Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 198

Chapter 198

Reven’s Pov

I woke up this morning feeling so weak, the kind of weakness that seeps through your bones and clings to your skin no matter how much you try to shake it off. My hand drifted instinctively to my stomach, a soft protective gesture I’d developed unconsciously over the last five months.

“Five months now,” I whispered to myself, the words leaving my lips in a sigh. Just two more months to go, two months before I finally get to meet the little ones growing inside me. The thought filled me with both hope and dread.

Hope, because they were mine, innocent and pure, untouched by the cruelty of this world. Dread, because I didn’t know what kind of world I was bringing them into or if I’d even be strong enough to shield them from the darkness of my life.

Brushing aside the heaviness that threatened to suffocate me, I forced myself out of bed. The air in the room felt cold against my bare skin, and for a moment, I shivered. My feet carried me to the bathroom, where I slowly undressed and stepped under the flow of warm water.

It cascaded down my body, easing some of the ache in my muscles, but not the one buried deep in my No matter how much I scrubbed, no matter how much I let the water run, I could never wash away the memories–the voices, the pain, the betrayal.

When I was done, I wrapped myself in a towel and returned to the room. Sitting in front of the dressing mirror, I picked up the comb and began arranging my hair.

chest.

My reflection stared back at me, a stranger I barely recognized anymore. My face had grown paler since I arrived at Derick’s pack, my eyes duller, my smile almost nonexistent.

Since I came here, I hadn’t really gone out. It was as though I was living in a cage, a beautiful prison with invisible chains binding me. My phone had been destroyed the day Derick struck me, shattering not only the device but also my last fragile connection to the outside world.

Because of that, I had lost contact with Beta Matthew. My chest tightened at the thought of him. Was he worried about me? Had he tried to reach me? Or had he finally given up, convincing himself that I had chosen this path willingly? The uncertainty gnawed at me.

Matthew had once been my comfort, my anchor. Now he was only a memory that haunted me when the nights grew unbearably quiet.

And then, as though my heart was cruelly determined to torture me further, another name slipped into my mind.

Alpha Ethan. The bastard. I cursed myself silently for even letting him into my thoughts. After everything he had done to me the humiliation, the pain, the chains he wrapped around my body and soul I should hate him, bury his memory, and burn every trace of him from my mind.

Yet, there he was, lurking in the shadows of my heart.

I clenched my fists tightly, nails digging into my palms. Why couldn’t I just forget him? Why couldn’t I erase

Chapter 198

the way

his presence consumed me?

25avouchers

My dark thoughts were interrupted by a knock on the door. Startled, I placed the comb down and rose to my

feet.

Walking toward the door, I opened it slightly to find a young maid standing there. Her head was bowed in respect, her hands neatly folded in front of her.

“Good morning, Luna,” she greeted softly, though the title felt foreign and heavy in my ears.

I nodded faintly. “Morning. What is it?”

“Alpha Derick sent me to call you,” she replied, her tone careful, as though she feared saying too much.

A sudden wave of anxiety washed over me. “Is he… is he okay?” I asked, uncertain why the question tumbled from my lips.

The maid lifted her gaze briefly and nodded. “Yes, my lady. He is fine.”

I hesitated, then stepped out, pulling the door shut behind me. “Lead the way.”

She bowed slightly and began walking, and I followed her silently, my steps echoing softly in the long hallway.

The air was still, heavy with the faint scent of polished wood and lingering herbs that always seemed to cling to this part of the pack house. My mind raced as we walked.

Why was Derick calling for me? He hadn’t been himself lately.

Or perhaps it was me who hadn’t been myself, too lost in the shadows of my past to see what was right before

1. me.

We exited the house and stepped into the open air. Sunlight touched my skin, warm and gentle, a reminder of the world outside the walls I had confined myself within.

My eyes widened slightly as we approached the destination.

The path opened up into a space filled with colors and scents. Flowers of different varieties bloomed in perfect harmony, painting the garden in breathtaking shades of red, pink, yellow, and violet. Their fragrance filled the air, sweet and intoxicating, making me pause for a moment.

Drawn by instinct, I reached out and plucked a rose, lifting it to my nose.

The familiar fragrance sent a rush of memories flooding through me. Back in Alpha Ethan’s pack, the garden had always been my place of peace, the one sanctuary where I could breathe, away from the chaos and cruelty that defined my life there.

I remembered the countless evenings I had sat among the flowers, whispering my secrets to the wind, hoping the earth would swallow my pain.

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