Mated To The Alpha King (Raven and Ethan) novel Chapter 292

**TITLE: No More 292**

**Alpha Ethan’s POV**

“Go and fetch her,” I commanded the guard, my tone resolute, yet my heart raced like a wild creature trying to break free.

He bowed quickly, urgency in his movements, as if every tick of the clock was a matter of life and death.

The lingering ache in my stomach was a bitter reminder of the poison that coursed through my veins, a consequence of my failed attempt to reclaim my strength. Yet, amidst the pain, clarity surged through my mind like a sudden burst of sunlight after a storm. My wolf remained silent, a quiet observer, but I understood the gravity of this moment. I could not afford to overlook it.

Matthew, who had been silently leaning against the wall, stepped forward, his expression a mix of concern and disbelief.

“Ethan, what on earth are you thinking? You’re summoning someone you don’t even know. What if she poses a threat? What if she’s been sent here to harm you?”

I met his gaze with unwavering determination, my eyes narrowed and steady. “She won’t,” I replied, my voice calm but firm. “You’re here with me now. Nothing will happen.”

Before he could voice any further objections, the door slid open with a soft creak. One of the guards entered first, bowing swiftly, and behind him, a woman stumbled into the room.

She looked as if she had emerged from a nightmare, her hair a tangled mess, clothes torn and soiled, and dust clung to her skin like a second layer. She seemed less like a visitor and more like a survivor of a relentless storm, someone who had faced the wilderness head-on rather than a mere traveler crossing into pack territory.

As she stood frozen in the center of the room, hesitation radiated from her. Her shoulders were tense, her hands trembled slightly, betraying her inner turmoil.

Then, as if drawn by an invisible force, she lifted her gaze to meet mine, and the word escaped her lips before she could fully comprehend its weight.

“Mate.”

Time seemed to freeze around us, my heart constricting painfully in my chest. “What did you just say?” I asked, my voice low and cautious, as if fearing the answer could shatter the fragile air between us.

She swallowed hard, her lips quivering. “You… you are my mate,” she whispered, her voice a delicate thread woven with certainty.

Matthew stiffened beside me, his eyes wide with shock, while the guard’s expression mirrored his astonishment. The atmosphere in the room thickened with palpable tension, as if the very air held its breath.

I blinked, disbelief intertwining with something profound and unfamiliar stirring deep within me. “You’re certain? You mean to say that you are my mate?”

“Yes,” she affirmed, her voice gaining strength. “I sensed your scent from afar before I even crossed into your territory. I knew then.”

Her words struck me like a lightning bolt. “I was sent here by the rogue king to complete a mission, to spy, to undermine your pack. But the moment I laid eyes on you, I realized I couldn’t do it. I cannot betray you. Not you.”

I stared at her, my mind a whirlwind of confusion and wonder. My wolf remained silent, my instincts dulled, and my body did not respond as it should have.

“Are you truly sure?” I asked, striving to keep my voice steady despite the tumult within me. “Because I do not feel anything. My wolf is quiet. I cannot sense you yet.”

Raising my hand to silence him, I admitted quietly, “I do not wish to leave her. I love Reven. She is the mother of my children. She has been my anchor in my darkest times. But if I want my wolf back, if I want my pack, I have no choice. I must accept my mate. For the pack, for the future, for everything I hold dear.”

Matthew’s expression softened, understanding dawning in his eyes. There was no other path forward. Even if my heart ached in protest, the decision had been made.

Turning to the guard, I instructed, “Take her away. Arrange a safe place for her within the pack. I need time to prepare before her presence becomes official.”

The guard bowed and moved toward her. She hesitated for a brief moment, fear and hope flickering across her face, before she followed him silently. The door closed behind them, leaving the room enveloped in a heavy silence.

Matthew exhaled slowly, running a hand through his hair, a gesture of frustration and concern. “Ethan, are you truly going to accept her as your mate? Even though your wolf has not responded? What about Reven? Everything you have fought for?”

I pressed my hand to my chest, the ache of conflicting emotions weighing heavily upon me. “I do not want to leave her. I love Reven. She is the mother of my children. But if I want my wolf back, if I want my pack, I must accept my mate. I have to do this for the pack, for the future, for everything I cherish.”

Matthew did not argue further. He nodded slowly, acknowledging the gravity of my words.

Leaning back against the pillows, I felt the remnants of pain in my stomach, my body still weak, but my mind was clearer than it had been in years.

The woman who had been sent to betray me, my mate, was here, waiting. Brave, determined, and true.

Even if my wolf remained silent, even as the full moon loomed closer, I understood that this was merely the beginning of something profound.