Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 194

Chapter 194

Raven’s Pov

“Good morning, sunshine,” I heard the familiar deep voice of Derick in my sleep. His words were soft, yet they carried that husky morning tone that instantly tugged at something inside me.

Slowly, I opened my eyes, adjusting to the faint light that spilled through the curtains, and turned toward the sound.

Derick stood by my bed, tall and striking even in the simplest clothes. He wasn’t dressed in his usual Alpha authority; instead, he looked casual, approachable, almost too perfect for this hour.

My eyes drifted lower, and that’s when I noticed the tray in his hands an actual breakfast tray.

My lips parted in surprise.

“Good morning,” I replied, my voice still rough from sleep. I blinked at the tray, then back at him. “Why… why are you holding that this early?”

His lips curved into a small smile, that kind of smile that carried both mystery and charm. “Because I wanted to serve you breakfast in bed.”

I raised a brow, sitting up slowly as I pulled the sheets closer around me. “And why did you think of that?”

He chuckled, the sound warm and teasing, like sunlight sneaking into a cold room. “Do I need a reason? I just wanted to do it.

Can you stop asking a hundred questions and just eat, Raven?”

The way he said my name made something flutter in my chest. I bit down on my lip to suppress the sudden smile tugging at my mouth.

“Fine,” I muttered, trying to hide my embarrassment as I slid out of bed.

“I’ll be back,” I said, grabbing my toothbrush and disappearing into the bathroom. My heart was beating too fast for such an ordinary moment.

It wasn’t as if no one had ever brought me food before but coming from him, from Derick, it felt different, too personal, too intimate.

When I returned, I half expected the tray to be waiting on the nightstand, abandoned, and for him to have gone about his Alpha duties.

But to my surprise, he was still there, standing patiently, his arms crossed as if he had been waiting only for

1. me.

“You’re still here,” I murmured, sitting on the bed as he placed the tray across my lap.

“Of course I am,” he said, settling on the edge of the mattress like it was the most natural thing in the world. “I

14:11 Fri, Sep 12 B

Chapter 194

wasn’t going to leave without making sure you ate.”

El es vorch

I stared at him, then at the food. Eggs, toast, and fruit simple, but it felt like a banquet in my eyes. My throat tightened a little as I picked up the fork and took a small bite.

He watched me, not with judgment but with quiet satisfaction. It was unnerving, and comforting at the same time.

To distract myself, I asked, “What about your family? You don’t… you don’t really talk about them.”

For a moment, his smile faltered. His gaze dropped, and the air around him seemed to grow heavier. When he finally spoke, his voice was quieter, laced with an ache I hadn’t heard before.

“I lost them,” he said. “On my eighteenth birthday. That was the day I became Alpha… and the day I buried my parents.”

I froze, my fork halfway to my mouth. Guilt washed over me. “Derick…” My voice was soft, almost breaking. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”

His eyes lifted to mine, calm yet haunted. “It’s in the past. But thank you.”

Silence lingered between us for a moment, the kind that spoke louder than words. I wanted to reach out, to touch his hand, to comfort him, but I held myself back. That wasn’t my place.

Instead, he cleared his throat and asked, “How’s your pregnancy going? Really.”

I looked down at my stomach, instinctively placing a hand there. A faint smile pulled at my lips. “It’s not easy,” I admitted honestly. “But I’m not backing out. Not when I’m already four months in. Just four more months, and I’ll bring them into the world.”

His eyes softened in a way that made my chest ache. “You’re stronger than you think, Raven.”

I looked away, unable to hold his gaze. “Maybe. Or maybe I’m just stubborn.”

He chuckled again, but there was warmth behind it. Then he leaned back slightly, his expression shifting into something almost playful.

“How about this? Later today, let me take you shopping. You didn’t bring much with you, did you? You’ll need clothes, things for yourself, maybe even a few things for the babies.”

I blinked at him. “Shopping? With you?”

“Why not?” he asked, tilting his head. “Unless you’d rather stay here and argue with me all day.”

I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my mouth betrayed me with a smile. “Fine. I’ll go. Just don’t expect me to enjoy it too much.”

He smirked, rising to his feet. “Then get ready. I’ll come for you once you’re set.”

And just like that, he left the room, leaving me alone with the remnants of breakfast and a heart that refused to calm down.

14:11 Fri, Sep 12 B

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