The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 29

I stared at my phone screen, replaying the video for the third time. The clip Eliana sent captured everything: Jace, the Alpha of Moon Shadow Pack, standing in front of the pack house with werewolves keeping their distance.

"I told you to stay away from me," his voice deep with unmistakable Alpha authority. "This is your final warning, Scarlett."

The red-haired she-wolf's lips trembled before she ran away humiliated. Jace surveyed the onlookers with a sharp gaze. "Everyone back to work. This isn't a show." Then he turned and walked up the stairs toward his private quarters.

I closed the video, conflicting emotions rising in my chest. Jealousy? Relief? I shouldn't feel either. I had no right or claim to the Alpha. I was just a human, living here only because of Gabriel's protection.

But since that private shower... I couldn't get him out of my head.

LUCAS

I finished my border patrol shift as the afternoon sun began its descent behind the Montana mountains. My muscles ached from hours of running in wolf form, but the satisfaction of protecting our territory outweighed the fatigue. Stripping off my leather patrol gear, I headed for the shower in our home.

The house Moon Shadow Pack had provided us still felt new, with boxes we hadn't unpacked stacked in corners. The wooden cabin had large windows that let in the forest light, and the stone fireplace already had become our gathering spot on cool evenings. It had only been a few weeks since we'd settled here, but already it felt more like home than anywhere we'd lived before.

I checked my phone and saw a message from Aria: [Just finished in town. Heading back now. See you at dinner?]

I smiled and typed back: [Definitely. Dad's cooking tonight.]

Wrapping a towel around my waist, I walked to the kitchen where my father, Gabriel, was preparing dinner, the aroma of his famous venison stew filling our home. The sleeves of his flannel shirt were rolled up, and he hummed an old pack song as he worked.

"Good patrol?" he asked, looking up from chopping vegetables. He handed me a piece of carrot to taste.

"All clear on the eastern border," I reported, crunching the sweet carrot. "But Jace wants us at the pack house later. There's tension with Black Forest."

Dad nodded, his expression serious. "We'll go after dinner."

I dressed quickly in clean clothes, wondering what it would be like to have someone waiting for me at home. So many wolves in our pack had found their true mates – that perfect other half the Moon Goddess destined for them. I'd always envied that connection, wondering when or if my turn would come.

The sun was setting when we headed to the pack house. Aria texted she'd meet us there. As we approached, I saw her walking with a woman I recognized – Eliana, the human healer who'd been helping our pack. Her hair glowed softly in the fading light, and her gentle smile as she talked with my sister made something stir in my chest.

The moment I saw Eliana, something extraordinary happened. A jolt of electricity shot through my entire body. The world around me blurred, and suddenly only she existed. My wolf howled in delight inside my mind, recognizing her immediately as ours.

"TRUE MATE!" The words erupted from my chest before I could control them.

I rushed forward, barely aware of others watching. Her scent enveloped me – lavender and sunshine – the most perfect thing I'd ever experienced. My hands trembled as they reached for hers, our skin connecting with a warmth that traveled straight to my soul.

"How is this possible..." she whispered, her eyes wide with wonder. I could see golden flecks in her brown irises that I'd never noticed before.

"You're my true mate," I said, gently touching her cheek. "The other half of my soul."

We moved to a quiet corner, her concerns spilling out. "But I'm human. I can't shift, can't hunt with you."

"Your humanity makes you more precious," I told her, holding her trembling hands. "Your healing talents are exactly what our pack needs."

Dad approached us, his proud smile warming my heart. "Looks like you found your true mate, son."

"And a good person," Aria added, beaming at us both.

Though Eliana worried about Aurora's fever, Jace himself insisted we take time together. And Aria, being the incredible person she is, stepped up to take care of Aurora, giving us this moment to just be together.

As we walked away, I couldn't believe my fortune. After years of waiting, the Moon Goddess had blessed me with my perfect match – human or not, she was everything I never knew I needed.

ARIA

"Do you have experience with sick children?" Jace asked as we climbed the stairs to his private quarters.

"Some. I helped with the pups back in Black Forest." I tried to keep my voice steady despite my hammering heart.

The third floor was different from the rest of the pack house—more personal. A small figure sat propped up in bed surrounded by stuffed animals when we entered the bedroom.

"Aria!" Aurora's excited voice cracked slightly from her fever. "Daddy, look who's here!"

"I see her, princess." Jace's tone changed completely when speaking to his daughter—all the Alpha authority replaced by gentle fatherly concern.

I sat beside Aurora's bed. "Hey there. I heard someone isn't feeling great today."

"My throat hurts," she pouted, clutching a stuffed black wolf. "And Daddy won't let me have ice cream."

"That's because you need warm tea for your throat," I explained, noticing the untouched mug on her nightstand. "How about a deal? You drink your tea, and I'll tell you a special wolf story."

Her eyes lit up as she reached for the mug. "Promise?"

"Cross my heart." I made the gesture, earning a giggle.

Jace watched our interaction with an unreadable expression. "I need to discuss border security with Hunter. Will you be okay with her for a while?"

"We'll be fine," I assured him. "Go do your Alpha things."

After he left, Aurora's small hand reached for mine, her touch hot with fever. What followed was just our time to talk, her questions leaving me both heartbroken and helpless.

"Will you stay until I fall asleep?" she asked, her voice small and scratchy.

"Of course I will," I assured her, smoothing her hair back from her forehead.

Aurora's eyes, glassy with fever, looked up at me with vulnerability. "I wish I had a mommy when I get sick."

"Your dad's taking really good care of you."

"But daddies don't know the special mommy things," she whispered, clutching her stuffed wolf tighter.

I swallowed hard. "What kind of things?"

"Like singing the sick songs and making medicine not taste yucky," she said, her lower lip trembling.

Something broke inside me. This little girl, so strong and fierce normally, reduced to this fragile state without the maternal comfort she craved.

"I could try," I offered softly. "I'm not your mom, but I can stay with you today."

A small, hopeful smile appeared on her flushed face. "If you were here all the time, I'd have someone to make the scary sick times better."

I gently changed the subject and told her a modified version of Beauty and the Beast with werewolves. Soon she was asleep, her small hand still clutching mine.

I carefully extracted my hand and tiptoed toward the door—only to find Jace leaning against the doorframe, watching us.