Chapter 74: Chapter 74 Sunlight And Dark Schemes
**Phoebe’s POV**
A strange ache between my thighs pulled me 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 me—Perry.
Something felt off, though.
The sheets weren’t right, and the bed’s position seemed wrong.
My eyes fluttered open, taking in my surroundings. This wasn’t my palace bedroom. White dominated this unfamiliar space.
Sunlight streamed 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 me.
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 treatment still stung, I refused to dwell on past hurt when we could build something better.
The stickiness between my legs finally registered. When I reached down to investigate, memories of last night flooded back. Heat blazed across my cheeks.
I remembered 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 moment 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 meeting the alpha and others today nearly impossible.
I traced the marks on my skin, remembering 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 mentally.
"I’ll come 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 meant. His reality often twisted—he’d call her ’Phoebe’ during sex, especially when he climaxed.
Being a replacement hurt enough without having another woman’s name moaned in her ear during intimate moments.
"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 men 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. Time to increase the dose." He stroked his chin, heading to his study to order an acceleration of their timeline against the king.
——
**Phoebe’s POV**
I fidgeted in my chair, acutely aware of the ten pairs of eyes stealing glances at me 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 seemed eager for massive warfare.
Perry stayed quiet, watching me concentrate on my food. He seemed curious whether my appetite had improved, given how intently I focused on the meat.
"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."
