The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 51

JACE

I returned to the packhouse after ordering two warriors to stand guard at the cell. I walked upstairs and back into our room to find it empty. I took a shower fast to get the blood off me. Then I called Ria. "Where are you, baby?" I ask.

"Kitchen."

Damn, my human mate continues to surprise me. Most females would be traumatized after a rogue attack, but not Aria. She's already up and about like nothing happened. That's what makes her different . Even without our bond, she'd be remarkable.

"You busy?" I press, needing to talk to her about what I just learned.

"No, I'll be up in five minutes."

"Good. Meet me in the office when you're ready."

I reach out to Gabriel, Lucas, and Hunter through mind link. They all respond immediately - one advantage werewolves have over humans.

Being Alpha means making tough calls. Warren is looking for Aria. The thought makes my wolf snarl inside me. Phantom doesn't share well - especially not my mate. Not the mother of my future child.

I pace the office, brain working overtime. Security needs tightening. The rogue attack wasn't random - they were searching. For her. My mate.

A knock interrupts my thoughts. Gabriel enters with Lucas and Hunter. Gabriel's face is tense, already suspecting bad news.

"Come in. Aria will join us shortly," I say, gesturing to the chairs.

"Did the rogue talk?" Gabriel asks immediately. Protective father instincts. I respect that.

"Yes."

Footsteps in the hallway signal Aria's arrival. She walks straight to me, and I pull her onto my lap. Gabriel's expression darkens with worry. He's raised this human girl since childhood, protected her from Warren once already.

"What happened?" Aria asks, her body warm against mine.

"The rogue confessed. Their camp was hired to find you specifically."

"What? Why?" Her body stiffens.

"Who hired them?" Gabriel demands, leaning forward.

"The rogue didn't know exactly who. But they're looking for you, Aria. They say you were taken from someone who wants you back."

"Damn Warren," Lucas growls, hands clenching into fists.

Aria stays silent, but Gabriel looks ready to shift and tear through walls. His adopted human daughter means everything to him.

"Your plan, Alpha?" Hunter asks, always the practical one.

"I know you won't like this, Aria, but until I ensure your safety, you need guards. As a human, you can't heal or fight like we do. I'll assign people you know - Gabriel, Lucas, maybe Jaspar or Hunter." I kiss her fingers, hoping to soften the blow.

"It's okay. I understand, really." Her voice is quiet, resigned.

Hate this. Hate making her feel confined. She's been training her whole life to protect herself, human or not. Gabriel made sure of that. But with a baby coming, risks are different now.

"Thank you. I'll call the elders to discuss stopping Warren. Maybe force him to step down so Dylan takes over."

"Dylan's a good kid," Gabriel agrees, nodding slowly.

We talk security for another hour before they leave. Aria stays on my lap, head resting against my shoulder. We don't speak much. Just exist together. Been too busy lately - pack business, rogue attacks, pregnancy news. Haven't had enough moments like this.

ARIA

I got talked into dress shopping. After the meeting, Gabriel escorts me to meet Nina and Shirley. The older women aren't happy about my adoptive father insisting on staying close - they wanted the dress to surprise everyone at the ceremony.

"He doesn't need to hover so much," Nina whispers to me when Gabriel steps away briefly to take a call. "You're in no danger with us."

I shrug. "He's worried. After what Jace told us about the rogues looking for me specifically..."

Can't blame him for being protective. He's been that way since rescuing me as a child. Being human in a werewolf world means everyone thinks you need extra protection. Sometimes they're right.

We take a pack vehicle to the border town, stopping at a fancy boutique I wouldn't normally even look at. Not because the clothes aren't beautiful, but because they probably cost more than everything I own combined.

Two women greet us inside. One looks vaguely familiar, but I can't place her. Nina takes charge immediately, explaining we need a ceremonial dress for the Luna-to-be. The staff gets visibly excited. That's when I realize - they're all werewolves too. Even in human towns, the pack has connections everywhere.

"We have several suitable options for the Alpha's mate," one saleswoman says, leading us to a private room with plush sofas.

We start looking through dresses. They're all gorgeous, but nothing feels right. Nothing feels like me. Then another saleswoman brings in a dress that takes my breath away. Blood-red from shoulders to waist, fading to gold below - Moon Shadow Pack colors. Off-shoulder lace butterfly sleeves embedded with tiny diamonds. A silk underlayer with matching lace on top, and a three-tiered lace skirt. It's designed for a werewolf ceremony, but slightly modified for human comfort. Someone thought about my needs specifically.

"This one," Shirley says, eyes gleaming with approval.

"Yes, perfect. Try it on, dear," Nina urges, practically pushing me toward the fitting room.

I follow the saleswoman into a separate room. When I slip the dress on, I stare at my reflection in shock. The human girl looking back at me seems transformed - not just by the dress, but by everything that's happened since joining Moon Shadow Pack. Finding Jace. Becoming a mate. Expecting a baby. Now preparing to be officially recognized as Luna.

"You look beautiful," the familiar-looking saleswoman tells me.

I walk back to show Nina and Shirley, suddenly feeling shy. Their faces light up with excitement as they nod approval.

Gabriel turns from where he's been pretending to be interested in men's suits, and freezes. There are actual tears in his eyes. I walk over and hug him.

"Dad?"

"Don't worry, little deer," he whispers, using his pet name for me. "You look just like your birth mother. Though you're our adopted human child, you have her same grace."

"Oh, Dad." I hug him tighter, longer this time.

"She'd love seeing you here," he continues softly. "Becoming mate and Luna to the Alpha of her beloved pack, even as a human. The Moon Goddess's power truly crosses species."（I haven't told my adoptive father and family about gaining my wolf yet. I want to give them a surprise. So very few people know about this news.）

His words bring tears to my eyes. I barely remember my birth parents. Gabriel and his late wife became my family when they took me in as a scared human child. They never treated me differently despite not being a werewolf.

We find shoes to match the dress. Nina tells me jewelry has already been selected by the pack elders. I decide to buy Aurora a little dress and Jace a shirt that matches my gown's red. It feels important that we look united as a family.

Nina and Shirley keep exchanging knowing smiles. When I finally ask why, they just say, "You're the perfect Luna."

Shopping finished, we head home. I'm exhausted - human stamina can't match werewolves. I doze off in the car, the events of the day catching up with me.

Sometime later, I feel myself being lifted. I wake briefly to Jace's familiar scent. "Shh, go back to sleep," he murmurs, carrying me inside.

I snuggle against his chest as he walks upstairs. Despite everything - the rogues, Warren's threat, the challenges of being human in this world - I feel completely safe with Jace. My wolf. My mate. My home.