Mated to the Alpha: Sold to the King novel Chapter 19

Chapter 19: 0019

Raven POV

The tears were a nice touch. Truly. If I hadn’t been so thoroughly disgusted, I might’ve actually applauded the performance.

I didn’t rise from my chair. Why would I?

Instead, I let my gaze slowly drift from Callista’s trembling lower lip up to her wide, innocent eyes.

I let the silence drag out between us until the dramatic little scene she was trying so hard to create started curdling into awkwardness.

"I’m not suggesting anything," I replied coolly. "I’m asking a question. There’s a difference."

Immediately, Callista’s hand flew protectively to her stomach.

"The healer already confirmed the timeline," she whispered. "Ask him yourself if you don’t believe me."

"Okay," was all I said as I finally rose to my feet.

The second I moved, Callista rushed to Jaxen’s side, and he immediately shifted to shield her behind him.

"Raven." Jaxen’s voice came out sharp with warning.

"What?" I asked innocently. "You asked if I had something to do with Lorelei’s escape. I’m asking questions too. Fair’s fair."

Within seconds, Callista burst into tears, and Jaxen instantly wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Callista was a virgin when I slept with her," Jaxen said tightly. "There was blood on the sheets, so the child is definitely mine."

"Okay," I replied, my gaze drifting toward the trembling woman in his arms. "Then I guess I was wrong."

With that, I turned and started walking toward the door.

"Where are you going?" Jaxen asked, making me pause.

"To my room," I answered slowly as I glanced back at him. "Why?"

I watched him swallow hard before he quickly looked away.

"You must be tired," he muttered. "You can leave."

Like I needed his permission.

Still, I left without another word and headed straight for my room before I said something that would actually start a fight.

A room I had only slept in once within the past two months because of how rarely I came home anymore.

The room looked exactly as I had left it the night I rescued Lorelei.

The maids weren’t allowed to enter whenever I wasn’t around, so a thin layer of dust had already started settling over everything.

I closed the door behind me and leaned against it, exhaling slowly.

What a mess.

I crossed over to the window and stared out at the estate grounds below. Guards patrolled the perimeter while search parties gathered near the gates, moving in and out like frantic ants.

All this for a woman they wanted dead.

And somehow, I still couldn’t stop thinking about her.

A week from now, it would just be the two of us.

I knew there was a very high chance she didn’t feel the same way about me, but if she saw how much I cared about her... wasn’t there at least a small possibility she could eventually love me back?

I sighed heavily before collapsing onto my bed.

Look at me. Already getting ahead of myself.

But still...

What if?

Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad.

Maybe, for once, things could actually work out for me.

My eyes slowly grew heavy as the thought kept repeating itself inside my head.

At some point, I must’ve drifted off because the next thing I knew, my phone was buzzing loudly beside me.

"Hello..." I answered groggily without even checking the caller ID.

"I’m sorry..." Cole’s choked voice came through the line, instantly making me sit upright.

Every trace of sleep vanished immediately, and my stomach dropped violently.

"What is it?" I demanded.

"I really tried..." he continued weakly.

"Cole, what are you talking about?" My voice cracked as I tightened my grip around the phone.

"We got attacked by rogues," he said, and the color instantly drained from my face. "I fought as hard as I could, but there were too many of them..."

"No," I breathed, tears immediately burning my eyes.

"They took her..."

The phone slipped from my grasp.

It hit the floor with a loud clatter while Cole’s voice continued faintly through the speaker, desperate and muffled.

But I couldn’t hear him anymore.

All I could hear was the blood rushing violently through my ears.

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