**Phoebe’s POV**
A strange ache between my thighs pulled from sleep. The soreness down there felt unfamiliar, though I couldn’t piece together what had happened. Instinctively, I pressed closer to the warmth beside —Perry.
Sothing felt off, though.
The sheets weren’t right, and the bed’s position seed wrong.
My eyes fluttered open, taking in my surroundings. This wasn’t my palace bedroom. White dominated this unfamiliar space.
Sunlight stread through the window, striking the table beneath it. Dust particles danced in the golden rays, creating an almost magical scene.
For a heartbeat, I lost myself in the beauty, until reality crashed back.
This had to be the Blood Moon pack house. We’d been traveling here yesterday.
But I couldn’t recall how I’d gotten from the car to this bed.
I tilted my head up, studying Perry as he slept. His lips rested against my hair, arms wrapped protectively around .
I closed my eyes, breathing in his scent. Without shifter abilities, I could only catch it when we were this close, but it was enough to settle my racing heart.
We were mates. The bond grew stronger each day. Though his initial treatnt still stung, I refused to dwell on past hurt when we could build sothing better.
The stickiness between my legs finally registered. When I reached down to investigate, mories of last night flooded back. Heat blazed across my cheeks.
I rembered initiating everything so clearly. Looking down, I spotted several hickeys Perry had left on my skin.
We hadn’t stopped after my second climax. Honestly, I’d lost count of how many rounds we’d gone before I passed out.
I examined Perry’s flawless skin and winced. I envied his healing abilities—at least he wouldn’t bear the obvious marks of our lovemaking.
Biting my lip, I carefully pulled away from him. I needed to check the bathroom mirror and assess the damage.
But the mont I sat up, nausea hit like a freight train. I scrambled from the bed, racing to the first door I spotted, praying it was the bathroom. Thank God I was right.
I retched into the toilet, gasping when it finally stopped. After flushing, I stood on shaky legs.
A full-length mirror hung on the wall. My reflection showed hickeys trailing from my chest down to my stomach and around to my back.
At least Perry had avoided my neck. That would’ve made choosing appropriate clothing for eting the alpha and others today nearly impossible.
I traced the marks on my skin, rembering how revolted I’d felt when Kevin had done similar things. Now, I felt... nothing particular.
Was that normal?
——
"Alpha, please... can I leave?" Dani’s voice cracked as she begged Kevin. She’d been trapped in his bedroom for over a week—he refused to let her go.
He’d visit, demand pleasure from her, but the suffocating silence was driving her insane.
As a shifter, she needed social contact. Being locked away like his personal toy was destroying her ntally.
"I’ll co back before you return," she promised desperately.
Kevin approached his naked captive, who sat on the bed with her hair strategically covering her breasts.
His slow steps and smile gave Dani hope that he might grant her small request.
"You’re not going anywhere, little wolf." Kevin grabbed her hair, yanking her head back to expose her throat. "I’ll never let anyone steal you away again, not even that bastard king."
Dani fought back tears, knowing exactly who he ant. His reality often twisted—he’d call her ’Phoebe’ during sex, especially when he climaxed.
Being a replacent hurt enough without having another woman’s na moaned in her ear during intimate monts.
"Understood?"
"Y-yes, alpha..." She gasped, trying to ease the burning pain in her scalp.
"Good." Satisfied, Kevin released her and headed for the door when a warrior knocked, reporting news from their palace spy.
Two warriors handed him letters from his planted informants.
The first revealed that the king had taken Phoebe to the Blood Moon pack for two weeks.
The second detailed their advancing plan—their n had infiltrated the palace, surrounding it with enough warriors for a surprise attack.
Kevin’s pleased expression faltered when he read that the king showed no signs of poisoning.
"Hmm. Ti to increase the dose." He stroked his chin, heading to his study to order an acceleration of their tiline against the king.
——
**Phoebe’s POV**
I fidgeted in my chair, acutely aware of the ten pairs of eyes stealing glances at throughout their war discussion with Perry.
They were pressuring him to stick with the original plan—conquer the kingdom and unite all seven under his rule.
Timothy disagreed. "It’ll take forever to accomplish that."
"Plus we’d need countless warriors willing to fight," he added, narrowing his eyes at Alpha Phil, who seed eager for massive warfare.
Perry stayed quiet, watching concentrate on my food. He seed curious whether my appetite had improved, given how intently I focused on the at.
"That won’t be an issue," Alpha Phil insisted. "If the king leads personally, loyal warriors will follow, especially his devoted ones." He leaned forward. "I’ll fight myself."
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