Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 252

“Wake up, beautiful.”

I heard Derick’s voice somewhere between sleep and consciousness, his tone soft but firm enough to stir me. I groaned and shifted under the warm blanket, clutching it tighter around me.

“Just let me rest a little,” I mumbled, my voice muffled beneath the duvet as I lifted it higher over my face.

Derick chuckled that deep, teasing laugh that always managed to get to me. “You have to get off the bed and freshen up. It’s almost time for breakfast, and I’m sure you wouldn’t want to keep everyone waiting.”

I sighed heavily, half in frustration, half in resignation. “Why do mornings come so fast?” I muttered, refusing to move an inch.

He pulled the duvet slightly, just enough for light to reach my face. “Because someone refused to sleep early,” he said playfully.

I peeked at him from under the covers, his hair slightly tousled, a faint smile resting on his lips. The sight made my heart flutter in a way I wasn’t ready to admit.

“Good morning,” I greeted softly, wrapping the duvet tighter around myself as I sat up.

He tilted his head, amusement dancing in his eyes. “How was your night?”

I rolled my eyes at the question. “Why would you ask that when we both spent the night together?”

He grinned, clearly enjoying teasing me. “I was just asking to know how you enjoyed the game we played last night.”

—-

My cheeks burned instantly as flashes of last night came rushing back the intensity, the laughter, the closeness. I quickly looked away, pushing him lightly on the chest. “You’re impossible,” I muttered, trying to hide my face.

Derick laughed again, stepping aside as I got off the bed, clutching the duvet around my body. My legs ached slightly, but I ignored the discomfort and headed straight for the bathroom. The cold water hit my skin, chasing away the last traces of sleep. I took a quick shower, though every movement reminded me of just how thorough last night had been.

When I finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel, Derick was still in the room

his hands.

“Still here?” I asked, raising a brow.

– this time with my clothes in

“Of course,” he replied smoothly. “I wanted to make sure my Luna looks perfect.”

I shook my head, unable to hide a small smile. “You’re unbelievable.”

“Sit,” he said, motioning toward the dressing mirror.

I hesitated for a moment before obeying. He squeezed some lotion into his palm and began to gently cream my body. His hands were warm and soft, gliding over my skin with care. There was no rush in his touch only tenderness. Every stroke felt like a wordless promise, a reminder that I wasn’t alone anymore.

My breath hitched slightly when his fingers brushed the curve of my neck. “You don’t have to-”

–

“I want to,” he interrupted quietly, meeting my gaze in the mirror. His voice carried that calm authority that always silenced my protests.

–

When he was done, I slipped into my underwear and then into the outfit he had picked out for me a soft cream blouse tucked into a flowing skirt. It was simple yet elegant, exactly his taste.

“Perfect,” he said, smiling with satisfaction.

We walked out together, side by side, down the hallway that led to the dining room. The smell of freshly baked bread and roasted eggs drifted through the air. My stomach fluttered – not from hunger, but from the anticipation of facing everyone again.

As we entered, I spotted his parents already seated, along with my kids. Lyra’s laughter echoed softly, and my heart melted instantly. She was chatting animatedly with Derick’s father, while her twin brother tried to look composed, though his eyes lit up when he saw me.

“Always late,” my wolf whispered in my head.

“You can’t blame me,” I muttered under my breath, suppressing a tiny smile.

—

I greeted Derick’s parents politely, not expecting much of a response but to my surprise, they actually greeted me back. I froze for a second, unsure how to react. Their tone wasn’t overly warm, but it wasn’t cold either. It was… neutral. Respectful, even.

I quickly composed myself and took my seat beside Derick. Breakfast began soon after, with the soft clinking of cutlery filling the air. Derick and his father dove into a conversation about pack affairs, something about the upcoming council meeting and border patrol schedules.

I stayed quiet, focusing on my meal and pretending not to listen, though every word reminded me how much responsibility rested on Derick’s shoulders. From the corner of my eye, I could see him occasionally glance at me, as if silently checking that I was comfortable.

My children seemed happy and safe, even. That alone was enough to make me feel at peace. For a fleeting moment, I thought maybe things were finally settling into place.

When I was done eating, I wiped my mouth and rose to my feet, offering a small smile. “Thank you for the meal,” I said politely, looking toward Derick’s parents. “It was lovely.”

I was about to leave the dining room when a voice stopped me.

“Raven,” Derick’s mother called, her tone calm but carrying a strange weight. “Please, wait a moment.”

I froze mid–step. My heart skipped, and every instinct in me told me to turn around slowly.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify