The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 353

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**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 353: Punishment**

**Judy’s POV**

Honestly, this was likely one of the most ridiculous plans I had ever concocted. Here we were, a trio of wolf shifters, and I was hiding under Gavin’s hotel bed, completely exposed. I squeezed my eyes shut and held my breath, hoping against hope that neither Mica nor Gavin would catch my scent. It felt like I was a child once more, playing a game of hide and seek, but the stakes were much higher—and I was stark naked. My clothes were awkwardly tucked beneath me, and I had barely managed to snag them before I slipped off the bed and rolled into my makeshift hiding spot.

The muffled sound of their voices drifted in from the doorway, but I was too wrapped up in my own thoughts to focus on their conversation.

To my utter relief, Gavin soon dismissed Mica, and I could hear the door click shut behind him. I waited with bated breath, counting the seconds until I could hear Mica’s footsteps retreating down the hallway. The moment I sensed he was gone, I let out a breath I hadn’t realized I’d been holding. Still, I remained stubbornly tucked away under the bed.

The truth was, I was mortified.

What had possessed me to think that sneaking into his hotel suite and lounging in his bed, completely naked, was a smart idea? Each passing second only intensified the heat in my cheeks. I could hear Gavin’s footsteps approaching the bed, and my heart raced like a wild animal trapped in a cage, pounding against my ribcage in a frantic rhythm.

Then, all at once, he stopped.

I had no clue what he was doing, but I could see his feet just inches from my hiding spot. Part of me wished he would simply head to the bathroom so I could make my escape unnoticed, but I knew better than to count on luck.

“Are you going to stay under there all night?” His voice was low and deep, a hint of amusement lacing his words.

Of course, he had known I was there all along. I felt utterly ridiculous for hiding like a frightened mouse.

“Do you think maybe you can go to the bathroom?” I squeaked, my voice barely above a whisper.

“What?” he replied, clearly taken aback.

“I’d like to sneak out,” I murmured, my tone trembling with urgency. “But I can’t do that while you’re watching me. Can you just go to the bathroom?”

At this point, desperation clawed at my insides.

He fell silent for what felt like an eternity, and I entertained the fleeting hope that he would help me out of this mess by simply leaving the room. But when he didn’t move, that flicker of hope began to dim. I felt him draw nearer until he was practically hovering over me, and then he bent down, trying to get a better look at me.

My cheeks flared with embarrassment.

“Or you can come out from under the bed,” he suggested, his tone still low and enticing.

With my heart racing, I cursed myself under my breath. Slowly, I slid out from my hiding place, and he reached down to grasp my arm, helping me untangle myself from the confines of the space. I hadn’t realized how cramped I had been until I stood up, stretching out my limbs. His warm hands brushed against my back, sending a shiver down my spine.

I was acutely aware of my nakedness and, surprisingly, it didn’t feel as embarrassing as it probably should have. After all, we were shifters, and nudity was just part of life for us.

“What are you doing in here?” he asked, his eyes narrowing with a mix of curiosity and something else I couldn’t quite place.

In that moment, I felt small, almost like a child being scolded by a parent.

“I thought we were meeting tonight,” I admitted, nervously nibbling on my lower lip. “I’m sorry for intruding…”

“I assumed you’d come here after dinner,” he replied, his fingers gently grasping my chin and tilting my head up to meet his gaze.

I inhaled sharply, my breath catching in my throat as I locked eyes with him; his gaze was dark, filled with a hunger that sent a shiver coursing through my body.

“I wasn’t hungry,” I managed to whisper, my voice barely audible.

His eyes darkened further, nearly black with desire.

“That’s unfortunate,” he said, taking a step closer. He let his fingers trail down the nape of my neck and across my shoulders, igniting goosebumps on my skin as his touch traveled down the sides of my breasts, which were hardening from the chill of the room. Eventually, his hand settled around my hip, pulling me flush against his clothed body. “Because I’m starving,” he finished, his nostrils flaring as he took in my scent.

I instinctively ran my fingers up his chest, wrapping them around his neck, pulling him closer so I could press my lips against his. But he pulled back slightly, denying me and leaving my ego bruised.

I pouted, my eyes narrowing as I caught the glimmer of amusement dancing in his gaze.

“Not yet,” he said, stepping away from me with a teasing grin. “I want to savor you… but you also need to be punished for breaking into my room and hiding from me.”

Heat flooded my cheeks as I instinctively crossed my arms over my chest, watching him as he sauntered around the room, leisurely unbuttoning his shirt. Each button that came undone revealed more of his chiseled abs, and I couldn’t help but admire the view.

“It wasn’t you I was hiding from,” I retorted, my eyes narrowing as I watched him warily.

“Maybe not at first,” he replied, locking eyes with me. “But after Mica left, you chose to stay hidden. Why?”

I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing as I stared down at the floor. That was a mistake, as I felt the distance between us close in an instant. I looked up, and in that moment, I saw the wolf flash through his eyes, making me shudder involuntarily.

“Don’t look away from me,” he commanded in a low growl, causing another shiver to run down my spine. “Answer my question. Why did you hide from me?”

“I was embarrassed,” I whispered, my voice trembling.

“Why?” His lips were so close to mine that if he moved just a fraction closer, our lips would touch. His eyes dropped to my mouth, waiting with an intensity that made my heart race.