The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 223

LAWRENCE

I felt it instantly—Aurora's emotions hit me through our bond. Sadness for her brother, but also relief. Atlas had just rejected his true mate, Tina, who now lay crumpled on the floor crying. Her brother Romeo stood nearby, face tight with anger.

Aurora shifted to stand. I put my hand on her arm.

"I will handle this," I told her, then added through our mind link, *Stay put. This could get ugly.*

She nodded. I stood and walked toward Atlas.

His shoulders felt like concrete under my palm. But his eyes surprised me—pure determination and anger. No doubt. No pain.

"Beta," Atlas ordered, voice firm, "get them out of here... I want them gone."

"As you wish." I straightened my spine.

I mind-linked four warriors I'd trained. *Banquet hall. Now.*

They appeared instantly.

"Lead them away," I ordered. "Take her to the healing center... This is your Alpha's order."

Tina screamed Atlas's name as they dragged her away. Atlas ignored her completely, returning to his seat with rigid posture.

I turned to follow when Romeo's voice cut through the murmurs.

"Maybe I should have marked her before I rejected her, had a little more fun with her."

A growl escaped my throat. This bastard was talking about MY mate.

Romeo faced me, smirking. "I challenge you in combat for honor and a mate..."

The room went dead silent. My blood turned to ice, then fire. As Aurora's former true mate, Romeo had the right to challenge me.

"I accept," I said without hesitation.

Romeo's smirk faltered. "I am not dressed for combat."

Seriously? "So now your clothes are an issue?" I scoffed. "As a Beta, I thought you would be prepared for any possible fight."

Jace stepped forward, his Alpha aura overwhelming. "The challenged party has the right to choose the time and place."

I could delay. I could prepare. But why give this jerk any courtesy?

"And I say now... No reason to wait."

Guests scrambled to move tables and chairs. I felt Aurora's worry, but underneath was something stronger—complete faith in me.

Damn right she should have faith. I'd never let her down.

AURORA

My heart pounded watching Lawrence and Romeo move to the center of the room. Ancient pack law gave Romeo the right to challenge Lawrence as my former true mate. It made me want to throw up.

Lawrence wanted this over fast—I felt it through our bond. He stripped off his formal jacket and shirt, standing bare-chested. Romeo did the same, his chest less impressive.

Dad walked to the center to referee.

"The rules are simple..." Dad announced. "You fight until one of you gives up or gets killed. You fight fair... This is a full-contact fight, and you can't fight in human or wolf forms... Any rules broken will get you disqualified, and you lose. Understood?"

Both men nodded.

"If anyone breaks the rules," Dad added, "I will personally intervene."

Without warning, Dad shifted into his primal wolf form—massive and terrifying. In this form, he looked ready to rip Romeo's throat out.

"Get ready... Begin." Dad's wolf voice boomed.

Romeo circled Lawrence, trying to get behind him. Lawrence kept turning, keeping Romeo in front. When Romeo realized his tactic wasn't working, he went for words instead.

"When I win, I will mark her properly... erase your mark... make her send that half-breed son away... Or maybe we keep the kid, make her remember I killed you."

Anger twisted in my gut. How dare he mention our son!

Lawrence growled. "In order to do that, you need to fight... You are dead wrong... I was born an Alpha."

Then he moved—blindingly fast. His fist connected with Romeo's jaw. Clean. Brutal. Romeo staggered back.

Romeo spat blood. "Clearly not an important Alpha since you downgraded to Beta."

Lawrence actually laughed.

"I don't need a title... What I care about is my mate and the amazing family we have... I will serve under our king..."

While Lawrence spoke, Romeo attacked. A cheap shot. Lawrence dodged, spinning to punch Romeo's face again. Blood poured from Romeo's nose. Frustration twisted his features.

Romeo attacked again, but midway through, his body began to change. Fur sprouted along his arms. His face elongated. He was shifting—breaking the rules!

I gasped as the yellow-brown wolf bit Lawrence's arm. The wolf's teeth sank deep into Lawrence's forearm.

My heart stopped. But I trusted Lawrence. And sure enough, the wound began to close, healing before my eyes.

"Already going for the shift?" Lawrence taunted. "Shifting early is a sign of desperation."

He kicked the wolf hard in the face. The wolf kept trying for Lawrence's throat, but couldn't get through. Each failed attempt made the wolf angrier, sloppier.

Lawrence seized his chance. A kick to the ribs. A punch to the muzzle. Quick blows the wolf couldn't dodge.

When the wolf lunged again, Lawrence grabbed its neck and slammed it down. The wolf struggled but couldn't break free. Finally, it shifted back to Romeo, still trapped in Lawrence's grip.

Romeo's face turned red as he gasped for air.

"Give up, and I do not want to kill you... Give up, admit defeat," Lawrence demanded.

After a moment more of struggle, Romeo tapped the floor twice. Lawrence released him immediately.

Dad shifted back to human form. "The fight is over, and the winner is The future Beta of the true Alpha, Lawrence."

The crowd erupted in cheers. I couldn't stop grinning.

Alpha Leonard approached Lawrence. "Your father would have been proud."

People whispered around me. They were impressed Lawrence won without shifting and showed mercy. They said Atlas chose his Beta well.

Then it happened. Romeo, back on his feet, lunged at Lawrence from behind.

"NO!" I screamed.

Dad shouted, "LAWRENCE!"

Lawrence turned to defend himself, but before he could, a massive furry hand grabbed Romeo by the neck.

Atlas, in his primal wolf form, held Romeo in the air, his eyes red with fury.

"You dare go against rules that are thousands of years old..." Atlas's wolf form spoke, voice eerily calm. "You don't deserve to be shown mercy... I will let you live, but if you ever break a rule or harm anyone who is innocent. I will have you thrown to the silver containment facility for the rest of your life."

Atlas dropped Romeo to the floor. Guards rushed to take Romeo away. Atlas shifted back to human form, looking shaken. He'd almost lost control.

The crowd applauded again, this time for Atlas. He looked surprised.

Lawrence walked to Atlas, extending his hand. "Brother, thank you... You can always count on me to be by your side."

When their palms met, a bright light fell on them from above. Their hands locked together by some sort of beam.

A firm female voice filled the room. "The true king needs a special bond to those he trusts... you just found your true Beta... To be the Beta to the strongest creature in our world. You need to be closer to his strength. Therefore, I will grant you a Primal Wolf."

The Moon Goddess herself walked among us.

I sat frozen, watching her divine light surround my mate.