The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 238

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 238: Mistaken Intention**

**Gavin’s POV**

“Could you remind me why we’re in such a hurry to get to your Villa, Alpha?” Taylor inquired, his eyes darting to me through the rearview mirror, his expression a mix of curiosity and skepticism.

I chose to ignore his probing gaze, my focus unwavering as I stared out of the window, watching the landscape blur by.

“We’re not in a rush,” I replied quietly, trying to keep my voice steady.

“Right after the meeting concluded, you bolted out of the packhouse like you were being chased,” he pointed out, his eyebrows arching in disbelief.

“Just concentrate on driving and let me handle my affairs, Beta,” I snapped, my tone sharp, an unmistakable hint of my Alpha authority radiating from me.

Taylor held my gaze for just a heartbeat longer, a smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth before he turned his attention back to the road.

“Yes, sir,” he muttered, the playful lilt in his voice not escaping my notice. I scowled but chose to remain silent as we arrived at the villa.

He parked the car with a practiced ease outside the grand entrance, and I wasted no time exiting the vehicle. Straightening my suit jacket, I cleared my throat and nodded my gratitude to Taylor, who I could see through the rear window raising an inquisitive eyebrow at me. I ignored his silent question and strode purposefully into the villa.

Adam was stationed at the doorway, bowing respectfully as was customary whenever I returned home.

He was still under punishment for his reckless actions regarding that falsehood about Judy, and he was well aware that speaking in my presence was strictly forbidden at this moment. It would serve him well to remember his place.

I brushed past him without a second glance, making my way down the familiar hallway until I arrived at the parlor where I suspected Matt would be buried in his homework. Just as I was about to push the door open, a soft, breathy whisper caught my attention, followed by what sounded like a distressed whimper. My brows knitted together in confusion; I could distinctly smell Judy on the other side of the door, yet Matt’s scent was alarmingly absent. It was as if he hadn’t been in the room for a considerable time.

But there was another scent, one that I recognized all too well, and it sent a wave of anger coursing through me. I felt a low growl rumble in my throat as I flung the door wide open, revealing Judy pressed against the wall, trapped between the cold surface and Ethan’s imposing figure.

His lips were dangerously close to the nape of her neck, and for a fleeting moment, her eyes fluttered shut, as if savoring the moment. But the instant the door swung open, her eyes shot wide open, and I could see the color drain from her face like a sunset swallowed by night.

“What in the hell is happening here?” I thundered, my voice echoing ominously through the parlor.

Ethan’s body went rigid at the sound of my voice, and he immediately released Judy, her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. The moment he stepped back, she wrapped her arms around herself, as if trying to shield her vulnerability from my piercing gaze.

Ethan opened his mouth, likely to defend himself, but I didn’t afford him the luxury of words. I seized his collar and slammed him against the wall with a force that made the structure shudder. The impact caused Ethan to wince, and I relished the sight; despite his Alpha lineage, he was no match for a Lycan’s strength.

“How dare you betray my daughter’s trust like that? To betray her is to betray me, and believe me, you won’t enjoy the consequences of such treachery,” I growled, my voice laced with menace.

He trembled visibly, and a sick sense of satisfaction bubbled within me as I watched him squirm.

“I swear… nothing happened, Alpha,” Ethan stuttered, his body shaking like a leaf in a storm.

I tightened my grip on his throat, feeling the heat rise in his face as he struggled to draw in breath.

“It certainly didn’t appear to be nothing,” I hissed, my patience wearing thin. “Do you take me for a fool?!”

“N… no, sir,” he managed to choke out.

“Gavin, it’s not what it looks like,” I heard Judy’s voice break through the tension from behind me, her tone imploring.

“And you think I’m going to take your word for it?” I shot back, my eyes boring into Ethan’s, demanding the truth. “You swore you wouldn’t do anything to jeopardize this impending marriage, and yet here you are, entangled with my daughter’s fiancé.”

I lowered my voice, aware that my daughter was merely in the kitchen; her scent lingered in the air, a reminder of her proximity.

“Irene would be devastated if she discovered this,” I warned, my teeth clenched.

I felt Judy’s hand on my back, a jolt of energy coursing through me, almost causing me to release Ethan. He was still gasping, his eyes pleading for mercy.

“It didn’t mean anything,” Judy insisted softly, her voice filled with a gentle urgency. “Please, let him go. Irene would be heartbroken if something happened to him.”

She was right; no matter the circumstances, I knew Irene would never forgive me if I harmed Ethan. I recalled the last time I voiced my disapproval of her relationship with him; the memory of her holding a knife to her throat, her eyes ablaze with desperation, haunted me. She would have followed through if I hadn’t intervened, accepting Ethan as her chosen partner.

The hold this boy had over her made my stomach churn; I couldn’t fathom what she saw in him, nor could I understand why Judy would be drawn to him either.

I finally released Ethan, and he crumpled to the floor, coughing and rubbing his bruised throat. The red marks on his neck would fade quickly; his Alpha blood ensured a rapid recovery.

“Get out of my sight,” I ordered, motioning toward the kitchen. “And keep your distance from Miss Montague from now on; do I make myself clear?”

Ethan nodded, his eyes dark with anger, though he bit his tongue to suppress his outrage.

“That sounds wonderful,” Irene beamed, a genuine smile illuminating her face. “Judy, you should join us too. You haven’t eaten all day; you must be starving.”

Judy’s expression shifted to one of reluctance as she glanced around at us, each of us silently urging her to accept. I anticipated her attempt to decline, knowing full well that the last thing she wanted was to be cornered at a dinner table with the Landry family and her ex.

“No, I—”

“Yes, Judy will absolutely come along,” I interjected, cutting her off before she could refuse. Judy stared at me, her eyes wide with disbelief.

“I really should be heading home…”

“You need to eat,” I asserted firmly. “It’s just dinner, Judy.”

She looked as if she wanted to protest further, but before she could, Matt dashed over and wrapped his arms around her legs, his face alight with joy. He began chattering excitedly about how thrilled he was for this outing.

We ended up at an Italian restaurant within the Silver Crescent pack territory; Irene lent Judy one of her dresses to ensure she was appropriately dressed. I couldn’t help but feel a pang of discomfort as I noticed how much skin she was revealing, but that discomfort paled in comparison to the realization of just how stunning she looked. Her long, slender legs drew my gaze as she walked, and when she leaned forward at the table, her dress threatened to spill over, revealing more than I cared to see. I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat a stark reminder of my own internal struggle.

She was seated beside me, with Matt on my other side, while Irene and Ethan occupied the seats directly across from us. I couldn’t help but notice Ethan’s furtive glances in Judy’s direction, while she did everything in her power to avoid his gaze. Curiosity gnawed at me, and I found myself wondering what truly lay beneath the surface of their complicated history.

Irene remained blissfully unaware of the palpable tension simmering between her fiancé and his former flame. She sipped her wine and nibbled on breadsticks, absorbed in Matt’s animated recounting of how impressive Judy had been during their sparring sessions.

Soon, our meals arrived, silencing Matt momentarily.

Judy took her first bite of chicken parmesan, and a soft, involuntary moan escaped her lips as she savored the flavor. The sound shot straight to my core, igniting a reaction I wasn’t prepared for.

Damn her!

“Dad, are you alright?” Irene asked, her brow furrowing with concern as she observed me closely. “You seem a bit off.”

I forced a smile, masking my inner turmoil. “I’m fine. Just eat your food.”

She scrutinized me for a moment longer before her attention was captured by Ethan, who was offering her a meatball on his fork. She smiled at him, taking a bite and giggling as sauce dribbled onto her cheek. He wiped it away with his finger, then licked it clean, a playful intimacy that made my stomach churn.

I glanced at Judy, who was watching the exchange with a tense jaw. Unable to contain myself, I leaned closer to her and whispered, “Don’t they make a lovely couple? Let’s not spoil it for them, alright?”