Mated To Rival Kings

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Valen's POV

It was like an out-of-body experience for me. My entire life had been a series of battles, cold nights, and the crushing weight of a crown I never asked for. Because of that hard life and my own volatile personality, I had never really cared for women. In werewolf tradition, most of us waited for our mates. While some didn't care and slept around, multiple s****l activities between non-mates were usually frowned upon. I fell into the category of those who just couldn't be bothered.

Technically, as a King, I could have had any woman I wanted. There were plenty who practically threw themselves at me, probably drawn to the dangerous aura I exuded or the power I held. But I wasn't interested. I had been consumed with rage and anger for so long that there was no room for lust.

Since meeting Raven, that had changed. She was like a cooling balm on a burn. I was finally starting to feel some peace, but with that peace came a sudden awareness of my own desires. And man, they weren't little. It took everything in me back there not to just grab her, hold her against me, and caress every inch of her.

I pushed open the door to our suite, my wet boots squeaking on the floor. Darian followed close behind, his expression unreadable but his scent spiked with a heavy, masculine musk. There were no water sounds coming from the shared bathroom, so I assumed Raven had already retreated to her room to change.

I walked off to my own room without a word to Darian. I stripped off my soaked trousers, towelled off my skin, and pulled on a pair of dry black sweats. My mind kept replaying the image of her in that translucent shirt, the way the water had turned the fabric into a second skin.

When I heard a knock at the main suite door, I stepped out into the lounge. A servant had already left the dinner trays on the center table. Darian was already there, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He was dressed in a crisp navy sweater and grey slacks, looking entirely too composed.

But Raven wasn't out yet.

"Is she intentionally staying in there?" I muttered, looking at her closed door.

Darian’s eyes met mine, and I saw the same flicker of concern. He knew she was mortified. "She’s embarrassed, Valen. Give her a minute."

I didn't want to give her a minute. I wanted to make sure she was okay. I walked over to her door and knocked firmly. "Raven?"

Nothing.

I knocked again, leaning my forehead against the wood. "Raven, please come out. The food is getting cold, and we... we aren't going to bite."

I sighed and started to turn away, thinking she was going to hide all night, but then the door slowly creaked open. Raven stepped out, but she looked ridiculous. She was fully dressed in an oversized hoodie, but she was also wearing a black face cap pulled low over her eyes.

I tilted my head, watching her as she gingerly walked to the sofa. She wouldn't look at either of us. I sat down on the opposite end, wondering why she felt the need to hide her face after we’d seen... well, everything else.

The silence was deafening as she started dishing out the food. I shifted in my seat, my mouth opening and closing. I knew if I spoke first, I’d probably say something blunt and make it worse.

I looked at Darian, pleading with my eyes for him to say something. He gave me a sharp don't you dare look at me glare, but eventually, he sighed. He was the better option for this. He had that calm, pragmatic vibe that usually smoothed things over.

Darian cleared his throat loudly. "Raven."

"Hmmm," she responded, her voice tiny. She kept her eyes on the plate of roasted chicken she was fixing.

"I am—we are sorry for earlier," Darian said, his voice sounding genuinely apologetic. "And honestly, not much was showing, so there's no need to—"

Raven’s head snapped up, her eyes flashing fiercely under the brim of her cap. "Not much?"

Darian clamped his mouth shut instantly. He’d clearly stepped in it.

I couldn't stay quiet anymore. I leaned forward, resting my elbows on my knees. "What he means to say is that you should not be embarrassed. Look, we..." I glanced at Darian, the word feeling sour in my mouth, "...are your mates. There is no loss here. It's not like some strangers saw you."

Raven bit her lip, her hands trembling slightly as she handed a plate to Darian.

"And honestly," I continued, my voice dropping an octave, "your body is gorgeous. You should be proud to flaunt it. It’s the stuff of f*****g wet dreams, Raven."

Darian reached over and slapped the back of my neck. "Valen, shut up."

"What? I'm being honest!" I snapped at him before looking back at her. "I'm serious. You're perfect."

Raven stared at me, her cheeks turning pink. "Really?" she muttered.

"Of course," I said. "Why wouldn't you be?"

Raven visibly heaved a massive sigh of relief, her shoulders finally dropping from around her ears. She looked down at her lap, fiddling with the drawstring of her hoodie. "I’ve just... I've always been so thin. I felt like I had no flesh to me. I’ve always been worried that my mate wouldn't be attracted to me because I’m not as ‘blessed’ as the other females in the pack."

I let out a low growl. "Oh, I am f*****g attracted to you. Believe me."

"For Goddess' sake, Valen, stop with the swear words," Darian groaned.

Raven turned her gaze to Darian. He suddenly looked uncharacteristically shy, shifting his weight and looking at his plate.

"Well?" I prodded, enjoying the fact that the usually composed King was flustered.

Darian glared at me before turning to Raven with a soft expression. "I love your body, Raven. Every bit of it. You have nothing to worry about with either of us."

Raven’s shy smile returned, and she finally took off the face cap, tossing it onto the side table. "Well," she said, her voice regaining some of its spark. "It sort of feels unfair, though."

Darian paused with a fork halfway to his mouth. "What?"

"That both of you have seen me now," she said, a mischievous glint appearing in her brown eyes. "But I haven't seen... you."

I nearly choked on my water. A grin spread across my face. "Oh, I'm down for that. Right now? Let's do it."

"Practice restraint, Valen!" Darian barked, looking horrified. "You are supposed to be a King!"

Raven looked directly at Darian. "Would you be opposed to that, Darian?"

Darian cleared his throat, his ears turning slightly red. "No. I wouldn't be opposed. Just... not in the presence of Valen."

I smirched, leaning back and crossing my arms. "Is this about d**k size insecurity, Darian? Are you afraid of the comparison?"

Darian leveled me with a cold, haughty stare. "I'm pretty sure I'm bigger than you."

"I am pretty sure you are not," I countered, my wolf stirring with a competitive growl.

"Enough!" Raven shouted, her face turning a deep, vibrant beet-red. She held her hands up. "I was only joking! I was! No need to do any showing. Let's just eat. I am famished."

Valen? Ash’s voice echoed in my mind.

What’s up? I asked internally.

It’s all good, Ash, I told him. Episodes have been very few these days. I feel... calm.

Good, Ash said, though he sounded restless. So when can we go on a run? I am so itchy. These walls are too small.

Soon, I promised. Be patient.

The food was incredible—thick steaks, roasted vegetables, and some kind of creamy pasta. Turns out, I was also starving. I ate heaps and heaps of food, piling my plate high until I almost couldn't move.

Darian watched me with disgusted glares as I finished my third helping, but I didn't care. I needed the fuel.

By the time we finished, it was close to midnight. I knew my metabolism would burn through the meal by morning, but for now, I felt heavy and satisfied. We left the empty plates on the table to be collected at dawn.

"Goodnight, Raven," Darian said softly, heading for his room.

"Goodnight," she replied, heading for hers.

I stood in the center of the lounge for a moment, the silence of the mansion wrapping around me.

"Night, little mate," I called out before retreating to my own room.