Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 117

55%會

Chapter 117

Chapter 117

Alpha Lihan’s Pow

I stood up from my chair the moment. Matthew left. What was wrong with him?

What exactly was his deal? I brought Raven here.

Isheltered her under my rool even if it meant branding her with shame and sin.

And for that reason, she belongs to me. She doesn’t get to dely me. She doesn’t get to choose anyone else but me

She does whatever I say.

I paced for a while after that, running my hands through my hair in frustration. The study folt suffocating

The shadows in the comers stretched wider, like claws around my thoughts.

No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t shake off the image of Raven’s bruised back eyes lowered, lips trembling, her spirit dimmed…

I needed to clear my head.

I went upstairs to freshen up. The shower was scalding, but welcomed the burn.

I stood under the stream longer than usual, trying to drown out the voices in my head. Olivia’s voice. Raven’s sobs. Matthew’s defiance

My own guilt. The water beat against my skin as if punishing me, as if trying to wash away the sins that clung to me like tar.

But nothing changed.

Eventually, I stepped out, towel drying my hair before slipping into a comfortable pair of black lounge pants and a gray shirt.

Just as I was about to button the last of it, the door creaked open.

Olivia walked in, carrying a tray of food. The sight of her startled me her sudden kindness, her wide smile but it was what I had come to expect from her lately. She acted Eke nothing had changed between us. Like Raven didn’t exist.

But she did.

And her absence tonight was all I could feel.

“Oh, you’re dressed already” Olivia said, her tone soft.

She moved toward me and began buttoning my shirt herself. Her fingers brushed lightly over my chest, slow, deliberate. I didn’t stop her, though a part of me wanted to.

“You look tired,” she murmured.

“I’m fine”

She smiled again. “Come on, dinner’s waiting.”

We walked downstairs together, and the maids served us in the dining hall.

Everything looked perfect the candles were fit, the food was warm, the wine sich but it all felt hollow. Each clatter of a plate, each whisper of a servant, reminded me of what was missing.

Raven

1/4

Chapter 117

Hersharp tongue. Her fiery eyes. The way her presence filled a room even when she tried to disappear in it.

barely touched my lond, only managing a few mouthfuls here and there.

Olla chatted now and then, hying to keep things light, but I could barely hear her. My ears were filled with silence, not her voice.

When dinner was finally over, I helped Olivia up and walked her back to our room,

“Strip.“1 told her as soon as we got inside.

She blinked. “What?”

“Put on a towel,” I said more gently,

Her confusion faded, and she obeyed. She pulled off her gown and wrapped herself in one of the towels hanging on the hook by the closet.

She said nothing, but I could feel her curiosity simmering beneath her compliance.

“Lie face–flat on the bed,” instructed, and again, she did as I said.

I climbed on top of her, straddling her towel–covered thighs carefully.

I pressed my hands against her back and began to massage her shoulders, slow and firm. She moaned softly at my

y relaxed under my palms, and for a moment, she melted into my rhythm.

Her body

“This is…nice,” she said in a low tone, her voice dreamy. “Why are you doing this?”

Thesitated for a beat. “Because I miss my mate.” I said.

And that wasn’t a lie.

touch

It was just… not her I missed.

“I just want to give you the best,” I added.

She hummed in response, clearly pleased.

But deep down, I knew exactly why I was doing all this, it wasn’t for Olivia.

It was a distraction a performance. Something to keep the guilt from suffocating me. Something to help me avoid the truth.

That I wanted Raven.

That she had managed to carve her way

by under my skin in a way Olivia never had. Not in six years.

After the massage, I helped Olivia into the bathroom.

I washed her hair, her back held her like something fragile, something innocent.

And when we returned to the room, I tucked her into bed like a child, brushing her hair back and kissing her forehead.

Her breathing:

slowed until she drifted into a deep sleep.

I waited a little longer, ensuring she was truly out, before i stood and quietly left the room.

My footsteps were silent against the polished floor as made my way down the hallway, heart pounding for a reason I didn’t want to admit.

Once in the garden, I walked toward the edge where the roses grew,

Chapter 117

My fingers skimmed over the petals until i found a single red one soft, deep, and full and plucked it. Then reached over to the white lilies that bloomed just beyond and selected our of those as well.

Red for desire.

White for truth

Or maybe guilt.

I didn’t know anymore

With the flowers in hand, I stepped into the night, heading toward the healer’s house,

That was where Raven was receiving treatment, where she’d been staying ever since the council’s punishment was interrupted.

The walk felt long, though the distance wasn’t lat.

The air was cold.

The stars above looked like judging eyes. My grip on the flowers tightened the closer I got. My heartbeat echoed in my ears.

Why was I doing this?

To see her?

To apologize?

To convince her she was still mine?

I didn’t know.

I just needed to see her face again.

I reached the healer’s cottage and knocked twice.

From inside, a voice called, “Hold on

just a

a moment.”

Footsteps. Then the door creaked open.

The healer’s eyes widened the moment she saw me. “Alpha?”

She was clearly stunned flustered even but I didn’t care

I stepped past her without waiting for permission.

“Where is she?” I asked sharply

“She’s” the healer tried, but I was already moving through the narrow hallway.

And then I saw her.

Raven.

But she wasn’t alone.

Chapter 117

My fingers skimmed over the petals until found a single red one soh, deep, and full and plucked it, then reached over to the white lies that bloomed just beyond and selected one of these as well.

White for truth..

I didn’t know anymore.

With the flowers in hand, I stepped into the night, heading toward the healer’s house.

That was where Raven was receiving treatment, where she’d been staying ever since the council’s punishment was interrupted.

The walk fell long, though the distance wasn’t far

The air was cold.

The stars above looked like judging eyes. My grip on the flowers tightened the closer I got. My heartbeat echoed in my ears.

Why was I doing this?

To see her?

To apologize?

To convince her she was still mine?

I didn’t know..