The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 231

ATLAS

I ducked under Lawrence's swing, countering with a quick jab that he easily blocked. We'd been training for hours, and despite my exhaustion, I felt stronger with each session.

"You're doing well, my King," Lawrence said, wiping sweat from his brow. "You're obviously stronger than me, but your learning speed is impressive too. I think I've taught you almost everything I know."

I was about to thank him when a high-pitched voice interrupted us.

"Atlas! How's your training going?"

Red-haired Tammy strutted into the training area, swinging her hips deliberately. I caught Lawrence rolling his eyes behind her.

"Fine, thanks," I answered curtly, grabbing a towel to wipe my face.

Tammy stepped closer, running her fingers along my arm. "She seems really eager to get close to you, Atlas," she whispered, clearly referring to her wolf's supposed attraction to me.

I stepped back, avoiding her touch. "My wolf seems equally eager to get away from her."

Lawrence coughed, struggling not to laugh.

"Tammy," Lawrence intervened, "if you were Atlas's true mate, you wouldn't need to try so hard. You'd naturally be drawn together."

She glared at Lawrence, then looked back at me hopefully. When I just shrugged, she stormed off.

"Thanks," I told Lawrence. "She's really annoying."

"True mates are a serious matter," Lawrence replied. "Has your father spoken with you about this?"

I nodded. "He said waiting for a true mate or not is my decision. But to understand that not everyone is worth the effort of trying to make it work."

After leaving the training grounds, I decided to walk home. I needed time alone with my thoughts. As I passed a small alley, I heard voices—one sounding terrified.

"Please don't, I don't want this!" a girl sobbed.

"Let's make a deal," a boy said roughly. "We'll sleep together, and if you're good enough, maybe I'll take back my rejection."

I immediately turned into the alley and saw Tammy and several others surrounding a small girl with disheveled brown hair.

"Let her go," I commanded, my voice carrying a growl.

They all turned, most recognizing me immediately and backing away with lowered heads. Except one boy—presumably the one who'd rejected her.

"This isn't your business," he said arrogantly. "This worthless bitch hasn't accepted my rejection yet."

I stepped forward, facing him directly. "Leave. Now." My voice was quiet but threatening. He eventually backed down, muttering as he left.

I turned to the girl cowering against the wall. "Hey, are you okay?"

She nodded but wouldn't meet my eyes. I pulled off my hoodie and handed it to her. "Here, put this on."

"Thank you, Your Highness," she whispered.

"I'm Atlas," I told her, trying to make her comfortable. "What's your name?"

"May," she answered softly. "May Stone. Some people call me Maja."

I sat down beside her on the ground, trying to offer comfort without scaring her. "May, I know this will hurt—worse than now—but accepting it is best. You deserve better than that jerk. I won't leave; I'll stay with you."

She looked terrified but finally nodded.

"I, May Stone, accept your rejection," she said quietly.

In that moment, her body began violently convulsing. I watched in shock as the boy turned back, saw what was happening, and gasped. When I roared at him, he ran away.

May started gasping severely, her eyes rolling back. Damn! I hadn't expected this. I immediately picked her up, considering where to go. The healing center was too far, but my home was close.

I mind-linked Dr. Maya: "Come to our house immediately. I've found a weakened, rejected she-wolf. She's not doing well. My home is closer than the healing center."

When I burst through our front door carrying May, my parents rushed to meet us.

"Goddess, what happened?" my mother gasped.

"This girl, May, was just rejected by her mate," I explained, laying her on the couch. "Then they started attacking her."

"What's her last name?" Father asked.

"Stone," I answered, noticing his eyes widen.

Dr. Maya arrived quickly and examined May. "She has indeed been rejected by her mate," Maya confirmed. Then she frowned. "Strange... I can't feel her wolf, and her bruises aren't healing."

"She never had a wolf..." my father said quietly, making us all turn to him. "Her mother is human, her father half-human... This girl never showed any of our sensory abilities."

Maya's expression grew more serious. "That makes it worse for her. Humans have a much lower survival rate from direct rejection... This girl grew up among us. She's seen countless mate bonds. She knows what she's lost."

After discussion, we decided to send Maja (as Maya began calling her) to the healing center.

"I'll notify her family," Father said. "They'll meet us at the healing center."

"And you, my King, did a very good thing saving her," Maya told me. "Remember that, whatever happens, you did save her."

Hours later, our family arrived at the healing center. I'd contacted Lawrence but asked him to stay with Anthony for now.

Dr. Jonathan approached my father, his expression grim. "It's not good, Jace."

"Damn it," Father muttered. "I don't know when cruelly rejecting true mates became a trend. Rejections happen, we know. But beating her!"

"Is there anything we can do?" I asked, though the doctor's face already gave me the answer.

"I'm afraid not," Jonathan said sadly. "Her heart is weak and slowing. If she were a werewolf, there might be hope. I've looked for even the smallest sign of a wolf, but found nothing."

Suddenly, we heard a soft, mournful cry from down the hall and rushed over.

Maja lay on the bed with her family around her. Her mother wept at her bedside as the heart monitor emitted a continuous tone.

"Damn it!" I shouted when we returned home, my fist slamming into the wall.

Father grabbed my shoulders. "Training room. Now."

I pounded the punching bag for over an hour while Father waited silently. The sounds of Maja's mother crying and the heart monitor echoed in my mind. I couldn't understand why a wolf would reject his destined mate. Just because she had no wolf? Because she wasn't strong enough?

I fell to my knees and finally let myself cry. Father placed his hand on my shoulder, gripping tightly.

"Let it out, son, let it out..." he said, and I completely broke down.