Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 196

Chapter 196

Reven POV

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As soon as we arrived at the pack house, I pushed open the car door and stepped out before the engine had even quieted.

The evening air wrapped around me, heavy and damp, carrying the scent of pine from the forest beyond. I didn’t wait for Derick; my legs carried me forward on their own, driven by the single thought of reaching the safety of my room.

My heart was pounding, my head swirling with too many emotions: confusion, exhaustion, and that gnawing ache of not knowing where I truly belonged.

Behind me, I could hear his voice.

“Raven, wait-”

But I didn’t. My feet quickened against the polished marble of the pack house floor. The long hallway stretched ahead, lit with golden sconces, the walls lined with portraits of past Alphas and Lunas, all looking down with cold, timeless eyes.

Their stares only made the lump in my throat grow heavier.

“Raven, please.” Derick’s footsteps grew closer. He wasn’t running, but there was urgency in his tone.

I reached my door and placed my hand on the handle, desperate to shut myself inside and bury all of this away.

But before the latch could click, a firm hand pressed against the door, holding it in place.

I turned sharply, my eyes meeting his. Derick’s face was etched with tension, his jaw tight, his dark eyes searching mine.

“What are you doing?” I asked, my voice low, clipped, trying to mask the trembling in my chest.

“I just ” He hesitated, and for once the confident Alpha seemed unsure of himself. “I wanted to say I’m sorry. For what happened earlier. And… at the mall.”

I blinked at him, confusion momentarily replacing my annoyance. His shoulders dropped slightly, and he continued, words spilling out faster now, like he had been rehearsing them in his head all day.

“Vanessa and I… it’s over. We broke up. She doesn’t take rejection well; you know that. But I thought you deserved to hear it from me.”

For a moment, silence stretched between us, heavy and suffocating. His apology, his confession it was everything I thought I wanted to hear, yet instead of relief, I only felt more tired.

“It’s okay,” I said finally, my voice flat. “I wasn’t mad. Just tired.”

10:42 Mon, Sep 15

Chapter 196

I pulled the door harder this time. His hand lingered on the wood for a beat longer, as though he wanted to say more, but at last he let go.

Without looking back, I slipped into my room and shut him out.

The click of the lock echoed louder than I expected.

Inside, the quiet was suffocating but comforting. I let out a long sigh and headed straight to the bathroom.

Stripping away the weight of the day with every piece of clothing, I stepped under the shower, letting the hot water cascade down my skin. It burned at first, but then it softened, loosening the tension clinging to my shoulders. I closed my eyes, pressing my forehead against the cool tiles.

When I finally stepped out, steam clinging to me like a veil, I pulled on one of the new dresses we had bought earlier at the mall. The fabric was soft, flowing gently over my body.

I turned to face the mirror, half expecting to see a stranger staring back. But it was still me messy hair, tired eyes, pale lips. The only difference was the subtle curve of my belly, a reminder that life was growing inside

1. me.

I placed my hand over my stomach, tracing the gentle swell.

“I can’t wait to meet you,” I whispered, my voice cracking. “Both of you.”

The thought was bittersweet, a mixture of hope and fear. My babies are the only thing keeping me tethered to this cruel, uncertain world.

Exhaustion claimed me before I even realized I had lain down. Sleep dragged me under, heavy and dreamless.

Knock.

At first, I thought it was part of a dream. But then it came again, louder, more insistent.

Knock. Knock. Knock.

I groaned, burying my face into the pillow. “What now…”

But the knocking didn’t stop. It grew louder, quicker, and more urgent. With a low growl, I pushed myself up, rubbing at my eyes before dragging my body to the door.

I opened it a crack, scowling. “What?”

Derick stood there, tall and steady, a faint smile tugging at his lips. He held himself differently now, Alpha- like, though his eyes softened as they met mine.

“Dinner time,” he said simply.

I blinked at him, confused. “Dinner? What are you“.

He gestured to the darkened hallway, and it was then that I noticed the shadows beyond the window. Night

10:42 Mon, Sep 15

Chapter 196

had fallen.

How long had I slept? Hours? A whole day? My stomach twisted with both hunger and dread.

“I’ll just eat here,” I muttered, trying to close the door again.

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But his hand pressed against it once more, firm but gentle. “No. You’ve been locked up all day. You need to come out, Raven. Be seen.”

“I don’t-”

“No arguments.” His tone left little room for debate, yet there was no harshness in it. Only a quiet determination.

Something inside me wilted. I didn’t have the energy to fight him. So, with a reluctant nod, I stepped out, following him down the hall.

The dining hall was already alive with voices when we arrived. Long tables stretched across the vast room, lined with pack members of every rank. The chandeliers above bathed the hall in golden light, but it did nothing to warm the icy stares I felt pricking at my skin.

As Derick led me toward the front, the whispers started. Murmurs threaded through the air, rising and falling like the rustle of leaves. I couldn’t make out the words, but I didn’t need to. I knew what they were about.

My cheeks burned. My steps faltered. But Derick’s hand pressed lightly at my back, steadying me, guiding me to the chair beside his. I sat down stiffly, eyes fixed on the plate before me. My hands shook slightly as I picked up the fork.

For a while, the only sound I focused on was the clatter of cutlery, the murmur of conversations blending into background noise. I thought maybe I could survive this meal unnoticed.

But then a sharp voice cut through the hall.

“Alpha, you didn’t tell anyone you have a mate.”

Silence fell instantly.

My fork froze halfway to my mouth. The voice was female, laced with bitterness and mockery.

“And she’s pregnant.”

A thousand eyes burned into me. My chest tightened, and I kept my head bowed, refusing to meet any of their gazes.

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