The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 217

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 217: He’s In Control**

**Judy’s POV**

For the first time since the day my father was taken away by the pack Gammas, I saw a genuine smile on my mother’s face. It was a small spark of light in the darkness that had enveloped our lives.

“Oh, Judy! You’re back! Just look who decided to visit us today,” my mother exclaimed, her eyes sparkling as she turned towards Ethan. “He mentioned that he could assist us, but only if you cooperate with him.”

Her gaze shifted back to me, filled with a mix of hope and curiosity. I had confided in her about Ethan’s earlier refusal to help, yet now he was twisting the narrative to make it appear as if I was the one being obstinate. I could sense that he hadn’t disclosed the specifics of his demands, and I had no intention of enlightening her either.

Revealing the truth would only deepen her pain, and at that moment, I was too drained to bear the weight of her sorrow. The day had been a relentless battle, and all I craved was the solace of my bed. The last thing I needed was to engage in a confrontation with Ethan.

With my arms crossed tightly over my chest, I shot him a pointed glare, noticing the smug grin plastered across his face.

“What’s he doing here, Mom?” I asked, my voice laced with irritation.

Her expression darkened slightly, and I could see the disappointment etched on her features.

“Is that any way to speak?” she reprimanded gently, her brows knitting together in disapproval. “I raised you better than this, Judy. Ethan has been part of our family for ages. He’s your mate, and he’s offering to help us during this difficult time. You should show him the respect he deserves.”

I pressed my lips into a thin line, suppressing the urge to roll my eyes.

“Do I need to remind you that we broke up?” I shot back, my eyes still fixed on Ethan, but my words were directed at my mother.

It was crucial for both of them to understand that Ethan and I were no longer together. If my mother held any glimmer of hope for a reunion, she was sorely mistaken; that ship had sailed.

“That doesn’t mean you can’t still be friends,” she countered, her tone softening slightly. “He’s in the running to become our new Alpha. Regardless of your feelings, he deserves our respect.”

As Ethan rose from his seat, I instinctively took a step back, desperate to create distance between us. Since the moment I had seen him at Gavin’s villa with Irene, my wolf had been eerily silent, and I worried that something was deeply wrong with her. She hadn’t connected with me since the day Ethan had rejected us, leaving me feeling even more isolated.

“I apologize for intruding,” Ethan said smoothly, that same insipid smile still plastered on his face as he turned towards me.

I knew it was all an act for my mother’s benefit; beneath the surface, I could hear the bitterness in his voice. “I was hoping for a moment of your time.”

“In your dreams, Ethan,” I shot back, turning my back on him and storming out of the living room. I refused to give him the satisfaction of my attention.

Wrapping my arms around myself, I ascended the stairs, each step feeling heavier than the last. Just as I reached my bedroom door and swung it open, I felt a hand press against my lower back, shoving me the rest of the way inside, and the door slammed shut behind me.

I spun around to confront Ethan, who stood there with his arms crossed, a self-satisfied expression on his face.

“What the hell are you doing in here, Ethan?” I spat, my voice dripping with disdain.

“I should be the one asking you that,” he shot back, his tone sharp. “What do you think you’re doing, flaunting yourself around Gavin Landry like that?”

I raised an eyebrow, taken aback by his audacity.

“Excuse me?” I retorted, incredulous. “What business is that of yours? Aren’t you engaged to his daughter?”

“Do you really think that parading around with Gavin is going to help get your father out of prison?” Ethan scoffed, his expression twisted with disdain. “You’re delusional if you think for a second he’d ever be interested in you.”

“You do remember the hickeys on my neck not too long ago, right?” I challenged, folding my arms defiantly across my chest.

His eyes darkened at the mention of those marks, and he took a step closer. I instinctively retreated, unwilling to be near him.

“I’ve heard rumors,” he murmured, his voice low and dangerous. “Apparently, Gavin was seen drinking heavily that night. He was hardly in his right mind. You must have taken advantage of the situation.”

“Are you out of your mind?” I shot back, narrowing my eyes at him. “I did no such thing!”

“I’m not sure who you think you’re fooling, Judy, because I’m certainly not buying it. I know the kind of person you are; you’d do anything to help your family, even if it means sleeping with someone for a bit of money. Why not just take me up on my offer and end this whole mess?”

“Because I won’t be your mistress, Ethan,” I hissed, my voice low and fierce. “That’s insulting to everyone involved, including Irene. Don’t you care about her at all? How could you ask such a thing of me knowing it would hurt her?”

He rolled his eyes, dismissing my concerns.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify