The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 198

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 198: The Fall Of The King**

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In the thick of chaos, Alexander’s body twisted, an instinctive motion that brought him face to face with the tormenting reality of his situation. The blade he held pressed firmly against the throat of his captive, a reminder of the stakes at hand. His gaze shot toward Evelyn, who stood ensnared in a similar predicament, her wide eyes reflecting the terror of the moment.

Gregory, the twisted king, brandished a curved dagger of his own, its sharp edge glinting ominously against the backdrop of destruction, poised dangerously close to Evelyn’s delicate neck.

The rhythmic thumping of Alexander’s heart echoed in his ears, a fierce drumbeat that threatened to crack his ribs under the pressure. He struggled to draw in a steady breath, the air feeling thick and suffocating around him.

“Evelyn,” he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, laden with urgency.

He strained to pierce through the haze of his narrowed vision, seeking reassurance in her expression. To his relief, she appeared unharmed, though the tremors of fear coursed through her, a testament to the horror that unfolded around them. The devastation was palpable, and it gnawed at Alexander’s heart.

Evelyn had never encountered the grim realities of war. She had never faced death so intimately, and the thought of exposing her to such brutality twisted his gut. All he wanted was to envelop her in his arms, to shield her from the horrors that surrounded them. She was far too innocent to witness such destruction.

“Let her go, or I swear I’ll paint these walls with his blood,” Alexander growled, his voice a low, menacing rumble.

The king tightened his grip on Evelyn, her body flinching under the pressure.

“Not a chance, Kingston,” he sneered, the malice in his tone cutting through the air like a knife. “You call off this pathetic invasion, and then maybe I’ll consider letting you leave here with your precious wife.”

“My patience is wearing thin,” Alexander retorted, his voice dripping with barely contained fury. “You want to negotiate? Here’s my offer: release her, and I might reconsider decapitating you after I deal with your friend here.”

Evelyn felt her breath hitch in her throat, a sudden fear gripping her as she anticipated the cold bite of Gregory’s blade against her skin. It terrified her, but what unsettled her even more was the dark, stormy look in Alexander’s eyes—a look she had never seen before.

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**Evelyn’s POV**

His gaze was a shadow of its former self, a haunting reflection of a man she once knew. This was not the Alexander she had married, nor the one she had fallen in love with. No, this was a stranger—an embodiment of vengeance, a creature driven solely by the desire to unleash destruction.

The palace, once a symbol of beauty and history, was now drenched in blood, the remnants of a once-glorious life now reduced to a grotesque tableau. I could scarcely look around without being met with horrifying sights that would likely haunt me forever.

It felt as though Alexander and the king were locked in a deadly stalemate, both unwilling to give an inch. But surely, this couldn’t last. The tension in the air was palpable, and any moment could tip the scales into chaos.

What could I possibly do to change this?

Then, out of the corner of my eye, I caught a glimpse of someone—Oliver.

He appeared as worn and drained as Alexander, his eyes darting between me and Gregory, silently communicating urgency. I tried to catch his eye without drawing attention to myself or increasing the pressure of the blade against my throat.

He was trying to tell me something…

Oliver leaned his head slightly down, then jerked it back, the movement sharp and deliberate. As if that wasn’t enough, he casually lifted his hand to brush the bridge of his nose, a gesture that sent a jolt of realization through me.

Oh my God. Was he suggesting that I…

A vivid memory flashed through my mind—the day I had head-butted Oliver in retaliation for Alexander’s public humiliation of me at the market. The shame of that moment still lingered, a bitter reminder of my own vulnerability.

My mouth fell open in disbelief.

I could see that Alexander was far beyond the reach of reason. The murderous glint in his eyes was a testament to his rage.

“All the time he spent building a case against Gregory will mean nothing if the man is never properly exposed to the world.”

Alexander’s snarl was a low growl, making Oliver and me turn our heads in his direction. The man was seething with fury. God only knew how many times he had envisioned ending the Alpha King’s life.

And now, he was being forced to relinquish that desire.

“She’s right,” Alexander admitted through gritted teeth, his anger palpable. “I can’t kill you. Not yet, at least.”

Gregory’s hands were smeared with blood from his broken nose, his attention barely focused on the unfolding chaos.

“The entire region will know the truth about you. And when they do, I’ll let them decide your fate.”

Gregory hissed through clenched teeth, “So you think you can just replace me and erase the legacy my family has built for a century?”

“I’m going to run this region the way it should have been all along. Starting with exposing you and dismantling all your illegal operations. It will be as if you never existed.”

A large contingent of soldiers surrounded Gregory, ready to enforce Alexander’s command.

“Take him down to the holding cells,” he ordered, his voice steady and authoritative.

As we watched the former king being dragged out of the main hall, a sense of relief washed over me. I was grateful that Alexander had managed to find clarity in the heat of the moment. Yet, the dread that lingered in my chest was far from gone.