The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 279

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 279: Allergic Reaction**

**Judy’s POV**

I found myself staring at Gavin, utterly taken aback by his unexpected words. My mind raced, trying to process the gravity of what he had just said.

“What did you just say?” I managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper, laced with disbelief.

“I asked you to move in with me,” he reiterated, his expression calm and unwavering as he held my gaze.

Even with his repetition, I struggled to grasp the reality of his offer. It felt surreal, like a dream that I might wake from at any moment.

“You’re joking…” I said, though it came out more as a statement than a question, a desperate attempt to convince myself that this was all a misunderstanding.

“I am not,” he replied, his tone steady and sincere.

“You want me to move in… here?” I inquired, glancing around the familiar space that felt suddenly foreign. “With your family?”

His brow furrowed slightly, and he shook his head, dismissing the notion.

“No, I have a mansion just north of here,” he explained. “It’s fully staffed. I use it whenever I have work to do across the border.”

My eyebrows shot up in surprise; I had no idea he possessed another residence within his pack’s territory. The revelation must have shown on my face because his expression softened, revealing a hint of empathy.

“You obviously need a place to stay,” he said gently. “And I’m offering you one.”

“And you would be living there as well?” I pressed, trying to understand the implications of his proposition.

He hesitated for a moment, contemplating his response.

“I can’t live there full-time,” he finally said, a note of regret in his voice. “But I’ll be there often enough. There’s always work to do in the North. It won’t change much for me. But if I stayed there all the time, it might raise questions with my children. I can’t just leave them here alone, especially not Matthew.”

I nodded slowly, the weight of his words sinking in. I understood his concerns and appreciated his honesty.

“Can I think about it?” I asked, needing time to process this monumental decision.

“Of course,” he replied, his demeanor relaxed. “Take all the time you need. I have business to attend to, so I’ll leave you now.”

I watched him leave, my heart racing with a mix of excitement and trepidation. Turning away, I made my way back to Matt, who was still diligently practicing with his bow and arrow.

“Okay, how about we switch to swords now?” I suggested, trying to shake off the whirlwind of thoughts swirling in my mind. “Afterwards, I’ll whip up some lunch for us.”

He nodded eagerly, and we continued our practice for the next hour, the familiar rhythm of our sparring providing a comforting distraction.

**Third Person POV**

What could Judy and Gavin have been discussing so privately?

The thought of Judy getting too close to her father sent a wave of unease through Irene that words could hardly encapsulate. Over the past few days, she had spent time with Ethan, who had been making amends for his previous behavior. She hadn’t confronted him about the revelations she had stumbled upon, but it hardly mattered at this point. What truly gnawed at her was the unsettling realization that Ethan seemed to have distanced himself from Judy for her sake.

Yet, why was Judy always lingering around him?

Could it be that she was struggling to let go? The mere thought of Judy wanting her mate back made Irene curse under her breath in frustration. She had been the one to let Ethan go initially; she had no right to cling to him now. Ethan belonged to Irene, and she was determined not to relinquish him without a fight.

Irene concealed herself in the shadows as Judy passed by, heading back to Matt. They exchanged a few words before engaging in sparring. Judy mentioned something about lunch, and a sense of urgency washed over Irene. She needed to ensure that Judy was no longer a presence in the villa; she wanted her as far from Ethan as possible.

As she walked inside, a forced smile graced her lips for the servants who passed by, none of them aware of the turmoil that churned within her. All she truly desired was for someone to love her for who she was, but that felt like a distant fairy tale. Ethan had been the closest she had ever come to having a mate, and now the reality of that was slipping away from her grasp.

Irene paced the kitchen, lost in her thoughts, trying to devise a plan to remove Judy from the villa and away from her man. She had no idea how long she had been at it when the door creaked open, interrupting her reverie.

“Irene?” Judy’s voice called out tentatively from the doorway.

Irene spun around, her cheeks flushing as she realized she had been caught in her moment of contemplation.

“Judy!” she exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. “How long have you been there? I didn’t even hear you come in.”

Judy closed the door behind her, stepping further into the kitchen.

“I just walked in a moment ago and saw you pacing. Are you alright?” she asked, a hint of concern in her voice.

“I’m fine,” Irene lied, forcing a smile that felt more like a mask than a genuine expression.

Judy looked unconvinced as she moved around the counters, her brow furrowing slightly.

“It’s just that I feel as if you’ve been avoiding me,” Judy admitted, a frown creasing her features. “I was wondering if it was something I had done?”

Judy nodded, her back turned to Irene as she searched for the items. This was the moment Irene had been waiting for. She swiftly dipped her finger into the peanut butter and opened one of the sandwich triangles, smearing the sticky substance across the jam. She mirrored the action on the other side, ensuring the concoction was well-prepared.

When she heard the cabinet door close, Irene turned around, exhaling a sigh of relief upon realizing Judy was still oblivious to her actions. Judy was busy pouring juice into a cup for Matt.

Once she finished, Judy put the juice away, giving Irene the perfect chance to lick the excess peanut butter and jam off her fingers, erasing any trace of her deceit.

Judy returned to the plate, and their eyes met.

“Are you sure we’re okay?” she asked, her expression tinged with concern.

Irene plastered a smile on her lips, forcing warmth into her gaze.

“Never better,” she lied, her heart racing.

Judy looked relieved, offering a faint smile as she picked up the plate from the counter.

“I’m glad we talked,” she breathed, turning toward the door leading to the parlor.

“Me too…” Irene murmured, her mood darkening as Judy stepped out of the kitchen. She let out a breath she hadn’t realized she was holding, grateful she hadn’t been caught. This was the price she had to pay to ensure Judy’s departure from the villa. There was no way her father would allow her to remain if he suspected Judy posed a threat and had tried to harm Matthew. She quickly closed the peanut butter jar, ready to step into the parlor and witness her plan unfold, but then she heard Judy scream.

Panic surged through her, and she quickened her pace, bursting into the parlor. Matt was on the ground, his face swelling like a balloon, hands clutching his throat as he struggled to breathe. The sight was more harrowing than she had anticipated. She had thought she was prepared for Matt’s allergic reaction, but nothing could have prepared her for the reality of the situation. The last time this had occurred, she had been much younger, and it hadn’t been her responsibility to save him. She could barely recall the moment they discovered his peanut allergy.

But this—this was different. It was heart-wrenching and terrifying.

“Irene!” Judy screamed, her voice laced with desperation. It was clear this wasn’t the first time she had called for help. “I asked you if you have an Epi-pen somewhere??”

Matt tried to respond, but the more he struggled to speak, the more dire his situation became. Panic etched itself onto Judy’s face as tears streamed down her cheeks. She cradled him in her arms, her body trembling as she whispered soothing words, trying to comfort him in his distress.

Irene felt the Epi-pen in her back pocket, but how could she explain having it without revealing her true intentions? She felt paralyzed, unsure of what to do. Her legs wobbled beneath her, and she feared she might collapse.

The door to the parlor burst open, and Gavin rushed in, accompanied by one of the maids. She must have gone to fetch him after witnessing Matt’s alarming reaction. Without hesitation, Irene’s father pushed past her, reaching for the Epi-pen in the top drawer of the parlor desk before returning to Matt’s side.

In an instant, he jabbed the pen into Matt’s thigh, administering the life-saving medication. Within moments, Matt began to breathe again, his color slowly returning.

Irene stood frozen in disbelief, her heart racing.

She had almost just killed her own brother…