The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 247

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 247: Flirting**

**Judy’s POV**

“Judy?” The sound of Irene’s voice sliced through the haze of my thoughts just as we strolled past their table.

I forced a smile, trying to mask my discomfort, while pointedly avoiding Ethan’s intense gaze.

“Hello, Irene,” I replied, keeping my tone polite and neutral.

Her eyes widened in recognition, but there was a hint of strain in her voice. “It is you! What brings you here? I never pegged you for the type to enjoy places like this.”

As if on cue, Walter’s arm draped casually around my shoulders, and I could see Irene’s demeanor shift as she took in the sight of him.

“Wallie, are you two on a date?” she inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Walter flashed a grin at his cousin, an easy charm radiating from him. “We are,” he confirmed, the words hanging in the air like a declaration.

Heat rushed to my cheeks; I hadn’t anticipated his boldness. What if Irene mentioned this encounter to Gavin? Anxiety prickled at the back of my mind.

Irene turned her attention back to me, her expression softening. “You are one lucky lady,” she remarked. “My cousin is notoriously selective when it comes to the women he dates. You must be something special, especially if you’re willing to defy your father’s wishes.”

“I wouldn’t go that far,” I replied with an awkward chuckle, feeling the weight of her words.

Walter’s grin widened, and I felt my blush deepen. “I would,” he countered, his playful confidence making my heart flutter. “If you’ll excuse us, Rena, our table awaits.”

“Of course,” Irene replied, waving us off with a gesture.

As we turned to leave, I risked a glance back at Ethan, only to find him glaring daggers in my direction. A knot formed in my stomach, and I quickly averted my eyes, following Walter and the hostess to our table. We were seated at a comfortable distance from Irene and Ethan, but I could still see them clearly. Taking my place across from Walter, I accepted the menu handed to me by the waitress.

“Your waitress will be with you shortly,” she said, her eyes lingering on Walter in a way that made me acutely aware of the tension in the air. When he acknowledged her with a polite nod, she blushed and winked at him, making me press my lips together in irritation. I wasn’t jealous per se, but I felt a surge of disrespect.

“Order whatever you like,” Walter encouraged, pulling me from my thoughts. “Don’t worry about the prices.”

I smiled and nodded, scanning the menu in front of me. It was no surprise he mentioned the cost—everything seemed exorbitantly priced. Moments later, the waitress returned, and like the hostess, her focus was entirely on Walter.

“Hello, Mr. Landry,” she said, batting her long lashes at him. “What a privilege it is to serve you tonight.” She placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it lightly, her fingers lingering longer than necessary. “You are even more handsome in person. I’m a huge fan.”

Walter frowned slightly, but he didn’t push her hand away, which stirred a mix of annoyance and discomfort within me. It felt disrespectful that she was so openly flirting, and his lack of reaction only added to my unease.

“I appreciate that,” he replied, shifting his expression into a smile. “Could we start with a bottle of your finest wine? And what are the specials tonight?”

“Our special tonight is Ora King salmon served on green tea soba noodles. Highly recommended. We also have Mushroom Agnolotti with sweet potatoes and Kohlrabi as our soup of the day.”

“Perfect, I’ll take them both,” he said, glancing at me with a question in his eyes. “And for my date…”

The waitress turned her gaze toward me, and her expression soured as if she was only just realizing I existed. I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of her judgment, and quickly scanned the menu again before settling on my choice.

“I’ll have the soft-shell crab tempura ravioli,” I told her, trying to keep my voice steady.

She noted my order and then, to my dismay, ran her fingers up the back of Walter’s neck in a way that felt far too intimate.

“I’ll be back with your order, handsome,” she said, winking as she sauntered away.

I frowned at her retreating figure before turning my attention back to Walter.

“Are you used to women flirting with you like that?” I asked, my voice barely above a whisper, tinged with irritation.

He frowned, clearly taken aback. “Yes,” he admitted. “I guess I just don’t pay much attention to it anymore. Was she that bad?”

I raised an eyebrow, incredulous. “Her hands were all over you,” I said, my tone sharper than I intended.

“I suppose I just ignore it,” he replied, his expression softening. “Did it bother you?”

“I felt a bit disrespected, to be honest,” I confessed, staring down at my empty plate, feeling vulnerable.

Walter reached across the table, gently taking my hands in his. I looked up to find sincerity and remorse in his eyes, and it made my heart flutter.

“I’m so sorry, Judy. I never wanted to make you feel that way, especially tonight. When she comes back, I’ll make it clear to her to keep her hands to herself. I never meant to make you uncomfortable…”

His earnestness touched me, and my irritation began to dissipate. I realized that he genuinely didn’t notice the flirtation from either the waitress or the hostess.

“You’re a good-looking guy, Walter. Women are bound to flirt with you, and I can’t fault you for that,” I admitted. “I just wasn’t a fan of how they looked at me.”

He nodded, understanding. “I can see that, and I’ll make it clear to them that you are my date and they need to show you respect,” he promised.

I blushed, shaking my head. “You don’t need to create a scene,” I said softly. “Thank you for listening to my concerns.”

He hesitated, the silence stretching uncomfortably.

“Something about the wedding?” he guessed, hoping to salvage the conversation.

Irene rolled her eyes, placing her napkin on her nearly empty plate. “I think I’ve had enough,” she murmured. “I’d like to go home now.”

His frown deepened. “Why are you acting like this?” he pressed, genuinely confused.

“Acting like what?”

“Immature,” he replied, frustration creeping into his voice. “If something’s bothering you, just tell me.”

“I could say the same to you,” she shot back, her tone biting. “You haven’t been yourself since meeting Judy. Is there something I need to know? Did something happen between you two?”

Ethan’s eyes widened; was he that transparent? He needed to tread carefully if he wanted to maintain his position as Alpha.

“Of course not, Irene. I only have eyes for you,” he assured her, trying to sound convincing.

“Then why can’t you stop staring at her?” she asked through clenched teeth, her frustration palpable.

“I’m not staring at her,” he denied, but the words felt hollow.

“I don’t believe you,” she replied, shaking her head, tears shimmering in her eyes.

“Maybe we shouldn’t discuss this here,” he suggested, lowering his voice to a whisper. “How about I settle the bill, and we can talk in the car?”

She hesitated, weighing her options, before finally giving him a curt nod.

“I’ll be outside waiting,” she said, standing abruptly and walking away, leaving Ethan staring after her, grappling with how he would navigate this conversation.

Meanwhile, Walter had noticed Ethan’s persistent stare directed at Judy throughout their date, and it was beginning to irritate him. He was aware that Judy and Ethan shared some sort of complicated history that she was reluctant to reveal. His curiosity gnawed at him, prompting him to open a mindlink with his Beta.

“Max,” he called through the link.

“I’m here,” Max replied almost immediately. “Everything okay?”

“I need you to dig up everything you can about Ethan Cash,” Walter ordered, his tone serious. “He and Judy have a past, and I need to know what it is.”