The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 284

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 284: Injured Hand**

**Judy’s POV**

My stomach growled with a ferocity that matched my frustration. Days had passed since I had consumed anything substantial, and the scraps I managed to scavenge barely kept me going. When Kelsey appeared at my door, her voice ringing with false cheer as she beckoned me to the dining hall, I felt a flicker of hope. Perhaps, just perhaps, I would finally have a chance to indulge in a proper meal. But as I stepped into the hall, my heart sank. The remnants of their feast lay before me—dirty plates piled high and empty wine glasses glinting in the dim light—nothing left for me but disappointment.

Kelsey had decided to grant the maids the night off, leaving me to face the aftermath of their gluttony alone. She lounged against the wall, an amused smirk playing on her lips as she watched me, her expression that of a predator relishing the sight of its prey.

“Clean this mess up, would you?” she taunted, her voice dripping with condescension.

I felt a surge of resentment bubbling within me as I grabbed a large tray, my hands trembling with a mix of anger and hunger. I began to stack the plates and glasses, my movements brisk and efficient, determined to finish the task. But as I passed Kelsey, she suddenly stuck her foot out, and in an instant, I was tumbling to the ground, the tray flying from my grasp. The sound of shattering glass filled the air, sharp and cruel. A jagged piece of glass sliced through my finger, and I hissed in pain as I felt the warm blood pooling in my palm.

“So, fucking clumsy!” Kelsey sneered, her laughter ringing in my ears like nails on a chalkboard. “Look what you did!”

“You tripped me,” I murmured, cradling my injured hand against my chest, feeling the sting of humiliation wash over me. Before I could react, her hand swung through the air with vicious speed, connecting with my cheek in a sharp slap. The force of it made me bite my lip, and I tasted the metallic tang of blood mingling with my tears.

Why was this happening to me? What had I done to deserve such cruelty?

“Awe, are you going to cry now?” Kelsey mocked, folding her arms as if she were judging a pathetic performance. “Get over yourself. No one is coming to your rescue, especially not your weak-ass mother.”

I looked up, my vision blurred by tears, and met her gaze.

“Don’t you dare speak about my mother like that,” I said, my voice trembling but resolute. I knew deep down that if I unleashed my anger, I could easily overpower her. But the thought of disappointing my mother, of ruining everything for her, held me back.

The helplessness washed over me like a heavy blanket, suffocating and stifling. The pain in my hand felt magnified by Kelsey’s laughter, each chuckle a reminder of my vulnerability.

“You are nothing but a useless bitch! Only good for being a slave and cleaning up after my family’s meal. How does it feel to be a nobody?”

Just then, the door to the dining hall burst open, and Kelsey stumbled back, her bravado faltering as she faced the new arrival.

“What is the meaning of this?!” A voice thundered through the room, reverberating off the walls. My heart raced at the sound, and I looked up to see Gavin standing there, fury radiating from him like an uncontainable storm. His Lycan aura surged, overpowering his Alpha presence, and I could feel the tension in the air shift dramatically.

“A… Alpha,” Kelsey stuttered, suddenly looking like a frightened child caught in a lie. “I was just… I was…”

“She’s hurt, and you’re ridiculing her,” Gavin hissed, his voice low and dangerous. “Why is she on the ground with glass all around her?”

“I… uh…” Kelsey faltered, her face turning crimson as she scrambled for an excuse. “She tripped and fell. I was just about to help her up.”

She reached down to grab my arm, but Gavin’s roar filled the space, shaking the very foundations of the manor and nearly sending her sprawling.

“Do not touch her!” he growled, his eyes fierce and unwavering.

Even I felt the chill of his anger, the raw power emanating from him was both terrifying and exhilarating.

“What’s going on in here?” Raymond burst in, his expression shifting from confusion to fury as he took in the sight of me on the floor. I braced myself for the words that would surely follow, but Gavin’s voice cut through the tension first.

“Is this how you raise your daughter? To treat your house guests with such blatant disrespect?” Gavin’s words were like a whip, directed at Raymond with pinpoint accuracy.

Raymond’s face paled, the color draining from him as he struggled to find a response.

“What? No, of course not. I—”

“Tell me why your daughter thinks it’s acceptable to treat anyone like this!” Gavin’s finger pointed down at me, and I felt the weight of his gaze.

Raymond glanced between me and Kelsey, who was now trembling in the corner, her bravado shattered. I wished more than anything that the ground would open up and swallow me whole.

Just then, the door swung open again.

**Gavin’s POV**

“Kelsey?” Meredith’s voice rang out as she entered the room, her eyes darting around before landing on her daughter.

“Mom!” Kelsey wailed, rushing into her mother’s arms, her sobs echoing through the hall. “She pushed me first! I was only cleaning the dishes, and she said she could do it better. She grabbed the tray and fell! I didn’t mean for her to get hurt!”

“Of course you didn’t, sweetheart,” Meredith cooed, her voice soothing as she stroked Kelsey’s hair. “All will be okay. Your father will sort it out.”

“Sec, Alpha. It’s only a misunderstanding,” Kelsey’s father interjected, his voice shaky.

“You what?”

I paused, holding her gaze, my resolve firm. “I was wrong,” I admitted, my voice steady. “About everything. I shouldn’t have accused you of hurting my son. I know you aren’t capable of something so sinister. I should have listened to you instead of kicking you out. I’m here to apologize.”

She fell silent, her eyes searching mine, and I felt a weight of expectation in the air.

Breaking our gaze, I focused on her wound again, applying the ointment carefully. She winced at the sting, her attention shifting back to her injury. I wrapped her hand tightly, ensuring the wound was secure.

I sent a quick link to Taylor, instructing him to have his mate check on Judy’s injury in the morning.

When I finally released her hand, I did so reluctantly.

“Thank you,” she said softly, her voice breaking the silence once more. “For wrapping my hand and for apologizing…”

“I should have done it sooner,” I replied, meeting her eyes. “Apologizing, I mean. Sending Taylor to you was a cowardly move.”

A small smile threatened to break through her somber expression, and I could see the hint of a blush creeping across her cheeks.

“Yes, it was,” she agreed, her voice lightening. “But you did the right thing. And it’s a good thing you came when you did. Kelsey is crazy. Who knows what more she would have done if you hadn’t come in?”

The thought sent a chill down my spine, and I didn’t want to dwell on it.

“Good thing she’ll never get the chance to hurt you again,” I murmured, stepping closer, my arms encircling her as I held her gaze.

She furrowed her brows, confusion flickering across her features.

“What are you talking about?” she asked, her voice laced with uncertainty. “She has all the opportunity in the world. I kind of live with her now, if you hadn’t noticed.”

A smirk tugged at my lips as I leaned in, our faces mere inches apart. I could feel the warmth of her breath against my skin, igniting a spark of something deep within me.

“Not anymore you don’t,” I whispered, brushing my lips against hers in a soft, featherlight kiss. Her cheeks flushed a vivid pink, and she sighed in contentment, the innocence of the moment wrapping around us like a protective cocoon. “Because from now on, you’re going to live with me.”