Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 231

Chapter 231

Raven’s Pov

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“Will you guys be okay if we relocate to another city?” I asked softly as I knelt in front of the twins, helping Lyra tie the pink ribbon around her ponytail. She sat still, swinging her little legs, while her twin brother, Lucian, stood beside her, pretending to fix his tie like a grown man.

Lyra blinked her wide hazel eyes up at me. “Where are we going, Mommy?” she asked in that curious tone that always melted my heart.

“California,” I replied, keeping my voice gentle even though the word left a heavy weight in chest.

Lucian’s head snapped up immediately. “California?” he repeated, as though he’d just heard something magical. “Our teacher told us about California! She said it’s really beautiful with beaches and palm trees and big houses!”

Lyra gasped, covering her mouth with both hands. “Really, Mommy? Are there princess castles there?”

I smiled faintly, smoothing her hair. “Maybe not princess castles, sweetheart, but it’s a very beautiful place. You’ll love it there.”

The twins exchanged excited glances before both of them squealed in delight. Their joy filled the small living room, echoing off the walls like music. I couldn’t help but laugh, though deep down, something in me twisted painfully.

They didn’t know what California truly meant to me.

They didn’t know the memories buried there, the ones I’d tried to run from for five long years.

“Mommy,” Lucian tugged at my arm, snapping me out of my thoughts. “Will our friends come with us?”

I shook my head softly. “No, baby. It’ll just be us, but you’ll make new friends there, okay?”

He frowned a little, glancing at Lyra, then back at me. “As long as we’re all together, it’s fine,” he said with that maturity that sometimes startled me. He was only five, but he carried himself with a calm strength that reminded me too much of someone I didn’t want to think about.

Lyra nodded eagerly. “Yeah, we’ll still have you, Mommy. And Dad too!”

My chest tightened. I looked at the both of them and smiled, though my heart ached. “Yes, you’ll still have us,” I said quietly, pressing a kiss to each of their foreheads. “Now, go grab your bags. We don’t want to be late for school.”

The two of them scurried off, chatting about California and all the fun things they’d imagined. I stood there for a long moment, staring after them, my smile slowly fading.

By the time I dropped the twins off at school, their excitement hadn’t dimmed one bit. Lucian had hugged me twice, promising to tell his friends that he was moving to “the most beautiful place in the world.” Lyra had kissed my cheek and whispered, “Don’t be sad, Mommy. We’ll be happy there.”

14:53 Tue, Oct 7

Chapter 231

Her words haunted me as I drove back home.

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The house felt too quiet when I stepped inside. The smell of something cooking drifted from the kitchen eggs and toast, I guessed. I sighed, slipping off my shoes as I walked toward my room, ignoring the sound of clinking dishes that told me Derick was awake and busy.

“Morning,” he called from the kitchen, his voice cautious, as though he already knew I wasn’t in the mood to talk.

I didn’t answer. I walked straight to my room, closed the door behind me, and collapsed on the bed.

The moment my body hit the mattress, I let out a shaky breath I hadn’t realized I was holding. My mind kept replaying everything from earlier: the twins‘ smiles, their laughter, and the word California echoing in my head like a haunting song.

I thought I had left that part of my life behind. The pain, the betrayal, the heartbreak it was all buried there. Going back felt like reopening a wound that had only just begun to heal.

I pressed my face into the pillow, whispering to myself, “Why does it have to be California?”

A knock interrupted my thoughts. I didn’t need to look up to know who it was.

“Go away, Derick,” I muttered, not lifting my head.

There was silence for a few seconds, then the soft creak of the door opening. I sighed and rolled over, facing him reluctantly.

He stood there, tall and composed, holding two plates of breakfast. His eyes, those kind, steady eyes that had once pulled me out of the darkness, watched me with a mix of guilt and concern.

“What do you want?” I asked, crossing my arms over my chest.

He didn’t respond right away. Instead, he set the plates on the bedside table and sat beside me on the bed. The mattress dipped slightly under his weight.

“I made breakfast,” he said quietly. “You didn’t eat before dropping the kids off.”

“I’m not hungry.”

He looked down at his hands, clasping them together. “Raven,” he began, his tone careful, “if this is about what happened… I’m sorry.”

I stared at him, trying to keep my emotions steady. “Sorry for what exactly?”

“For lying to you,” he said after a moment, meeting my eyes. “About my parents. About who they are.”

I turned away, staring at the wall. “You could have told me the truth, Derick. You made me believe they were gone.”

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. “I know. I just… I didn’t know how to tell you. My parents are difficult. They have high expectations, and they judge easily. I didn’t want them to make you feel unwelcome. I didn’t

14:53 Tue, Oct 7

Chapter 231

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want them to look down on you or the kids.”

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