The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 195

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 195: A Declaration Of War**

In the dim light of his office, Alexander was deeply engrossed in the meticulous details of his files, the weight of responsibility pressing upon him like a heavy cloak. Suddenly, a thunderous explosion echoed in the distance, shattering the fragile calm that had enveloped the compound. The sound was so jarring that it took him a heartbeat to grasp the gravity of the situation. They were under siege!

“Evelyn,” he breathed, the name barely escaping his lips as a prayer.

His heart raced violently, pounding against his ribcage as panic clawed at his insides. The mere thought of her being outside, exposed to the chaos, sent a jolt of terror through him. He dropped the papers he had been poring over, his focus now entirely consumed by the urgent need to find her.

With no time to lose, he sprinted toward the back doors leading to the gardens, the world around him blurring into a haze of fear and determination. As he burst through the doors, the acrid scent of smoke and the gritty dust filled his lungs, a stark reminder of the chaos that had just erupted.

Soldiers hurried past him, their faces a mixture of resolve and confusion, each one prepared to confront whatever danger lurked beyond the perimeter. Yet, to his bewilderment, there was no enemy in sight. No sounds of clashing swords or cries of battle—only the frantic murmurs of his own men trying to make sense of the unfolding disaster.

The eerie silence that enveloped the area was almost suffocating. Was this a blessing or a curse? He couldn’t tell. All that mattered was finding Evelyn and ensuring her safety. Only then could he begin to confront whatever crisis loomed ahead.

As he raced toward the greenhouse, dread coiled tightly around his heart. The sight that met his eyes was enough to freeze him in place. The door stood ajar, a jagged crack snaking through the wooden frame, the metal hinges warped and twisted as if they had been forcibly pried apart.

Someone had broken in.

A chill swept through him, and he raised a trembling hand to the door handle, whispering a silent prayer that she was still within those walls.

Inside, the chaos was palpable. The greenhouse, once a sanctuary of vibrant life, now lay in ruin. Plants were uprooted, dirt scattered like confetti across the floor, a testament to the violence that had invaded this once-peaceful space.

An anguished knot formed in his stomach.

“Evelyn?” he called out, his voice barely above a whisper, laced with desperation.

He scoured every nook and cranny, peering behind overturned pots and sprawling vines, but she was nowhere to be found.

Stay calm… You must remain calm… No! I can’t…

Without a trace of Evelyn, it felt as if the very ground beneath him was shifting, threatening to plunge him into an abyss of despair. Where could she possibly be?

“Alexander!”

The sound of his name pulled him from his spiraling thoughts. He turned to see Oliver rushing toward him, his expression mirroring the turmoil within Alexander. The tension in the air was thick, and Alexander fought to keep the bitterness and panic from seeping into his voice.

“What happened?” he demanded, urgency lacing his words.

“A low-grade explosive detonated at the far barrier,” Oliver replied, his brow furrowing with concern. “It was the same wall that’s been patched up repeatedly over the last two years.”

The knowledge that the barrier had always been a vulnerable point weighed heavily on Alexander. It was precisely why he had insisted on bolstering security there.

So much for that precaution.

“Is anyone hurt?” he pressed, anxiety gnawing at him.

“I don’t think so. Everyone is just bewildered. When the blast went off, we all expected an assault from enemy soldiers. But there was nothing—just the explosion.”

Just the explosion… The realization settled like a stone in his gut. The blast was not a precursor to an attack; it was a calculated diversion, a smokescreen for a more sinister objective.

Oliver’s gaze drifted over the chaotic remnants of the greenhouse, his shock evident as he absorbed the scene.

“Sir? Where’s Evelyn?”

“Gone,” Alexander replied, the word tasting bitter on his tongue. The next revelation cut deeper, a jagged edge of despair. “She’s been taken.”

“Sir!”

Erik and Thomas joined them, their faces drawn tight with worry.

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