Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 50

Chapter 50

Reven POV

I stood up from the bed because I was too tired to cry anymore. There was no need to cry. This was my life now, and the only choice I had was to live it and try to be happy or at least pretend to be.

The sterile scent of the pack clinic clung to the walls like a shadow. It wasn’t just the antiseptic that made me feel like I was suffocating–it was the invisible chain Alpha Ethan had wrapped around me. The cold white walls, the too–clean sheets, and the silence that pressed down on me harder than any physical weight–I needed to get out of here. Even for a few minutes.

1 shuffled to the door, my legs still weak, but I managed to keep my balance. I reached for the handle, my fingers curling around it, desperate for a breath of fresh air, for the feel of sunlight on my skin. Just as I turned the knob, the door was gently pushed back, and a nurse stood in front of me. Her eyes held sympathy, but her words were firm.

“I’m sorry, Raven. Alpha Ethan gave strict instructions. You’re not to leave this room until he says so.”

I blinked, stunned for a moment. My voice came out sharper than I intended. “He did what?”

She lowered her eyes. “He said it’s for your own good. You’re still recovering.”

“Oh, for my own good?” I laughed bitterly. “How thoughtful of him. The same Alpha who hunted me to the extent of me wanting to take my own life that brought me here Right. Sounds like he’s so worried about my health.”

“Raven-” the nurse began.

“Don’t.” I stepped back. “Just–don’t.”

I slammed the door shut, the sound echoing louder than I expected. My heart thudded with frustration as I stomped back to the bed, my fists clenched. I felt trapped. Caged. And that infuriating Alpha had the audacity to pretend it was for my safety.

“I hate him,” I muttered under my breath. “Arrogant, controlling bastard

I paced the room for a few minutes before collapsing into the chair by the window. My eyes landed on the small shelf beside it. It was filled with a few books and magazines–probably to keep patients entertained. I reached out and grabbed the first book that caught my eye.

A romance novel. Of course.

I turned it over and read the blurb. A story about fated mates torn apart by war and pride but reunited in the end, stronger and more in love than ever. I snorted. Fiction always had a way of twisting pain into something beautiful. Real life wasn’t like that. Real life was cruel and unfair. Mates weren’t always happy. Sometimes, your mate didn’t even know you were theirs–or worse, being taken from you by people you trust

I hugged the book to my chest, staring blankly at the wall.

“I wish you knew, Ethan,” I whispered, the bitterness in my throat making it hard to speak even in solitude. “I wish you knew we were mates. I wish you cared. Maybe then, this story wouldn’t be fiction. Maybe… maybe we could’ve had a happy ending too.”

But fate had other plans. The Moon Goddess, in all her divine wisdom, had tied me to a man who didn’t see me. Not really. A man who hurt me without knowing why, and maybe even if he knew, he wouldn’t care. Maybe that was the cruelest part of all.

I wiped away a tear before it could fall.

A knock on the door snapped me out of my spiral.

“Come in,” I said, voice still hoarse.

The door opened, and Beta Matthew stepped inside, carrying a tray. His smile was gentle, familiar. There was something in his eyes that reminded me of warmth–of safety.

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Chapter 50

I brought food,” he said. “You have to eat at least to recover

My stomach growled, betraying the lie I wanted to tell him—that I wasn’t hungry. I looked at the tray–steaming soup, some bread, and a small bowl of fruit.

“You didn’t have to,” I murmured.

He sat the tray down on the table. “I know. But I wanted to.”

1 offered a small smile. “Thanks.”

He took the seat across from mine, folding his arms over his chest. “You look better. Less pale.”

“I guess that means I’m healing.”

He tilted his head slightly. “How are you… really?”

I hesitated. Part of me wanted to tell him everything–to spill all the confusion, the heartbreak, the burning resentment. But the bigger part of me knew I couldn’t. Not yet. Not without consequences.

“I’ve been better,” I said, choosing honesty without the full truth. “But I’m alive. That’s something.”

“It is,” he agreed. “And I’m glad. You scared the hell out of me, Raven.”

I looked away. “I didn’t mean to.”

“I know.” He leaned forward slightly, voice softer. “You’re not alone in this, you know.”

I blinked, “What do you mean?”

“I mean… if you need someone. If you ever need to talk or just sit in silence, I’ll be here.” He shrugged. “No pressure. No expectations.”

My throat tightened. “You’re kind, Matthew.”

He smiled. “Only for you.”

That made me laugh, and it felt strange. The sound of it almost foreign, like it didn’t belong in this room or in this broken moment. But it helped. For a second, it helped.

We ate in companionable silence. Occasionally he’d ask about the book I was holding, and I’d tell him it was a ridiculous love story that could never happen in real life. He’d raise an eyebrow and say he thought love like that still existed–if you looked hard enough.

“I think the problem is,” I said, setting my spoon down, “people romanticize the idea of mates. They think it’s always going to be perfect. That you’ll meet, fall in love instantly, and nothing will go wrong.”

He nodded. “But that’s not always the case.”

“No. Sometimes your mate doesn’t even recognize the bond. Or worse, he treats you like dirt because he doesn’t know what you mean to him.”

Matthew’s expression darkened slightly. “That sounds… personal.”

I looked at him, measuring his reaction. “Maybe.”

He didn’t press. And that was one of the reasons I liked him. He didn’t pry, didn’t demand answers I wasn’t ready to give. He just sat there, offering his presence like an anchor in a storm.

After the meal, he helped me set the tray aside and brought over a glass of water. He even fluffed my pillow when I sat on the edge of the bed, pretending I wasn’t tired but knowing my body would soon betray me again.

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dha

Chapter 50

“Will he let you out soon?” he asked.

I snorted. “Doubt it. Apparently, Alpha Ethan gave orders not to let me leave the room.”

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