Chapter 77: Chapter 77 When A Monster Believes
Phoebe’s POV
"What do you mean 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 me as I tried to decode what he was planning.
"You don’t need to worry. You can leave now."
Something twisted in my gut. Mason must have sensed it too—that suffocating feeling that something 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 someone 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 meeting place, unless you were trying to hide something.
"Okay, but please... don’t hurt her." The words tumbled out one last time 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 moment she remembered 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 time 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 messy business. Killing a royal beta? That was a whole different nightmare.
——
Phoebe’s POV
The orphanage visit had filled me with pure joy, and I could tell Perry noticed.
As we stepped outside, little Upton shuffled up to me, clutching the ball we’d played with earlier. His cheeks burned red as he thrust it toward me.
"Thank you." I beamed at him, leaning down to plant a soft kiss on his forehead. He bolted away immediately—embarrassed but also intimidated when he caught sight of the king approaching with Alpha Phil and the other pack leaders.
"Happy?" Perry appeared beside me, his eyes dropping to the ball in my hands. I caught him watching the sweet moment 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 me 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 me pack the ball away. When happiness lit me up from within, it showed—especially in my eyes.
"Um, yes... if you can fit it into your schedule." The words came out hesitant, self-consciousness creeping in at his direct question.
"I can make room for it." His answer came without hesitation, no second-guessing. Once he said it, he meant it.
The idea of disappointing me clearly didn’t sit right with him.
"Thank you."
His hands cupped my face, and that familiar shyness washed over me again.
"You don’t need to thank me. Once we’re back, we’ll hold the ceremony to crown you queen."
He’d been putting this off indefinitely, unwilling to place me 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 me ruling alongside him.
"The queen ceremony?" My eyes went wide.
"Yes, you’re my mate. You should expect this. What?" Something 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 meant!" I rushed to explain before he misread my reaction again. "I thought..." My gaze dropped, unable to meet his eyes. "I thought you would only use me."
"Use you?" His eyes narrowed as his thumbs traced my cheekbones. "What do you mean?"
Tell him. Tell him. Tell him.
The voice in my head grew insistent, urging me 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 me had finally lifted.
"I..." I bit my lip, the words wanting to come but still so hard to form. "The rumors about me... 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 me speak at my own pace.
"I didn’t... I didn’t throw myself at him. He came to me... every night." The memories of what Kevin had done crashed over me, and I froze.
The overwhelming force of it all hit me like a tidal wave.
I went somewhere 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 moment 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 me."
"What about the rumors..."
I forced myself to look up, meeting his gaze directly. "They’re lies. I never wanted him to touch me."
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 me."
It wasn’t a question. His lack of reaction told me everything I needed to know. My mind jumped straight to the worst possibility.
"I do." He pulled me 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 become the very monster his father had claimed he was.
What a fucked up situation that had been.
"I believe you." His voice came gentler this time, and I finally let myself cry.
