Chapter 35 Raven's POV " Who's there ? " | murmured groggily as the knocking continued , sharp and impatient . My body ached with stiffness from the hard mattress , and blended against the morning light trickling in from the curtain's edge . The doci rattled with more force . I slowly opened my eyes and groaned as realization sank in . I had overslept . Shit . I swung my legs over the bed and scrambled up , hurrying to the door . "I'm coming . " I called , trying to keep my voice steady . But the moment I cracked open the door , my blood ran cold . There he stood . Alpha Ethan . He wasn't just angry - he was furious . His eyes , usually so calm and calculating , now blazed with a dangerous fire . " Good morning , Alpha , " I greeted , forcing a smile and trying desperately to hide the panic rising in my chest . " I - I'm sorry , " " What time were you supposed to meet me in the study ? " he cut me oft his voice low but seething with restrained rage . I swallowed hard . " I - I think it was five ... He took a step forward . I instinctively stepped back . The clock on the wall taunted me - 11 : 43 AM , I had slept through it . Slept through his summons . " I've been waiting in that damn study for over three hours he shouted suddenly , slamming the door open wider and pushing past me into the room . " I didn't mean toll overslept - 1 stammered , trailing after him , " It wasn't on purpose , I swear , " He whirled around so fast i barely had time to gasp . " Overslept ? " His voice was colder now , quieter - but far more terrifying . " You think you can just ignore me ? You think I don't notice when someone disrespects me like that ? " . My heart pounded . " I wasn't ignoring you , I just He moved like lightning . One second I was standing , and the next , his hand was around my throat , lifting me off the floor . My legs kicked weakly , and 1 grasped at his wrist , choking . " E - Ethan ..." I rasped , tears springing to my eyes . " Don't play games with me , " he growled , his face inches from mine . " You may be under my root , but that doesn't mean you get to make a foot out of me . If you mess with me again , Raven , I won't be this merciful . " His words were laced with venom , and though the pressure on my neck wasn't enough to kill , it was enough to make me believe he could - if he wanted Then suddenly - he dropped me . I hit the floor hard , my legs folding awkwardly beneath me . The air rushed back into my lungs as I coughed and gasped , curling into mysell . He stood above me , chest heaving , staring at me like I was nothing " You're only good for one thing , " he sneered , turning his back . Tears streamed down my face . My throat burned , and every muscle trembled as I tried to sit upright . My voice cracked as I whispered , " It's obvious you don't care about me ... not really . It's only my body you want . " He stopped . I saw the slight twitch in his jaw , but he didn't turn around . Chapter 35 " try . " I whispered brokenly . " I try to be useful . I try to stay out of the way I do everything can to survive in a place the hate you , aren't 17 " Still , no reply . " know I'm just a maid . I know I'm not good enough to stand beside you like she is , " I said , bitterly . " But it doesn't mean I don't feel things, everything . Heel every cruel word . Every time you look at me and see someone disposable . Every time you pretend last night didn't happen " : He turned slowly now , his expression unreadable . " Don't talk like you know me I looked up at him through my tears , defiantly . " I don't have to know you to know how this feels . I've spent my while being nothing to the people who should have loved me . So when you touch me and then pretend I'm invisible the next day - yeah , it hurts . " He took a slow step toward me . I flinched . But he didn't touch me . He crouched in front of me instead , and for a moment , I saw something flicker in his eyes . Regret ? Guilt ? No. It vanished too quickly . " You knew what this was , Raven , " he said , voice quieter now . " You didn't complain when you let me take you . " " I didn't know it would come with bruises ," I whispered . A heavy silence fell between us . He rose to his feet again and stared down at me , arms crossed . I didn't dare Inck away . " I'll punish anyone who disrespects me ," he said coldly . " That includes you . " y time you hurt me , " I whispered , wiping my tears with the back of my hand . " But I won't stop being human . You can't take that from " And I'll cry every tir The tension crackled in the room . He opened his mouth to speak but stopped himself . For a brief second , he looked ... uncertain " I'll be in the study , he finally said , turning away and walking to the door . " You're dismissed . " And just like that , he was gone . I stayed there on the floor , curled up with my ams wrapped around myself , sobbing softly into the silence . Not because of the pain . Not even because of the humiliation , But because for the first time in a long time , I realized how utterly alone I truly was . Later that day ... I didn't see Alpha Ethan for hours . The maids a s gave e me strange looks as I walked the halls , but no one said anything . Not to my face . My neck ached where his fingers had gripped it . The bruise was forming fast . I kept my head down . By dinner , I stood silently behind the Alpha's chair in the dining room , as usual I wasn't allowed to eat with them . That privilege belonged to his guests and to Olivia . She looked radiant , as always . Wearing soft silks and diamonds , smiling that perfect smile . She didn't even glance at me . I wondered if she knew what he did to me this morning . I wondered if she would even care . Alpha Ethan didn't acknowledge me either . Not a look . Not a word . Chapter 35 But when dinner was over , and the dishes cleared , and Olivia werd off to her quarters with a kiss to his chark he looked at me A glance . A twitch of the brow . A silent command . Follow me . Thesitated . But I followed Back to the study . The place I was supposed to have been that morning , He didn't speak as he poured himself a drink , the glass clinking against the decanter . I stood frozen by the door , heart hammering Finally , he turned toward me . " Come here ." I didn't move . " Isaid come here . " I walked forward slowly , my hands clenched at my sides . He looked me over , his eyes lingering on the bruise at my neck . " Did I hurt you too much ? " What a question . I met his gaze and answered quietly , " Yes . " He nodded once . Almost like he expected it . " Good " Tears pricked my eyes again . I hated him . I hated how much power he had over me . I hated that a part of me still longed for something in his touch that felt like more than dominance . Something almost tender . A lie , surely . " Why did you bring me here ? " Lasked . He didn't answer immediately . Instead , he walked toward me until we were only inches apart . Then he touched my chin and tilted my head upward . " You disobeyed me . " " I didn't mean to . " " That doesn't matter . " And then he leaned down , brushing his lips against mine - not harshly this time . Almost like he wanted to undo what he had done this morning . Almost like an apology- But it wasn't Because no apology followed . No kindness . Only silence , as he pulled away and walked to his desk " " We're done for today . " I stared at him . Waiting for more . A reason . A flickey of care . There was none Soilch. And as I walked the dark halls alone , back to the small cold room that never really felt like mine , I whispered to mysel " I won't let him break me " Chapter 35 But the truth was he already had . Discover our latest featured short drama reel. Watch now and enjoy the story!