Chapter 142: Chapter 142 Proof in Blood and Flesh
Perry’s POV
Only the two of us occupied the throne room. I hadn’t summoned Alpha Tricia, and though he occasionally criticized my impulsive choices, he’d never openly defy me in front of others.
This left Alpha Wallace particularly rattled, facing me without any backup.
Now I demanded proof of his allegiance.
He’d nearly betrayed me once—questioning his loyalty was perfectly reasonable.
Without hesitation, Alpha Wallace raised his claws and sliced off his own ear.
He ripped away his left ear, jaw clenched against the agony. Once finished, he didn’t waste time crying out. Instead, he dropped to his knees again, lifting both arms to present his severed ear.
Blood trickled down his throat, soaking his shirt crimson. His hands dripped red while the ear trembled in his shaking palms.
"I pledge my loyalty to you, my king," he managed through the pain. "You are my sovereign, the blood and backbone of this realm," he recited the traditional oath.
The sight amused me. I hadn’t anticipated this move, but I appreciated the young alpha’s initiative.
After all, losing an ear beat losing your life.
Yet the deeper meaning of a severed ear went beyond disfigurement—it marked a grave transgression.
A permanent brand showing you’d committed high crimes against your ruler.
That symbol would follow him forever, visible to everyone.
The social humiliation outweighed the physical damage.
I smirked at the display. Finally, I rose from my throne and walked toward Alpha Wallace, who still offered his bloody ear.
Picking up the ear, I examined the gaping wound on his skull. Blood continued seeping out, though his healing abilities were already working.
"This is your final opportunity, Alpha Wallace."
I rolled the ear between my fingers.
"Show me one more sign I can’t trust you, and I’ll feed you alive to my wild wolves."
Wallace swallowed hard at my words. Of course he knew about my notorious pack. They’d been devouring traitors’ corpses for years. No one dared cross that forest anymore—those beasts were too savage.
"Y-yes, my king. Yes. I’ll remain loyal to you. Only you."
But if Wallace expected mercy, he was dead wrong. I wasn’t finished with him yet.
"I’m doubling your pack’s tribute for six months, and you’ll surrender half your warriors to me."
Alpha Wallace’s head snapped up in shock. "F-forgive me?"
"You heard me, Alpha Wallace. I don’t repeat myself."
The Bloodmoon Moon pack ranked among our largest, bringing them considerable wealth. Double tribute wouldn’t crush them, but it would definitely cut into their profits.
This gave me control over them, especially since they’d grown too powerful under the previous alpha.
However, Wallace had proven himself unreliable.
Tighter control was absolutely necessary now.
The warriors would help with the two-front war we were currently fighting.
"Any objections?" I raised an eyebrow and crushed Wallace’s severed ear in my fist.
"N-no, my king. None at all."
"Excellent. Leave now and inform your pack about these new arrangements." I strode away from the throne room, abandoning Wallace alone with his regrets as he stared at his mangled ear, now crushed in my grip.
It looked like bloody garbage.
I returned to my chambers well past midnight, pausing outside Phoebe’s door. I stood there for several minutes, torn about whether to enter.
Eventually, I headed to my own room instead.
I rarely slept here anymore. This space I’d occupied for years since becoming king felt foreign now.
It felt wrong.
I missed her warmth, her presence.
Finally, I left my bedroom and slipped into Phoebe’s instead. She was sleeping peacefully, clutching a pillow against her chest.
She looked stunning, but the bandage around her throat irritated me all over again. I should have planned that lunch better. I’d expected trouble but failed to protect her properly.
I climbed into bed and pulled away her pillow, causing her brow to furrow slightly. Then I wrapped her in my arms so she could hold me instead.
"My beautiful mate, my gorgeous Phoebe," I whispered in her ear as she nestled closer.
I’d scrubbed Wallace’s blood from my hands before coming here—I wouldn’t contaminate my mate with such filth.
"My sanctuary..." I leaned down to kiss her forehead, then her nose, then her lips. I could spend forever kissing her like this, but I didn’t want to wake her, so I stopped.
The night passed quietly, and I woke in much better spirits, which eased the tension among my warriors.
People murmured that I always improved after spending nights with the queen, so many looked forward to those occasions.
Apparently, only my mate could soften my edge.
But later that evening, terrible news arrived.
"Gamma Timothy is critically wounded. He may not make it."
