Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Sunlight and Shadows

**Phoebe’s Perspective**

A strange, unfamiliar ache nestled between my thighs stirred me from a deep sleep. The sensation was new—an odd soreness I couldn’t immediately place. Instinctively, I curled closer to the warmth beside me.

-Perry.

But something felt off. The sheets beneath me were unfamiliar, and the position of the bed seemed wrong. My eyelids fluttered open slowly, taking in the room around me. This was not my palace bedroom. The space was dominated by stark white walls and simple furnishings, nothing like the ornate chambers I was used to.

Sunlight poured in through a nearby window, casting golden beams onto a small wooden table beneath it. Dust motes floated lazily in the warm light, creating a serene, almost magical atmosphere. For a brief moment, I let myself be captivated by the quiet beauty of the morning.

Then reality crashed back in.

This had to be the Blood Moon pack house. We had traveled here yesterday, though the details of how I ended up here now escaped me completely.

I lifted my gaze to Perry, who lay beside me, still asleep. His lips were gently pressed against my hair, his arms wrapped protectively around my body. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, savoring his scent. Without the advantage of shifter senses, I could only pick up his unique aroma when we were this close, but it was enough to calm the rapid beating of my heart.

We were mates. That bond was growing stronger with each passing day. Despite the sting of his initial coldness toward me, I refused to dwell on old wounds. Instead, I wanted to focus on building something new and better between us.

The sticky sensation between my legs finally registered. Tentatively, I reached down to investigate, and as I did, memories of last night flooded back in a rush. A blush crept over my cheeks as I recalled how I had initiated everything. Looking down, I spotted several dark hickeys Perry had left on my skin.

We hadn’t stopped after my second climax. Honestly, I’d lost track of how many times we’d gone at it before exhaustion finally claimed me.

I glanced at Perry’s flawless skin and winced inwardly. His healing abilities were a blessing—he wouldn’t carry any visible marks from our lovemaking, unlike me.

Biting my lip, I carefully disentangled myself from his embrace. I needed to check the bathroom mirror to assess the damage properly.

But the moment I sat up, a wave of nausea hit me like a freight train. I scrambled out of bed and hurried to the nearest door, silently praying it led to a bathroom. Thankfully, it did.

I barely made it to the toilet before retching violently. When the worst passed, I flushed and steadied myself on trembling legs.

A full-length mirror hung on the wall opposite me. My reflection showed a trail of hickeys stretching from my chest down to my stomach and wrapping around to my back.

At least Perry had spared my neck. That would have made choosing appropriate clothing for the meeting with the alpha and others today nearly impossible.

I traced the marks absently with my fingers, memories stirring as I recalled how disgusted I’d felt when Kevin had left similar bruises on me. Now, strangely, I felt… indifferent.

Was that normal?

—

“Alpha, please… can I leave?” Dani’s voice cracked with desperation as she pleaded with Kevin. She had been trapped in his bedroom for over a week now, and he refused to set her free.

The second outlined their advancing plan—their men had infiltrated the palace and surrounded it with enough warriors to launch a surprise attack.

Kevin’s pleased expression faltered as he read that the king showed no signs of poisoning.

“Hmm. Time to increase the dose,” he muttered, stroking his chin thoughtfully before heading to his study to order an acceleration of their timeline against the king.

—

**Phoebe’s Perspective**

I shifted uncomfortably in my chair, acutely aware of the ten pairs of eyes discreetly watching me as they discussed war strategies with Perry.

They were pressuring him to stick with the original plan: conquer the kingdom and unite all seven under his rule.

Timothy voiced his disagreement. “It’s going to take forever to pull that off.”

“Plus, we’d need countless warriors willing to fight,” he added, narrowing his eyes at Alpha Phil, who seemed eager to plunge into massive warfare.

Perry remained silent, observing me as I focused intently on my food. He seemed curious whether my appetite had returned, given how carefully I picked at the meat on my plate.

“That won’t be an issue,” Alpha Phil insisted confidently. “If the king leads personally, loyal warriors will follow—especially those devoted to him.” He leaned forward, his eyes burning with determination. “I’ll fight myself if I have to.”