Marked By The Mad King Alpha (Phoebe and Perry) novel Chapter 75

Chapter 75: A Woman By His Side
Phoebe’s Perspective

I couldn’t help but notice the sharp glare Timothy shot at Alpha Phil. His jaw was clenched so tightly it looked like it might crack. The tension in the room was almost suffocating, thick enough to slice through with a blade. I knew Timothy was holding back words that could easily ignite a heated argument, but he was biting his tongue, trying to maintain control.

“My king, what’s your opinion on this matter?” Alpha Phil finally turned to Perry, who had remained silent since the conversation began. The alpha’s eyes kept flicking toward me, clearly puzzled by my presence. I could almost see the question forming in his mind: Why was I still here?

We had been sharing breakfast peacefully, but now the conversation had shifted to war strategies and grim realities. Perry should have politely asked me to leave, but instead, he instructed the servant to heap more food onto my plate. Maybe I should have taken the hint and excused myself, yet honestly, I was ravenous. Last night’s… activities had left me with an appetite I couldn’t ignore. Besides, I had always been a slow eater, a habit ingrained in me since childhood.

Growing up in the Obsidian Claw pack taught me to savor every bite, stretching out meals so my mind would believe I was full. It was a strange practice, but it helped stave off hunger for longer periods.

“My royal gamma makes a valid point,” Perry finally broke the silence. “There’s no need to rush into this conflict. If all goes according to plan, we’ll have the Valerium Kingdom under control by the end of next year. My senior warriors can manage the garrison; neither of us needs to be on the front lines.”

I caught Timothy fighting back a smirk, but he quickly composed himself and refocused on the discussion. The men spent several more minutes hashing out the details of the upcoming war before shifting their attention to the situation with the Crimson Moon pack.

“I have many women and children whose mates are currently fighting. The expenses are piling up, especially for families who have lost their men. They receive severance pay, but that’s a one-time thing—no ongoing support.”

They debated numbers, and I noticed the figures had increased since last year.

By this point, I had finished my meal, but a heavy drowsiness was creeping over me. I tried to stay alert by forming my own opinions about their discussion, but sitting there for hours was draining every ounce of energy.

Alpha Phil looked to be in his early forties, mostly bald, with a nose that dominated his face. He kept sneaking glances in my direction, and I could sense his discomfort, as if he was silently questioning why I was even present.

Honestly, I was wondering the same thing.

When the meeting finally wrapped up, it was already lunchtime, so we ate again. My back was aching from sitting for so long, but glancing around, no one else seemed to mind the marathon session.

After lunch, Perry and Timothy decided to visit families who had lost loved ones in the war. Perry wanted to see firsthand what Alpha Phil truly needed to support everyone affected.

Timothy was pushing hard for this visit. He and the royal beta were running some sort of covert campaign to improve the king’s reputation, to show the people a different side of him.

Having me along might help soften his image—a woman by his side, after all.

So, after finishing our meal, we headed toward the village on the northern edge of Crimson Moon pack territory. Our first stop was the orphanage.

Perry couldn’t meet every family, so he was starting with the youngest victims of the war.

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