The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 201

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 201: A Loving Promise**

[Evelyn’s POV]

“What?” he asked, his voice tinged with disbelief.

Alexander’s gaze met mine, a storm of astonishment and incredulity swirling in his eyes. I could see the corners of his mouth twitching, as if he were on the verge of breaking into a smile that softened the sharp angles of his face, making him appear more approachable.

My heart raced, lodged somewhere in my throat, while a surge of frustration ignited within me. Oh my God, was he actually laughing at me?!

Here I was, baring my soul, trying to articulate my worries and emotions, and he stood there, seemingly amused by my vulnerability. The heat of embarrassment flushed my cheeks, and I instinctively tried to retreat from his penetrating gaze. My lips curled in irritation, an involuntary response to the situation.

“You know what? Just forget it,” I snapped, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with bitterness. “I shouldn’t have brought it up in the first place.”

I could hear him exhale, a long, weary breath that seemed to carry the weight of the world. “Evelyn—”

“I’m going to bed,” I interrupted, cutting him off with a finality that echoed in the air between us.

Even though the hour was still relatively early, the thought of sinking into the comforting embrace of blankets and pillows was irresistible. My body was practically screaming for rest, a reminder of how I had been in constant motion since the previous day.

I was certain that the moment my head hit the pillow, sleep would claim me like a thief in the night. Perhaps it was for the best. Clearly, Alexander had little regard for the seriousness of my feelings.

I had been naive to voice my fears, and now he found amusement in my turmoil. With a determined stride, I pushed past him, heading towards the sanctuary of the bedroom.

As I walked away, a wave of regret washed over me. Why had I come back to confront him when I could have stayed with my brother, who would have understood me without judgment?

“Evelyn, stop,” he called after me, his voice firm yet laced with concern.

I chose to ignore him, my forehead knitting in irritation. I was nearly at the door when I felt the firm grip of his hands encircle my waist, pulling me back with an urgency that took my breath away. Alexander spun me around, pressing me against the wall, effectively stealing the air from my lungs.

He cupped my chin, forcing me to meet his intense gaze.

“I told you to stop,” he insisted, his voice steady yet urgent. “Look at me.”

I glared defiantly, my heart racing. “What?” I hissed, my frustration bubbling to the surface.

“I wasn’t laughing at you,” he replied, his voice low and earnest.

“Sure looked like it!” I retorted, my anger flaring.

“Can you just stop for a second?” he huffed, exasperation creeping into his tone. “For Christ’s sake, I was relieved.”

The crease between my brows relaxed slightly, confusion replacing my anger. “Relieved? Relieved about what?”

His eyes burned with an intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

“For hours, I’ve been tormented by the fear that you were afraid of me. When you saw me in that… that murderous state, I thought you would never look at me the same way again. It’s a side of me I never wanted you to witness. But you’re saying your fear stems from the possibility of me losing control with the power I’ve gained.”

“I’ve been surrounded by people who only care about status and the ruthless pursuit of power, no matter the pain it inflicts on others. Take Isabella, for instance. Her greed consumed her, driving her to madness,” I explained, my voice steadying. “And Michael and Caroline are hardly any different.”

The harshness in his eyes softened, replaced by a flicker of understanding.

“I promise, I won’t let this change me,” he said, his tone even and sincere.

You don’t really know that.

I longed to believe in his words, but deep down, I knew that trust would take time. My mind was still ensnared in a web of uncertainty.

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