But my body wouldn't move.

"What's wrong with her?" a male voice asked.

"She's a complete mutation. Royal blood but no wolf spirit. Pathetic." Melissa's voice dripped venom. "Even the weakest Omega outranks her. Moon Goddess's cruel joke."

Blood seeped from where my nails broke skin. I'd heard whispers before, but never this brutal.

"My father says she should've been strangled in her crib," Melissa continued. "The King and Queen should've abandoned her at the borders for rogue food instead of letting her contaminate sacred ground."

My chest tightened painfully. Breathe. Just breathe.

"She looks fuckable though," one of the boys commented, making my skin crawl. "No wolf spirit means no mind link calls for help. During full moons, she's helpless prey."

Their laughter pierced me deeper than any knife.

"I watched Romeo humiliate her," another girl added eagerly. "That Stone Claw Beta announced she wasn't worthy to be any wolf's mate. Said he'd rather mate with an actual dog than mark her defective bloodline. Heard he bathed for three days to remove her scent."

The old wound reopened instantly. Romeo. My fated mate who'd rejected me the moment he learned I couldn't shift.

"Carter family garbage," the first boy said crudely. "Just a soulless breeding hole. Since she can't continue bloodlines, she's only good for one thing during full moons. Bet she'd thank anyone willing to temporarily mark her, even out of pity."

I caught his vulgar gesture from the corner of my eye.

A blur of movement interrupted my shock. Atlas—my seventeen-year-old brother—charged across the field. He slammed into the boy with terrifying force. They tumbled across the dirt before Atlas straddled him, fists connecting with sickening cracks.

"I. WILL. TEAR. OUT. EVERY. THROAT. THAT. INSULTS. MY. SISTER!" Each word punctuated by another brutal punch.

"ATLAS, STOP!" I screamed, sprinting toward them. "You'll kill him!"

Atlas turned to me, eyes glowing gold, face partially shifted into wolf features. "No one speaks of Carter blood that way. Ancient law grants me the right to remove his head from his spine."

The girls scattered screaming while the remaining boys backed away.

"They aren't worth it!" I pleaded. "Think about Dad! Your position!"

"I'd sacrifice everything before allowing anyone to defile you that way," Atlas growled, vibrating with rage.

I grabbed his arm, feeling partial-shift muscles rippling beneath my fingers. The contact seemed to reach him. He paused.

The boy beneath him lay motionless, face bloody and unrecognizable. Fear flooded me as I checked his pulse. Weak. Irregular.

I closed my eyes and concentrated hardest I'd ever had.

'Dad! Emergency at training grounds edge! Atlas lost control! Wolf critically injured! Need medical help now!'

Dad's response came instantly: 'Stay calm. Keep everyone there. Coming now.'

A training instructor sprinted over, face paling at the bloody scene. He immediately started emergency aid.

Minutes later, Dad arrived with Dr. Stone. The doctor rushed to the injured wolf while Dad surveyed the situation—me, Atlas, blood everywhere. His expression revealed nothing, but I felt his controlled fury.

After the doctor arranged transport, Dad's voice cut like ice: "Both of you. Home. Now."

The walk back was excruciating. Once inside our quarters, Dad exploded.

"What the FUCK were you thinking?" he roared at Atlas.