The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 297

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 297: Dinner With Skyla**

**Gavin’s POV**

For a fleeting moment, I thought I caught a whiff of Judy’s familiar scent lingering in the air. It had been a hectic day, and I hadn’t had the chance to speak with her since this morning. I had instructed Irene to send her a text, informing her that the tutoring session had been relocated, but then I had decided to cancel it altogether. The film crew required the space for their meeting, and they wanted to inspect the training grounds intended for the movie.

I assumed Leroy had taken her home right after school, so I was taken aback when I detected her scent. Just as I was about to check if she was still around, Chanse monopolized my car during the entire meeting, making it nearly impossible for me to slip away. To add to my frustration, Skyla was clinging to my arm as if she had an unspoken claim to me. I tried to discreetly shimmy my arm away from her grasp, hoping she would take the hint and let go. Yet, the more I resisted, the more tenaciously she held on. My wolf was not pleased with her touch, growling in my mind as she settled beside me.

I had to push him down, forcing myself to ignore the primal instincts brewing within me, lest he take over and lead us both into a regrettable situation. After what felt like an eternity, the meeting finally wrapped up, and I was the first to bolt from the room. My immediate thought was to call Judy and see if she was at the villa. But just as I reached into my pocket for my phone, I heard Chanse’s voice calling out from behind me.

“Alpha Gavin!” he shouted, his tone urgent enough to halt my steps.

I sighed, stifling a groan as I turned to face him, my annoyance barely concealed.

“What is it?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

“I had a thought,” he began, a hint of hesitation in his voice. “How about you take Skyla to dinner tonight? She could really use a break from everything.”

I narrowed my eyes, skepticism flooding my mind.

“And why would I do that?” I questioned, crossing my arms.

“Look, I’m genuinely worried about her,” Chanse admitted, his voice dropping to a more serious tone. “She’s lost a considerable amount of weight and isn’t eating properly. I know she’s a model and cares about her appearance, but I want her to be healthy. I wouldn’t want that for my sister, Kylie, and I certainly don’t want it for Skyla either. She seems to have taken a liking to you, and I think it would do her good to get out for a bit. You could help her eat a proper meal and look after herself a little better.”

I raked my fingers through my hair, not minding the mess I was making.

“I have other plans tonight—” I started to protest,

“Please, Alpha,” Chanse interrupted, his voice laced with urgency. “I know I’m asking a lot, but she’s in a fragile state, and I can’t bear to see her hurt herself. She looks up to you, always has. I’m sure you can make a difference.”

With a heavy sigh, I realized I couldn’t refuse him, especially considering my position as a Lycan Chairman. I had to lead by example.

“Fine, I’ll take her to dinner,” I replied reluctantly.

Chanse’s face brightened, a smile breaking through his earlier concern.

“Excellent! I’ll let her know. Thank you, Alpha,” he beamed, bowing slightly before retreating to the parlor to share the news with Skyla.

I let out another sigh, glancing at the time. It was becoming increasingly clear that my plans for the evening at the mansion were slipping away.

I pulled out my phone and located Judy’s contact. After hitting the “call” button, I pressed the device to my ear, waiting for a response that never came. Frowning, I glanced at the screen and hung up before I could leave a message. Instead, I opted for a text.

Me: Hey, sorry, I won’t be able to come over tonight. But I’ll try and swing by tomorrow. Hope you had a good day.

I reread the message, feeling a sense of dissatisfaction wash over me, but I pressed “send” anyway, waiting anxiously for her reply.

She responded with just a thumbs-up emoji, and my brows furrowed in confusion.

Was she upset with me?

Just then, Irene appeared at the top of the stairs, her voice brightening the dim atmosphere. “Oh, hi Daddy! Is everything okay?”

“Yeah,” I murmured, still lost in my thoughts about Judy. I shook my head, trying to clear my mind of the nagging worry. “Did you see Judy earlier today?”

A frown crossed her face as she bit her lower lip.

“Yeah, she came here,” she said softly. “But she wasn’t feeling well, so she left.”

My frown deepened. She seemed perfectly fine this morning. What could have happened so suddenly that she had to leave?

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