Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 4

Alpha Ethan’s POV

  Five Years Later

  I woke up to the early morning sun streaming through my window. Slowly, I opened my eyes, got out of bed, and drew the curtains closed. My gaze drifted to the sleeping Olivia, and I sighed. It had been five years since we were mated. Five long years.

  I walked into the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and took a cold shower. When I stepped out, a towel wrapped around my waist, I returned to the room, only to find the bed empty. Olivia was already gone. Shaking my head, I went to my closet, pulled out a heavy blue suit, and slipped it on. The fabric fit perfectly, accentuating my broad shoulders and muscular frame. I adjusted my tie, ran a hand through my slightly damp hair, and stepped out of the room.

  As I descended the stairs, the rich aroma of food filled the air, making me pause. This wasn’t the usual scent of meals prepared by the maids. My mind immediately went to Olivia. Could she be the one cooking? The thought almost made me laugh. Olivia never cooked. She never cared whether I had breakfast or not.

  Curiosity got the best of me, and I decided to check the kitchen. Maybe she had changed.

  But as soon as I stepped inside, my hope was crushed. Elisa stood at the stove instead. I sighed.

  She turned at the sound of my footsteps, a warm smile on her face. “Good morning, brother.”

  I frowned. “You didn’t tell me you were coming back.”

  Elisa chuckled. “Chill, big brother. I wanted to surprise you, and I did, didn’t I?”

  I smirked. “So, tell me, how did you do it?”

  “You should already know. Didn’t you come here because of my cooking?” she teased, flipping an omelet onto a plate.

  A brief silence settled between us before I broke it. “I thought she was the one cooking,” I admitted, frustration lacing my voice.

  “She?” Elisa asked, her brow raised, but I didn’t respond.

  “Olivia?” she guessed.

  “Who else?” I muttered.

  Elisa sighed, shaking her head as she turned off the stove. “You should know by now that Olivia has never been the type to cook,” she said, disappointment evident in her voice.

  I ran a hand down my face, exhaling sharply. “I know,” I admitted, taking a seat at the kitchen counter. “It’s been five years, Elisa. Five damn years, and I still don’t feel the mate bond the way I’m supposed to. I thought it would grow, that maybe, with time, I’d feel something stronger. But every day, I wake up, and it feels… forced. Like I’m just going through the motions.”

  Elisa placed the plate in front of me, her expression unreadable. “Then why are you still holding on?” she asked, crossing her arms.

  I scoffed, picking up my fork but barely touching the food. “Because the bond is supposed to be sacred. Rejecting her after all these years would make me look weak. I thought maybe I was the problem. Maybe I wasn’t trying hard enough.” I clenched my jaw. “But regardless of what I do, Olivia is still the same. Cold. Distant. And when she does speak to me, it’s with nothing but irritation or demands. She barely acknowledges me unless she needs something.”

  Elisa sat across from me, her blue eyes filled with sympathy. “I’ve noticed,” she admitted. “She treats the pack like they’re beneath her, Ethan. Even the omegas fear her. She acts entitled, as if being Luna means everyone should serve her, but she gives nothing in return. You deserve more than that.”

  Olivia scoffed, flipping her hair over her shoulder. “The mate bond is what it is. We don’t have to be sickeningly in love, like some foolishly believe. We have an understanding, Ethan. That should be enough.”

  I clenched my jaw. “An understanding?” My voice was sharp, my patience thinning. “That’s all you have to say?”

  She crossed her arms. “Yes. You lead the pack. I stand by your side. We don’t need to pretend to be something we’re not.”

  I slammed my palm against the counter, making both Olivia and Elisa flinch. My wolf growled inside me, my dominance radiating through the room. “You are my mate, and you should act like it,” I snapped, my voice dangerously low.

  For five years, I had sacrificed my own happiness, waiting for her to change. But hell no—she only got worse.

  For the first time in a long while, Olivia hesitated. A flicker of nervousness crossed her face, but it vanished as quickly as it came. “Then that’s your problem,” she said smoothly, reaching for a cup of coffee.

  But I was faster. I grabbed her wrist, pulling her back. “You don’t walk out on me,” I growled. “I’m not just your mate—I’m your Alpha. And you will respect that.”

  I released her hand, making her lose her balance. She stumbled back and fell to the floor. 

  Just then, the door burst open. One of the guards on patrol ran in, gasping for breath.

  “Alpha,” he panted, worry in his eyes. “We’re under attack.”