Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19

Alpha Ethan’s POV

I made my way back to my car. I entered and slammed the door shut with more force than necessary. My jaw clenched tightly as I leaned my head back against the seat, letting out a long, bitter sigh.

The seer had been a complete waste of time. Speaking in riddles, parables that barely made sense what good were visions that didn’t offer answers! “She’s near but far, bound by pain, guarded by fate.” What the hell was I supposed to do with that?

“Guess you have to wait,” my wolf said inside me, his voice low and resigned.

I shut my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose, massaging away the building pressure in my skull. Maybe he was right. Maybe all this… confusion, frustration, tension—maybe it was all just the result of being sex–starved for too long. I hadn’t been intimate with Olivia for so long that I can’t even remember.

If I just get intimate with Olivia again, maybe I can forget all about her.

Her.

That thought alone had me slamming my hand against the steering wheel. The memory of her face, her scent, and–damn it–her perfect body had haunted me for days now in ways I couldn’t understand.

I shook my head to clear those thoughts. I had a mate.

So why was I thinking about another?

The drive back to the office was a blur. My mind was spinning, drowning in thoughts I couldn’t control. The city’s familiar skyline greeted me like a slap in the face when I pulled into the underground garage. I parked in my usual spot, got out, and slammed the door again. It echoed in the concrete silence.

Upstairs, the office was mostly quiet. My Beta had gone home for the day, and the rest of the staff knew better than to disturb me when I was in one of these moods. I locked myself in my office, threw off my jacket, rolled up my sleeves, and dove into the work I had been avoiding.

Hours passed. I barely noticed the moon rising high outside the glass windows behind my desk. Pack reports, border patrol logs, rogue sightings–a necessary, all repetitive. My handwriting grew sloppier with each passing minute, and I found myself rereading the same paragraph three times without understanding a single word.

I was exhausted.

But still, I worked.

Maybe if I buried myself in these files, in my duties as Alpha, I wouldn’t have to think about the ache in my chest.

About the warmth that was missing from my bed.

And the way she no longer saw me as a mate anymore.

About how Olivia barely looked at me with love–only frustration.

About how I missed the way we used to be.

Back in the first year of our mating, things had been different. We couldn’t keep our hands off each other. We were always lang, stealing kisses behind closed doors, whispering dreams of the future. Somewhere along the way, the spark had dimmed.

I pushed my chair back suddenly and stood. couldn’t take it anymore.

If I stayed here any longer, I was going to lose my damn mind.

Chapter 19

I grabbed my coat, shrugged it on, and left the building without a word: The night air was crisp, cool against my face as I stepped outside, the stre were quieter now, city lights casting long shadows across the pavement. I walked for a bit, trying to clear my head, not sure where I was even going

Then I saw it.

A small gift shop still open, the glow of its interior lights warm and inviting.

I paused.

Maybe…

Maybe a gift would help. Maybe if I brought Olivia something–something thoughtful, something beautiful–it could be a small start. A reminder of how things used to be. Of how much I once loved her. Perhaps it would spark something between us again.

With a hesitant breath, I stepped inside.

The shop smelled faintly of lavender and vanilla. Soft music played in the background, and the shelves were full of trinkets, candles, custom jewelry, and handcrafted items. A woman behind the counter greeted me with a nod, but I barely noticed. I was too busy scanning the aisles, trying to find something Anything.

I picked up a delicate necklace, silver, with a moonstone pendant. Olivia always loved moonstones. She said they reminded her of our first run together under the full moon as mates.

I grabbed it.

Then a journal with a leather cover, engraved with a quote about love enduring the test of time.

I added that too.

A small bottle of perfume–the same kind she used to wear back when we first got together, before she switched to something fancier.

My arms were full by the time I reached the counter. The cashier gave me a knowing smile. “Anniversary?” she asked kindly.

I hesitated. “Something like that.”

She rang me up, and I left the store with a neatly wrapped bag in hand. As I walked back to my car, a strange feeling settled in my chest.

Hope.

It was small, fragile, but it was there.

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