Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 316

Reven’s Pov

I woke up to a sharp, burning pain on the side of my neck.

A strangled gasp left my lips as my eyes fluttered open, the familiar ceiling of my room swimming in Bright morning light poured through the curtains, stabbing at my already aching head.

Us.

I tried to shift, to turn my head even slightly, but the movement sent a fresh wave of pain crashing through me, forcing a whimper from my throat.

My hand trembled as I slowly lifted it, fingers brushing the tender skin of my neck. The spot was swollen. Sensitive. As if something had burned me there–deeply, deliberately.

Memory rushed back all at once.

The rough wolf’s grip.

The cold glint of hatred in his eyes.

The

way the world had nearly gone dark before help arrived.

I sucked in a shaky breath and squeezed my eyes shut.

What if he had been a minute late?

The thought clawed at my chest, stealing my breath. One minute.

That was all it would have taken. One minute more, and this this bed, this room, this life would have been gone. Reduced to a whisper in the afterlife.

Was this really how I was meant to die?

A broken laugh escaped me, brittle and hollow. After everything had endured, everything I had survived, was I really meant to end beneath the hands of someone who hated Alpha Ethan so much that he saw me as nothing more than a weapon?

Frustration welled up inside me, thick and suffocating. I turned my face toward the window, blinking back tears that threatened to fall.

Just then, the door burst open.

“Mummy!”

Three small voices cried out in unison before I could even react

Soft footsteps pounded across the floor, and suddenly I was engulfed by small arms wrapping around me, warm bodies. pressing close. The pain in my neck faded into the background as instinct took over.

I wrapped my arms around them, pulling them close despite the ache in my body.

“My babies,” I whispered, burying my face in their hair.

They clung to me as if I might disappear if they let go.

“We were scared,” my little daughter said, her voice muffled against my chest.

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“I’m here, I murmured, forcing strength into my tone. “Mommy’s here”

Behind them, I heard the soft whirring sound I knew all too wel

Alpha Ethan wheeled into the room.

His presence filled the space immediately, heavy, commanding, and unwelcome.

Lucian was the first to notice him. He pulled back slightly, his young face serious in a way no child

“Mummy,” he said, his small hand gripping my sleeve. “How are you feeling?”

I smiled at him, even though my heart was breaking.

“Mummy is fine,” I said gently.

He nodded, studying me as if committing my face to memory. Then, with a determination far beyond his years, he straightened.

“When I grow up,” Lucian said firmly, “I’ll be very strong. Strong enough to protect you. And my little sister. No one will ever hurt you again.”

My chest tightened.

Tears burned my eyes, but I smiled through them, brushing my fingers through his hair. “That’s very brave of you.”

The children lingered for a moment longer before I kissed their foreheads.

“Go back to your room,” I told them softly. “Mommy needs to talk to Daddy.”

They hesitated, then nodded. One by one, they turned and walked out, casting worried glances over their shoulders until the door closed behind them.

Silence settled between us.

Heavy. Tense.

Alpha Ethan spoke first.

“Matthew told me what happened,” he said.

I laughed a short, humorless sound.

“Oh,” I replied. “So it was Matthew who saved me.”

He frowned. “Reven”

“No,” I cut in sharply. “Do you believe me now? About the rough? About Vera?”

His jaw tightened.

“It’s not that I don’t believe you,” he said carefully. “But there’s been nothing suspicious from Vera. I’ve had her watched.”

I stared at him in disbelief.

imagini

“That’s just it,” I snapped. “You always make it seem like I’m lying. Like I’m things. The one person who’s actually lying to you, you trust her unquestionably.”

He said nothing.

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Chapter 316

“Maybe it’s because you haven’t been attacked,” I continued bitterly. “Maybe if you had even a little taste of what I’ve endured, you wouldn’t behave like such a selfish beast.”

His eyes darkened.

“Get out,” I said, my voice shaking now. “I would rather not see you. Ever again. I regret ever knowing you.”

“Raven,” he called gently.

“No!” I shouted. “I don’t want to hear anything you have to say.

Get the fuck out of my room. Go stay with your mate.”

My wolf snarled inside me, pushing against my control. I clenched my fists, fighting to keep her down.

Ethan noticed.

He hesitated for a moment longer, then turned and wheeled out of the room without another word.

The door closed softly behind him.

The moment he was gone, my strength collapsed.

I fell back against the pillows, gasping for air as my chest heaved. Tears streamed freely down my cheeks as exhaustion wrapped around me like chains.

I was so tired.

Tired of fighting.

Tired of hoping.

Tired of loving someone who never chose me.

A soft knock sounded at the door.

“I don’t want to see anyone,” I muttered weakly.

“It’s me,” Matthew’s voice came through.

I sighed. “Come in.”

The door opened, and Beta Matthew stepped inside. The moment his eyes met mine, I saw it.

Pity.

I hated it.

“How are you feeling?” he asked gently.

“I don’t know,” I admitted honestly.

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