The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 246

MADDIE

*We still need to tell them,* Lily said in my mind.

I sighed and flopped back on my bed, staring at the ceiling. My wolf had been pestering me about this for days now.

*I know, but what if he looks at me differently?* I rolled onto my side, hugging a pillow to my chest. *What if he thinks I'm dangerous?*

*He won't. He loves you. His wolf loves me.*

*I just really wish I could control this ability better before telling him. Then he could see it won't hurt anyone.* I closed my eyes, imagining Atlas's reaction. Would he be amazed? Scared? Would he see me as some kind of freak? The thought of him pulling away from me made my chest ache.

*You can't hide this forever,* Lily pressed. *Luke might already sense something different about me. Primal wolves are perceptive.*

*Give me time,* I pleaded. *Just a little more time to figure this out.*

*How about we go for a run?* Lily suggested. *It might clear your head.*

I perked up at that. A run sounded perfect. Maybe it would quiet my thoughts.

*You know, I lived here many years ago,* Lily said suddenly.

I sat up straight. "What? You never told me that."

*Yes, I was the fated mate of another king, but he was cruel. My human was an omega, so in the king's eyes, she wasn't worthy to be his mate. So he killed her.*

My heart pounded. "He killed your human? That's horrible!"

*It was a different time,* Lily said softly. *But Rocky says Atlas is different. His parents' meeting was similar to ours. He was raised to love his true mate, no matter what.*

I bit my lip. "But he rejected a mate at that ball. I saw it."

*That was different,* Lily explained. *That was a secondary bond, not a true mate bond like ours. He felt her first because her wolf connected with her human before we connected with you. And that girl was from people who once caused his family great pain. It strengthened his ability to reject her. Only after breaking that bond could he sense us.*

"Lucky for us, I guess." My stomach fluttered thinking about how close I came to never having Atlas at all.

*Very lucky,* Lily agreed.

I pushed myself off the bed. "Let's go for that run."

I found a spot deep in the forest and quickly stripped. The shift came easily now. Lily's fur was chestnut brown, with a birthmark on her right front leg that looked like a tree.

She had the ability to manipulate earth, to make things grow. It scared me sometimes, wondering if one day I'd have this power in my human form too.

We ran through the forest. Lily stopped occasionally to bring dead trees and flowers back to life. At the waterfall where Atlas had once seen me swimming, Lily made flowers bloom all around us.

I wished I could share this with him, but fear kept my secret locked inside.

Hours later, I shifted back and got dressed. On my way back, I passed the training grounds where tents had been set up for my father Louis's pack members before they moved to their new territory.

I heard crying. Following the sound, I found Gina sitting against a tree, her head buried in her arms.

"Gina?"

She jerked her head up, hastily wiping her tears. "Princess, I'm so sorry."

She looked worse than when we'd left—pale and exhausted, almost like Julie looked. Worry gnawed at me.

"What's wrong?" I asked, crouching beside her.

"I can't tell you. You wouldn't believe me. I don't believe it myself."

I sat down next to her. "Despite your history with Atlas, I don't hate you, Gina. I sense you're a good person."

She let out a hollow laugh. "Thank you."

"Whatever it is, you can tell me. I promise I won't judge."

She whispered something so quietly I almost missed it. "Your sister."

I thought she meant the shared pain of losing mates. "I know. I know you lost your mate too. You're stronger than my sister Julie. The grief and stress made her lose her baby."

"That's not why I'm panicking." Gina clutched her chest. "Princess, I felt the mate bond between me and your sister."

My jaw dropped. Julie's second chance was Gina? Holy shit.

**GINA**

Earlier today, I was helping Dr. Maya with the princess's sister Julie. I'd been surprised when I first met Atlas's mate. Maddie was kind—kinder than I deserved after my history with Atlas.

The moment I entered Julie's room, I felt it. That unmistakable pull, the bond I hadn't felt since David died nearly two years ago. A mate bond. With Julie.

I stared at her as she lay there, awake but distant. She hadn't spoken in over six months, Dr. Maya had told me. My heart broke seeing her like this. Her eyes were vacant, staring at nothing, her body thin and fragile. I wanted to reach out, to touch her face, to see if my touch might bring some spark back to those empty eyes.

"Gina? Are you alright?" Dr. Maya asked several times.

I nodded, not trusting my voice. I was careful not to touch Julie directly, afraid of what might happen if we touched skin to skin. Would she feel it too? Would it shock her out of her state? Or would it overwhelm her already fragile mind?

The moment Dr. Maya finished, I fled. I spent the day wandering, confused and frightened. How could this be happening? With another woman? With Atlas's mate's sister?

---

"You like women?" Maddie asked now, her voice gentle rather than judgmental.

I nodded. "Before I met my mate David, I liked both men and women. So yes, I had a girlfriend when I was younger."

Maddie's lips twitched into a small smile. "Mom and Dad don't know, but Julie had a girlfriend too. Before... everything happened."

"This is such a mess," I whispered, running my hands through my hair.

Maddie actually laughed. "Look, no one but us and Julie needs to know about your past with Atlas."

"I think most of his family and half the pack already know."

She shrugged. "Well, the Moon Goddess paired you with my sister for a reason. As long as you're good to her, you have my blessing."

I blinked, shocked by her easy acceptance. "You're not angry? Not disgusted?"

"By what? That you might make my sister happy? That the Moon Goddess gave her a second chance?" She shook her head. "Life's too short for that kind of thinking."

"Please call me Maddie," she said.

"I couldn't—"

"No titles between family."

Family. The word hit me hard. I hadn't had real family in so long.

"Come to the house tomorrow," Maddie said. "See Julie. Touch her, let her feel the bond. Maybe you can wake her up."

I nodded, gratitude overwhelming me. "Thank you. I will."

She surprised me with a hug before leaving. I cried again, but this time, they were tears of hope.