Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 134

134 Chapter 134 The King’s Burning

Touch

Timothy had managed to claim half of the Obsidian Claw pack’s territory, a hard-fought victory that brought a brief sense of triumph. Yet, pushing forward any further meant waiting for reinforcements to arrive. The battle was far from over.

His forces had successfully eliminated Darius, the gamma of the Obsidian Claw pack, but the opportunity to take down both Reginald and the alpha, Sterling, had slipped away. Just as they were closing in, reinforcements from the Crimson Fang pack appeared, turning the tide and forcing Timothy’s men to retreat.

A sharp frustration gnawed at Timothy’s nerves. The locals knew every inch of the land—the rocks, the trees, the hidden paths—better than his warriors ever could. They melted into the shadows, striking swiftly before disappearing again. Their hit-and-run tactics weren’t lethal, but they were maddeningly effective.

“The reinforcements have arrived, royal gamma Timothy,” Turner reported, his voice steady but urgent.

Timothy gave a curt nod, his eyes flicking up to the blazing sun overhead. The heat pressed down on them like a weight, relentless and unforgiving.

At that moment, a thought struck him sharply—this was exactly the time Perry would be suffering through his fever flare. He wondered how the king was holding up under such brutal conditions.

Still, Timothy found a small measure of comfort in the silence coming from the palace. No news was good news, he reasoned. Perry must be managing well enough. Besides, elder Tricia was there to help, even if Flynn was absent.

“Let’s move out,” Timothy ordered Turner, steeling himself for the next phase.

—

Phoebe’s POV

“Don’t worry—this means the fever is finally breaking,” Marcela said softly, trying to reassure me. “The king’s condition should improve soon.”

Fever was a rare and dangerous occurrence among shifters, and when it struck, our bodies reacted in ways humans couldn’t understand.

“Add more blankets, let him sweat it out,” Marcela instructed, her tone calm but firm. I obeyed without hesitation.

She offered to have someone else watch over Perry, suggesting Lynn or Rosa, but I refused outright. I wanted to be the one there for him. Besides, I worried about the safety of those girls—Perry’s temper was volatile, especially now.

Earlier, when an omega had come to bring food, Perry had exploded in rage, nearly throwing a flower vase at her. It was frightening, and I wasn’t about to risk anyone else getting caught in his fury.

Outside the room, elder Tricia spun stories about the king spending quiet, quality time with his mate. She claimed it was necessary for us to decompress from the constant war debates. Naturally, the gossip stirred controversy, but it was better than letting people think their leader was weak and ill.

“In that case, I’ll leave the king in your care. I’ll check back in four hours,” Marcela announced, clearly eager to leave. Perry looked like he might kill her if she stayed even a moment longer.

Marcela’s frequent visits didn’t raise suspicion, since everyone knew we were close friends.

Once she left, it was just Perry and me.

My eyes widened as Perry ‘attacked’ my neck with his mouth, igniting a fire deep inside me. I should have pushed him away, but it had been so long since I’d felt his touch.

Embarrassingly, I realized I had missed him. The mate bond was to blame for these treacherous feelings.

My breath grew heavy as Perry’s tongue traced the hollow of my throat, moving along my collarbones. I could feel the wetness growing between my legs, and though I still struggled to fully accept him, I couldn’t deny the craving burning inside me.

There was something almost magical about a mate’s touch, something that coursed through my veins as Perry’s lips explored my skin. I wanted nothing more than for him to keep going.

I bit my lip, trying to quell the tension rising within me, but how foolish to think that would help—it didn’t.

Before I knew it, I was moving my hips, grinding shamelessly against him after moments of trying to push him away.

As if reading my mind, Perry lifted my right leg, positioning himself so I could feel him fully.

A sharp breath escaped me when I felt the weight of him pressing against my core. I wanted him—wanted him inside me.

It was wrong, but my thoughts were clouded as Perry tugged down the hem of my dress and captured my nipple between his teeth. He bit down gently, then licked the spot to soothe the sting.

The heat between us was undeniable, and even as I struggled with my emotions, I couldn’t resist the pull of his touch.