[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha":3,"chapter-marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-20":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"english","Marked By The Mad King Alpha",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1732001,2214,"Chapter 20 The Sleeping Mad King","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-20",20,"\u003Cp>Phoebe’s POV\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I had expected the room to be large, but nothing could have prepared me for this. Above me, a magnificent chandelier cast light across every corner, the space itself a declaration of wealth and authority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The bed alone dwarfed the one I’d slept in back at the beta house—hell, it was even larger than the alpha’s.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This single room stretched at least three times the size of the alpha’s bedroom, maybe four. It was divided into separate areas: the first resembled a luxurious living space, complete with plush sofas, a television, and all the amenities I could imagine.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The design blended modern convenience with classic elegance, honoring tradition without sacrificing comfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The second section housed a study, where floor-to-ceiling bookshelves lined an entire wall beside an imposing desk. Beyond that lay my sleeping quarters, complete with a bathroom featuring a tub that could easily accommodate five people.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The sheer magnitude of it all left me breathless. Everything felt too precious to touch, too grand for someone like me. Flynn’s warning echoed in my mind—don’t cause trouble.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I clutched my backpack tighter as I explored further, discovering a walk-in closet larger than my entire room in the omega quarters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It stood completely empty, and when I tried arranging my meager collection of clothes inside, they looked pathetic—like scraps of fabric scattered across a banquet table.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Embarrassed, I shoved everything back into my backpack and tucked it into the closet’s farthest corner, out of sight.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At least if the king decided he didn’t want me and threw me out, I could grab my bag and disappear without the hassle of packing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I wandered into the bathroom next, marveling at the intricate wall decorations. As a beta’s daughter, I’d lived comfortably in my early years—as comfortable as any beta’s family could manage.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this palace made everything I’d known seem modest.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It took several minutes to figure out the shower controls. I peeled off my grimy dress and stepped under the spray, sighing as warm water cascaded over my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Living in the omega quarters had meant cold water only, even during the harshest winters. This felt like pure luxury—a small slice of heaven I could claim for myself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Expensive shampoo and soap sat waiting for me, and I lingered under the warmth longer than usual, reluctant to end this perfect moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>When I finally emerged, a tray of food waited on the table in my sleeping area. The aroma made my mouth water, and for the first time in ages, I felt my lips curve into a genuine smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That night marked the first time in months I’d fallen asleep on clean sheets, with a full stomach, after bathing in warm water.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sleep claimed me the moment my head hit the pillow. I barely remembered anything else, except for a strange dream where someone watched me sleep—though the memory faded completely by morning.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I’d trained myself to wake before dawn—an omega couldn’t afford to be lazy unless she wanted a beating or worse. Even when Kevin used me for his pleasure, Kira and Isabella showed no mercy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>They didn’t care when I appeared with bruises circling my neck or a broken arm. Kevin could be brutal, forgetting I couldn’t heal like other shifters. I wasn’t normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Despite my exhaustion, I woke in the pre-dawn darkness, checking the clock to find it was still two hours before sunrise—exactly when my day usually began.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My body went rigid when I realized someone lay beside me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The discovery threw me back to those nights with Kevin, and for one terrifying moment, I thought it was him sharing my bed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Panic wrapped around me like a constrictor, squeezing until I couldn’t breathe. I forced my eyes shut, searching for calm in the memory of the swing in our old garden.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>My father had built it when I was small, and I’d loved the gentle push of his hands as I soared through the air.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I kept my focus narrow—just the swing, nothing else. Thinking about my father would only bring fresh pain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whenever Kevin forced himself on me and reality became unbearable, my mind would flee to that swing in the garden. It was my escape, my sanctuary from cruelty.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The technique worked now, steadying my nerves enough to notice that the man beside me wasn’t Kevin. Their scents were completely different.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I forced myself to move, turning my head slowly to find the king sleeping peacefully next to me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His face was inches from mine, his cheek resting against my shoulder while his short black hair tickled my skin.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked so serene, almost innocent—nothing like the Mad King from the stories. In sleep, he seemed almost... vulnerable.\u003C\u002Fp>",785,"2026-06-06T16:11:22.292Z",1,"novelbin.me","29bb74a4bc448f99281c6ced06d4a3a6b04545d5f6f60af4547fa034640378c4","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-21","marked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-chapter-19",302,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fmarked-by-the-mad-king-alpha-cover.jpg"]