The Human Girl Who Tamed Alpha King Chapter 279

ATLAS

I had no time to wonder. Rogues charged, and I tore through them, searching for Magnus.

Then I spotted him near our pack house with a witch beside him.

"Whatever ancient ritual you're using won't work," I called, shifting back to human form.

Magnus smiled coldly. "But it's already working. Continue, Tara."

Dark magic hit me like a physical blow, throwing me backward. I charged at Magnus, colliding with him violently. We rolled across the ground, my claws at his throat.

Victory was within reach when black energy wrapped around me. I couldn't breathe. Couldn't move.

I fell to my knees, losing my grip on Magnus. The magic pressed against my mind.

*Atlas!* Dad's voice in my head. *Something's wrong!*

I reached for Maddie through our bond—but found nothing. Empty space where her warmth should be.

*Maddie?* Panic consumed me. *MADDIE?*

Our bond was gone. The witch had severed our connection.

The darkness pushed deeper into my mind. I felt our soul bond fading in my chest, memories of Maddie growing dimmer with each second.

*Don't give up,* her voice suddenly broke through. *Don't you dare give up your wolf.*

I gathered what strength remained and screamed her name with everything I had.

"MADDIE!"

MADDIE

Something was wrong. Terribly wrong.

Atlas and I had a perfect plan. He promised to keep our mind link open so I'd know he was safe. But now... darkness was swallowing him.

I sat on the safe room floor, eyes closed, desperately reaching for him. Our connection faded with each second. Something ancient and evil—a magic I'd never encountered—was pulling him away from me.

*Atlas? Atlas!* My thoughts screamed into the void where his consciousness should be.

Nothing. Just emptiness and a distant echo of pain.

"No," I whispered, my eyes snapping open. "No, no, no."

I jumped to my feet, startling Aria who sat nearby comforting one of the younger wolves.

"Maddie?" She turned to me, concern etching her features.

"Something's happening to Atlas. Dark magic. I can barely feel him anymore." My voice trembled as panic clawed at my chest. "I have to go."

I rushed toward the door, my heart hammering against my ribs. This couldn't be happening. He couldn't die. I wouldn't let them use him for their blood ritual.

Aria's hand caught my arm before I could reach the exit. "You can't go out there! You'll be hurt."

I yanked my arm free, whirling to face her. "He's dying! I can feel it!" Tears burned my eyes as I fought to keep my voice from breaking. "They're killing him, and I won't sit here and do nothing!"

"Maddie—"

"No!" I shouted, rage and fear colliding inside me. "I won't let them take him from me. I won't!"

Desperation made my voice raw. "I have to go. I know I have to."

Aria's eyes searched mine. Then she glanced over at Greta Wildflower who sat quietly in the corner. The elder woman gave a slow, deliberate nod.

"Please," I whispered, my voice breaking at last.

Aria released my arm and stepped back. She pressed her thumb against the lock mechanism on the shield, and the door slid open with a soft hiss.

"Save him," she said quietly.

I didn't wait for another word.I bolted through the door and into the ancient stone tunnel beyond. My footsteps echoed as I ran, following the faint thread of connection still linking me to Atlas. The castle corridors were deserted as I sprinted through the grand hall toward the main doors.

Outside, chaos reigned. The sounds of battle—growls, screams, clashing weapons—filled the air. I oriented myself quickly, knowing Atlas had positioned himself on the eastern ridge. That's where I needed to go.

I ran faster than I ever had, dodging through trees, staying in shadows to avoid detection. The faint pulse of Atlas's consciousness guided me like a beacon. Each step brought me closer to the eastern ridge where I knew he'd be.

When I finally spotted him, my heart nearly stopped.

He stood alone, surrounded by a swirling cloud of black... something. It wasn't smoke or dust—it was darker, alive somehow. My heart dropped when I saw he wasn't in his primal wolf form anymore. Black veins crawled up his arms, spreading toward his heart—the telltale sign of ancient blood magic.

*Let go completely. Save them.* Lily's voice whispered in my mind.

I didn't know what she meant, but I trusted my wolf. I closed my eyes and reached for the natural power around me. I'd never taken from nature before—only given back. Now I needed its help.

The rouge king and Tara were focused on Atlas, ignoring me. I drew power from everything living around me. Moon Light Lake's energy flowed into me willingly. It felt incredible—stronger than anything I'd ever channeled.

Then I let it explode outward.

A deep green light erupted from my body, forming a shield that rippled with energy. The power surge threw both the rouge king and Tara backward several feet. They looked stunned, then furious. Tara started firing her magic at me, but the green shield blocked every attack.

The black magic still clung to Atlas. I ran to him, pushing through the darkness that tried to repel me.

"Maddie." Atlas gasped my name, his eyes finding mine as he struggled for strength.

"It's okay," I told him, not looking at him directly. I needed to focus on holding the shield while the darkness battered against it.

I heard Tara scream with rage. The black magic hammered harder against my defenses. My arms trembled with the effort of maintaining the shield.

"Now I really need Mom," Atlas said, trying to joke despite the pain.

Before I could respond, I heard Lawrence's voice, and Marcus's, and countless others. Everyone was shouting, but I could only catch fragments. The only voice that came through clearly was Lily's.

*He's dying.* Her words cut through me like a blade.

I looked at Atlas and saw him crumple to the ground. The shield protected us from outside attacks, but the black magic had already invaded his body, killing him from within. I couldn't stop it. I didn't know how.

"Atlas!" I screamed, dropping to my knees beside him. "Atlas, please. Fight it."

The voices around us grew louder. I caught glimpses of Jace and Aria's mind-link conversation through my connection with Atlas.

*I need to use soul healing,* Aria's voice said.

*I know the price,* Jace replied, his thoughts filled with fear and acceptance.

*I love you,* she told him.

*I will love you forever,* he answered.

Suddenly Aria was inside my shield, kneeling next to Atlas. A brilliant white light began to intertwine with my green energy. Soul healing—the power from Aria's shaman bloodline.

"Live, my son," she whispered. "This life is yours. Live. Then come back."

The light grew so bright I had to shield my eyes. When it faded, I felt a strong hand grip mine. Atlas's mind reconnected with mine so suddenly it left me breathless.