The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 236

MADDIE

I stared out the airplane window, watching America fade into clouds beneath me. My mind wouldn't stop replaying images of *him*. King Atlas. Those piercing eyes, that powerful presence that commanded everyone's attention without effort. God, he was so handsome it hurt. Everyone at the gathering whispered about him—the True King, they called him. The way he moved through crowds, confident yet somehow distant, made my heart race every time.

The memory of the banquet hit me hard. I'd been shocked when he publicly rejected his mate Tina. The whole room had frozen. At first, I didn't understand, but then I overheard someone mention how Tina had once tormented the King's sister Aurora. Recording her while she struggled to shift, spreading those videos. My heart had twisted with sympathy for him then. He wasn't being cruel—he was protecting his family.

I spent that entire gathering watching him. I couldn't stop myself. Once I thought he was looking at me too, but when I turned my head, his eyes were elsewhere. Probably just my imagination running wild.

After all the wolves went running that night, I'd snuck away from Dad and ventured into the forest alone. I know Dad would've killed me if he knew. But that forest was the most beautiful place I'd ever been. The way moonlight filtered through branches, the soft sounds of night creatures, the smell of pine and earth. I felt so alive there.

I found a waterfall with a small pool beneath it. The water called to me, and before I knew it, I'd stripped off my clothes and slipped into the cool embrace of the water. The sensation was incredible—the water caressing my skin as moonlight danced on the surface. Thank God nobody saw me.

When I finally headed back to the castle, the King was still on my mind. I picked a moonlight blossom along the path, thinking I might give it to him. But once inside, my courage faltered. I tiptoed to the wing I'd been told was his, following his scent—that incredible blend of forest after rain and something wild I couldn't name. I placed the flower outside his door and ran back to my room, heart hammering, praying neither he nor any guards had spotted me.

I didn't sleep that night. Not a single minute. His face kept appearing whenever I closed my eyes.

The next morning, rushing to meet Dad who was waiting for me, I wanted to check if the flower was gone. It wasn't there anymore. My heart skipped. While lost in that thought, I literally crashed right into him. King Atlas himself. My breath caught in my throat. I thought he'd be angry, but he wasn't.

"It's okay, Maddie," he'd said, his voice deep and gentle. "You don't need to bow to me."

When his fingers touched my chin, lifting my face to meet his eyes, electricity shot through me. I couldn't breathe. I mumbled something about needing to go and practically ran away. But I was glad I got to say goodbye to him. I hoped I'd see him again someday.

ATLAS

My chest ached knowing Maddie was leaving—heading back to France, which wasn't safe right now. She was my true mate. I felt it in my bones. The French girl with those green eyes that haunted me.

*We will keep an eye on things*, Luke said in my mind.

I nodded silently. To distract myself, I mind-linked Lawrence, asking him to meet me at the training grounds. When I arrived, several warriors were already training hard. I greeted them, then spotted a familiar figure. As I approached, I realized it was Marcus sparring with my father. The warriors had formed a circle, cheering them on. Dad moved with decades of experience, each strike calculated and powerful.

"That's not something we see every day," Lawrence said, appearing beside me with a grin.

"Hey. No, never, at least not this publicly," I replied.

The fight between my father and Marcus was impressive. Dad was strong, but Marcus had been the Alpha's Alpha before my father became King, responsible for maintaining order and enforcing laws among the packs. He was a good man. He and Seraphina were part of our family now. Marcus dodged a particularly vicious right hook, countering with a swift knee that my father barely blocked.

After a lengthy exchange of blows, my father finally won. Both men laughed and shook hands, their shirts soaked with sweat, breathing hard but smiling. The warriors cheered before returning to their own training. Dad and Marcus joined Lawrence and me.

"Well fought," Lawrence said.

Dad wiped sweat from his brow. "You here to train?"

"I wanted to give Lawrence a chance to run in his Primal form," I explained. "Luke says they've been communicating. Rocky wants to try out his new form."

"So do I," Lawrence said. "This is something I never thought would happen in my lifetime."

"You need to, though," I said firmly. "Better to learn what it feels like. It's new for both you and Rocky. Has to be done."

Lawrence lowered his head. I knew he understood I was right.

"Well then, you two have fun," Dad said, clapping Lawrence on the shoulder.

Marcus nodded. "Stay safe."

Lawrence and I headed into the forest. The scent of pine and earth filled my nostrils as we walked deeper into the trees. Birds fell silent as we passed, recognizing predators in their midst. Once we were deep enough, I turned to him.

"Just let Rocky do the shifting. He knows how."

Lawrence nodded and closed his eyes. Within moments, a massive Primal Wolf stood before me. Rocky's eyes glowed with awareness, muscles rippling beneath thick fur. He stood nearly eight feet tall, his claws digging into the soft forest floor.

I shifted too, feeling the familiar rush as my body changed. Bones cracking, skin stretching, fur emerging—the pain was intense but brief. Rocky and Luke examined each other, mainly Luke assessing Rocky.

Luke took a step back and nodded in approval.

*A Primal worthy of being our Beta*, Luke communicated. *We already knew Lawrence was a good man worthy of trust. But now we can also reduce our fear of hurting you. We are proud to call you our Beta.*

Rocky lowered his head respectfully.

*Now, let's run and test you*, Luke said, eager to begin.

We took off into the depths of the forest, disappearing among ancient trees. The forest floor thundered beneath our massive paws.