The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 240

ATLAS

The stench hit me first. Death. Blood. Fear. I stopped at the gates of La Meute Fantôme, Dad, Uncle Lucas, and Lawrence frozen beside me.

Bodies everywhere. Torn apart. Blood soaked into the earth. Some human, others wolves.

"Fuck," Lawrence whispered.

The French estate stood behind the carnage, elegant architecture now a backdrop to horror. Windows shattered. Doors splintered. Blood splattered across walls.

Dad moved forward first, face hardened into the King's mask. I followed, forcing my feet to move. A small body caught my eye – a girl, maybe ten, throat nearly severed. Her eyes stared at nothing. Dad knelt beside her, gently closing her eyelids, placing a small wolf plush toy from nearby into her arms.

I turned away, bile rising. Uncle Lucas's voice cracked. "This is beyond anything I've seen."

"So much death," Lawrence said.

Dad said nothing, but rage rolled off him in waves. My own anger simmered beneath shock. These people did nothing wrong. And Maddie was here when this happened. The thought made my blood run cold.

Warriors – our warriors – moved through the grounds, separating bodies, collecting dead pack members with respect while piling rogue corpses separately.

One approached us, saluting. "My King."

"Report," Dad commanded.

"We're preparing proper farewell rites for the victims," he explained. "It's bad, sir. Many dead. Children too." His voice cracked. "Some have been dead for days. Many females were... violated before being killed."

My nails bit into my palms. Luke growled deep in my mind.

"What of Alpha Louis's son? Ben?" Dad asked.

"We've kept him at camp outside the territory. He shouldn't see this."

Dad nodded. "Good thinking. He's seen enough."

The camp was hastily erected tents with warriors moving purposefully. Inside a larger tent, a young boy sat on a cot with a tablet. He looked up, eyes alert.

"You're the Wolf King," he said to Dad, voice small.

Dad knelt to his level. "And you're Ben. You snuck out to get help. That was no small thing."

Ben straightened slightly, though sorrow lined his face. "My father and sisters and mother... they're missing."

"We'll find them," Dad promised, pointing to me. "He can find them. We will."

Ben launched himself at Dad, sobbing. "Thank you!"

Dad held him, murmuring reassurances. It struck me how natural this was for him – comforting a child he'd just met. Would I ever have that instinct?

After Ben calmed, he told us everything – the dinner attack, his father protecting Maddie from the rogue leader's marking attempt, his family's capture. Dad stayed until Ben fell into exhausted sleep.

In a larger tent, we gathered to plan.

"Lucas, stay here," Dad decided. "Clean up the territory, send trackers for this rogue leader. I want him gone. Dead."

"Consider it done."

"Don't kill him yourself," Dad added. "Louis deserves that chance. And take care of Ben."

"Twenty warriors with us," Dad continued. "We'll search for Louis and his family."

Dad looked at me. "You and Lawrence should rest. We leave at dawn. Your mother isn't here to give you energy. So rest."

I nodded, though sleep seemed impossible with Maddie out there, scared, possibly hurt.

In my tent, I collapsed onto the cot. As my eyes closed, Maddie's face appeared in my mind – beautiful, curious, kind.

*I'm here now. I'm in France. I'm closer to you.*

Just before sleep claimed me, I felt it – a whisper of connection. She was alive. I would find her.

---

"Another Alpha called," Dad said next morning. "Louis and his family might be hiding near his territory."

"Why not shelter them openly?" Lawrence asked.

"Fear. After seeing this pack fall, he feared being next. But he contacted our warriors to help."

"Let's go," I grabbed my pack. "We need to find them before the rogues do."

"There's more," Dad said. "Rumors about why the rogue leader wants Maddie specifically. A special ability in Louis's family gives us a motive."

My hands tightened. "I don't care why. I just need to find her."

"Atlas—"

"Sorry," I breathed. "Didn't mean to snap."

Dad clasped my shoulder. "Come on, let's go find your mate."

We shifted – Dad, Lawrence, me, twenty warriors – and ran through the forest. Scents flooded my wolf nose – pine, earth, animals scurrying away. I focused only on finding Maddie.

Hours passed as we crossed streams and outcroppings. Slowly, I felt it – a tug, a warmth. She was ahead. Not moving. Resting.

*Can you feel her?* I asked Luke.

*Yes. She grows stronger. Close.*

The connection strengthened with each mile, like a thread between us. She was real. Alive. Waiting, even if she didn't know it.

Suddenly, a sour scent stung my nostrils. Rogues. Dad caught it too, signaling us to hide. We crouched behind dense undergrowth, watching as a large group of rogues appeared, led by a muscular wolf with a scar across his muzzle.

A female – a human witch – was dragged before the leader. "Where are they?" he demanded after shifting.

"I'm not certain of their exact location," she answered, trembling. "But I feel the female wolf's power. Oh, it's strong."

My ears pricked. A witch. Could she sense us? I pressed lower to the ground.

"Good," the rogue leader growled. "Search this area. I'll check the pack territory myself. No Alpha would dare harbor them now. They know I'll make them disappear."

I recognized him – the bastard who caused all this. Everything in me wanted to rip out his throat, but Dad's silent command kept me in place.

The witch glanced toward our hiding spot, whispering something under her breath. I felt... something friendly happen.

*'The witch cast a protection spell, hiding our scent,'* Dad's mind-link command came. *'Whatever happens, no one harms her.'*

After they passed, Dad ordered us to split into three groups – him, Lawrence, and me leading each with warriors – and maintain mind-links. I moved carefully through the forest, every sense alert – scents, sounds, footfalls.

Dad and Lawrence reported rogues through mind-link, but no sign of their leader. I felt Maddie close now, but couldn't pinpoint where.

Then it hit me – clear as day, I felt Maddie's presence in my mind, as if I could touch her.

*Help, I know you're here, I can feel you, I've felt you for days. If you can hear me. He's here. He found us. Please save us.*

I answered immediately: *I'm coming. I'm on my way.*

Through the trees, I spotted a run-down cabin surrounded by rogues. My heart stopped.

I didn't care what ability she had or why rogues wanted her. Only that she was safe. Luke agreed, both focused on one goal.

*I'm coming, Maddie.*

I pushed harder, hope rising with each stride.