Phoebe’s POV
"What do you an you’re going to handle this?"
I stared at Reginald with growing suspicion, unable to read the thoughts behind his stoic expression. His silence sent waves of dread through as I tried to decode what he was planning.
"You don’t need to worry. You can leave now."
Sothing twisted in my gut. Mason must have sensed it too—that suffocating feeling that sothing terrible was about to unfold. Though I had no proof to back up my fears, the certainty settled deep in my bones. "You won’t do anything bad to her, right? She’s a good person."
"Leave, Mason." Reginald’s voice turned sharp, cutting through the air with barely controlled impatience. "Leave before soone spots us and we end up with bigger problems."
We stood tucked away in the corner of the warriors’ quarters—a spot hidden from casual view but awkward as hell if anyone actually looked our way. This wasn’t exactly a normal eting place, unless you were trying to hide sothing.
"Okay, but please... don’t hurt her." The words tumbled out one last ti before I hurried away, spooked by the dangerous look that flickered across Reginald’s face when I kept pushing.
——
Once Mason disappeared around the corner, Reginald’s mind turned to the healer. No way in hell was he letting her live.
The mont she rembered that scent from Mason, their entire operation would crumble. He couldn’t risk everything on a maybe.
He rubbed his temples, muttering curses as he headed toward his room. Fucking extra work he didn’t need.
But ti was running out. No guarantee the healer wouldn’t spill everything to the royal beta if she pieced it together first.
Killing a healer was ssy business. Killing a royal beta? That was a whole different nightmare.
——
Phoebe’s POV
The orphanage visit had filled with pure joy, and I could tell Perry noticed.
As we stepped outside, little Upton shuffled up to , clutching the ball we’d played with earlier. His cheeks burned red as he thrust it toward .
"Thank you." I bead at him, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on his forehead. He bolted away imdiately—embarrassed but also intimidated when he caught sight of the king approaching with Alpha Phil and the other pack leaders.
"Happy?" Perry appeared beside , his eyes dropping to the ball in my hands. I caught him watching the sweet mont I’d shared with Upton.
"Yes. I’m happy." The smile felt natural on my face, and Perry nodded in response.
Back at the pack house, exhaustion hit like a wall once we reached our bedroom. I carefully tucked the ball into my suitcase, making sure I wouldn’t forget it when we returned to the palace.
"Will we visit the orphanage again?"
"Do you want to visit again?"
Perry watched pack the ball away. When happiness lit up from within, it showed—especially in my eyes.
"Um, yes... if you can fit it into your schedule." The words ca out hesitant, self-consciousness creeping in at his direct question.
"I can make room for it." His answer ca without hesitation, no second-guessing. Once he said it, he ant it.
The idea of disappointing clearly didn’t sit right with him.
"Thank you."
His hands cupped my face, and that familiar shyness washed over again.
"You don’t need to thank . Once we’re back, we’ll hold the ceremony to crown you queen."
He’d been putting this off indefinitely, unwilling to place on the throne while I still carried thoughts of another man in my heart.
He’d also been uncertain how to navigate our relationship, but lately things had shifted. Our bond had strengthened, grown deeper. He wanted ruling alongside him.
"The queen ceremony?" My eyes went wide.
"Yes, you’re my mate. You should expect this. What?" Sothing flickered in my expression that made his jaw tighten. "What’s going through your head? You don’t want it?"
I could feel his anger starting to build, though he fought to keep it contained.
"No, that’s not what I ant!" I rushed to explain before he misread my reaction again. "I thought..." My gaze dropped, unable to et his eyes. "I thought you would only use ."
"Use you?" His eyes narrowed as his thumbs traced my cheekbones. "What do you an?"
Tell him. Tell him. Tell him.
The voice in my head grew insistent, urging to finally speak the truth. Now, when I felt safe enough around him to find my voice. When that suffocating dread that used to silence had finally lifted.
"I..." I bit my lip, the words wanting to co but still so hard to form. "The rumors about ... they’re not true."
I swallowed hard, focusing on his neck instead of risking his expression.
Perry stayed silent, hands still cradling my face, letting speak at my own pace.
"I didn’t... I didn’t throw myself at him. He ca to ... every night." The mories of what Kevin had done crashed over , and I froze.
The overwhelming force of it all hit like a tidal wave.
I went sowhere else in my mind, not even noticing that the hands holding my face had started trembling. Perry was barely containing his rage.
"I never wanted him. I never wanted him... I rejected him the mont I knew he was my mate. I don’t want him." I shook my head as tears began falling. They landed warm on his hands. "I didn’t want him to touch ."
"What about the rumors..."
I forced myself to look up, eting his gaze directly. "They’re lies. I never wanted him to touch ."
More tears spilled from my eyes as fear crept in.
I recognized that look on his face—I’d seen it before.
"You don’t believe ."
It wasn’t a question. His lack of reaction told everything I needed to know. My mind jumped straight to the worst possibility.
"I do." He pulled against him.
Long ago, when he’d been trapped under his father’s cruelty, he’d stood exactly where I stood now. People had refused to believe him. Everyone chose his father’s version instead—the one that painted him as a monster.
He knew what it felt like when nobody trusted you. In the end, he’d beco the very monster his father had claid he was.
What a fucked up situation that had been.
"I believe you." His voice ca gentler this ti, and I finally let myself cry.
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