Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 4

Phoebe’s Perspective

I was utterly bewildered, unable to grasp the cruel twist fate had dealt me. It felt as if the universe itself was mocking my misery—or perhaps the Moon Goddess held a deep grudge against me. Out of all the possible souls I could have been bound to, she had chosen him. The man who had made my existence a living nightmare. The one who had bruised me physically and shattered my dignity, turning the entire pack against me. Kevin.

That intoxicating scent, thick and compelling, filled the air around him. It tugged relentlessly at the very core of my being, setting my heart pounding uncontrollably. The magnetic pull drawing my trembling body closer wasn’t the result of exhaustion or a trick of the mind—it was destiny. My wolf had recognized him as my mate.

“No…” The word escaped me, barely more than a breath, soaked in disbelief. My knees gave way beneath me, and I collapsed onto the cold floor, every muscle screaming in pain. The fiery agony of my first shift was already tearing through me, but this—this emotional devastation was far worse. It felt like a knife twisting deep inside my chest.

“This can’t be happening,” I gasped, clutching my heart as waves of torment washed over me.

Kevin’s voice cut sharply through the stunned silence, harsh and raw. “I refuse this!” he bellowed, his fists clenching tightly at his sides. His eyes, usually so cold and calculating, now blazed with something primal—disgust, fear, and panic all mixed into one. He understood the meaning of the scent, the bond that had formed, and he despised it with every fiber of his being.

The room fell into an oppressive stillness. Alpha Sterling, Kevin’s father, stood rigid behind his desk, his expression dark and thunderous. Opposite him was Alpha Theodore of the Crimson Fang pack, a towering figure who remained silent but watchful. Near the doorway, my father, Beta Cameron, lingered, disbelief etched deeply across his face.

They had all gathered to discuss the border incident from the previous night, but my unexpected arrival shattered their focus. Now, every pair of eyes was fixed on me—the broken girl kneeling on the floor, shaking uncontrollably as her bones shifted beneath her skin.

Time seemed to stretch endlessly. No one moved. The silence was suffocating, heavy with unspoken emotions. When the truth finally settled in, shock rippled through the room, especially among the members of the Obsidian Claw pack.

Kevin Obsidian Claw’s fated mate was me.

The irony was cruel beyond words. My stepsister, Viola, had once been his beloved, until she ran away with her true mate. Kevin had blamed me ever since, making me the target of his bitterness and anger. And now, fate had cruelly entwined our lives in the most painful way imaginable.

Kevin’s face contorted, his humiliation twisting into a fierce anger. “No,” he hissed, his voice low and venomous. “I won’t accept this. Never.”

Then, before everyone, he cast his rejection like a death sentence.

“I, Kevin of Obsidian Claw, reject you as my mate,” he declared, his voice booming against the cold stone walls. “May our bond be severed forever!”

A murmur spread through the room—shock, disbelief, perhaps even pity—but I barely registered it.

I forced myself to lift my head, my vision blurring as tears welled up uncontrollably. I should have seen this coming. Of course he would reject me. Kevin had never been capable of love, especially not for me.

“I accept your rejection,” I whispered, my voice hoarse and fragile, the words scraping painfully as they left my throat.

Then the true agony struck.

It wasn’t just emotional—it was physical and unbearable, as though my heart was being torn apart from the inside out. The torment of rejection merged with the violent pain of my first shift, creating a storm of suffering that consumed everything. My body convulsed, the room darkened, and I felt myself slipping away.

The last image I saw was my father’s face, eyes wide with shock as he lunged toward me. For a fleeting moment, I wondered if he was worried—or simply angry that I had interrupted their precious meeting. Then darkness engulfed me completely.

***

When consciousness finally returned, I found myself lying in my small room within the omega quarters. The weak light filtering through the tiny window cast dull gray shadows on the walls. My father sat beside my bed, his face worn and tired, etched with lines of worry.

“How are you feeling?” he asked quietly, his voice unusually soft—almost subdued.

The memories crashed back in waves—the rejection, the searing pain, the humiliation. My stomach churned, and I instinctively recoiled when he reached out toward me.

“What are you doing here?” I asked sharply, my tone cold and distant.

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