Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 210

Chapter 210

Alpha Ethan’s Pov

The rest of the dinner went by in a blur. Ava tried, truly she did.

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She kept smiling, talking, and asking little questions to draw me out of my silence. She teased me about eating so little, nudged me under the table with her foot, and even made jokes I knew she thought would make me laugh.

But none of it worked. My mind was too far away, wandering where it shouldn’t.

Still, I didn’t want her to see through me. So when she suggested we go to the lounge area after dinner to play a few games, I agreed. She looked so delighted that I couldn’t refuse.

The staff led us into another private space attached to the VIP suite–a cozy little lounge with plush couches, a wide–screen TV, and a shelf stacked with board games. Ava immediately gravitated toward the game shelf, pulling out a deck of cards.

“Let’s play,” she said brightly, sitting cross–legged on the rug, her dress pooling around her.

I rolled my chair closer, setting the table between us. She dealt the cards with exaggerated drama, humming softly under her breath.

I watched her, studied her even, wondering if the light in her eyes was genuine or if she was masking something the way I often did.

We played several rounds. She laughed when she won, teased when I lost, and groaned when luck betrayed

her.

I forced myself to laugh here and there, but the truth was my heart wasn’t in it. Still, the sound of her laughter filled the room, bouncing against the walls, and for a fleeting second, I almost convinced myself that this was enough.

When the games ended, she flicked on the TV and scrolled through the options. “A movie,” she declared, glancing at me with a grin. “Just one.”

I nodded, letting her pick. Some romantic comedy filled the screen, and Ava curled up on the couch, her hand resting protectively over her small but growing belly.

I sat beside her in silence, my wheelchair angled toward the screen, but I barely saw the images. My mind drifted, again and again, to Raven.

By the time the credits rolled, Ava’s eyes were heavy with sleep. She stretched, yawned, and slipped her hand into mine. “Let’s go home,” she murmured.

We returned to the pack house quietly, the ride back filled with her soft humming. When we arrived, she went straight to the room and sank onto the bed without a word, exhaustion pulling her under almost instantly.

I lay down beside her briefly, but my body was restless, my mind a storm.

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Chapter 210

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Sleep refused me. The ceiling above felt suffocating, each second stretching unbearably long.

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Finally, I swung myself into the chair, grabbed a bottle of whiskey and a glass, and wheeled out to the garden.

The night air was cool against my face, carrying the faint scent of roses and damp earth. I rolled over the gravel path until I reached the stone bench near the center of the garden.

Pouring a measure of whiskey into the glass, I swirled it once before taking a long sip. The burn in my throat was sharp, almost welcome.

The garden had always been Raven’s place of peace. I remembered nights when I had found her here, her hair loose around her shoulders, her eyes reflecting the stars.

I remembered arguments that ended with her storming into this very spot, only to fall silent as the night calmed her.

And I remembered the nights I had inflicted pain on her–words sharper than knives, punishments she hadn’t deserved, and anger I had no right to unleash. She would always return to this garden, her sanctuary, and I would stand at a distance, watching, not knowing how to bridge the gap I had created.

Now, for reasons I couldn’t explain, this garden had become my sanctuary too. Perhaps because it still carried her presence.

Perhaps because sitting here made me feel closer to her, even if she wasn’t here to share it with me.

I lifted the glass, counting the stars above. One sip turned into two. Two into three. The burn numbed the ache, but only slightly.

Footsteps crunched softly on the gravel behind me. My back stiffened. Slowly, I turned, ready to lash out at whoever dared disturb me.

Relief washed over me when I saw Matthew.

He walked over without a word and sat on the bench beside me, his gaze fixed forward. For a long while, he didn’t speak. He just sat there, his presence steady, unyielding.

Finally, I broke the silence. “What are you doing here? Shouldn’t you be with your mate?”

Matthew’s lips twitched faintly. “I could ask you the same thing. Shouldn’t you be with your wife?”

I sighed, frustration spilling out of me. I tipped the glass back, drained it, and then poured another measure. “I wasn’t feeling like sleeping.”

His head turned slightly. “Why?”

I stared into the amber liquid, swirling it. The words came before I could stop them. “Something happened at

the restaurant.”

Matthew raised a brow but didn’t interrupt.

“Ava stepped out to take a call. At first, I didn’t think anything of it. But she was gone for nearly an hour.

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Chapter 210

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When I went to check, I heard her telling someone to ‘rest assured that I wouldn’t find out.”” My grip tightened on the glass.

“When I asked, she said it was her sister. And when I pressed, she claimed it was about a pair of shoes she bought. Shoes.”

Matthew stayed quiet, listening.

“I don’t know, Matthew,” I admitted, the words raw. “I’m just… scared she’s hiding something from me. I don’t want to accuse her wrongly, but my instincts won’t let it go.”

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