Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Chapter 140

Raven’s POV

I returned to my room and sighed in relief that Beta Matthew was no longer there.

The sun had already begun its descent, casting the sky in hues of crimson and burnt orange.

A quiet stillness cloaked the servant quarters, but no such peace existed inside me.

My heart throbbed painfully against my chest, and my head still buzzed with the tension from dinner.

I sat at the edge of my bed, gripping the sheets tightly. I could still feel the weight of Matthew’s gaze burning into my skin, his eyes filled with hurt and betrayal I couldn’t deny, no matter how much I wanted to.

And maybe I had betrayed him.

If not with my body, then with my heart.

But it wasn’t my fault. It was the cursed mate bond, the one that refused to die even after everything Ethan had done to

1. me.

“You should forgive him,” my wolf whispered gently in my mind. So we can finally be whole, so Matthew won’t bother us

anymore.”

Iclenched my jaw. “Are you insane?” I snapped back. “If I forgive him just like that, he’ll think I’m a fool. A weak girl who

can’t even control her feelings. After everything he’s done, how can I forgive so easily?”

“Because you still want him,” my wolf replied. There was no accusation in her tone. Just quiet truth.

My chest tightened. I shut my eyes and stood up, dragging my tired body toward the bathroom. I needed to escape thoughts, drown them in water, or steam, or silence.

these

Under the shower’s heat, I let my tears fall freely. They slid down my cheeks, blending with the water in a silent confession of just how lost I was.

I scrubbed at my skin until it turned red, desperate to erase the memories, the pain, and the bond itself.

When I finally stepped out, I dried myself slowly and slipped into a soft satin nightgown. It hugged my body gently, providing the only comfort I could find. I had no plans to attend dinner.

I didn’t have the strength for another confrontation another look from Ethan, another unreadable expression from

Matthew.

I would just sleep.

Or cry myself into unconsciousness.

But fate had other plans.

A knock on the door dragged me from my thoughts. I groaned and opened it. A maid stood nervously with her hands

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Chapter 140

clasped.

“Dinner is ready, Miss Raven,” she said with a small bow.

“I’m not hungry,” I replied flatly, then shut the door again.

A few moments later, another knock.

Fuming, Iyanked it open. “I said”

“Alpha Ethan said… if you don’t come out, he’ll come get you himself.”

I cursed under my breath and threw my head back. “That insufferable jerk,” I muttered.

But I knew he meant it. If I didn’t go, he’d barge in here and cause a scene I wasn’t emotionally prepared for.

Reluctantly, I slipped on a robe over my nightgown and dragged myself toward the dining hall.

The moment I entered, my heart dropped.

Not because of Ethan.

Because of Matthew.

Why was he here? I glanced around; the only empty seat was beside Alpha Ethan and directly across from Beta Matthew, of

course

I moved stiffly, trying not to wither under Matthew’s penetrating stare.

I could feel Ethan watching me too, but I refused to look at either of them. My eyes stayed glued to my plate as I picked at

the food like it was poison.

The tension in the room was unbearable. Every bite caught in my throat. Every breath felt tight. I could practically feel Matthew’s eyes on me the entire time.

When dinner finally ended, I shot up from my seat and turned to leave.

“Raven,” Matthew’s voice stopped me.

I froze.

Slowly, I turned. His voice was calm, but laced with an edge that cut straight through me.

I tried to keep my face neutral, but the moment our eyes met, guilt slammed into me like a tide “What was the meaning of earlier?” he asked, voice low but direct. Don’t pretend you don’t know what I’m talking about.”

I flicked a nervous glance at Ethan, who was still at the table, his sharp gaze locked on us.

“I… I didn’t mean to hurt you,” I whispered.

“You didn’t mean to?” he repeated bitterly. “You let me believe in something.

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Chapter 140

You let me hold you, protect you, and care for you. And all this time, you still had feelings for him, didn’t you?”

I looked away.

“Don’t lie to me, Raven,” he continued, his voice cracking. “Tell me the truth.”

But I couldn’t say anything.

Because he already knew.

The truth sat heavy between us in my silence.

He let out a breathless, bitter laugh. “I’ve been a fool. All this while, I’ve been trying to heal someone who never wanted to be healed by me. You still want him. That’s why you’re pushing me away.”

I couldn’t deny it.

So instead, I turned and fled like a coward.

Back in my room, I slammed the door shut and leaned against it, my entire body trembling as sobs tore through me.

“Why?” I whispered into the empty space. “Why does the bond have to feel like this?”

I hated it. I hated Ethan. I hated myself.

Blindly, I stumbled toward the drawer, yanked it open, and pulled out the bottles I had hidden away. I wasn’t good with alcohol. I didn’t care. I just wanted to forget.

I uncapped the first bottle and drank straight from it. The burn hit hard, but it dulled the ache in my chest, and that was

enough.

By the time I emptied the first one, I was lightheaded. Numb. Empty.

I reached for the second.

Every gulp blurred my vision further, made the spinning world more distant. But it also made the pain quieter. Duller. Easier to carry.

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