Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 178

Chapter 178

Raven’s Pov

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33)

Three days later…

“One… two… and yes,” I whispered as I zipped the last suitcase shut, the sound sharp in the quiet room. My fingers trembled slightly on the zipper, and I let out a shaky breath as I stared at the luggage on the floor three big bags, each holding pieces of my life I once thought I would live here forever with. I almost laughed at how naïve that thought had been.

Finally.

Finally, I was going to be free.

The word tasted strange on my tongue sweet, sharp, almost unreal like a promise I wasn’t sure I deserved but needed more than anything.

For years, I’d prayed for this day, longed for this moment, and now that it was here, my chest felt heavy instead of light.

Because freedom didn’t come without a price.

Last night, Alpha Ethan and I rejected each other. The bond was gone.

The mate link that had tied us together like a chain of fire had been cut. I thought I’d feel relief, thought the pain would vanish like smoke. But now, staring at my packed bags, all I felt was emptiness.

A hollow space where something warm used to live.

I pressed my hand to my chest, right over my heart, and let out a shaky laugh. “You wanted this,” I reminded myself under my breath. “You begged the Moon Goddess for this.”

And now it was done.

So why did I feel like I had ripped out a piece of my own soul?

I closed my eyes and forced the memories back: the look on his face last night when he said the words, the raw anger and exhaustion in his voice, and the bitterness dripping from every syllable. And then the silence that followed when I said it back. Two simple words: I reject you.

Two words that ended everything.

The bond snapped, and I had never felt more broken.

I swallowed hard, blinking back the sting in my eyes, and grabbed the first suitcase. It was heavy, but not heavier than my heart. Dragging it toward the door, I reminded myself why I was leaving. Because staying here had almost killed me literally and emotionally. Because this pack had never wanted me. Because the man I thought would love me had become my greatest torment.

Because I deserved better.

I whispered the words like a mantra, like a prayer, as, I reached for the doorknob.A sharp knock broke through the silence.

1 froze.

The suitcase handle slipped from my fingers, hiting the wooden floor with a soft thud. My heart pounded so hard I could feel it in my throat.

For a moment, I didn’t move, didn’t breathe, and just stared at the door like it had turned into a wild beast ready to attack me.

Another knock.

Firm, Slow, Deliberate.

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08:28 Sun, 31 Aug

Chapter 178

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I sucked in a deep breath and walked to the door on unsteady legs. My fingers curled around the handle, and I told myself it was probably one of the guards sent to help me carry my things to the car. Nothing more. Nothing less.

But when I opened the door

My heart stopped.

Alpha Ethan stood there.

His tall frame filled the doorway, his dark hair slightly messy, his sharp jaw shadowed with stubble. He wasn’t wearing his usual commanding expression. No anger. No arrogance. Just… stillness. Something unreadable flickered in his eyes, and it sent a chill down my spine.

My breath caught in my throat. For one stupid, foolish second, my heart skipped a beat–just like it used to when I saw him before everything turned into

hell.

“Ready to go?” he asked, his voice calm. Too calm.

I nodded, my lips parting slightly. “Yes.”

He gave a small nod too. No smile. No emotion. Just that unreadable look.

Silence stretched between us like a rope about to snap. My pulse raced as I gripped the edge of the door tighter, forcing my voice to come out steady. “Why are you here?” I asked slowly. “If you came to plead with me to accept the bond again, don’t bother. It’s broken. We ended it last night.”

A ghost of something–pain, maybe–flashed in his eyes, but it was gone before I could name it. He shook his head. “No,” he said quietly. “I didn’t come to plead.”

“Then why?”

His gaze softened just a fraction, and that almost undid me. Almost.

“I came to apologize,” he said.

I stared at him, blinking, because the words didn’t make sense. Apologize? Alpha Ethan never apologized. Not to anyone. And especially not to me.

“I know it’s too late to undo what I’ve done,” he continued, his voice steady but low, like it cost him something to say each word. “Too late to erase the pain I caused you. Too late to make it right. But it’s not too late to say, I’m sorry. For everything.”

Something sharp twisted inside me, and I hated it. Hated that his words still had the power to move me after everything he had done.

He stepped back slightly, giving me space, and his voice softened even more. “I regret it, Raven. Every cruel word. Every choice I made hurt you. I can’t take it back, but I hope…” He paused, swallowed hard, and looked right into my eyes. “I hope you find someone better. Someone who treats you like the treasure you are. A second chance mate who deserves you,”

My throat closed up. I wanted to laugh. I wanted to scream. I wanted to cry. But I did nothing. I just stood there, frozen, his words sinking into my skin like cold rain.

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