Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 255

Reven’s Pov

Two Days Later

“Give Mummy the ball, Lyra, so I can score for you before your brother takes it from you!” I shouted, laughing as Lyra, my little sunshine, came running toward me, her curly hair bouncing with each tiny step.

She handed the ball to me with excitement in her eyes, and before Lucian could snatch it away, I kicked it right into the small post we’d made out of two stones.

“Goal!” I shouted as Lyra screamed with joy and ran into my arms.

“I told you we’d win, Mummy!” she giggled, her voice high and sweet like the evening breeze that danced across the open yard.

I lifted her up, spinning her gently in the air before setting her back down.

Her laughter filled the space around us, wrapping around my heart and melting away some of the heaviness that had been lingering for days.

Lucian, however, stood a few feet away, his little arms crossed, his lower lip jutting out in a stubborn pout. His bright–green eyes so much like his father’s were fixed on us with a mixture of frustration and mock disappointment.

“That was an unfair game,” he muttered, plopping down on the soft grass. “You helped Lyra too much, Mummy.”

I smiled and walked toward him, brushing my hands over his soft hair. “Sweetheart,” I said softly, “Lyra is a girl. She can’t always match your speed.

You shouldn’t be mad, alright? Next time, we’ll make sure the game is fair for everyone.”

Lucian’s pout softened a little. He nodded, still trying to hold on to his fake anger, but the moment I handed him a cookie from the little basket beside me, his lips curved into a grin.

“I guess that’s okay,” he said with his mouth full.

Lyra giggled and sat down beside him, her dress flaring out, like a tiny flower. She reached into the basket and grabbed her own cookie.

The twins sat side by side, munching away happily as the last rays of the sun painted the sky a deep gold and purple.

For a moment, everything felt perfect: the sound of their laughter, the smell of the grass, and the peace that came with just being their mother. I wanted to freeze this moment and keep it forever.

But then, as always, reality found a way to creep back in.

“Mummy,” Lyra said after a long silence, her voice small and hesitant, “why don’t Grandma and Grandpa enjoy playing with

us?”

I froze. My hand stilled in midair as I picked up the empty juice bottle. I turned to look at her, trying to keep my expression

neutral.

“What do you mean, sweetheart?” I asked, forcing a sinile.

Lyra tilted her head, her innocent eyes wide. “Grandma is always so mean. She never smiles at us. And Grandpa… he doesn’t

even talk to us.”

The words hit me harder than I expected.

She was just a child, but she wasn’t wrong.

I blinked, trying to steady myself, my heart aching at how observant she had become. A lump formed in my throat as I looked down at her tiny hands clutching the half–eaten cookie.

“Oh, baby…” I whispered, pulling her closer. “Grandma and Grandpa are just… busy, that’s all. They have a lot on their

minds.”

Lyra frowned, her lips pressing together as she thought about it. “But when we were back in the States,” she said softly, “my friend’s grandma used to bring her homemade cookies every weekend. She said, Grandmas are supposed to do that.”

Her voice cracked a little at the end.

Lucian, who had been quietly listening, looked up and said, “It’s true, Mummy. They never bring us anything. What did we do wrong?”

That was it. My chest tightened as the tears I’d been holding back began to sting my eyes.

“You did nothing wrong,” I said quickly, wrapping my arms around both of them. “You two are the best kids anyone could ever ask for. Don’t you ever think otherwise, do you hear me?”

They nodded silently, resting their small heads against my shoulders.

I took a deep breath and forced a smile. “You know what? Mummy will make homemade cookies for you both.

And I’ll play more with you, okay? We don’t need Grandma for that.”

Lyra’s eyes brightened instantly. “Really?”

“Yes, sweetheart. I promise.”

“Then I want chocolate chip ones!” Lucian said, raising his hand like he was in class.

I laughed softly. “Chocolate chip it is.”

We sat there for a while, the three of us, enjoying the calm of the evening. I watched them nibble at the last of their cookies, crumbs scattered across their tiny fingers, and I couldn’t help but think of how much they had grown.

They deserved happiness, laughter, and love things that were slowly being drained out of this house filled with coldness and judgment.

“Alright, my loves,” I said gently, brushing grass off their clothes. “Finish up your snacks so we can go take a shower. Evening is approaching fast.”

They nodded, finishing the last bites before running off toward the small stone pathway that led to the house. I stayed behind for a moment, letting my gaze wander toward the glowing horizon.

The wind was soft but carried the scent of rain. It brushed against my skin, whispering thoughts I’d tried so hard to ignore.

I thought about what the kids said. It was true–they weren’t happy here. And honestly, neither was 1.

The mansion, despite its luxury, felt like a prison. Every corner reminded me that I didn’t belong here–not to Derick’s family, not to this world of silent disapproval and judgmental stares.

My children felt it too, even if they couldn’t name it.

Their happiness… that was my priority.

As the thought sank deeper, my wolf stirred inside me, her voice calm but filled with concern.

“Raven,” she said softly, “I know what you’re thinking.”

“Do you?” I whispered under my breath, my gaze still lost in the sunset.

“You’re thinking of taking the money his mother offered two days ago and leaving.”

I closed my eyes. “Maybe that’s not such a bad idea,” I murmured. “It’s enough to get us started somewhere new- somewhere no one will treat us like outsiders.”

“It won’t be easy,” my wolf warned. “If you move out now, things could get messy. Derick might not let you go easily.”

I sighed, pressing my hand against my chest. “Then what should I do? Stay here and keep pretending we’re happy while my kids grow up feeling unwanted?”

There was a long silence.

Then my wolf spoke again, her voice steady, like a whisper of wisdom in the wind. “If you can’t keep up with it, then leave. Your peace and sanity are more important than a life partner. You deserve peace, Raven. You always have.”

I nodded slowly, her words sinking into my soul.

She was right.

For too long, I’d stayed because I thought love meant endurance. But love shouldn’t feel like pain. It shouldn’t make your children question their worth.

I didn’t realize how long I’d been lost in thought until I felt someone tap me lightly on the shoulder.

I blinked and turned to see one of the housemaids standing there, her eyes wide and slightly worried.

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