The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 278

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 278: Move In With Me**

**Gavin’s POV**

As I stood outside the closed door, a wave of hesitation washed over me. I couldn’t shake the absurdity of my nerves; this was utterly ridiculous. Yet, Judy’s words echoed in my mind, relentless and haunting. Why was I even considering this? Why would I want my daughter to be involved with someone like Ethan? It was painfully clear that he wasn’t serious about his bond with her, so why on earth would I allow this to unfold?

I was Gavin Landry, the Lycan Chairman, a powerful Alpha with influence that could change the course of events in an instant. If I desired something, I could seize it without hesitation. But the mere thought of losing my daughter to this situation gnawed at me, leaving me feeling more unsettled than ever.

Drawing in a deep breath, I knocked on the door, the sound echoing in the quiet hallway. I waited, counting the heartbeats that passed, before the door creaked open to reveal Irene. She stood there, her expression cautious, her eyes red and puffy—clear signs that she had been crying. A wave of anger surged through me, directed solely at Ethan. He was the one causing my daughter pain, and I was determined to make him pay for it.

“We need to talk,” I stated, my voice firm before I could reconsider my words.

She let out a long sigh, stepping back to allow me entry into her dimly lit room. The shadows enveloped us, and I could see that it had been days since she had tidied up.

“I’m really tired. Can this be quick?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper as she shuffled over to her bed. I closed the door behind me, stepping further into the room, the weight of the conversation pressing down on us.

“It’s about Ethan,” I informed her, watching as her entire demeanor stiffened. She glanced up at me, her eyes narrowing as if bracing for impact.

“What about him?” she replied, her tone defensive.

I ran my fingers through my hair, a nervous habit that betrayed my own uncertainty.

“Are you absolutely certain you want to marry him, Irene?” I finally ventured. “He seems to be making you miserable and—”

“He doesn’t make me miserable, Daddy,” she interrupted, rising to her feet, her arms crossed defiantly over her chest. “He’s the only one who makes me happy.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise.

“Then why are you hiding away in your room?” I challenged gently, wanting to understand her better.

She rolled her eyes, a gesture that stung more than I expected.

“I’m just going through something…” she murmured, her voice trailing off. “It has nothing to do with Ethan.”

I could see through her words; she was lying, and the truth was clear as day.

“Irene, whatever it is, you can talk to me. I’m your father and—”

“Oh, now you want to pretend like you’re a caring father?” she spat, her words hitting me like a physical blow. “You’ve never been there for me or Matt. You’re only around now because you have a disgusting crush on Matt’s tutor. But guess what, Dad? I’m grown up now, and I don’t need you meddling in my life. I would have loved to have you present while I was growing up, but you were always too busy. Do you have any idea what it’s like living in your shadow? It’s exhausting…”

Her words left me reeling, and I struggled to find a response. I had been completely unaware of how deeply she felt this way. Or perhaps she was simply lashing out at me because I was the closest target for her frustrations. Either way, the raw pain in her eyes was unmistakable, and it was directed squarely at me.

“You’ve barely been a father to me,” she continued, her voice trembling as tears threatened to spill. “And now you want to take away the only happiness I’ve ever known? Do you want me to end it all? Because I’m about ready to take a knife and—”

“Don’t you dare speak like that, Irene!” I growled, my protective instincts flaring. “You know I don’t want to take anything from you. I’m just worried about you. I want what’s best…”

“Ethan is what’s best,” she huffed, angrily wiping away the tears that had escaped down her cheeks. “He’s all I want, and I won’t give up on our relationship no matter what happens. He’s mine… and I won’t let you take him away from me!”

At a loss for words, I merely nodded, conceding to her fervent declaration.

“Okay,” I finally replied after a heavy silence settled between us. “We don’t need to discuss this any further.”

“Can you leave now?” she murmured, her fatigue evident. “I’m really tired.”

I nodded, turning to leave, but paused, glancing back over my shoulder.

“I thought you’d want to know that Ethan is sleeping in a guest room. We found him passed out at the bar, and it looked like a prostitute was about to take advantage of him.”

Irene’s face drained of color, and I could almost hear the frantic pounding of her heart.

“What?” she gasped, her eyes widening in shock. “Why didn’t you say something sooner? I need to go see him,” she said, racing towards the doorway.

I didn’t try to stop her, but I called after her as she dashed into the hallway.

“Irene,” I said, halting her in her tracks. “I love you. I hope you know that.”

She paused, studying me for a moment before nodding, but she said nothing as she hurried away to find Ethan.

I sighed, the weight of my worries settling heavily on my shoulders. It seemed there was no way to reach her.

The following evening, I was surprised to see Judy return to train Matt. I had honestly expected her to call in sick after our last encounter. Yet, seeing her again filled me with a mix of relief and apprehension. I wanted to apologize for my words, but I also knew it might not be my place to convince her of anything. So, I resolved to give her some space tonight, even as I watched from a distance, my wolf urging me to close the gap between us.

Irene and Ethan spent the day together, and it was clear that he had forgotten the chaos of the previous night. Irene, on the other hand, seemed content just to have him near her. I noticed a strange tension brewing between Judy and Irene earlier, and I couldn’t quite place its origin. Irene kept stealing glances at Judy, and I could have sworn I saw her shoot Judy a dirty look.

I thought they were friends… what had transpired between them?

Judy pulled her phone from her bag, her expression darkening as she glanced at the screen. She leaned down to speak with Matt, and he nodded, beginning to practice on his own while she stepped away to take the call.

My curiosity piqued; who could she be speaking to that required such urgency?

**Judy’s POV**

When I saw that Nan had called me back during my training session with Matt, my heart raced with anticipation. I hadn’t spoken to her in days, and the silence had felt heavy. I had left her a message earlier, indicating that I needed to ask her something important.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify