The Rogue's Betrayal, The King's Claim

Ravenna's POV 

“Miss Ravenna,” the doctor called, her voice tight with concern as she walked over and took a seat across of Ravenna. “I'm sorry. You were not pregnant. Just a delay in your period.“

“What?“ Ravenna exclaimed, her heart twisted painfully.

it was like they poured her a bucket of cold water. All her hopes dashed away. 

“I'm not pregnant?“ She asked.

“No,” the doctor affirmed. “You would definitely see your period soon. And those symptoms are just stress and fatigue. You need to take a proper rest.“

She wanted to tell the doctor to run the test for a second time but she decided against it: she can't be wrong, can she?

But then she was not pregnant, again? After all these years?

For the past three years that Talon and her had left the pack that night, they've lived together in a small and unknown pack—Silver claw—in the Northern province. They got a decent apartment there and started a fashion company where Talon was the CEO, all thanks to her mother's black card, which she had expected her mother to have freeze at some point but she never did anyways. while Ravenna stayed at home to keep the house clean, prepare his meals and do every other housewife duties.

They haven't gotten married yet because Talon had insisted that she must get pregnant before he married and marked her. Ravenna had always wondered the reason Talon had insisted on that. She had even tried to convince him to let them get married first but he never agrees. His words were: No child. No marriage.

For the past three weeks, she hasn't seen her period. She had thought that it was just late but this morning while preparing breakfast, she suddenly felt nauseous and so she thought she was pregnant. She thought that finally, Talon and her would get married, but now the doctor had confirmed that it was nothing of such.

“Alright.“ She forced a smile at the doctor and walked out of the office. 

Outside, shutting the door closed, and still holding the doorknob, her legs threatened to give out but she managed to steady herself and walked out of the clinic.

As she walked towards the parking lot, her thoughts spiralled into chaos.

Why would Talon not want to marry her without she getting pregnant? 

And why the hell can't she get pregnant for the past three years? 

She has done pratically every test to check what exactly was wrong with her but it showed nothing. The results says she was fit.

Ravenna slipped into the car, gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary as she drove toward the fashion company. The pain in her chest gets more intense by each passing second. She had wished, for just a moment, that maybe Talon would recognise all her sacrifices and would stop placing conditions on her love. 

She shook her head as the words echoed again, heavier this time. More humiliating. No child, no marriage. 

She parked and walked into the building, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. The receptionist gave her a bright smile, bowing her head in salutation but Ravenna didn’t return it: she wasn't in the mood for that. She marched straight toward Talon’s office.

But the moment she twisted the doorknob open and stepped inside, her breath caught in her throat.

And there he was.

Talon was kissing a woman. Not just any kiss. His hands cupped the cheeks of the woman, and her fingers fisting into the side of his shirt, pulling him closer to herself.

Ravenna stood frozen for a beat too long, her mouth hung open. She had heard rumours of Talon cheating but never expected it to be true, let alone witnessing it. Her hands were trembling so much that her purse fell off her hands and hit the floor sharply.

The loud thud made them took notice of her. 

The woman pulled away, her eyes narrowing with irritation at Ravenna for the intrusion.

Talon didn't even flinch. His expression remain calm: just stepped back a little.

“Oh? You didn’t tell me you had a secretary with no manners,” the woman said coolly.

Ravenna blinked, forcing her legs to move closer. “Excuse me?”

Talon glanced at her. “You should have knocked before coming in,” he said, his voice cold.

Ravenna's mouth fell open. Knock? Was that what he was supposed to say after she caught him cheating?

The woman smirked, adjusting her lipstick with her finger. “Who is she, Talon ?”

“She’s a friend,” he replied without thinking twice.

Ravenna couldn't believe her ears. A friend? Not even a girlfriend.

The woman scoffed. “Teach your friend some manners then" She grabbed her hand bag from the desk. "I will get back to you concerning the contract.“

She spun on her heel and stormed out. Behind her, Talon called her name and follow.

Ravenna stood there, a bitter laugh escaped her lips, her eyes brimming with unshed tears.

Minutes later, he came back inside.

“What the hell was that?“ She snapped. 

“Ravenna, stop. You're overreacting.”

“Overreacting?” she repeated, the words tasting bitter in her mouth. “I walk in and see you kissing another woman, and I’m overreacting?”

He let out a frustrated sigh. “It wasn’t what it looked like.”

“Oh really? Then explain it!”

“She’s an important client.“

“Important client? Who kisses their clients? And you even called me your friend,” she says.

“I was only saying the truth. We’re not even married, Ravenna!”

The words hit like a slap. Her throat burned as tears welled in her eyes.

“Then marry me,” she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

He didn’t speak. Just stared at her like she’d asked something unreasonable.

“You won’t marry me, and you won’t mark me,” she continued, her voice cracking. “All because I can’t get pregnant?”

Talon exhaled and turned away. “Let’s not do this here, Ravenna."

Ravenna's fists clenched. “Why not? Is the truth too ugly for daylight?”

Without another word, Talon clenched his fists and walked into the bathroom.

Ravenna stood there for a long time, her chest rising and falling with barely restrained rage. She finally sat back in his chair, trying to compose herself while wondering if she truly overreacted.

That’s when his phone lit up on the desk. She wanted to ignore it, but something inside her won't let her.

She strained her neck and saw the screen flashed a message from a contact only saved with a trail of love emojis.

“Daddy, when are you coming to see us again? We miss you a lot.“