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.

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