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?”

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