The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 81

JACE

The crowd roared as Cal stood victorious. Another win for Moon Shadow. The Ravenwood warrior dropped to one knee, accepting defeat with dignity. Exactly what I expected from Marcus's pack.

I watched Gabriel rush onto the field, a long robe in his hands for Cal to cover himself after shifting back. One of Marcus's men did the same for their defeated warrior. Small moments of respect like these defined how packs interacted.

Marcus caught my eye from across the arena. He nodded, a slight smile playing on his lips. The man knew how to lose gracefully.

Aria squeezed my arm, practically vibrating with excitement beside me.

"Cal just fought one of Ravenwood's guardians!" she whispered, leaning close.

"He did," I confirmed, letting my pride show. "And he won. You chose our warrior well."

Through our bond, I felt her happiness soar. Nothing compared to the warmth of her emotions flowing into mine. No matter how many times it happened, the connection never ceased to amaze me.

"Let's congratulate him," I said, standing.

We made our way down to the arena floor where Gabriel, Ethan, and Cal stood talking. Cal had already pulled on pants and a shirt, looking remarkably composed for someone who'd just defeated one of Ravenwood's best fighters.

"Cal," I said as we approached, "excellent fight. You brought honor to Moon Shadow today."

"Thank you, Alpha." Cal stood straighter.

I turned to both warriors. "You both fought well. The pack is proud of what you've achieved."

Gabriel cleared his throat. "Your turn soon, Alpha."

"Yes," I said, scanning the crowd. "This victory means more than just bragging rights. If we win the festival, we host next year."

The significance wasn't lost on any of them. Hosting meant influence, respect, and economic advantages for our territory.

The ceremonial horn blasted across the arena, cutting through the chatter of the crowd. Elder Thorn's voice followed, summoning all participating Alphas to the center of the Ancient Arena.

My body tensed immediately. Time to fight.

I turned to Gabriel, lowering my voice but leaving no room for misinterpretation. "She doesn't leave your sight. Understand?"

"She'll be safe, Alpha," Gabriel assured me. "I'll guard her personally."

I nodded, still unable to shake the uneasiness that had been growing since morning. Maybe just pre-fight nerves, but my instincts rarely steered me wrong.

With one last look at Aria, I headed toward the arena center where other Alphas were gathering.

## ARIA

God, I hate when he goes all overprotective Alpha male on me. But watching him walk into that arena? Yeah, okay, my heart's doing that stupid fluttery thing again.

I positioned myself next to Gabriel, making sure I was visible to Jace. The last thing he needed was to worry about me when he should be focused on his fight.

Elder Thorn raised his hands for silence, his voice carrying across the arena without effort.

"Today's Alpha Contest is a friendly exhibition," he announced. "While we encourage displays of strength and skill, remember that no serious injuries are permitted."

I counted the Alphas gathered in the arena center. Ten in total, each powerfully built and radiating confidence. But none compared to Jace.

Elder Thorn continued explaining the rules. "Unlike traditional one-on-one matches, this will be a free contest. All Alphas will enter the arena simultaneously. The last two standing will advance to the final round."

The crowd murmured with excitement. This format was rare—and dangerous. Ten Alphas fighting at once meant chaos and unpredictability.

I caught Jace's eye across the distance and sent a pulse of support through our bond. *Show them why you're king.*

He didn't smile, but I felt his appreciation flow back to me.

*Keep close to Gabriel,* came his response.

The Alphas spread across the arena as Elder Thorn and the other council members retreated to safe positions. I noticed how the other competitors gave Jace space, none wanting to be the first to challenge him.

"Your mate has quite the reputation," Gabriel murmured beside me.

"They're afraid of him," I said, unable to keep the pride from my voice.

"As they should be."

The signal sounded, and the contest began. For a moment, nobody moved. Then, without warning, two Alphas from smaller border packs charged Jace simultaneously.

My breath caught. Their coordination suggested planning, a pre-arranged alliance.

Jace stood calmly, waiting until the last moment. When the first Alpha lunged, Jace simply sidestepped, causing his attacker to stumble past and crash into the dirt.

The crowd gasped, then cheered.

The two Alphas exchanged glances before trying a new approach, attacking from opposite sides. Jace shook his head slightly—almost disappointed—before executing a perfect spinning kick that sent one Alpha staggering back.

Without missing a beat, he caught the second attacker by the throat, applying just enough pressure to force submission without causing injury.

"He's toying with them," Gabriel said, sounding impressed despite himself.

The first Alpha hesitated, clearly reconsidering his strategy. Before he could decide, another competitor seized him from behind. Their struggle ended quickly, leaving yet another Alpha eliminated.

I scanned the arena. Only five remained now: Jace, Marcus, Randall Blackthorn, and two others I didn't recognize.

The next few minutes passed in a blur of calculated violence. Jace, Marcus, and Randall seemed to reach some silent understanding, turning as one to deal with the remaining competitors.

The coordination between the three top Alphas was beautiful to watch—like dancers who had rehearsed for years despite being rivals. They dispatched the others quickly, hardly breaking a sweat.

And then only three remained, facing each other in a triangle of power.

The crowd went completely silent. This was the moment everyone had been waiting for—the three strongest Alphas in the territory, about to determine who was truly dominant.

What happened next shocked everyone. Alpha Randall, known for his fierce pride, stepped back and bowed deeply to both Jace and Marcus. Without a word, he withdrew from the contest.

Murmurs rippled through the stands. Such a gesture from an Alpha of Randall's standing wasn't just unexpected—it was historic.

"Why would he do that?" I whispered to Gabriel.

"Respect," Gabriel replied. "And perhaps wisdom."

Now only Jace and Marcus remained, facing each other as old friends and respected rivals. The tension in the arena was palpable. My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms.

Elder Thorn walked to the center of the arena, his face solemn as he prepared to announce the final rules.

"Do you think Jace will win?" I asked Gabriel, not taking my eyes off the arena.

"That's not the question," Gabriel said quietly. "The question is: what will it cost him?"

My breath caught as Elder Thorn called for a break: "Now we have two Alphas left for the final match—Alpha Marcus Ravenwood and Alpha Jace Carter. We'll take a short break before determining our ultimate champion."