Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 17

I struggled to understand the storm of emotions swirling inside me. My chest felt constricted, and my thoughts whirled uncontrollably as I folded the few belongings I owned into a small bundle. Leaving the Obsidian Claw pack had always been my ultimate dream, a vision of freedom I had cherished for years. But this was not how I had imagined it—not being ripped away by destiny and handed over to the one man everyone whispered about in fear.

The Moon Goddess had a cruel sense of irony. Second mates were supposed to be rare blessings, tokens of hope and new beginnings. Yet mine arrived in the form of the Mad King.

“So, you’re really going?” My father’s voice cut sharply through the fog of my thoughts.

Cameron stood framed in the doorway, arms crossed—not in a commanding way, but with a palpable tension etched across his face. Deep lines of worry furrowed his brow. I didn’t meet his gaze. Instead, I kept folding my clothes methodically, pretending he wasn’t there.

“You need to reject him,” he said, his voice rigid, laced with a panic he barely managed to conceal.

I chose silence. It was the only shield left that could still protect me.

But silence never lasted long when it came to Cameron.

He stormed into the room, his footsteps heavy, and grabbed my arm with an iron grip, forcing me to look at him. His face was tight with anger and something dangerously close to fear.

“Reject him. You can’t seriously mean to go with that man.” His fingers dug into my skin, but I didn’t flinch. Pain no longer frightened me.

When he realized I wouldn’t respond, his anger surged like a rising tide. His hand lifted, ready to strike, but froze midair when I met his eyes without blinking. That stillness unsettled him more than tears ever could.

“What’s wrong with you?” he demanded, lowering his hand reluctantly. “You think your life will improve with the Mad King?” He whispered the title as if uttering it aloud might summon some curse.

“Anywhere is better than here,” I said softly.

It was the first time we had spoken in months. The silence between us had grown so thick that his voice now felt like an intrusion into a fragile bubble I had built around myself.

“Don’t be foolish! You have no idea what he’s capable of!” Cameron snapped. “That man killed his own blood for power. He’s unstable—he’ll destroy you.”

I didn’t bother answering. I simply stared at him, my expression blank. The pain in my arm throbbed steadily, but I refused to pull away.

“You’re walking straight to your death!” he shouted.

“I’m not afraid of death,” I replied, my voice cold and steady. “I’d welcome it.”

That stopped him.

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