The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 371

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 371: Second Chances**

**Judy’s POV**

As Sammy and I stepped through the grand entrance of the resort, a wave of unease washed over me. My eyes immediately caught sight of Tyler, his grip painfully tight on Nan’s arm as he dragged her away. My heart raced, pounding against my rib cage like a frantic drum, each beat echoing my fears. The thought of her in danger sent a shiver down my spine. I had never trusted Tyler; I had always felt a nagging doubt about him, and now I regretted not being more insistent when it came to urging Nan to sever ties with him. My instincts had screamed at me to intervene, but I had foolishly ignored them, and now I was left hoping it wasn’t too late.

The sun still hung high in the sky, casting a warm glow, which provided a small comfort. At least we had enough light to see clearly, to find them before something terrible happened.

“Look at that stupid bitch,” I heard a voice cut through the air, sharp and biting, as we stepped outside.

I exchanged a glance with Sammy, our expressions mirroring the frowns that had settled on our faces. We turned our heads, scanning the area for the source of the venomous words.

“I can’t believe she had the audacity to leave you,” the voice continued, dripping with disdain.

“And look at your face,” another voice chimed in, laden with mockery. “We should seriously sue them for this.”

“Just forget it,” a male voice growled, the anger in his tone palpable. “I won’t let either of them get away with this.”

Those voices were painfully familiar, and a knot of dread coiled in my stomach. If I was right, they could lead me straight to Nan.

As I rounded the corner, my breath hitched at the sight before me. Mac, Kelsey, and Tyler stood together, a volatile mix of emotions swirling in the air. Tyler was a mess, his face bruised and battered to the point where I could hardly recognize him. Yet, even in his state, I could see the glimmer of his wolf’s healing abilities at work as they spoke. Kelsey was diligently applying bandages and ointment to his wounds, while Mac paced back and forth, her fury palpable.

It was Mac who spotted me first, her eyes narrowing into slits, a dangerous glint dancing within them.

“Are you here to finish the job?” she spat, venom lacing her words. “Hasn’t my cousin suffered enough?”

“Not sure,” I shot back, my gaze locked onto Tyler’s swollen face. “Has he?”

I couldn’t shake the feeling that whatever had happened, he deserved every bit of it.

“Your bitch of a friend got someone to beat the shit out of him,” Kelsey hissed, her eyes ablaze with rage, mirroring Mac’s fury. “Who’s going to pay for his medical bills? We should seriously sue.”

“My friend?” I asked, my voice low and laced with disbelief. “Are you talking about Nan?”

“Who else?” Kelsey growled, her tone filled with contempt.

My heart plummeted into my stomach as realization dawned on me; something had happened to Nan.

“What did he do to her?” I demanded, my voice dropping to a dangerous whisper, the urgency rising within me.

“Nothing,” Tyler spat, but the lie was transparent.

A growl escaped my lips, my wolf stirring within me, a rare occurrence that sent a surge of power through my veins.

“If I find out you’re lying and something happened to her, I’ll come back and finish the job,” I hissed, my voice a low threat that hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Before they could respond, I turned on my heel, fury propelling me forward, with Sammy trailing closely behind.

“That was awesome,” Sammy whispered, her eyes wide with excitement as she glanced back at the three simmering figures. “So, do you have any idea where Nan could be?”

“No,” I replied, my body trembling with pent-up anger. “But I will find out.”

I glanced at my watch, frustration bubbling within me. Time was slipping away; I had only a couple of hours before my watch duties began for the night. I should have been resting, preparing for the overnight shift, but here I was, wandering aimlessly in search of my best friend.

“Did you really think I wouldn’t find you?” A light-hearted voice broke the tense silence as I made my way toward the garden area.

“Part of me hoped that you would…” Nan’s voice, unmistakable and comforting, replied.

My brows furrowed in confusion.

Who was she talking to?

“I’m sorry things got so messy,” a man murmured, his tone sincere. “I probably should have talked to you more. But I guess now is a good time to talk. It was a good idea to come to the garden; it’s nice here.”

“Better than the stuffy hotel suite,” Nan replied softly, her voice almost a whisper.

I crept closer, straining to catch every word, motioning for Sammy to stay quiet. She nodded, equally intrigued.

“It wasn’t stuffy, but fresh air was definitely a good idea. The conversation got heavy, and I was having trouble breathing.”

Nan let out a breathy laugh, though it was quickly stifled.

“Yeah,” she breathed, her voice tinged with vulnerability. “I was also having trouble breathing.”

“Oh, Nan,” I whispered, unsure of what more to say.

She sniffled, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hand, attempting to regain composure.

“After that, the conversation got awkward, and we were both having trouble breathing. I found this garden the other day and thought it would be a nice place to continue this conversation. So, here we are… making awkward small talk and avoiding the real issues. That’s pretty much when you arrived.”

“I’m so sorry,” I murmured, my heart breaking for her. I felt a surge of protectiveness; I was ready to confront Chester for putting her through this. He might have been my friend, but right now, he was the one causing my best friend pain, and I wouldn’t stand for it.

“He also felt the need to tell me that he slept with Harper before coming here,” she added, her eyes rolling in disbelief.

“He what?” I exclaimed, my mouth agape in shock. There was no way he could be that audacious; what was wrong with him?

She nodded, a pathetic laugh escaping her lips as she shook her head, trying to dispel the tears.

“At least he’s honest,” I attempted a light-hearted joke, though it felt hollow.

“Yeah, I guess,” she sighed, the weight of her emotions evident. “But still…”

I nodded, understanding the turmoil she was feeling. A heavy silence enveloped us as we both got lost in our thoughts, the gravity of the situation settling in.

“Can I ask you something?” she broke the silence, her voice hesitant.

“Of course, you can ask me anything.”

“If I do reject him, or he rejects me… do you think I would ever find love again?” Her question hung in the air, laced with vulnerability. “Or will it always hurt like this? Because it really fucking hurts right now, and he hasn’t even rejected me yet.”

I bit my lip, staring down at the ground as I considered her words. I knew she was asking me because I had gone through a rejection, though mine was a different story.

“It’ll be easier for you because he didn’t mark you yet,” I replied gently. “In my case with Ethan, I had been marked by him for two years. Then, he cheated on me and left me for another woman. It was devastating for my wolf, and because I was marked, I felt it every time he was intimate with her or anyone else. It was painful, and my wolf withdrew for a while. She’s back now, stronger than ever, but whenever I’m around him, it still hurts her. I don’t know if that pain will ever fully go away, but when I’m not around him, it’s like he doesn’t exist to either of us. I hope that helps, but since you aren’t marked, it shouldn’t be as difficult. As for finding love again… yes, I truly believe it’s possible to love someone who isn’t a mate.”

She pondered my words, nodding slowly, a sigh escaping her lips as she absorbed the information.

Then, unexpectedly, she asked another question, one I hadn’t anticipated.

“Do you believe in second chance mates?”