The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 372

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 372: Making It Right**

**Judy’s POV**

I found myself staring at Nan, utterly speechless, as the weight of her revelation settled in. The words hung in the air, thick with possibility.

“Are you saying… like a second fated mate?” I finally managed to ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

Her gaze locked onto mine, and she nodded slowly, as if confirming a truth that had been buried deep within her heart.

“Yes, exactly—a second fated mate. But do you think it’s even possible? If I were to reject this one… or if he were to reject me?” She bit her lip, anxiety flickering in her eyes. “I always imagined my life with one mate, and now… now I’m so uncertain. Should I even consider waiting for a second chance? Or is it just a waste of time?”

I had never given much thought to the concept of second chance mates. Sure, I had heard whispers of such occurrences—a rare phenomenon where a wolf, after a rejection, might find another destined partner. But the process was often fraught with complications. I recalled tales of wolves who struggled to recognize a second mate, especially if they bore the mark of another. That mark could cloud their senses, rendering them blind to any other potential connections until it faded.

In Nan’s case, however, she remained unmarked. Her wolf would be able to sense her second chance mate much sooner, which was a small comfort in this tangled web of emotions.

But the truth remained: second chance mates were an anomaly. The Moon Goddess, in her infinite wisdom, only granted such blessings to those she deemed worthy.

“I believe in them,” I confessed, my voice steady despite the uncertainty that swirled around us. “But they are incredibly rare. I wouldn’t hold your breath waiting for one.”

She nodded, her expression clouding momentarily with doubt.

I could feel the turmoil within her, the struggle to make a decision that could change everything. I longed to take that burden from her shoulders, to offer her a clear path forward, but I knew the truth: only Chester and Nan could navigate this labyrinth of feelings. They needed to communicate, to find common ground, and Chester really needed to get his head on straight.

“I’m scared, Judy. I really don’t know what to do,” she admitted, her voice barely above a murmur.

Without hesitation, I wrapped my arms around her, pulling her into a comforting embrace.

“You have all the time in the world to figure this out, Nan,” I reassured her, my voice soft yet firm. “Take your time. But if I may suggest, Chester isn’t a bad guy. He deserves a chance to show you who he really is. Just talk to him.”

She sniffled, using the back of her hand to wipe away the remnants of her tears, and then managed to force a smile in my direction.

“Enough about my sad love life,” she said, intertwining her arms with mine. “Let’s talk about the competition! I’m so sorry I wasn’t there at the arena when you arrived. What happened? You’re here a bit earlier than expected, so I’m guessing it went well?”

A grin spread across my face as I replied, “We won this round!”

“What?? I knew you could do it! That’s absolutely incredible!”

Her excitement was infectious, and I chuckled at her enthusiasm.

“Yup,” I confirmed, feeling a swell of pride. “I even fought a black bear.”

“Yeah, I totally heard about that! I’ve been watching the livestream. Girl, we have so much to discuss, starting with who the heck is Chuck and why was he such a total heartthrob?”

I laughed heartily at Nan’s antics; her playful spirit was a welcome distraction.

We continued our usual banter as we strolled back to where Chester was waiting by the fountain, his expression a mix of unease and anticipation. As we drew closer, he stood up quickly, as if ready to spring into action.

“I have to go,” I announced, glancing at my watch. “I promised Gavin I’d meet him in his room, and then I have watch duties tonight.”

I embraced both of them, telling Chester how glad I was that he had come, and I added that he was more than welcome to crash on our pull-out couch, but I made it clear—no funny business.

With that, I hurried back to the suites, my mind racing with thoughts of the evening ahead.

Upon entering my suite, I noticed Sammy had already slipped away without a word, leaving me to ponder the events of the day.

I quickly changed clothes, needing to freshen up before heading to Gavin’s room. Even though I still had a key, I knocked on the door, not wanting to intrude if he was busy with something else. When silence greeted me, I knocked again, a little more insistently this time. After another long pause, I took a deep breath and decided to let myself in.

Unlocking the door, I stepped inside, scanning the room for any sign of Gavin. His scent lingered faintly, indicating he hadn’t been around for a while. I recalled the last time I had attempted to surprise him, only to find him not alone. Mica had been there, and I had to hide beneath the bed to avoid being seen.

I wasn’t about to make that mistake again.

The clock read almost 8 PM, and I had a couple of hours before my watch duty began at 10.

Taking a deep breath, I settled onto his bed, waiting patiently for his return.

—

**Gavin’s POV**

Standing at the airport, I glanced at my watch, feeling the familiar knot of anticipation in my stomach.

It was just past 9 PM, and I knew Irene and Matt’s plane should be landing any minute now.

My phone buzzed in my pocket, pulling me from my thoughts. I fished it out and saw Mica’s name flash across the screen.

With a resigned sigh, I opened the message.

Mica: You watching tonight?

Me: Yes.

I reached over, grasping her hand tightly, offering silent support.

“I’m so sorry,” was all I could muster, though my mind was already racing with thoughts of how to make Ethan pay for his betrayal.

“I really loved him, and I thought he loved me. I thought…” Her voice trailed off, her gaze drifting out the window again. “I believed everything he said to me.” The last words were barely a whisper, almost as if she were trying to convince herself.

“None of this is your fault, Irene. I won’t let him get away with hurting you,” I promised, my tone turning icy as I thought of Ethan’s treachery.

She turned to me, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“I did and said terrible things because of him,” she confessed hoarsely. “I treated Judy like an enemy… he made me believe she was trying to steal him away, that she was obsessed with him. I was manipulated, but I still made choices. That’s on me.”

My heart twisted painfully at her words. I didn’t know how to respond, the weight of her confession heavy in the air.

“Do you think Judy would ever forgive me?” she asked, her voice a mere whisper.

I nodded, though I wasn’t entirely sure. Judy wasn’t the type to hold grudges, especially when the truth was laid bare. Once Irene explained her situation, I was confident Judy would welcome her back into her life.

“I think if you talk to her and explain what happened, then yes, she will forgive you.”

Irene bit her lip, her gaze returning to the window, lost in thought.

“I’m so sorry, Dad. I’m sorry I brought him into our lives,” she murmured, more tears spilling down her cheeks. “I don’t know what to do…”

“It’ll be okay,” I assured her, my voice steady. “I’ll make sure of it.” My words carried a subtle threat, a promise of protection.

She nodded but remained silent, her pain palpable. It broke my heart to see her like this.

As we finally reached the resort, Matt, despite his fatigue, was back to chattering about the upcoming competition and how eager he was to see the finals next week.

We arrived at my hotel suite, and I realized I was late for watch duties. I needed to get moving before Judy got swept away by another Lycan. I planned to drop Irene and Matt off to settle into their room, but as soon as I opened the door, I froze.

The air… it smelled like her.

Judy had been here recently. But she was gone now…

Then it hit me—I had told her to meet me here before her watch duty.

Damn it!