Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 176

Claw

Phoebe’s POV

Elder Augustus was clearly not pleased about having to relent, but circumstances left him no alternative. Persisting in his harassment would only tarnish his reputation further.

With a dismissive flick of his wrist, he gestured for one of the senior warriors to come forward and bring me up to speed on the dire situation unfolding around us.

The news struck me like a physical blow, knocking the wind from my lungs. A formidable battalion of Valerium warriors had breached our borders and was currently advancing toward the capital. Our scouts had spotted their movements and sent urgent word back to us.

By this point, the clash of battle had likely already begun.

The real concern? We were severely outnumbered. The majority of our fighters were occupied in the southern conflict, and reinforcements from neighboring packs wouldn’t reach us for at least another half day.

I hastily jotted down my assessment: [So we need to hold them off for half a day until backup arrives.]

“Pretty much, yeah,” the senior warrior confirmed, his tone clipped.

I quickly wrote another note: How long can our current forces maintain the defense outside the city?

Their astonishment at my swift comprehension of the situation felt almost like an insult. This was hardly a complex puzzle—it was the most straightforward question to pose.

Perhaps I was sharper than I had given myself credit for, or maybe these warriors had simply underestimated my capabilities.

I had more inquiries to address before I could devise a solid plan. Those strategy sessions with Perry before his departure were proving invaluable now.

This time, the senior warrior was eager to share every detail, clearly wanting me to grasp the full scope of the situation.

It was evident to me that the elders had presented me in an unfavorable light. They seemed to appreciate my written communication; everyone was desperate for a solution, and a minor inconvenience was trivial compared to the hardships they had already endured throughout this war.

“Four hours, maybe six at most,” he estimated, his voice steady but laced with tension.

I shifted closer to the expansive map laid out on the massive table, the warriors stepping back to grant me room.

I pointed to the mountain adjacent to the fortress.

“That’s Mountain Den,” the senior warrior explained, his finger tracing the outline of the terrain.

I quickly scribbled: [I have an idea.]

I pushed through the barricades alongside my warriors, cutting through Sunstone Creek and liberating the prisoners that the Valerium forces had captured. Their alpha was already dead—decapitated.

Before we could delve too deeply into the mountains, a deafening explosion reverberated through the area. The sound was so intense that it left our ears ringing, a sharp reminder of the chaos surrounding us.

“What the hell was that?!” Timothy attempted to reach out through the mindlink, but he could only sense the warriors in his group heading to one of the exit points.

I was still alive—he would know if something had happened to me. The loyalty bond we shared worked both ways, a comfort amidst the turmoil.

“Find out what happened,” I ordered one of my warriors sharply.

He veered off to investigate while the rest of us pressed onward, confident he could track us by scent later.

Half an hour later, he returned with news that struck like a dagger to my heart.

“It was a bomb, Your Majesty. They blew the passages. The warriors who went in… they’re buried under the rubble.” His face was a mask of grief—these were his brothers-in-arms.

“Survivors?” I inquired, though deep down, I already feared the answer.

“None found yet.”

“Damn cowards!” The fury ignited within me, burning hot in my chest. We had lost valiant men to this treacherous act.