The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 317

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 317: Chester’s Confession**

**Judy’s POV**

Chester’s expression was one of utter disbelief, his jaw nearly grazing the floor. I could sense the shock radiating from him, and it made me instinctively avert my gaze. I didn’t want to burden him with my troubles, yet the urge to lay everything bare was overwhelming. It was clear that he was grappling with his own tumultuous emotions, wrestling with the reality of having found his mate. The words hung unspoken between us, a heavy silence that I could feel pressing down on both our hearts. I knew he was struggling, just as Nan was, and my heart ached, caught painfully between their conflicting feelings.

All I desired was for them to find happiness together. I believed, deep down, that if they could just embrace the possibility of being mates, they could forge a bond that would bring them both joy. But fear seemed to grip them both tightly — perhaps it was Nan who was most afraid of the implications of having Chester as a mate. After all, her initial impressions of him had not been the most favorable.

The first hurdle was clear: they needed to acknowledge their connection, if not to me, then at least to each other. A conversation was essential; they had to navigate this tangled web of emotions and figure out their next steps.

“Irene?” Chester’s voice broke through my thoughts as he leaned heavily against the counter, as if the weight of his own body was too much to bear. “Wait… your mate is Ethan Cash? From the Cash family?”

His recognition of Ethan didn’t surprise me; Ethan was a name that echoed throughout the wolf territory. His family was renowned, perhaps not as much as Gavin’s, but they were certainly well-known, especially now with Ethan set to marry Irene, the most illustrious heiress in the world.

I nodded slowly, feeling the weight of my own words.

“Yes,” I confirmed softly. “The one and only. He chose to leave me for Irene. I can’t really fault him for it… but it shattered me and my wolf in the process.”

“Of course, I mean, he’s your mate. That must be incredibly difficult… seeing him with someone else and—”

His voice trailed off, and I could see the horror dawning in his eyes, his complexion draining of color just as it had the previous night. I waved my hand in front of his face, desperate to pull him back from whatever dark thoughts were consuming him.

“Hey… what’s going on in that head of yours?” I asked, lowering my voice to a gentle whisper, hoping to reach him.

“I…” he began, but then he halted, frozen in thought.

“Chester?” I pressed, urging him to continue, my heart racing with concern.

Finally, his gaze met mine, and I saw the guilt swirling within him.

“I hurt her, Judy,” he confessed, his voice barely above a whisper.

A wave of sympathy washed over me, and I sighed, leaning back in my chair, wanting to ease the burden he carried.

“She’s your mate, isn’t she?”

His shock was palpable, disbelief flickering across his features, but soon he nodded, the weight of his acknowledgment heavy in the air.

“Yes,” he admitted quietly. “I saw her just the other day while I was out with this girl, Becky. I was so blindsided that I didn’t know how to react. I didn’t want to abandon Becky, but Nan was right there, her face twisted in pain as she realized I was on a date with someone else…”

I winced, understanding all too well why Nan had been so devastated and why she had turned to alcohol that night. I wished she could have confided in me while she was sober. It hurt that she felt she couldn’t share something so significant with me, her supposed best friend.

“Why didn’t you go after her?” I asked, trying to keep my tone neutral, though I couldn’t suppress the concern in my voice. Finding a mate was monumental, and I only wanted the best for Nan.

Chester’s shoulders sagged in defeat as he shrugged, the weight of his choices evident.

“Like I said… I was in shock. I didn’t want to ditch Becky, especially since I was the one who asked her out. I thought about seeking Nan out afterward, explaining everything… but honestly, I didn’t even know who she was or how to begin looking for her. I asked Becky about her, but she changed the subject every time. Understandably so… she didn’t want to discuss another woman while we were on a date.”

As I absorbed his story, my heart felt like a stone in my chest.

“And what about now?” I questioned, my voice steady but firm. “What about you and Harper yesterday? You already knew about your mate… you saw her with your own eyes, yet you still chose to kiss Harper right out in the open?”

He ran a hand through his hair, frustration etched across his features as he stared blankly at the counter.

“Not my finest moment,” he murmured. “I honestly thought I’d never see her again. I had no idea that you were friends with her, or that she’d witness that…”

I nodded, empathizing with his predicament, yet my heart ached for Nan, who was suffering in silence, unwilling to talk about her pain.

“So, what’s next?” I pressed him gently.

“I’m really not sure…” he admitted, his voice small. “I messed things up, and now I don’t know how to fix it. I doubt she’ll ever want to speak to me again.”

“She’s your mate… she will want to talk to you again. Her wolf will ensure that,” I reassured him. “How that conversation unfolds is entirely up to you. You need to prepare yourself and, for the love of all that is good, don’t act like a jerk.”

He frowned, confusion etching deeper lines on his face.

“When have I ever acted like a jerk?” he asked, defensiveness creeping into his tone.

“You’re not a jerk… but your actions haven’t reflected what a mate would want to see,” I warned him, my voice firm. “If you’re serious about this…”

“I don’t even know if I’m serious about anything,” he blurted out, panic flashing in his eyes. “I haven’t taken the time to figure out what I truly want. I never thought I’d find my mate, Judy. Honestly, I never even thought I wanted one.”

“Wait… what?” I asked, narrowing my eyes in disbelief. “Are you actually considering rejecting her?”

He bit his lip, refusing to meet my gaze, and that silence spoke volumes. My heart sank for Nan.

“Well, if you’re going to reject her, I’d suggest doing it sooner rather than later,” I said, bitterness creeping into my tone. I pushed my plate away, my appetite vanishing. Standing up, I felt the need to distance myself from the heavy atmosphere. “Just spare her the agony.”

Without another word, I left the kitchen, leaving Chester alone with his tumultuous thoughts.

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