The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 216

**LAWRENCE**

I stared out the window of our temporary command center, watching the rain pound against the glass.

Behind me, Jace's phone rang, breaking the tense silence. I turned sharply, watching as his expression shifted from weariness to focused attention.

"Yes, I understand. Keep him there. We're on our way." Jace ended the call, and when his eyes met mine, I saw something I hadn't seen in days: hope.

"What is it?" I demanded, my heart suddenly racing.

"That was the Alpha of one of the smaller packs in the region," Jace explained, already moving toward the maps spread across the table. "His Beta may have found something."

My breath caught in my throat. After two weeks of false leads and dead ends, could this finally be it? I didn't dare hope too much, but Rocky surged forward in my consciousness, suddenly alert.

"What did they find?" I asked, my voice rough with emotion.

Aria entered the room just as Jace began explaining. "His Beta was in a human town near their territory when he noticed a strange wolf. Italian, by his accent. The wolf was trying to impress a human girl by telling her where he came from."

I moved closer to the map, scanning the area where the smaller pack's territory bordered human settlements. "And?"

"The Beta followed him when he left. The wolf headed to an abandoned village where Rogues have been known to stay. He didn't follow further – too dangerous alone – but he reported it immediately."

My heart hammered against my ribs. Charles had always used Rogues for his dirty work. It made perfect sense he'd hide among them.

"How far?" I asked, already calculating travel time and attack strategies.

"About three hours from here," Jace replied, pointing to a remote location on the map. "If we leave now and travel as wolves, we could be there by midnight."

I nodded, a cold determination settling over me. "Then let's go. I want every available warrior ready to move in fifteen minutes."

Jace looked at me, and I saw the same deadly resolve in his eyes that I felt in my own. This wasn't just about rescuing his daughter and son anymore. This was about justice for the dead and protection for our pack.

"I'll notify Marcus and Lucas," Aria said, already pulling out her phone. "They'll have the warriors assembled by the time you reach the northern border."

I walked to the weapons cabinet, selecting a silver-lined combat knife and securing it to my belt. Silver wouldn't kill a werewolf outright, but it would slow them down, make their wounds heal at a human rate. Against Charles and his followers, we needed every advantage.

"Lawrence," Jace called softly. When I turned, he was holding out a small vial of clear liquid. "Wolfsbane antidote. Dr. Maya prepared it for Aurora and Atlas. If they've been drugged, this might help."

I took the vial carefully, securing it in an inner pocket close to my heart. "Thank you."

Within minutes, warriors began arriving at the command center. Some I'd trained personally during my time here. Others were veterans who'd served under Jace for years. All wore the same expression of grim determination.

AURORA

The pain sliced through me like a blade, forcing a gasp from my lips. Each contraction felt stronger than the last, my body tensing against my will. I'd been trying to hide it from Vanessa—my birth mother who'd abandoned me as a baby and now stood guard over me in this prison—but there was no disguising it anymore.

"You need to lie down," Vanessa said, her eyes fixed on my swollen belly. "The contractions are getting closer together."

I gritted my teeth, refusing to show weakness. "I'm fine."

The door swung open and Alpha Charles walked in, his cruel smile making my skin crawl. He looked at Vanessa expectantly.

"She'll definitely deliver tonight," Vanessa reported. "The drug in her water is working."

Charles's smile widened. "Good."

My heart stopped. "What? What did you put in my water?" I demanded, panic rising in my throat.

"Just something to ensure you can't stop the labor," Vanessa answered, her voice flat, clinical.

"No!" I cried out as another contraction hit, doubling me over. "How could you do this? How could you just stand by and—" I couldn't finish as pain overtook me.

*Aurora. It will be okay,* Atlas's voice came softly from where he lay chained across the room. My brother's face was bruised, his body weakened by the wolfsbane-laced restraints, but his eyes held steady determination.

"But I can't," I whispered desperately as Vanessa left the room. "Not now, not here." My hand cradled my belly. Lawrence should be here. This should be happening at home, surrounded by family, not in this cold, damp cell with enemies waiting to steal my child.

When Vanessa was gone, Atlas shifted closer to me, his chains rattling. "Aurora, listen to me," he whispered. "I saw the paper. Tonight at midnight—it's my birthday. You know what will happen."

I nodded, understanding flooding through me. The prophecy about the "True King"—that when Atlas turned eighteen, his full power would awaken. Power that nothing could contain. Power that would make him unstoppable.

I tried to relax, to slow my breathing between contractions. *Think about Lawrence. Think about Dad and Mom. They're coming for us. We just need to survive until then.*

Another contraction hit, stronger than before, and I nearly screamed. The door opened again, and Vanessa returned.

"You need to push," she instructed, her voice unexpectedly gentle.

Fear clawed at my chest. "No." I couldn't let Alpha Charles take my baby. I wouldn't.

"If you don't cooperate, you and the baby will both be in danger," Vanessa warned, checking my progress with clinical efficiency.

Atlas spoke up from his corner. "Sister, do as she says. Don't put yourself in danger. Whatever happens, it will be okay."

Vanessa glanced at Atlas. "It's almost midnight," she said quietly.

"I know," Atlas replied. "I can feel it."

"Feel what?" I asked weakly.

"The True King's power," Vanessa whispered.

Panic seized my chest. How could she possibly know about that? My heart sank as doubt crept in—would she side with Charles against us? After all, in her eyes, I was nothing more than a daughter unworthy of her love and compassion.