The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 228

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 228: Ride To Gavin’s House**

**Judy’s POV**

My father’s eyes were heavy with sorrow as he gazed at me, his expression a mirror of the anguish that gripped my heart. I could sense the emotional turmoil within him, the helplessness that came from being unable to comfort my mother during her time of need. He often reminisced about the moment he first laid eyes on her, his voice filled with warmth as he spoke of how love enveloped him instantly. It was as if the universe had conspired to bring them together, even before his wolf had whispered the truth to him. The love they shared was palpable, a thread woven through the fabric of our lives, and not a single day passed without me feeling its profound impact.

He raised his arms, revealing the silver cuffs that encircled his wrists, and I winced at the sight of the angry burn marks left by the silver. It was a cruel reminder of the dangers that lurked for werewolves, an unyielding barrier that severed the bond between him and my mother.

“I’ve been cut off from your mother,” he said, his voice tinged with sadness. “I can’t feel her presence. Mates are not meant to endure this kind of separation; her wolf is likely in torment, dragging your mother along with her pain. I wish I could do something, anything, but I’m trapped here. All you can do is be there for her, remind her of your love.”

A lump formed in my throat as tears threatened to spill from my eyes.

I hesitated, torn between the urge to unburden my heart and the knowledge that my father was already shouldering so much. I couldn’t bring myself to tell him that every time I reached out to my mother, her thoughts were consumed by Ethan, and she accused me of being disrespectful toward him. I couldn’t bear to reveal that my fated mate was engaged to another woman, and that to support our family, I felt compelled to become his mistress and abandon my education.

The very thought twisted my stomach into knots.

“Dad, I love you,” I finally managed, forcing a sad smile onto my face. “I miss you every single day.”

“I love you too, Judy,” he replied, his voice thick with emotion.

He reached out, attempting to touch my hand resting on the table, but the guard’s sharp throat clearing shattered the moment.

“No touching.”

My father sighed, retreating back into his seat, the weight of the world evident in his posture.

“How have you been holding up? How’s school treating you?” he inquired, genuine concern etched across his features.

I bit my lip, longing to share the news of my new tutoring job. I craved someone to confide in, to share my triumphs and struggles. But the contract Gavin had made me sign loomed over me like a dark cloud, stifling my voice.

“School’s going well,” I replied, forcing a smile. “I even landed a tutoring job. It pays decently, and I’m saving up to get you out of here.”

A sad smile flickered across his face, but he sighed deeply.

“Judy, don’t waste your money on me. A tutoring job won’t cover the debts I owe.”

I couldn’t bring myself to divulge the actual amount I was earning; I feared that would lead to more questions I couldn’t answer.

“Time’s up,” the guard announced, cutting through my thoughts like a knife.

“Tell your mother I love her dearly and that I’ll see her soon,” my father said as he stood, his demeanor heavy with regret. “I’m sorry I couldn’t be more of a help.”

Tears streamed down my cheeks, and I hastily wiped them away with the back of my hand.

“I will,” I promised, my voice trembling. “Take care of yourself.”

He nodded, offering me one last sad smile before the guard ushered him away. Moments later, another guard appeared to escort me to the building’s entrance. I thanked him for allowing me to see my father, but he barely acknowledged me, his focus elsewhere.

With a heavy sigh, I stepped outside, only to freeze at the sight of a familiar figure waiting at the bottom of the steps, leaning casually against a sleek pink Porsche 718 Boxster. I didn’t know much about cars, but I recognized that this was one of the latest models. The custom license plate caught my eye, reading: Irene.

“Hey,” Irene greeted me as I approached. “What do you think? I just picked it up from the dealership a couple of hours ago.”

“It’s stunning,” I replied, my admiration genuine. “What are you still doing here?”

I had expected her to leave after my visit with my father, so her presence surprised me.

She shrugged, a casual air about her.

“You have tutoring today, right?” she asked, her tone light.

I nodded, feeling a mix of apprehension and curiosity.

“Let me give you a ride,” she offered, gesturing toward the car. “It’ll be a good opportunity for us to get to know each other better.”

“He’s a fool for not loving you,” Irene said after a moment of contemplation. “You’re an amazing girl, and any guy would be lucky to have you.”

I didn’t respond to her kind words; instead, I gazed out the window, watching the scenery blur by. It didn’t take long for us to arrive at the villa. Irene parked the car, and we both stepped out.

“Thank you for the ride, Irene,” I said, feeling a mix of gratitude and relief. “But I won’t keep you. I’m sure you have more wedding planning to attend to.”

She nodded, her expression thoughtful.

“I have a mountain of tasks to tackle. But Ethan has a meeting today, so I’m a bit on my own,” she said, her smile tinged with sadness. “But I know you’re busy too, so do what you need to do. Maybe we can chat more later?”

I nodded, unsure of what else to say. I turned and walked into the villa, my heart heavy with unspoken words.

“Good evening,” Adam greeted me as I passed him at the entrance. I shot him a look that was anything but warm. Initially, I had hoped Adam and I could become friends, but after his reckless stunt to get me fired, I wasn’t sure I could trust him anymore. We hadn’t spoken since that incident, and I had been careful to maintain my distance.

“Is Matt around?” I inquired, trying to keep the conversation brief.

“He’s out back, practicing his sparring,” he replied, his tone nonchalant. “He’s anxious about his combat class next week. He has a test coming up.”

Matt had mentioned the combat class to me briefly; apparently, they were pairing him with someone larger than him, and he feared he would embarrass himself.

I made my way outside to find Matt, and together, we practiced his sparring techniques. I taught him a few new moves that would bolster his confidence for the test next week. Within an hour, he was performing remarkably well, his skills sharpening with every strike.

We primarily practiced with swords, and he handled the weapon with impressive finesse.

“Try to disarm me,” I challenged, holding my sword firmly. “Take it from my grip.”

He accepted the challenge, and before I knew it, he expertly applied the new techniques I had shown him, loosening the sword from my grasp until it clattered to the ground. In that moment, he had me exactly where he wanted me. He swung the sword toward me, careful not to draw blood, but he misjudged his aim, and the tip of the sword snagged my blouse.

The sound of tearing fabric echoed in the air, causing him to freeze in shock.