The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 9

Hunter gestured toward the main building. "The pack house. Everything you need's inside."

We followed him up these wide stone steps to massive double doors carved with wolf designs. Inside, the place was surprisingly bright and open, with high ceilings and natural materials everywhere.

"First floor's got the kitchen, dining hall, meeting areas, Alpha's office, and the daycare," Hunter explained as we walked through this wide hallway. "Second floor's regular pack member rooms—each one's got its own bathroom. Top floor's off-limits unless the Alpha says otherwise."

As we passed one room, I heard laughing and singing. Peeking inside, I saw this colorful space filled with young werewolves playing. Some were reading, others building with blocks, while a few older kids practiced basic fighting moves under some woman's watchful eye.

"Looks fun," Lucas said, smiling.

"Ahem."

That deep sound from behind us made me jump. Hunter immediately straightened up, his whole vibe shifting.

"Alpha, I was just showing them around. We were heading to your office next," Hunter explained quickly.

I turned around and nearly forgot how to breathe.

This guy radiated power like heat from a fire. He was well over six feet tall, with deep brown hair that fell in slight waves just above his shoulders. His chest was bare, showing off muscles that looked like they were carved from stone. His worn jeans hung low on his hips, and he was barefoot on the polished wood floor.

But his eyes—damn. Ice blue, piercing, and smart as hell. They seemed to see right through all my walls, checking out everything I tried to hide.

I realized with horror that I was staring straight into his eyes—a total challenge in werewolf culture. I quickly looked down, my heart pounding like crazy.

A deep chuckle rumbled from his chest. "No need to be so formal," he said, his voice warm and low. "Come on, let's head to my office."

As we walked down the hallway, I couldn't help noticing how he moved—confident and powerful. Every step was deliberate, controlled. I took a deep breath and suddenly realized—that mysterious scent was coming from him. My body responded without permission, warming up just from being near him.

Jace's office was huge but comfortable, with big windows overlooking the whole territory. Mountain ranges stretched forever, bathed in golden morning light. Bookshelves lined one wall, a massive desk took up another, and comfy seating was arranged near a stone fireplace.

He disappeared through a side door, coming back wearing a dark button-up shirt, though he'd left several buttons undone.

"Sorry about being half-dressed," he said, running a hand through his hair. "You guys got here earlier than expected, and I didn't have time to change after my run."

"No worries, Alpha," Gabriel said respectfully. "This is your territory. We're all wolves here—half-dressed or naked isn't exactly news to us."

Jace smiled, his gaze briefly hitting me. That look sent warmth shooting through my whole body.

"Not all of us," he noted, his voice softer.

He settled behind his desk, waving for us to sit across from him.

Gabriel said. "Thanks for taking us in, Alpha."

Jace's eyes hardened a bit. "Gabriel, does Aria know the whole truth? From what you told me on the phone, sounds like you might've protected her from some of it."

Gabriel sighed heavily, then gestured for me to sit. I perched on the edge of a chair, suddenly tense.

"For the past few months," Gabriel began slowly, "Lucas and I noticed Warren paying Aria... special attention. At first, I thought nothing of it—she's human, she's different, people notice."

Lucas interjected, "But it was more than curiosity. His eyes followed her everywhere."

Gabriel nodded. "Two months ago, Warren called me to his office. Offered me Head Warrior position." His jaw tightened. "If I gave him Aria."

I was shocked. "What?"

"He wanted to force you as his mate," Gabriel continued, his voice tight with controlled anger. "No choice. No say in the matter. Just take you because he's Alpha and can do whatever he wants."

I stood abruptly, shaking my head. "No... that's impossible..." As understanding hit me, everything clicked into place—why Gabriel had been so protective lately, why Dylan had warned us, why we'd fled in the night.

"There's something else you should know about Warren," Gabriel said, his voice grave. "He comes from an ancient werewolf bloodline. His family once ruled multiple territories."

Jace's eyes narrowed. "The Nightshades. I know of them."

Gabriel nodded. "A century ago, his ancestor angered a powerful witch, resulting in a family curse: each generation's leader would gradually descend into madness after losing their true mate."

"Warren's mate died five years ago in a rogue attack," I said quietly. "That's when things started changing. The pack noticed it first—his mood swings, his paranoia."

"The curse is manifesting," Lucas said. "He's been getting worse. More obsessive, more dangerous."

Gabriel's expression darkened further. "And we discovered something else. Warren's been meeting with hunters—the Silver Blade Hunters."

Though I already knew about Warren's hunter connections, hearing it confirmed made my stomach twist. The same organization that had killed my birth parents.

"He's been feeding them information about pack movements, territory boundaries," Gabriel continued. "In exchange for what, we're not sure. But with his deteriorating mental state and his fixation on Aria..."

"He wants to use her," Lucas finished. "A human with supernatural abilities would be valuable to him—someone he could dominate completely while using her gifts to track other supernatural beings."

"And potentially valuable to the hunters as well," Gabriel added grimly. "Someone who could infiltrate packs, identify threats."

My knees buckled. Before I could fall, strong arms caught me. Jace had moved with inhuman speed, crossing the room to steady me. His scent enveloped me, cedar and wildness, and despite my horror, my body reacted to his nearness.

"I promise you," he murmured, his breath warm against my ear, "Warren will not—will never—lay a finger on you on my territory. And no hunter will ever use you as a weapon against your own people."

A strange calm spread through me at his words. Within his arms, I felt inexplicably safe.

After a moment, he guided me back to my seat, his hand lingering on my shoulder before he returned to his desk. From a drawer, he withdrew a massive ceremonial cup shaped like a wolf's head and an ancient-looking knife.

"I run things differently than most packs," Jace said, setting the items on his desk. "Here, everyone learns to defend themselves, including the women."

Gabriel interrupted, "Alpha, Aria has been trained in tracking and warrior skills since she was ten."

A smile spread across Jace's face, making my heart skip. "Excellent. Those skills will serve the pack well—on our terms, not Warren's."

He stood, his presence filling the room. His voice deepened, resonating with ancient power as he began the formal rite.