Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 270

Chapter 270

Reven’s Pov

The breaking of the wine bottle got his attention as he let go of the girl. For a moment, the room went silent; only the sound of my heartbeat filled my ears.

The girl quickly pulled the duvet that was on the chair to cover herself, eyes wide with fear and shame. I stood at the door, frozen, my hands trembling as I tried to understand what my eyes were seeing.

Derick turned sharply, his face pale for a moment before anger took over. “What are you doing here?” he asked coldly, his voice deeper than usual.

I didn’t answer. I couldn’t. My throat felt dry, my chest tight. The air in the study was heavy with the scent of wine and something else I didn’t want to recognize betrayal.

The girl scrambled to her feet, picking up her clothes from the floor. “I’m sorry, Alpha,” she muttered, quickly dressing up.

Derick turned to her, his jaw tight. “Leave,” he ordered.

She didn’t wait another second. She hurried past me, avoiding my eyes as if she was ashamed to even exist in front of me.

When the door closed, the silence between us was unbearable.

I swallowed hard, fighting the tears that were threatening to fall. “Seriously, Derick? You cheated on me?”

He rubbed his forehead, not meeting my eyes. “Raven, this is not what you think—”

“Oh really?” I cut in, my voice cracking. “Because from what I saw, it’s exactly what it looks like.”

He sighed, walked to the table, and poured himself another drink, as if that would erase what I just saw. “Why are you here, Reven? You could’ve knocked before entering.”

I let out a bitter laugh. “That’s what you have to say? Not that you’re sorry, but that I didn’t knock?”

His voice hardened. “Don’t twist this. You broke my trust first, remember? You lied to me, Reven. You lied when you said you didn’t know the father of your kids, and you made me pity you and cared for you for the past five years, and if not because I heard that own my own, you would never have told me.

I stared at him, shocked. “So this is revenge?”

He finally looked at me, his eyes filled with something I had never seen before: coldness. “No. This is me realizing love isn’t enough when trust is broken.”

My heart dropped. “Derick… you said you loved me.”

He placed the glass on the table and turned away, “Love doesn’t make you betray someone you claim to care about. I’m not mad at you anymore, Raven. But it’ll take time for me to recover.”

His words hit me like a blade. I stepped closer, trying to reach his arm, but he pulled away. “Derick, if you’re tired of me, just say it. Don’t hide behind excuses.”

He shook his head and started walking toward the door. “You’re being dramatic, Raven. I need some air.”

And just like that, he left without looking back.

I stood there, staring at the door as it closed behind him. My knees gave way, and I sank into the chair he’d just vacated.

My whole body trembled as the tears finally fell.

For the first time in five years, Derick had looked at me with hatred. Not hurt. Not disappointment. Hatred.

The room smelled like betrayal, and every breath burned my chest. I looked around the table, the spilled wine, the broken bottle everything screamed that I had lost something I couldn’t get back.

After sitting there for what felt like hours, I stood and wiped my tears with the back of my hand. I needed air. I needed to breathe before I broke completely.

I walked out of the study and down the hallway, ignoring the eyes of the servants who pretended not to see my tear–stained face. The house felt colder than ever.

When I stepped outside, the evening breeze hit my skin, and I walked straight to the garden, my only place of

peace.

The garden was quiet except for the soft chirping of crickets. The flowers had started to close, and the sky was turning deep orange. I sat on the wooden chair near the roses, hugging myself tightly. My mind kept replaying what happened: the girl, the look on Derick’s face, and his words.

Maybe he no longer loved me. Maybe I had lost him for good.

My heart hurt so much that I pressed my palm against my chest. I wanted to scream, to cry louder, to break something just to stop the ache, but I didn’t. I just sat there, letting the pain consume me.

Minutes passed, maybe hours, I didn’t even know. I was lost in my thoughts when the ringing of my phone

broke the silence.

At first, I ignored it. I didn’t want to talk to anyone. But it kept ringing. I sighed and looked at the screen.

“Unknown number.”

I hesitated. My instincts told me not to answer, but something deep inside urged me to pick up. With shaky fingers, I pressed the green button and placed the phone to my ear.

“Hello?” I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

There was a short pause, then a familiar deep voice came through.

“Raven,”

My stomach tightened immediately. I knew that voice anywhere. Alpha Ethan.

I froze, staring at nothing as my heart began to race. “How did you get my number?” I asked, my voice sharp with surprise and confusion.

“That’s unnecessary right now,” he replied calmly, his tone low and smooth the same way it always was when he wanted to convince me of something. “I just want to see you, Raven. I want us to talk. Just as two adults.”

I clenched my jaw. “I don’t have time for that, Alpha Ethan.”

“Please,” he said quietly. “Just this once. No fighting, no arguments. I only want to talk.”

I looked down at my lap, biting my lip. Every part of me screamed no, but my wolf that stupid, soft–hearted creature whispered yes. My wolf had always been weak when it came to him.

“I said I don’t have time for that,” I repeated, trying to sound firm, though my voice shook.

He sighed on the other end. “Raven, I know you’re angry. I know you have every reason to hate me. But I’ve changed… and there are things you deserve to hear from me.

Please, just meet me once. After that, if you want me out of your life, I’ll go.”

His voice carried something regret, maybe pain, or maybe it was just another trick. But I couldn’t ignore the strange pull in my chest.

I swallowed hard. “Why now, Ethan? Why after everything?”

“I’ll explain when we meet,” he said. “Please, Raven. Just come.”

I looked around the garden, feeling lost and empty. Derick’s words still echoed in my head. Love doesn’t make you betray someone you care about. But wasn’t that exactly what Alpha Ethan had done to me too?

I wanted to tell him no again, to hang up and block the number, but my wolf wouldn’t stop whispering his

name.

“Raven,” he said softly. “Are you there?”

I closed my eyes, my hand trembling around the phone. “Fine,” I finally said, my voice breaking. “I’ll come. But only to hear what you have to say.”

I could almost hear him smile on the other end. “Thank you.”

“Don’t thank me,” I said quickly. “This doesn’t mean anything. I’m not doing this for you.”

“I understand,” he said. “I will send you the address of the restaurant“.

“Goodnight, Reven,” he said softly.

I didn’t reply. I just ended the call and stared at the phone in my hand. My chest felt heavy, my heart confused.

What did he really want to say? Why now, when everything was already falling apart?

The garden suddenly felt colder. The wind brushed against my skin, and I shivered

. I knew meeting him was a bad idea, but my heart didn’t listen.

I stood up, hugging myself as I looked up at the darkening sky.

The moon was slowly rising, half–hidden by the clouds just like my heart, half–broken, half–hopeful.

For a moment, I wondered if fate was playing another cruel trick on me taking away one man I loved only to drag me back to the one who destroyed me.

But deep down, I knew something bigger was coming. Something I wasn’t ready for.

I took one last deep breath and walked back toward the house, my mind spinning, my heart caught between two men one who broke me, and one who might never forgive me.