I could see him fighting back his irritation and anger.
He needed to get out of here before he lost control and made things worse by frightening me further.
And just like that, Perry walked away without hearing my explanation. Not that I could have given one when my voice had completely abandoned me.
Alone with my frustration, I wept silently. I desperately wanted to tell him it was all lies, that I’d never felt anything for Kevin.
But what would be the point? He’d probably believe those people who’d wronged me and spread vicious rumors about me anyway.
My explanation would just sound like pathetic excuses, and he might hate me even more, thinking I was a liar.
I buried my face in my hands and cried without making a sound. The injustice burned through me.
Two hours passed before Mason arrived with breakfast. She stayed while I ate, then guided me to my bedroom.
Mason looked like she wanted to say something, but seeing my expression, she wisely stayed quiet.
The moment I entered the room, I collapsed onto the bed, completely drained. The confrontation with the king this morning, on top of last night’s pain, was more than I could handle.
With my mind and body exhausted, I fell into deep sleep. This time, no nightmares came.
I didn’t even have the energy to dream.
***
**Perry’s POV**
The king had been impossible to deal with for three days straight, ever since what happened with Phoebe. Perry showed up at the training grounds daily, sparring with his warriors.
For the warriors, it was pure hell. Half of them ended up in the infirmary because the king fought like a man possessed. He attacked with lethal intent.
Miraculously, none had died yet.
Perry hadn’t visited Phoebe because he didn’t trust himself around her, but he’d heard she was recovering.
Helen had checked on her and asked about her inability to taste food.
According to the healer, she’d lost her sense of taste about a year ago. She wouldn’t explain why or what had happened, and when Helen pressed for details, she shut down completely.
Perry knew that reaction too well by now. She’d clam up and tense like her life was in danger.
That’s exactly why Perry had stayed away these past few days – his foul temper would only terrify her more.
But on the fifth day, he couldn’t keep his distance any longer. She was his mate. He’d marked her, but they hadn’t completed the bond.
His wolf was going crazy, which probably explained his savage mood lately.
So Perry headed to Phoebe’s room that evening and discovered her in the bathroom. The sound of water cascading over her body and her subtle movements made his eyes darken with desire.
I moved toward where my mate was and pushed open the bathroom door. Her silhouette was visible through the glass, her naked form making my blood burn hot.
I had two choices: walk away, or do what I should have done days ago.
The first option would leave me in agony and probably get one of my warriors killed in my rage. The second would terrify my mate and send us back to square one.
Unable to decide, I stood frozen until Phoebe finished and turned off the water. Only then did she notice someone watching her.
She’d been too absorbed in the warm water and the peace of these past few days without me around.
She’d spent her time reading, watching movies she enjoyed, sleeping, and simply existing. She’d loved being alone. Because of that, she’d let her guard down, thinking I’d forgotten about her.
How wrong she was.
That’s why Phoebe looked shocked when she saw me standing in the doorway, my gaze locked on her. The intensity of my stare made her entire body flush crimson.
It didn’t help that she had nothing to cover herself with.
Phoebe glanced at the towel hanging next to me. She couldn’t reach it without walking past me.
“My king…” Phoebe’s voice came out barely above a whisper. She tried to cover her breasts with her arms, but what was the point? If I’d been standing here while she showered, I’d already seen everything.
“Fuck it!” I growled, crossing the room to reach for my mate.
Phoebe’s POV
My heart jumped when the king stepped closer.
I caught the hunger burning in his gaze and understood what was coming. This wasn’t new territory for me.
I’d always known this moment would arrive, but anticipating something and living through it were worlds apart.
The king’s desire for me was obvious.
He was determined to possess me entirely, and there was no escaping it.
This day was always inevitable. Somewhere deep inside, I craved it too. I ached for the king’s touch, for him to make me his.
The mate bond stretched taut between us now, strained by the days we’d spent apart. It wasn’t natural for newly discovered mates to remain separated this long, especially when the king hadn’t fully claimed me yet.
I’d braced myself for this moment, but when his hands found me, my body turned to stone. My mind went blank as the king crushed his mouth to mine, kissing me with savage intensity. He slammed me against the bathroom wall – cold and slick – pinning me there with his weight.
My bare skin responded instantly, electric sparks dancing where our bodies touched.
The kiss was pure demand, like he wanted to consume me whole. He was ready to swallow me completely, and the intensity left me reeling.
His tongue forced my lips apart, sucking and biting. One hand tore at his own shirt with a growl of frustration, buttons scattering everywhere, while his other hand groped my breast roughly.
This was raw instinct. A starving predator finally spotting its prey.
Terror flooded through me.
Perry forced my legs apart with his knee, frantically unzipping his pants as he attacked my neck, teeth scraping over his mark. He hoisted me up slightly, positioning himself.
Then without any warning, he drove into me. The animalistic sound that rumbled from his chest made my thoughts scatter. I simply froze.
While Perry took his pleasure from my body, I felt nothing. I stared into empty space, my mind short-circuiting and shutting down. This was my usual response when Kevin had forced himself on me. I’d learned to stop thinking.
Even with the mate bond humming between us, despite all my longing and desperate need for my mate’s touch, I couldn’t break through. I locked myself away.
Halfway through, Perry noticed. That vacant stare in my eyes ignited his fury.
“Fuck!” The king’s rage exploded because I couldn’t even pretend to enjoy it. I was broadcasting my disgust loud and clear. “What?! Are you picturing that bastard while I’m inside you!?” He snarled against my face.
But I showed no reaction, which only stoked his anger higher. He refused to see my blank expression while I thought of another man. My nerve was staggering!
With that, Perry yanked out and spun me around, bending me over so he wouldn’t have to look at my face. Instinctively, I gripped the shower’s edge while Perry hammered into me from behind.
I squeezed my eyes shut. The pain was excruciating.
More Kickass Werewolf Reads
Dive into our collection of free werewolf romance novels—where fierce Alphas, daring heroines, and heart-stopping twists await. Every story burns with forbidden desire, loyalty, and destiny. Don’t wait—here’s a world where love bites hard and nothing is stronger than the call of the mate.
Leave a Reply