Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 147

The chapter begins with Phoebe standing in the heart of the forest, a whirlwind of emotions swirling within her—fear, embarrassment, and a flicker of curiosity. Beside her, Perry’s laughter rang out, a deep sound that seemed to reverberate through the trees, causing even the wild wolves to pause, their instincts momentarily muted by his commanding presence. The sight of my own frightened reflection in his eyes made my cheeks burn with humiliation. How could these fierce creatures, known for their predatory nature, feel intimidated by him? If they were wary, what hope did I have?

“Relax. I’m not going to let them make a meal out of you,” he said, his voice dropping to a husky whisper that sent a shiver racing down my spine. “I have something else planned for our little feast.”

A blush crept across my face, and I felt a rush of heat at the implications behind his words. My body reacted to his every syllable, a testament to the connection we shared, and I wished I could simply sink into the forest floor and vanish. When had I become so exposed, so vulnerable?

“They won’t harm you,” Perry reassured me, his tone steady, filled with a confidence that both comforted and unsettled me.

I tilted my head slightly, silently questioning how he could be so certain.

His gaze seemed to penetrate my thoughts, reading my doubts with an uncanny accuracy. “You’re my mate. They can sense it,” he declared, his assurance unwavering.

Yet his confidence did little to quell my apprehension. How could he be so sure when he had never experienced having a mate before? It wasn’t as if he had scientific data to back up his claims.

“The wolves have never attacked Timothy or Flynn because they recognize them as mine,” he explained, addressing the skepticism that lingered unspoken in my mind.

His ability to seemingly delve into my thoughts left me momentarily speechless, wondering if he could truly access the depths of my fears. Despite his words, the weight of my anxiety clung to me like a heavy fog. I pressed myself closer to him, my eyes darting nervously toward the wolves as they began to emerge from the shadows once more. They circled us with an elegance that was both mesmerizing and terrifying, prompting me to cling to him even tighter.

Perry remained utterly unfazed. With a calmness that astonished me, he extended his hand, inviting one of the wolves to approach. As the creature licked his fingers, panic surged through me; I felt an overwhelming urge to pull his hand back before those sharp teeth could find flesh.

“Give me your hand,” he said, glancing back at me while I pressed my face against his back, my heart racing. “Trust me. Let him smell you so he’ll remember your scent. He’s the alpha.”

My eyes widened in disbelief. The alpha? Didn’t that make this creature even more dangerous?

Yet, something in his expression ignited a flicker of courage within me.

With hesitant movements, I slowly extended my trembling hand. As the wolf’s muzzle drew near to my fingers, I instinctively recoiled. It was too terrifying!

Gently, Perry captured my hand, intertwining our fingers and placing mine beneath his protective grip. The wolf sniffed our joined hands, and my heart raced as warm breath brushed against my knuckles. When the creature’s tongue slid across our fingers, I nearly jumped out of my skin.

“Easy, easy,” he chuckled softly, his voice soothing. Gradually, he loosened his hold on my hand. “Now, try petting his head as a greeting. Just gentle touches. First impressions matter.”

I nearly rolled my eyes at that remark. My first impression of him had been entirely different, one that involved being marked the moment he realized what I meant to him. Rich coming from him!

He must have sensed my judgmental gaze. “Pet the head,” he prompted, his expression earnest.

Part of me wanted to give up right then and there. Being sniffed was more than enough—I was ready to retreat to the safety of the palace. But curiosity triumphed over my fear.

Steeling myself, I began to stroke the wolf’s head with slow, gentle movements.

Seeing my earlier tears had seemed to cleanse something deep within him as well. We were both striving to bridge the chasm that lay between us, yearning to believe in the mate bond that connected us, in the idea that we were truly destined for one another.

If we weren’t, then why did he feel so intensely about me? I knew the feeling was mutual.

I crouched beside him, accepting the meat and wiggling it enticingly to coax the three curious pups closer.

They were utterly adorable—tiny furballs waddling toward us with innocent curiosity. I longed to scoop them up and cuddle them, but the watchful presence of their massive parents kept me cautious.

I observed as the adult wolves encouraged their pups to take the offered food.

In that moment, a vision of having a family of my own filled my mind.

Children.

As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting a warm golden hue over the forest, I felt a shift within me. The laughter we shared, the gentle teasing, and the tentative trust I began to place in Perry all wove together like the threads of an intricate tapestry. The wolves, once fearsome and intimidating, now felt like guardians of a world I was slowly beginning to embrace. With each stroke of the pups’ soft fur, I realized that I was not just forging a connection with them but also with Perry, who stood steadfast beside me, guiding me through my fears. The bond we shared was blossoming, a fragile yet unbreakable thread that pulled me closer to him and to the life we could build together.

In that serene moment, surrounded by the laughter of wolves and the promise of new beginnings, I let myself dream of a future that included not only Perry but also the family I had never dared to imagine. The warmth of his hand in mine felt like a silent vow, a promise that together we could navigate the wild unknowns of our lives. With every heartbeat, I felt the hunger within me shift from fear to hope, igniting a spark that whispered of love, family, and a life filled with the kind of joy I had only glimpsed before. The forest, once a backdrop of uncertainty, now felt like the cradle of our shared destiny, and I was ready to step boldly into it, hand in hand with my mate.