The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 328

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 328: The Accident**

**Judy’s POV**

The weight of Irene’s words hit me like a thunderclap, leaving me momentarily speechless. I turned to face her, my heart pounding in my chest. She was avoiding my gaze, her eyes darting around the room as if searching for an escape. Her fingers twisted nervously at the hem of her blouse, and I could hear the uneven rhythm of her breath, a sure sign that she was on the brink of panic.

“What?” I managed to ask, narrowing my eyes, trying to gauge the gravity of what she was saying.

“I think he’s cheating on me,” she repeated, her voice trembling, barely above a whisper. The way she spoke, I could sense the storm of emotions brewing inside her, threatening to spill over. “I went to his house because I hadn’t seen him in days, and there was a woman standing outside his house. She looked like she was about to knock, but when she saw me, she turned and left…”

“A woman?” I echoed, a tight knot forming in my chest. “Do you know who it was?”

Irene shook her head vehemently, her expression a mix of confusion and despair.

“No, I’ve never seen her before.”

“What did she look like?” I pressed, needing more details to piece together the fragments of this unsettling puzzle.

She paused, her brow furrowing as she searched her memory. A shadow crossed her face, and I could almost see the gears turning in her mind as the realization dawned on her. Suddenly, her eyes narrowed at me, that bitter expression I had grown accustomed to over the past few weeks resurfacing like an unwelcome ghost. It was as if she had just remembered who she was speaking to, and her defenses were back up, stronger than ever.

The intensity of her gaze was so piercing that I instinctively took a step back, feeling the air between us grow thick with tension.

“She looked like you,” she spat out, venom lacing her words. “I need to leave.”

Without another word, she turned on her heel and ascended the stairs, leaving me standing there, bewildered and unsettled.

That was strange, I thought, my mind racing to process her words.

I shook off the unsettling feeling and spent the remainder of the day with Matt, focusing on tutoring him and then moving on to more advanced combat and defense techniques. I had expected Gavin to make at least one appearance, but he remained absent from the Villa. By the time I gathered my things to leave for the evening, the sun had dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows, and I felt utterly drained.

Leroy drove me home, and when I inquired about Gavin, he offered a vague response, claiming that the Alpha had been busy and that I shouldn’t worry too much.

“Busy with what?” I pressed, my curiosity piqued.

He remained silent, and my suspicion only deepened. Could it be that he had someone else in his life? The thought of him being with another woman twisted my stomach into knots. What if he had rekindled something with Skyla?

The mere idea made me feel nauseous.

Part of me wanted to storm into his office and demand answers about where he had been and what was going on. But another part of me recoiled at the thought of facing the rejection that would inevitably follow.

I resolved to let it be for now, hoping that he would reach out to me when he was ready.

But he didn’t.

A week had passed, and he still hadn’t sought me out.

Tomorrow morning, I would be leaving, and Gavin remained blissfully unaware of my departure. At least, I hoped he was. Adam had mentioned that he would inform Gavin, but I hadn’t received any word from either of them.

I spent the day packing my belongings, all the while chatting on the phone with Nan, who was also in the midst of her own packing frenzy. She hadn’t spoken to Chester since that awkward car ride home, and Chester hadn’t brought it up either. He had been quieter than usual, seemingly avoiding any social interaction around Harper.

Both of them were burying themselves in work, keeping their heads down and avoiding the world.

Irene had been silent since last week; it was evident she was making a conscious effort to avoid me. I wondered if she felt embarrassed about what she had confessed. When I told Matt that today would be our last training session for the next few weeks, he had been upset but also thrilled about my nomination for the Gamma competition. He promised to watch me on TV when the event was broadcast.

Every shifter across the globe tuned in to these competitions, and the thought of being one of the competitors sent a wave of nerves through me. I was excited about the chance to escape for a few weeks, but the pressure of participating in this competition weighed heavily on my shoulders.

I was also incredibly anxious, which was no surprise to anyone who knew me.

This was everything I had ever wanted, everything I had worked tirelessly for. My future hinged on this competition, and there was no room for error.

My professors believed I was more than ready, and my family and friends were cheering for me, but the one person I desperately wanted by my side—Gavin—was nowhere to be found. My heart ached at the thought of him, the way he had been avoiding me these past few weeks.

At least, that’s how it seemed.

As I sparred with Matt, my thoughts drifted, and I knew I shouldn’t be distracted. It was a reckless decision to engage in a sparring session while my mind was elsewhere, but I convinced myself that I was skilled enough to manage.

He worked with a calm efficiency, wrapping the shirt around Matt’s leg to stem the bleeding.

“It was Judy’s fault,” Irene hissed, her finger pointing accusingly at me. “She did this. She shot Matt.”

Gavin’s gaze snapped to me, as though he was just registering my presence. His eyes were dark, his mouth a thin line as he struggled to contain the fury of his wolf. He scrutinized my face, then his gaze drifted down to my blood-stained hands and shirt.

“Is this true?” His voice was low and growly, sending a shiver down my spine. His eyes bore into mine, demanding an answer.

“I…” I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Yes, it’s true,” Irene interjected sharply. “I saw the whole thing. She did this on purpose. She’s dangerous, Daddy! This is the second time Matt got hurt in her care!!”

A low growl rumbled from Gavin’s throat; I couldn’t tell if it was directed at me or at Irene, but his eyes remained locked on mine. The weight of her words hung heavy in the air, and I felt every ounce of shame wash over me.

I could hear the distant wail of sirens, and relief washed over me, knowing help was on the way.

“I want you to leave,” he said after a tense pause, his voice devoid of emotion. “Don’t come back.”

His words cut through me like a knife, and I could see the raw rage etched on his face. I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing larger; he didn’t need to say it twice. I quickly stood, wiping the tears from my eyes, only to realize I had been crying. Blood smeared across my cheeks as I did so.

My entire body trembled, and I had never seen him look at me with such disdain before. My heart shattered into a million pieces, and I felt my wolf retreating in shame. My legs felt like lead, as if they were rooted to the ground. I knew I needed to leave, but I couldn’t muster the will to move.

“I’m so sorry,” I whispered to Matt, who was gripping Gavin with all his strength, his eyes wide with fear. “I’m so sorry…” I repeated, desperate for him to understand that this had been an accident.

Yes, it could have been worse. He could have died, but he was still here, and soon the ambulance would arrive to take him to safety. I could see color slowly returning to his cheeks, and his trembling was less pronounced.

I opened my mouth to say more, to offer comfort or reassurance.

“Go!” Gavin barked, making me flinch and close my mouth immediately. The force of his Alpha aura washed over me, startling me; he had never used his powers on me like this before. My legs felt weak, but I had no choice but to obey.

Without another word, I fled from the villa, my heart heavy with regret.