Marked By The Mad King Alpha Novel by Luna Ashbourne _ Novel




Marked By The Mad King Alpha Novel by Luna Ashbourne _ Novel

Marked By The Mad King Alpha Chapter 01

I sprinted through the forest, the cold night air cutting against my face and tearing at my lungs with every breath. My legs screamed in protest, each stride burning like fire, but stopping wasn’t an option. If I slowed down—if I hesitated even for a second—they’d catch me. And being caught meant death.
Phoebe! Get back here! My father’s furious voice thundered through the pack link, pounding inside my skull. I didn’t need to look back to know that Beta Cameron was among those chasing me—him, my stepbrother Reginald, and that arrogant alpha’s son, Kevin. They all wanted me cornered, dragged back in chains like a criminal.
The forest came alive around me—branches whipping at my arms, roots clawing at my feet, the pounding rhythm of pursuit behind me. A dozen Obsidian Claw warriors were on my trail, and I knew the odds of outrunning them were almost nonexistent. Still, hope flickered stubbornly in my chest. The pack border was close now—I could feel its pull like a magnetic thread drawing me forward.
Adrenaline surged through my veins, numbing the pain that laced my body. The sting of thorns, the bite of rocks under my soles—all of it faded as I ran. Moon Goddess, please, I begged silently. Just one miracle. Just this once.
Almost there. Just a little farther. Don’t stop.
A sharp tug jerked me backward. My backpack had snagged on a low-hanging branch, tearing open as my few belongings scattered over the forest floor. For a heartbeat, I almost turned back. Then instinct screamed louder than reason. I ripped free and kept running.
Clothes, food, whatever I’d lost—they could be replaced. Freedom couldn’t.
The cruel irony wasn’t lost on me. In two days, I would turn eighteen and finally experience my first shift. But I couldn’t wait that long. Not after what Kevin had done. Not after what my father had allowed.
You’re dead when I get my hands on you! His voice thundered again, dripping with rage. I tried to block the link, but his Beta dominance overpowered my resistance, slicing through my mind like a whip.
Then, through the trees ahead, I caught sight of silver moonlight glinting on moving water—the border. A shallow river separated Obsidian Claw territory from the Crimson Fang lands. I’d chosen this path because their patrols were thinner here, their guards fewer. It was my one slim chance.
My heart slammed against my ribs as I burst through the last of the underbrush. Cold water splashed around my legs as I plunged into the river. Each step felt heavier than the last, but I forced myself forward until I stumbled onto the opposite bank and collapsed, chest heaving, throat raw.
For a moment, all I could hear was the frantic hammer of my pulse and the whisper of wind through the trees. My muscles trembled violently, my body screaming in pain—but I’d done it. I was free.
A savage howl split the night. I turned just in time to see Kevin and Reginald on the opposite side, both of them shifting back into human form. Their eyes burned with fury, but the river stood between us—a boundary neither dared to cross without starting a war.
I wished I could revel in the victory, but I knew better. Crimson Fang patrols would sweep the area soon, and they’d have no mercy for trespassers. I needed to reach the Solitary Lands to the south before dawn, then keep pushing toward the human world. That was the only place where they couldn’t reach me.
“Get back here, Phoebe!” Reginald’s voice carried across the water, thick with anger. Kevin’s glare was worse—cold, sharp, and brimming with murderous intent.
I wanted to hurl something defiant back at them, something that would make them remember I wasn’t the helpless girl they thought I was. But my lungs refused to cooperate. Every breath was a battle, and I had to save my strength.
I pushed myself up on shaking arms, willing my body to move—but before I could take a step, a heavy weight crashed into me from behind. My breath exploded from my lungs as I hit the ground hard.
“Think you can run from me, little wolf?” Kevin’s voice was a low growl, rich with menace. His body pinned mine, his strength crushing me into the dirt. “You’re not going anywhere.”
“You… you crossed the border,” I choked out. His knee pressed against my ribs, making every inhale torture.
He gave a cruel laugh. “So did you.”
Across the river, I heard my father’s voice shouting for him to come back, panic now threaded through his fury. He knew what this meant.
Kevin ignored him. “Time to go home,” he sneered. “You’ve been a very bad girl tonight.” His fist tangled in my hair, yanking me upright. The pain was blinding; a scream tore free before I could stop it.
He dragged me toward the water, his grip brutal, my feet stumbling and scraping across rocks. My scalp burned, and fear clawed at my throat. This was it. They’d drag me back and make sure I never had another chance to run.
Then shadows shifted around us. Figures emerged—tall, silent, and deadly. A dozen Crimson Fang warriors stepped from the trees, encircling us with quiet precision. Their Gamma was among them, his presence commanding.
“Kevin of Obsidian Claw,” Gamma Darius said, his tone cold and deliberate. “I don’t remember authorizing a visit to our territory.” His sharp gaze flicked to me, unreadable.
Kevin’s voice turned smooth and polished. “Apologies for the intrusion, Gamma. One of our pack members wandered too far. I came to retrieve her before she caused any inconvenience.”
His hand tightened cruelly in my hair. Tears welled in my eyes, both from pain and humiliation.
Darius studied me for a long moment before speaking again. “I understand. Still, our borders exist for a reason. Trespassing—by either side—has consequences.”
“Of course,” Kevin replied, his tone full of feigned respect. “We can discuss those later. Let me just take this stray home.” He gave my head a mocking shake, flashing a disarming smile. “Perhaps we can talk over coffee, Gamma.”
“No, please… don’t send me back,” I gasped, desperation raw in my throat. For a heartbeat, Darius’s eyes met mine—but they were cold, detached.
After a tense silence, he nodded once. “Take her and leave. I’ll inform my Alpha of this breach.” He turned away, signaling to his men.
“Much appreciated,” Kevin said smoothly, his smile triumphant as he began to drag me back toward the river.
And just like that, my fleeting moment of freedom ended beneath the weight of his hand. 

READ FULL NOVEL HERE