The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 329

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 329: Blame**

**Gavin’s POV**

“Why are you making such a point of avoiding home?” Taylor inquired, perched casually in the chair across from my desk, his gaze fixed on me with an inquisitive intensity.

“Why do you think?” I shot back, narrowing my eyes at my Beta, who seemed unfazed by my tone.

He shrugged nonchalantly, as if my frustration was merely an amusing riddle to him.

“It’s been over a week, and you’re hardly ever there,” Taylor continued, his voice laced with concern. “Is this about Judy?”

At the mention of her name, I furrowed my brows, irritation flaring within me.

“What? No, absolutely not,” I retorted, shaking my head vigorously as if to dispel the thought. “Why on earth would I be avoiding Judy?”

“Because you haven’t been seeing her as frequently as you usually do,” he replied, a sly smile creeping onto his lips. “You can deny it all you want, but I know you’re sneaking off to the other mansion to be with her. Remember the gala? You kicked me out of the car just so you could have your fun.”

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as I leaned back in my chair, the weight of his words pressing down on me.

“I’m not avoiding her. I’m simply keeping my distance,” I clarified, my voice steadier than I felt. “Irene made it abundantly clear that she doesn’t want me seeing Judy.”

“So, you’re doing this just because Irene said so?” Taylor pressed, his eyebrows arching in disbelief.

“I’m doing this out of respect for my family,” I insisted firmly. “Judy understands that my children come first. I promise you, there are no hard feelings involved.”

“And you’re completely sure about that?” he challenged, skepticism lacing his tone.

I fell silent for a moment, my mind drifting to the look of disappointment that had etched itself on Judy’s face each time I had to cancel our plans over the past couple of weeks. A tight knot formed in my chest at the thought of her hurt expression. I had told Taylor that my reasons were rooted in Irene’s demands, but that was only part of the truth. Yes, Irene had complicated things lately, but I could have navigated through it.

My real concern lay in Levi Churchill’s presence within my pack.

If he discovered the nature of my relationship with Judy, he would undoubtedly use it against me. The wisest course of action was to maintain a safe distance from her until Levi was out of the picture.

“Yes, I’m sure,” I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper.

“Okay, so if you’re not avoiding your villa to steer clear of Judy, then what’s your excuse?” Taylor asked, raising an eyebrow. “There has to be more to this story. You’ve literally been sleeping here.”

His gaze flicked to the couch in the corner of the office, still adorned with my pillow and blanket. He had a point; I had been spending my nights here, but it wasn’t solely because of Judy.

“Irene has been unbearable lately,” I confessed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. “She’s acting more needy than usual, and I can’t quite put my finger on why. I just needed a breather.”

“So, you’re avoiding your own daughter?” Taylor asked incredulously. “That’s even worse.”

I groaned, exasperated.

“Don’t make me fire you,” I warned, though I knew the threat was empty.

He chuckled, the sound lightening the tension in the room.

“You and I both know you won’t,” Taylor said as he rose from his seat. “I’m heading out for the night; I have a date with my mate. But let me leave you with some advice: go home, Gavin. Face your problems and stop turning your office into a makeshift bedroom. I’ll send another driver to pick you up.”

After a brief moment, Taylor was gone, leaving me alone with my thoughts. I knew I couldn’t hide away in my office indefinitely; I had children at home who needed me. Perhaps it was time to have a heart-to-heart with Judy, to explain why I had been so distant. It wasn’t her fault; it was my uncertainty about her role in my life and my children’s lives, compounded by the looming threat of Levi. I wanted to do what was best for everyone involved, and right now, continuing our sexual relationship felt like a recipe for confusion and chaos.

True to his word, Taylor sent Leroy to escort me home.

The instant I stepped through the door, the sound of frantic screams reached my ears, emanating from the training grounds. Panic surged through me as I sprinted toward the commotion, my heart racing. I found Irene bent over Matt, her voice soothing yet urgent as she tried to calm him. But the sight before me was horrifying—he was crying, blood smeared across his skin like a macabre painting.

I felt a rush of fury boil within me!

Who had dared to harm my nephew?

My mind raced, and Levi’s name echoed ominously in my thoughts. Had he somehow breached the safety of my villa?

Without a second thought, I rushed to Matt’s side, dropping to the ground beside him. My instincts kicked in, overriding my reason. It was a flesh wound; a quick inspection of the arrow confirmed it would be safe to remove, provided I could staunch the bleeding immediately. I tore off my shirt, using it as a makeshift bandage to prevent him from bleeding out. In the distance, I could already hear the wail of sirens approaching, a promise of help on the way.

As I worked to stem the blood flow, I turned to Irene, desperation lacing my voice as I demanded to know what had happened. That was when the truth hit me like a punch to the gut—Judy had shot Matt with the arrow. It was then I noticed her for the first time, slumped against a tree, her face a mask of shock, blood splattered across her.

Her eyes met mine, tears shimmering like fragile glass.

Rage and disappointment flooded my veins.

How could she let this happen?!

How could she place Matthew in such peril?

I knew she hadn’t done this intentionally, yet her carelessness had led to his injury. Yes, I recognized that it was merely a flesh wound, and the arrows were devoid of silver. He would heal quickly with the right medical attention, but Judy was supposed to be his protector, not his assailant. It could have been so much worse if the arrow had struck anywhere else on his body.

I had placed my trust in her, and she had shattered it.

Without a filter, I let my anger spill over, allowing my rage to dictate my words as I glared at her, consumed by a haze of fury.

The EMTs arrived swiftly, expertly removing my shirt from around Matt’s leg and applying proper bandages. They assured me he wouldn’t need to be hospitalized, thanks to his Alpha bloodline working in his favor. They provided him with pain medication and instructed me that he would need to rest for a few days.

I carefully lifted the drowsy Matt, the medication already taking effect, and carried him to his bedroom for the night. He looked so pale, so fragile in my arms. A sharp pang of anguish twisted in my chest as I gazed down at him. He didn’t deserve this, and my fury at what had transpired was palpable, yet I understood it wasn’t intentional.

Judy would never have meant to hurt him; the way she flinched when I ordered her to leave was etched in my mind. It was as if she feared I might strike her.

“What?” she replied, confusion knitting her brow.

“You used to be friends,” I reminded her, trying to draw out the truth. “Then you found out she’s mated with your fiancé. That can’t be all there is to it. What’s your problem with her?”

“She was never my friend,” Irene murmured, her voice barely above a whisper. “She lied to me and betrayed me.”

“Her only crime was not disclosing the truth about her and Ethan’s past,” I countered, frustration creeping into my tone.

“She still wants him…” Irene complained, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Ethan told me that—”

“Ethan also lied to you, Irene,” I interjected firmly. “If you’re going to be angry at Judy, then you should be just as furious with him. It’s not fair to treat her like she’s the villain. She didn’t want to hurt you; that’s why she kept quiet. There’s nothing more to the story than that.”

“But…” she attempted to argue, but I raised my hand to silence her.

“I need you to ease up on her, Irene,” I said, my eyes narrowing as I regarded my daughter. “Holding onto this grudge isn’t healthy for either of you. Matt was injured, and we need to focus on that.”

“That wasn’t my fault!” she shot back, her voice rising defensively.

“I’m not saying it was, but right now, we need to prioritize him over our own selfish feelings,” I told her, my tone softening slightly. “Can you set aside your grievances for the sake of your brother? He’s going to need you while I’m away, and I’d like to leave knowing your mind is in the right place.”

She bit her bottom lip, staring down at the ground, her silence stretching painfully. Then, with a heavy sigh, she nodded.

“Okay,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.

“So, tell me. What did you see?” I asked once more, hoping for a different answer this time. She hesitated, her gaze fixed on the floor, but eventually, she lifted her eyes to mine, tears brimming in her blue irises.

“It was a mistake,” she whispered. “Judy was the one who pulled the bow back and shot the arrow into his leg, but she was aiming at the target. Her timing was just off… I don’t think she meant to hurt him.”

I sighed, relief and worry intertwining within me. I needed to talk to Judy, to ensure she was alright. Now that I knew for certain Matt was going to be okay, my anger began to dissipate, replaced by a rising tide of concern. It was a strange sensation, bubbling within me, threatening to overflow.

“I’m going to sleep now. Goodnight,” Irene said softly as she slipped out of the parlor, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I grabbed my phone and dialed Judy’s number, but it went straight to voicemail, which didn’t surprise me. So, I opted to call Leroy instead, knowing he must have taken her home.

“Hello, Alpha,” Leroy greeted me on the other end, his tone respectful yet casual.

“Leroy,” I replied, my voice steady. “Has Judy made it home?”

“Yes,” Leroy confirmed. “But then she left again.”

“What do you mean she left?” I asked, a sense of dread creeping in. My wolf was on high alert once more.

“I mean she got into another car, and it drove off.”