Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 244

Chapter 244

Reven’s Pov

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After I had my training session with Derick, I left the field feeling exhausted yet strangely unsatisfied. My body ached, but it wasn’t from the training; it was from the tension building inside me. Every time I looked at him, something in my chest twisted painfully. He was trying to pretend everything was fine, and maybe I was too, but deep down we both knew the crack between us was growing.

I took a deep breath and walked back to my room. The corridors were quiet, only the distant sounds of laughter echoing faintly from the pack’s younger members training outside. I wished I could laugh that easily again.

Once inside my room, I closed the door softly behind me. The silence pressed down on me as I leaned against the wooden frame. My reflection in the mirror caught my attention messy hair, tired eyes, and a faint bruise on my shoulder from sparring. I sighed and moved toward the bathroom.

The warm water from the shower ran down my skin, washing away sweat and dust, but it couldn’t wash away the heaviness in my chest. The thought of the twins flashed in my mind Lyra’s giggle, Liam’s curious eyes. I hadn’t seen them all morning. Guilt stabbed at me.

“You should go check on them,” my wolf murmured gently in my mind.

“I know,” I whispered aloud, closing my eyes as the water poured over me. “I’ve been so caught up in everything that I’ve barely seen them.”

“They miss you,” my wolf reminded me softly. “They always do.”

When I stepped out of the shower, I wrapped myself in a towel and stood in front of my closet, unsure what to wear. It wasn’t like I was going anywhere special, but somehow, I wanted to look put together for myself, maybe. I slipped into a comfortable pair of jeans and a loose white top. My hair, still damp, fell over my shoulders as I brushed through it.

Taking a deep breath, I left my room and headed down the hallway toward the twins’ room. My footsteps echoed lightly on the polished floor. When I opened their door, the familiar warmth of their laughter filled my heart instantly,

Lyra was sitting on the bed, surrounded by her dolls, while Liam was sketching something on the little table beside her. The moment Lyra saw me, her big brown eyes lit up.

“Mommy!” she squealed, jumping off the bed and running straight into my arms. Her tiny hands wrapped tightly around my waist.

I bent down, holding her close, inhaling the sweet scent of her strawberry shampoo. “Hey, sunshine,” I whispered, smiling softly.

“Why aren’t you spending time with us like when we were at the estate?” Lyra asked, looking up at me with her innocent, pouting face. “You used to play with us every evening.”

Her question hit me harder than I expected. My throat tightened as guilt pooled deep inside me. I brushed a strand of hair away from her face and smiled weakly. “Mommy’s just been… busy, baby. But I promise I’ll

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Chapter 244

make time for you. Just like before, okay?”

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She studied my face for a moment, her small brows furrowing as if trying to decide if I was telling the truth.

Then she nodded and smiled, her faith in me shining through those innocent eyes.

Lucian looked up from his drawing. “You promise?” he asked quietly. He was always the calmer of the two, more observant, more cautious.

I walked over to him and knelt beside his chair. “I promise,” I said softly, placing a kiss on his forehead. “You both mean the world to me.”

He smiled, though it was a small one. “Okay, Mommy.”

I stood, taking one last look at them. A part of me wanted to stay, to sit with them and forget about everything else. But I couldn’t. Not now. Not when so much was at stake.

“I’ll see you both later, okay? Be good for me,” I said, forcing a smile before walking out of the room.

As soon as I closed the door behind me, my smile faded. My heart ached, but I had something important to do, something that might change everything.

The kitchen was busy as usual. A few maids were preparing lunch, the smell of baked bread and roasted meat filling the air. I walked in quietly, grabbed a drink from the counter, and smiled faintly at the others.

One of the young kitchen staff, a tall guy with brown hair, looked at me curiously. “Are you looking for something, ma’am?”

“Yes,” I said, trying to sound casual. “Can you tell me the way to the library?”

“The library?” he repeated, as if surprised I’d ask. “Yeah, it’s at the east wing, right after the hallway that leads to the garden. You can’t miss it.”

“Thanks,” I said, nodding politely before grabbing a few snacks from a nearby tray.

“Good luck,” he called after me with a chuckle. “That place is like a maze.”

He wasn’t wrong.

When I reached the library, I paused for a moment, staring at the large double doors before me. The place looked ancient and mysterious, with tall shelves visible even through the glass. I pushed the door open, and a faint creak echoed through the silent room.

My jaw dropped slightly. The library was massive, far bigger than I had imagined. Rows upon rows of books stretched high to the ceiling, the smell of old paper filling the air. The sunlight streaming in through the large windows gave the place a golden glow, almost sacred.

“How the hell are you going to find that map in here?” my wolf asked dryly.

I sighed, walking slowly between the shelves. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “But I have to. I can’t give up now.”

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Chapter 244

“You could ask for help.”

“And risk someone finding out? No. This is my mess, and I’ll fix it myself.”

My wolf hummed softly. “You’re stubborn.”

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“Maybe,” I muttered, running my fingers along the spines of the books. “But I’ve come too far to stop.”

I started searching carefully, scanning every row, pulling out books that looked old or out of place. Time passed quickly. My back ached from bending and stretching, and after what felt like hours, I still found nothing. Frustrated, I dropped onto a nearby chair.

I opened the small bag I brought and pulled out the snacks I’d taken from the kitchen-biscuits and an apple. I took a bite, chewing absently while staring at the towering shelves in front of me.

“This is hopeless,” I mumbled.

“Maybe not,” my wolf said, her tone cautious. “Look closely. Sometimes the truth hides in plain sight.”

I frowned and followed her advice, letting my gaze wander around the room again. That’s when I noticed something—a faint outline on the far corner shelf, like a small piece of paper tucked where it shouldn’t be.

I stood instantly, heart pounding.

Carefully, I approached the spot and reached between the books. My fingers brushed against something smooth and folded. I pulled it out-and froze.

It was old and fragile, the edges slightly torn, but when I unfolded it, my breath caught in my throat.

It was the map.

The map I’d been searching for.

A small gasp escaped my lips, and I quickly covered my mouth, looking around to make sure no one had heard. My hands trembled as I held the paper closer, scanning the detailed drawings.

It showed every room in the pack house the living quarters, the storage rooms, even secret passages I never knew existed.

And there, in bold ink, was what I’d been looking for: The Security Room, located in the eastern wing, not far from where the guards rotated shifts.

My wolf let out a low growl of satisfaction. “You found it.”

“Yes,” I whispered, my voice shaking. “I actually found it.”

“Then what now?”

“I’ll take a picture.”

I pulled out my phone, quickly snapping several shots of the map before carefully refolding it and placing it

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Chapter 244

back exactly where I found it. My heart raced the entire time, afraid someone might walk in.

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