The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 35

JACE

The crash from downstairs jolted me fully alert. Damn it. More problems.

I'd just dealt with Laura sneaking into my private study, and now angry voices echoed up the stairwell. One voice in particular made my blood run cold - Alpha Samuel. This night was going from bad to worse.

I took the stairs two at a time, following the commotion to the main hall. Lucas and Gabriel stood with the elders, facing off against Samuel and Laura. The tension was thick enough to choke on.

"You dare accuse my daughter of such behavior?" Samuel shouted, his face contorted with rage.

Laura stood beside him, tears streaming down her face, her red silk slip now covered with a hastily thrown-on robe. She pointed at me as I entered, her voice breaking with manufactured sobs.

"Alpha Jace forced himself on me!" she wailed dramatically. "He... he took my innocence! I'm his woman now - he has to take responsibility!"

The hall erupted in shocked gasps. Gabriel's face went white with fury, while Lucas and the elders stared in disbelief.

"That's a complete lie," I said, my voice deadly calm despite the rage boiling inside me. "Your daughter broke into my private study uninvited and was going through my personal belongings."

Samuel's eyes narrowed, looking between me and his daughter. "Laura, what is the meaning of this accusation?"

"He... he invited me to his study," Laura stammered, crocodile tears flowing freely. "Said he wanted to discuss our future as mates. But when I got there, he... he forced himself on me! Look at my clothes - they're torn!"

She gestured to her silk slip, which indeed looked disheveled, though I suspected she'd done that herself.

"I was just an innocent girl following what I thought was a proper courtship invitation," she continued, her voice rising hysterically. "But he attacked me! Used his Alpha strength against me! I couldn't fight back!"

Elder Thorn stepped forward, his face grave. "These are serious accusations, Alpha Jace. If true—"

"They're not true," I cut him off coldly. "I found her in my study, dressed like that," I gestured to her slip, "going through my private papers and books. She was the one who propositioned me."

"Lies!" Laura shrieked. "He's trying to cover up what he did! I'm ruined now - no other Alpha will want me! He has to take responsibility!"

Samuel grabbed Laura's arm roughly. "Enough! Tell me the truth. Now."

Laura's act began to crumble under her father's intense stare. "I... I was just trying to show him I could be a good Luna. The elders said—"

"We said no such thing!" Elder Thorn protested. "We never told you to sneak into the Alpha's private quarters!"

"But you said he needed to see my qualities," Laura whined, her story shifting. "I thought if I could show him how I could fit into his world..."

"By breaking into his study half-naked?" Samuel's voice was ice-cold.

Laura's tears turned real now as panic set in. "I just... I wanted him to notice me! That human girl has his attention, and she's nothing! I'm pure-blooded, I'm trained to be a Luna!"

"So you decided to frame him for assault?" Gabriel stepped forward, his authority radiating danger. "You accused my Alpha of rape?"

"I... no, I..." Laura looked around desperately as her lies unraveled. "It wasn't supposed to go like this! I just wanted him to claim me!"

Samuel's hand cracked across Laura's face with a sound that echoed through the hall. "You lying, manipulative little fool! Do you have any idea what you've done?"

I stepped forward, my Alpha presence filling the room until everyone except Samuel took an involuntary step back.

"Breaking into an Alpha's private study is considered a serious crime," I said, my voice carrying the weight of absolute authority. "It's an act of espionage, punishable by exile or death, depending on what was accessed."

Laura's face went white. "I... I didn't take anything! I was just looking!"

"You went through my personal papers, my books, my desk," I continued relentlessly. "In any other pack, you'd already be dead for such a violation."

"Please," Laura whispered, all her bravado gone. "I didn't mean—"

"And then," I continued, my voice dropping to a deadly whisper, "you had the audacity to accuse me of assault. To try to force a mating through false claims and manipulation."

Samuel stepped between us, his own Alpha power rising in submission to mine. "Alpha Jace, I take full responsibility for my daughter's actions. Name your punishment."

I studied them both for a long moment, letting the silence stretch until Laura was visibly shaking.

"You have one hour to pack and leave my territory," I finally said. "If you're still here when the sun rises, you won't be leaving at all. And if I ever hear of you spreading lies about what happened here tonight, I will hunt you down personally."

Laura collapsed to her knees. "Please, I'm sorry! I'll do anything—"

"The only thing you can do," I cut her off, "is disappear. Permanently."

Samuel hauled his daughter to her feet. "We'll be gone within the hour, Alpha. You have my word."

As they hurried toward the guest quarters, I heard Laura's voice, high and desperate: "But father, I was supposed to be his Luna! The elders promised—"

"The elders promised nothing," Samuel snapped. "And you've just destroyed any chance our pack had of an alliance. Move!"

Gabriel approached me, his face still tight with anger. "Alpha, I apologize that you had to deal with such accusations."

"No apology needed, Gabriel. Your daughter has more honor in her little finger than that girl has in her entire body."

Elder Thorn cleared his throat nervously. "Alpha, we had no idea she would resort to such... tactics."

I fixed him with a cold stare. "Make sure this never happens again. The next person who tries to manipulate me into a mating will not receive such mercy."

The elders nodded hastily and dispersed, leaving me alone with Gabriel and Lucas.

"Well," Lucas said dryly, "that was entertaining."

"Entertaining isn't the word I'd use," I muttered, running a hand through my hair. "I need to check on Aria."

Gabriel nodded. "Thank you for handling that with restraint, Alpha. A lesser man might have killed her for such accusations."

"The thought crossed my mind," I admitted. "But Aria wouldn't want me to start a war over someone so pathetic."

As I headed back upstairs, I could hear the frantic sounds of packing from the guest quarters. Good. The sooner they were gone, the better.

I paused outside Aria's door, taking a deep breath to center myself. She didn't need to wake up to the aftermath of such drama. She needed peace, safety, and healing.

In just a few more days, when she turned eighteen, I'd make sure she never had to worry about anyone threatening our bond again.