The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 199

LAWRENCE

Jace spun around, surprise flickering across his face before his features hardened with focus. We circled each other, eyes locked. My heart pounded in my chest. This wasn't just any opponent—this was the King, one of the most powerful Alphas alive.

*Don't show fear,* Rocky growled inside my head. *Show him what we can do.*

Jace attacked again, this time feinting left before striking right. I blocked his punch but couldn't avoid the follow-up kick to my ribs. Pain exploded through my side as I stumbled backward.

*Shit, he's fast.*

I regained my footing quickly, ignoring the pain. Years of training different fighting styles flooded back to me—Muay Thai, jiu-jitsu, kickboxing—techniques I'd learned during my years of wandering. When Jace came at me again, I was ready.

I ducked under his swing and countered with a combination—two quick jabs followed by an uppercut that connected with his jaw. His head snapped back. The crowd went silent. Nobody expected me to land a hit on their King.

"Good," Jace grunted, a small smile forming. "Very good."

Pride surged through me, but I kept my focus. We exchanged blows, moving faster than human eyes could track. I landed several more hits, using techniques he clearly hadn't encountered before. Each successful strike sent a rush of confidence through me.

Then Jace's foot slipped slightly on the grass. I saw my opening and rushed forward, eager to press my advantage.

Big mistake.

It was a trap. Jace grabbed my extended arm, swept my legs, and slammed me hard onto my back. The air rushed from my lungs. He stood over me, perfectly positioned to end the fight, but instead, he stepped back and allowed me to rise.

*He's testing you,* Rocky warned. *Don't fall for another trick.*

I stood more cautiously this time, reassessing my approach. We circled again, studying each other. I noticed he favored his right side slightly—a minor detail, but potentially useful.

This time, I initiated the attack, unleashing a series of unpredictable strikes—switching between high and low, mixing punches with kicks and elbow strikes. The combination confused him just enough for me to land three solid hits to his torso.

Jace grunted in surprise but recovered quickly, catching my arm and twisting it. I broke free using a technique I'd learned in Brazil, then countered with a kick to his thigh.

We continued like this for several minutes—much longer than I expected to last. My muscles burned with exertion, but I refused to show weakness. I caught glimpses of Aurora's face—a mixture of worry and pride.

After dodging another of Jace's powerful strikes, I managed to slip past his guard and land a solid hit to his ribs. He stepped back, raising his hand.

"Enough," he said, breathing heavily.

I stopped immediately, my chest heaving with exertion. Sweat dripped down my face as we stared at each other. Then, unexpectedly, Jace smiled.

"You're an exceptional fighter, Lawrence, and you possess great strength."

Relief and pride washed over me. "Thank you. You are too. I'm glad this was just for fun, in a way."

Lucas approached, looking at me with new respect. "I've never seen techniques quite like those before. That must be why you landed so many hits."

Aurora rushed to my side, her hands running over my arms and chest, checking for injuries. "Are you okay? Are you hurt?"

"I'm fine," I reassured her, showing my arms where bruises had already disappeared. "See? All healed."

"Dad hit harder than usual," Aurora said, glancing accusingly at her father.

Jace shrugged. "I had to. If I'd held back, I couldn't have taken him down. I'm not even sure Marcus could defeat you. And he's the only one who's ever come close to beating me."

His words stunned me. Coming from someone of his power and status, this was extraordinary praise. I lowered my head respectfully.

"Coming from someone so strong, those words carry weight. Though I sensed you were still holding back."

"So were you. Don't deny it, I felt it," Jace responded with a knowing look.

I nodded again, acknowledging the truth. We had both been testing boundaries, not fighting at full capacity.

Marcus stepped forward. "My King, what about giving him his own unit? Same as Lucas and me?"

Jace considered briefly, then nodded. "Lawrence, I want you to train our twenty youngest new warriors. In the future, you can decide your unit's size yourself—fifty, a hundred, a hundred and fifty, or more."

I stared at him, shocked by the offer. "I never expected such a position, at least not so soon."

"We've seen enough, and you're too good not to be utilized," Jace said simply.

My chest tightened with unexpected emotion. All my life I'd been alone, an outsider, fighting for recognition. Now I was being offered not just acceptance but respect and responsibility.

"Thank you, my King. It's a great honor, and I'll serve you to the best of my ability." The words came easily, my gratitude genuine.

Jace announced his decision to all warriors present, then turned back to Aurora and me. "Take the next week to get familiar with your new home and rest. You've both been through a lot."

As we walked back toward the house, Atlas caught up with us, excitement radiating from him. "That was awesome! How did you learn to fight like that?"

"I studied different fighting techniques to avenge my father," I explained. "Over the years, I combined them into my own style."

"That's incredible," Atlas said, his eyes wide with admiration.

Rocky preened in my head. *The prince respects us. Good.*

"If you want, I could teach you," I offered.

Atlas immediately turned to his father. "Dad, can Lawrence teach me fighting?"

Jace nodded with a smile. "Sounds good. But keep it private."

"Of course," I agreed. "Private lessons work best."

I noticed a group of female warriors watching us from across the field, their eyes following our every move. My enhanced hearing picked up their whispered comments about me. Aurora must have noticed too, because she slipped her hand into mine possessively. I squeezed it gently, reassuring her.

*They can look all they want,* Rocky growled. *We're claimed.*

The walk back to the house gave me time to process everything. In less than a day, I had joined a new pack, fought their King, earned his respect, and been given command of my own warriors. It felt surreal—like a dream I might wake from at any moment.