Phoebe’s POV
I couldn’t make sense of my emotions. Conflicted feelings churned through as I prepared to abandon the Obsidian Claw pack. This was supposed to be what I craved. I’d spent years yearning for the mont when I’d never have to face the people I despised.
Yet, even in my most desperate fantasies, I never pictured leaving like this. Second mates were practically mythical—nobody even talked about them happening.
What made it worse was that my second mate happened to be the Mad King. The universe had a twisted sense of humor.
"So, you’re really going?"
I glanced up to find my father lingering in the doorway, arms folded across his chest. Not from arrogance, but from unease. His forehead wrinkled as he struggled to find words.
I kept stuffing my few possessions into my bag, pretending he didn’t exist. Everything I owned could squeeze into a single backpack.
"You need to reject him," Caron declared, his tone rigid like he was barely containing sothing explosive.
I continued ignoring him, acting like the room was empty. But I knew this tactic had limits—my father’s patience had always been paper-thin when it ca to being dismissed.
Sure enough, I was right.
Within monts, Caron stord across the space and seized my arm, yanking around to force eye contact. The lines on his face deepened.
"Reject him. You can’t seriously want to leave with him." His voice stretched tight. He ground his teeth together, his fingers digging into my skin.
I didn’t even flinch. This wasn’t my first rodeo with pain. I’d grown accustod to being hurt.
I remained silent, letting my father grip my arm, letting him cause pain. Nothing unusual here.
When Caron realized how stubborn I was being, his anger erupted. He lifted his hand, preparing to strike across the face.
But I t his gaze directly, seeing what was coming, and I didn’t even blink. I was ready to take it, which made Caron freeze mid-swing as sothing cold settled in his bones.
"What the hell is wrong with you?!" Caron exploded. "You think your life gets better with that Mad King?" He practically whispered the title "Mad King," still paranoid that soone might overhear and report him.
"Anywhere beats here," I replied icily.
This marked our first real conversation in months. Caron had never bothered checking on , though I hadn’t expected him to either.
We only crossed paths in common areas since, as the forr alpha’s beta, he frequented the pack house. But that never ant he’d pause to see how his daughter was doing.
"Don’t be stupid! You have no clue what you’re getting into!"
I went quiet again, simply staring at my father while ignoring the throbbing in my arm where his grip was cutting off circulation.
When I didn’t respond, Caron launched into his speech.
"That man embodies pure insanity. He slaughtered the entire royal family out of greed for power. You think he’ll treasure you and let you live long?"
I was aware of that. The thought of the Mad King killing for any mistake terrified , but staying here ant Kevin would destroy slowly.
I couldn’t stomach the idea of his hands on anymore. That would finish off before they ever buried my body.
"He’s going to murder you." Caron grew more frustrated when I didn’t react the way he wanted.
"Death doesn’t scare . I’d embrace it gladly." I lifted my chin. "Don’t you get it? I’m already dead. All of you killed . I’ve died over and over."
"What garbage are you spouting?" It occurred to Caron that maybe his daughter had lost her mind too. Could madness be contagious from the alpha?
"I died inside every ti Kevin put his hands on . I died inside every ti they treated worse than a slave. I died inside when you stopped being my father, ignoring , doing nothing when you knew he was raping !"
Caron’s eyes went wide, his jaw locking tight. "You wanted it."
"I wanted it?" I narrowed my eyes. "I wanted him to rape ?"
"Don’t use such crude language. You desired Kevin, didn’t you? You even tried to seduce your stepbrother," Caron said with revulsion.
"And you buy that story. You still believe it even after I told you he ca after and tried to force himself on ."
"He’s my son, naturally I believe him." His voice hardened until it sounded strained.
Caron always stressed that Reginald was his son, despite no blood connection, and I figured it was because he desperately wanted an heir.
Soone to carry on his legacy.
The realization made my resentnt burn hotter, knowing I’d failed him by being born female.
"What about ? I’m your daughter. Don’t I count as your child?" I wrenched my hand free from his loosened grip, then added, "I forgot. You don’t consider your child anymore."
After saying that, I didn’t linger. I bolted from the bedroom straight to the main garden, where the royal beta had instructed to wait.
I gripped my backpack tightly while my father watched from a distance. I had no idea what expression he wore right now, and I didn’t want to find out.
"Get in," one of the warriors commanded, pulling open the car door for .
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