Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 35

Breathe. Just breathe.

Those words echoed in my mind like a futile mantra—soft, desperate, and utterly powerless against the tempest raging within me. The moment my eyes locked onto him, my heart began to race uncontrollably. A whirlwind of terror and longing intertwined, making it impossible for me to distinguish one from the other. The mate bond was relentless in its grip; it tethered me to the very man who had shattered my world.

“Why did you hurt yourself?”

Perry stood just a few feet away, his presence suffocating the space between us. He was close enough that I could feel the heat radiating from him, yet far enough that I could not mistake this moment for anything resembling tenderness. His gaze fell upon the bandaged hand resting in my lap, and for a fleeting instant, I thought I detected a flicker of something—perhaps remorse—cross his features.

He had always reveled in the sight of others trembling in his presence. But my fear… it didn’t seem to satisfy him. Instead, it pained him, and that realization twisted the knife deeper into my heart.

“Answer me,” he demanded, his voice low and laced with danger. “Why did you hurt yourself?”

The sound of his anger slithered down my spine, sending shivers coursing through me. My throat felt dry, as if all moisture had been stripped away. I averted my gaze to my wrapped fingers, unable to bear the weight of his stare.

“I… hit the mirror by accident,” I managed to whisper, the words sounding hollow even to my own ears. I knew Helen hadn’t believed my excuse; Perry certainly wouldn’t either.

He took a step closer, his eyes darkening with intensity. “Don’t lie to me.” The growl that escaped his lips was more beast than man, sending a fresh wave of fear crashing over me.

“I—” The word lodged itself in my throat, refusing to emerge. My voice, the first casualty of my fear, remained silent.

An oppressive silence enveloped us, thickening the air and feeding his growing fury.

“Damn it, Phoebe.” He cursed under his breath, pacing like a predator held back by its own instincts. His temper was at war with something softer, something he struggled to name. Then, in a single, unexpected motion that rendered me utterly still, he sank to his knees before me.

A king, humbled.

For anyone else, such an act would have been unfathomable. But there he was—level with me. The world around us shifted, tilting on its axis.

I slowly lifted my head, inch by inch, until our eyes finally met. In that moment, I no longer felt like prey.

“What happened?” His voice softened, raw and vulnerable, as if he were gripping a live blade. “Tell me the truth.”

I opened my mouth, but only tears spilled forth.

He sighed, the sound more akin to a growl of frustration than anything else. “Are you crying because you want to die? Is that what this is? Do you want me to send you back to that bastard alpha?”

I shook my head vigorously, my vision blurring with unshed tears.

“I’ll never send you back there,” he snapped, his tone sharp. “You’ll rot here with me before that ever happens.” Even kneeling, his authority filled the room, suffocating me with its weight. “Do you understand?”

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