The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 301

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 301: Ethan’s Lies**

Irene had never intended for that secret to slip out, especially not with Ethan standing there, his presence looming like a storm cloud. Her heart raced as she realized he had entered the room unannounced, catching her completely off guard. She had envisioned their meeting later as a sweet surprise, a moment filled with smiles and warmth. But now, all she felt was a deep sense of humiliation. Her gaze locked onto Ethan’s, and she could see the shock etched across his face, his expression frozen in disbelief as if he were a deer caught in headlights.

His eyes were wide, almost comically large, and a rush of confusion played across his features. He hadn’t anticipated that Irene would be privy to the information about him and Judy. Although their connection had cooled, the fact that they were destined mates was a truth that should have remained hidden—at least, that was the plan.

Had Judy betrayed him by revealing this? How could Irene have found out? The questions swirled in Ethan’s mind like a tempest, gnawing at his insides.

“I didn’t mean to create such a spectacle,” Irene stammered, rising to her feet while hastily wiping the tears that threatened to spill over. “But Judy deceived me from the very start. She assured me that nothing was happening between her and you, but it was all a facade.”

Gavin’s eyes darted toward Judy, and they darkened with fury. It was palpable, the tension in the air thickening around them. Irene couldn’t quite pinpoint the source of his anger. Was it directed at Judy for her betrayal, or was it aimed at Ethan for his involvement? Perhaps, just maybe, this was the moment her father would finally see Judy for who she truly was and abandon her completely. After all, Skyla was a far superior choice in Gavin’s eyes.

“Irene, baby…” Ethan finally broke the suffocating silence, stepping closer to her, weaving around Judy without even glancing her way. The fact that he was so focused on her made Irene’s heart flutter with a mix of emotions. He looked utterly distraught, and that vulnerability tugged at her heartstrings. “I would never do anything to hurt you. I didn’t want to worry you, but yes, Judy and I are mates… but we broke up. There’s nothing more to it than that.”

Irene’s heart ached as she searched his face, trying to decipher the truth behind his words. Tears brimmed in her eyes as she struggled to comprehend the situation. She bit down on her trembling lower lip, the weight of her uncertainty pressing heavily on her.

“I don’t know what to trust anymore…” she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper as she stared down at her trembling hands, feeling lost in a maze of emotions.

“I know…” Ethan replied softly, extending his hand toward her, as if trying to soothe a frightened animal. “It’s my fault. I’m so sorry. But I love you, Irene, and I would never intentionally hurt you. You have to believe me, baby. I’m so sorry you had to find out this way…”

Tears cascaded down Irene’s cheeks, each drop a testament to her heartbreak.

“Perhaps you should discuss this in private,” her father suggested, his eyes still locked on Judy, who remained seated on the floor, visibly shaken by the confrontation.

His Alpha presence had clearly affected her.

Irene nodded slowly, feeling the weight of Ethan’s hand in hers.

“Okay,” she murmured.

She didn’t dare to cast another glance at Judy. Instead, she walked hand in hand with Ethan up the staircase and into the bedroom, closing the door behind them with a soft click. The moment they were alone, Ethan exhaled a shaky breath, but Irene felt anything but relieved. She wrapped her arms around herself, glaring at him from across the room, her heart a tumultuous sea of emotions.

“How could you lie to me, Ethan?” she demanded after a tense silence hung between them like a thick fog.

Ethan turned to face her, and she could see the regret etched on his features, a mirror of her own turmoil.

“I shouldn’t have,” he admitted, his voice laced with sincerity. “I’m so sorry. Please, forgive me…”

“Forgive you? How can I do that so easily?” she replied, sniffling as she wiped her tear-streaked cheeks. “Are you still sleeping with her?”

“No,” he replied without a moment’s hesitation.

“Do you want to sleep with her?” she shot back, the question escaping her lips before she could rein it in.

A slight pause stretched between them, and Irene felt her heart crack a little more.

“It’s complicated,” he finally admitted, his voice heavy with the weight of honesty. “My wolf still desires her because she’s our mate. Until we mate and mark you, the answer is yes. I still want to be with her in some way. But that will fade soon enough, and I wouldn’t act on those feelings. You are the one I want to be with. You are the one I love. I can’t love Judy the same way I used to.”

“Why not?” Irene pressed, her gaze unwavering as she sought the truth in his eyes.

“Because she cheated on me with someone else,” he blurted out, his shoulders shrugging in frustration. “She’s manipulative. She’s been here this entire time, using your father to get to me. She told me that herself!”

Irene’s breath caught in her throat; she had suspected as much, but hearing Ethan’s confirmation was like a punch to the gut.

“What?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “She’s using my father to get to you?”

“Yes, of course she is,” he replied, rolling his eyes in exasperation. “Why else would she be hanging around him like this? It’s pathetic if you ask me. She’s flirted with me relentlessly since she started working here, and I keep telling her I’m not interested. She’s not the person you think she is, Irene. You need to be careful around her.”

Irene felt a surge of anger coursing through her veins; her hatred for Judy intensified, and the realization that Ethan had been a victim in all this made her heart ache for him.

Ethan closed the distance between them, sensing her turmoil and seizing the moment to comfort her. He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his body, even though his wolf felt conflicted. He needed to comfort Irene if he wanted his plans to unfold as he hoped.

“I love you,” Ethan murmured, pressing a gentle kiss to the top of her head. “I’m so sorry that you got hurt. I promise, I’m not hiding anything from you anymore.”

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