Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 232

Chapter 232

Chapter 232

Reven Pov

I woke up to the constant buzzing of my alarm clock just a few minutes past six.

My eyes felt heavy, my limbs still from exhaustion.

I stretched my hand weakly across the nightstand, fumbling for the alarm, and the moment my fingers hit the button, I sank back into the bed with a sigh. My whole body ached from the long night I had packing boxes, folding clothes, organizing the kids‘ toys, and labeling luggage all the tiny, tiring details that came with leaving behind a place that had once been home.

But before I could drift back to sleep, the sound of little footsteps echoed down the hallway. The door burst open with the same energy that always startled me in the mornings.

“Mummy!” two tiny voices chorused. “We’re late! Daddy’s waiting!”

My eyes shot open immediately. Lyra and Lucian stood by the door, both dressed in their travel outfits – Lyra in her pink jumpsuit with her hair in two puffy buns, and Lucian in his blue T–shirt and shorts, his favorite dinosaur bag slung across his shoulder.

I blinked, startled. “Late?” I murmured, rubbing my eyes. “What time is it?”

Lyra giggled as she climbed onto the bed. “It’s morning already! Daddy said to wake you. He bathed us and fed us breakfast. He’s putting our things in the car.”

I glanced at the clock; it was half past seven. “Oh no,” I muttered, sitting up quickly. “I overslept.”

Lucian grinned as he tugged at my blanket. “Come on, Mummy! Daddy said, We’ll miss the plane if you sleep all day.”

I laughed softly despite my tiredness. “Tell Daddy I’ll be out soon. Go wait for me in the living room, alright?”

“Yes, Mummy!” they chimed together before racing out of the room, their giggles fading down the hallway.

For a moment, I just sat there, staring at the closed door. My chest felt tight, not from fatigue, but from the wave of emotion that washed over me. Leaving this house -the one that held five years of my life, five years of raising my children, of trying to piece together a version of happiness felt heavier than I’d expected.

But there was no time to dwell. I pushed the duvet aside, padded to the bathroom, and turned on the shower. Warm water cascaded down my skin, washing away the traces of the long night, the exhaustion, and maybe a little of the sadness I carried.

When I stepped out, I towel–dried my hair and slipped into the outfit I’d laid out the night before – a soft cream top and fitted jeans. I brushed my hair, tying it neatly into a bun, and applied a hint of lip gloss. As I stood before the mirror, I caught my reflection and paused. My eyes though still a little puffy from lack of sleep glimmered with something I hadn’t seen in a long time: quiet determination.

With a deep breath, I turned off the lights, took one last look around the room that had been mine for years, and whispered a silent goodbye before shutting the door behind me.

Chapter 232

Downstairs, Derick was already waiting by the door, his sleeves rolled up, carrying the twins smaller bags. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and he looked up the moment he saw me.

“You’re finally up.” he teased with a small smile. “I was about to send the kids to drag you out.”

I smirked faintly. “You should’ve. I overslept.”

He chuckled. “I figured you needed it. You packed half the night while I was still trying to fix Lucian’s toy box

Lyra ran to me and wrapped her arms around my leg. “Mummy, Daddy made pancakes! There’s some left for you!”

I smiled and stroked her hair. “Then I better not let them go cold.”

I followed her into the kitchen. The smell of maple syrup and butter still lingered. A plate of pancakes sat on the counter, slightly cold but still inviting. I sat and took a few bites while the twins ran around, playing a made–up game about who would sit by the window on the plane.

Derick leaned against the doorway, watching me with that quiet, steady look of his. “Everything’s packed,” he said. “The driver’s already loading the last of it into the car.”

“Alright,” I said between bites. “Just give me a few minutes.”

He nodded, then turned to the twins. “Lyra, Lucian get your jackets. It might be cold on the flight.”

The twins obeyed quickly, their small feet padding across the tiles.

When I was done, I placed the empty plate in the sink and walked over to Derick. “Thank you,” I said quietly.

He raised an eyebrow. “For what?”

“For handling everything this morning. For… always being patient with me.”

His expression softened. “You don’t need to thank me, Raven. You’ve done more than enough.”

We stood there for a brief, wordless moment before the twins came running back, jackets in hand.

“Ready!” they yelled.

“Alright,” Derick said, smiling at them. “Let’s hit the road.”

As we stepped outside, a cool morning breeze brushed against my face. The car waited by the driveway, its trunk open, filled with our luggage. I glanced back at the house one last time. The white curtains fluttered in the window. Every corner of this place held a memory. The laughter, the tears, the nights I’d sat awake holding my babies, the days I’d tried to forget the pain of the past.

Derick noticed me staring. “You’ll be fine,” he said gently. “California’s a new start. You deserve that.”

I nodded slowly, swallowing the lump in my throat. “Yeah. A new start.”

The drive out of the estate was quiet at first, but soon Lyra and Lucian filled the car with chatter.

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Chapter 232

“Mummy, will there be beaches in California?” Lucian asked.

“Yes,” I replied, smiling. “There are lots of beaches.”

“Can we build sandcastles?” Lyra chimed in.

“As many as you want.”

They cheered, clapping their small hands together, and the car filled with laughter. I glanced at Derick, who was focused on the road, a faint smile tugging at his lips. For a fleeting moment, everything felt… peaceful.

But as we drove further, I noticed something odd. We weren’t heading toward the main airport road. The route was unfamiliar a quieter stretch of countryside leading away from the city.

“Derick,” I said, frowning slightly, “you missed the airport turn.”

He didn’t look alarmed, just calm almost amused. “Did you really think I’d let my family sit cramped on a plane with strangers?”

I blinked. “What are you talking about?”

He glanced at me briefly, a small grin playing on his lips. “We’re not taking a commercial flight, Raven. I have a jet waiting.”

“A jet?”

“Of course. I want you and the kids to be comfortable. Besides,” he added, his tone softening, “it’s our first flight together as a family. I want it to be special.”

I felt my lips part in surprise. A warmth spread through my chest unexpected and unfamiliar. “Derick, you didn’t have to”

“I wanted to,” he cut in gently. “You’ve done enough for us this years Derick I said gently. “I know, but just let me handle this one thing.”

The sincerity in his voice left me quiet. I turned to the window, watching the trees blur past.

The kids, oblivious to the emotional weight between us, were already singing along to a song playing faintly on the radio.

By the time we reached the airstrip, the morning sun had climbed high. The sleek silver jet stood on the tarmac, glistening under the sunlight. A few ground staff stood nearby, assisting with luggage. The pilot a tall man in uniform greeted Derick with a nod.

Lucian’s eyes widened in amazement. “Whoa… is that ours?”

Derick laughed. “Yes, buddy. That’s our ride.”

Lyra jumped excitedly. “It’s so shiny!”

Their excitement was contagious. Even I couldn’t help but smile as we walked closer. The jet was larger than I

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Chapter 232

remembered from years ago more polished, more modern.

The last time I’d seen it had been when life was much simpler, before everything changed.

As Derick and the pilot discussed the luggage, I climbed the small steps with the kids. The interior was breathtaking: soft leather seats, golden lighting, and enough space for the twins to play.

Lyra ran straight to a window seat. “Mummy, look! I can see the clouds already!”

Lucian hopped onto another scat, pretending to steer an invisible plane. “I’m flying us to California!”

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