Chapter 238: Chapter 238 Beast Awakens
Perry’s POV
After Elder Augustus departed, I summoned Marcela. Her eyes remained swollen from the tears she’d shed earlier.
She was crushed by her failure to shield Phoebe, devastated that she’d even recommended the queen leave with those three warriors—who’d turned out to be traitors.
Worse still, she’d lost Elder Tricia due to her inability to save his life. Marcela felt too ashamed and terrified to face me because of her failures, but I had no interest in that right now. There was something else I needed to verify.
"My king," Marcela’s voice shook as she greeted me.
"Tell me what happened," I demanded, my voice low and frigid. I fixed her with a sharp stare that made the healer tremble.
Stuttering, Marcela recounted everything that had occurred. She made no attempt to conceal her mistakes or justify her poor judgment in allowing those three warriors to take the queen.
"It’s my fault, my king. I’m deeply sorry... I should have been more careful, more alert to what was happening around me." Marcela collapsed to her knees, pressing her forehead to the floor as she pleaded for my forgiveness.
I felt no pity for Marcela. I ordered Wallace to give me the details of the incident once more.
The journey from the Valerium kingdom normally took several days, but I’d managed to shorten it, arriving a full day early.
Yet this was what I’d discovered...
People had perhaps forgotten I was once called the mad king because I’d grown gentle lately—because of Phoebe.
But the beast inside me wasn’t dead. It had only been dormant, and now these fools were trying to rouse it. They’d have to face the consequences of their actions.
Wallace then explained everything—how the Valerium warriors had stormed the south gates, targeting only that location, and how after he and the other warriors had contained the situation, they’d found Phoebe missing and Elder Tricia dead.
"My deepest regrets, my king. I should have protected them better. I beg for your mercy." Wallace immediately dropped beside Marcela. He recalled how close he’d come to death recently, and now he’d placed himself in the same position again. He wondered if he’d be fortunate enough to survive this time without the queen present to calm me down.
But I had no interest in punishing either of them when my thoughts were consumed elsewhere. I couldn’t think clearly, and all I craved was my mate beside me.
"Stand up. I need you to do something," I said, staring at the shoe on the table before giving my orders to Marcela and Wallace.
The mountain forest sprawled endlessly, extending not just behind the palace but reaching several packs throughout the kingdom.
Most people—at least those with any sense—wouldn’t dare venture inside, knowing wild wolves made their home there.
And it wasn’t just wild wolves. Various monsters lurked within as well.
For me, though, this forest was like a second home. My father had cast me into these very woods, forcing me to survive alone.
I had survived. Now I knew every inch of it like my own palm, familiar with every bit of terrain in the area.
So finding the waterfall Elder Augustus had mentioned earlier wasn’t difficult for me.
I could hear the cascade’s roar, along with unfamiliar scents surrounding me. At least twelve Valerium warriors were positioned around this area.
They crouched in bushes and lurked behind trees, watching as I approached the waterfall.
Once I reached it, I shifted back to human form and spotted Maxwell, the royal gamma from the Valerium Kingdom.
He appeared as young as Timothy, but the worn expression on his face couldn’t mask the suffering he’d endured while fleeing from my warriors.
This would be their final desperate attempt to bring me down, sacrificing countless lives to execute this plan.
Those Valerium warriors had essentially been sent on a suicide mission when they attacked Alpha Wallace’s pack house as a distraction, allowing them to seize Phoebe.
"Valerium no longer exists. Surrender now and I’ll grant you an honorable death."
Those were my first words as I moved closer to Maxwell. The royal gamma merely smirked at my offer.
"Honorable death? What kind? String me up like poultry before a crowd?" Maxwell sneered. "You think I want that honor? You’ve backed us into a corner with no escape route."
I listened to Maxwell’s rant without caring what he said, sharpening my senses to search for Phoebe.
But I couldn’t sense my mate anywhere. Phoebe wasn’t close by. Had they taken her elsewhere?
No trace of her remained either.
Though it might be because we were near the waterfall, and rain had fallen an hour ago, potentially washing away her scent.
"If I’m going down, you’re coming with me. I’ll drag you down for my kingdom that you destroyed."
I watched as all the warriors who’d been concealed in bushes and behind trees emerged from their hiding spots.
Still, I remained completely calm. "Phoebe isn’t here, is she? You don’t have my mate," I stated.
