Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 286

**Chapter 286**

**Reven’s POV**

The atmosphere in the study was heavy with silence, punctuated only by the rustling of papers. Reven was hunched over his desk, surrounded by a chaotic sea of documents. Each sheet was meticulously organized, yet the sheer volume suggested a mind that was both busy and preoccupied. I stood there for a moment, unsure if I should interrupt his concentration. Perhaps he was aware of my presence but chose to ignore it. Either way, his focus remained unwaveringly fixed on the file before him.

As I approached, my gaze fell upon an object that drew me in—a small, framed photograph nestled among the clutter. My breath caught in my throat as I recognized the image instantly.

It was a picture of me.

The memory flooded back with vivid clarity. It was taken five years ago, during that enchanting evening when I attended a ball with him. I could still recall the delicate fabric of my dress, the way my hair had been styled, and the awkward smile that had graced my lips. I remembered how he had held me close as we danced, his hand resting on my waist, and the way his eyes had lingered on me, filled with a longing that he seemed reluctant to acknowledge.

He had kept that picture all these years?

Why on earth would he do that?

Intrigued and bewildered, my fingers reached out toward the frame, drawn by an invisible force. But just as I was about to touch it, his voice sliced through my thoughts like a knife.

“Reven.”

The sharpness in his tone startled me, causing my hand to drop immediately. I looked up, meeting his gaze for the first time.

His eyes were now locked onto mine, cutting through the haze of my memories.

“What are you doing in my study unannounced?” he asked, his voice calm yet laced with an icy edge that sent shivers racing down my spine.

“I… I…” The words stumbled out of my mouth, tangled in my throat.

His question jolted me back to reality, and my heart began to race anew. I inhaled deeply, trying to steady myself against the whirlwind of emotions swirling within me.

“If you don’t have anything to say,” he continued, his attention shifting back to the document in front of him as he flipped it open, “you can leave. As you can see, I am occupied with something important.”

“No,” I interjected quickly, desperation creeping into my voice. “I actually have something I need to say.”

He paused, his pen hovering in the air for a brief moment. His shoulders tensed slightly, but he still refused to meet my gaze.

“Then go ahead,” he said, his voice devoid of warmth. “I’m listening.”

My throat felt tight, and my palms were clammy with sweat. Yet I forced the words out, each syllable a struggle.

“I’m sorry… about how I spoke to you this morning.”

His brow raised, but there was no hint of surprise in his expression.

“And what about that?” he asked, feigning ignorance, as if he didn’t already know exactly what I was referring to.

I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of my confession. “I realize now that the way I spoke to you was inappropriate. I shouldn’t have said those things. I’m truly sorry.”

Ethan paused, the room falling into an unsettling stillness. He slowly set the file down and turned his wheelchair to face me fully. His complete focus was now on me, his gaze piercing and intense, making me feel as though I were laid bare before him.

A smirk crept onto his lips, one that sent a shiver of both fear and desire coursing through me.

“You’re sure you’re genuinely sorry, love?” he asked, his tone deceptively casual.

“Yes. I really am,” I replied, my voice barely above a whisper.

Inside me, my wolf was howling with joy, making it hard to think clearly. She craved him—his approval, his touch, his forgiveness. Everything about him made her restless, igniting a fire within me that I struggled to contain.

Ethan tilted his head slightly, a predatory glint in his eyes.

“Then show me how sorry you are.”

His voice dropped to a deeper register, sending a shiver down my spine.

My brows knitted together in confusion. “Show you… how?”

His eyes darkened, and I felt a familiar thrill of apprehension and excitement.

“By pleasuring me.”

My mouth fell open in shock. “What?!”

He remained unfazed, his expression unyielding, devoid of any embarrassment.

“I can’t,” I whispered, my heart racing.

He leaned back slightly, a slow, confident smirk spreading across his lips.

“Don’t pretend you don’t want it,” he said softly, his voice dripping with temptation. “I remember how you were moaning last night when we kissed.”

“That was a mistake,” I snapped, frustration bubbling to the surface. “And I can ensure it never happens again.”

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