The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 60

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 60: Exile and Hallucinations**

The atmosphere in the room was thick with an unsettling silence, so profound that one could almost hear the faintest sound of a pin dropping onto the floor.

Oliver found himself momentarily taken aback by Fiona’s brazen admission of guilt. It was astonishing that someone like her could be so candid about her wrongdoing. In stark contrast, Alexander maintained an icy composure, though when his voice broke the stillness, it was laced with a venomous disdain that sent shivers down Oliver’s spine.

“You poisoned my wife,” he articulated, his voice chillingly devoid of emotion. “Are you even remotely aware of the gravity of your actions? Everyone in this pack is acutely aware that Luna is currently battling for her sanity—quite possibly her very life. And then there’s you, the so-called physician. Surely, you must have known the implications of your actions.”

Fiona crossed her arms defensively, her gaze drifting away as if she could physically escape the weight of Alexander’s words. “I might have heard something about it. But like so many other things, I assumed it was merely a rumor.”

Alexander let out a derisive scoff, the sound echoing with disbelief. “Nonsense. I would wager that you recognized the signs of her illness the moment you first heard that she was unwell.”

“And then, of course, you quickly grasped that you were the one who had caused her suffering,” Oliver interjected with a dry wit that cut through the tension.

“How could I have known she would drink that damn tea?” Fiona retorted, her voice rising in indignation.

Alexander exchanged a bewildered glance with Oliver, both men grappling with the sheer audacity of her response.

“Fiona, you are blatantly ignoring the fact that you tainted an entire vat of tea with Belladonna, a substance that was set to be distributed to countless others in the region,” he asserted, his tone firm and unwavering. “You have violated multiple health regulations, not to mention your own ethical obligations as a medical professional!”

“It was an accident,” she protested weakly, her voice lacking conviction.

“An accident? Is that your excuse? Because you got caught?” Oliver shot back bluntly, his frustration palpable.

“I am interpreting this as a direct assault on my pack. Not only will I be exiling you from my properties, but I will also ensure that your medical license is permanently revoked,” Alexander declared, his voice steady but filled with authority.

Fiona’s lips quivered as tears streamed down her cheeks, each droplet a testament to her desperation.

“No! Please! You can’t do this—”

“Oh, but I can. In fact, I could go so far as to report you to the royal authorities and ensure that word spreads throughout the region about your heinous actions,” Alexander snarled, his anger palpable.

Suddenly, a series of loud knocks interrupted the charged atmosphere, breaking the tension like a fragile glass shattering on the floor.

“What?” he barked, irritation seeping into his voice.

When he caught sight of Nina peering timidly through the door, his stomach twisted with anxiety. What was she doing away from Evelyn’s side? The distressed expression on her face sent alarm bells ringing in his mind.

“Sir, I apologize for the interruption, but it’s Evelyn. I fear her condition has deteriorated,” she said, her voice trembling with urgency.

No. No. No. NO!

He felt his carefully maintained composure begin to unravel. Turning to Oliver, he issued a command with a fierce intensity.

“Take Fiona off the property and ensure that all of her belongings are collected and returned to her.”

With a firm grip on Fiona’s upper arm, Oliver practically dragged her from the office, her resistance minimal—a sign of her resignation.

Once she was out of sight, Alexander propelled himself from his wheelchair, urgency propelling him down the hallway towards the bedroom. Nina hurried after him, attempting to fill him in on the details as they moved.

“Her pupils are extremely dilated,” she informed him, her voice a mix of concern and fear.

“You mean, she’s awake?” he asked, his heart racing.

“She’s been fluctuating in and out of consciousness for the past hour. I checked her temperature, and it has risen significantly,” she replied, her brow furrowed with worry.

He cursed under his breath, frustration mounting. “Alright. Have the staff bring me a cool, wet cloth. I need to assess her mental state.”

A humorless laugh escaped my lips, a bitter sound that echoed in the charged air. “No, you’re not. I think you’re just a figment of my imagination. Nothing is making sense right now. Everything is spinning—I just want it to stop!”

Desperation clawed at me as I buried my hands in my hair, hoping to quell the madness swirling in my mind. The man before me reached out, gently taking my wrists in his hands and lowering them away from my hair.

“Stop. You’re going to hurt yourself,” he admonished softly, concern etched across his features.

He brushed his thumbs across my cheeks, wiping away the tears that had fallen unbidden. The tenderness of his gesture was so unexpected, it nearly drew forth another wave of tears.

“Why don’t you lay back down?” he suggested, his tone gentle yet firm.

I shook my head, my body trembling. “It’s too warm.”

“I’ll adjust the thermostat. Come on, get under the blankets; you’re not well enough to be up and about yet,” he urged, a hint of authority in his voice.

I nodded, feeling defeated, and slipped back under the covers, waiting for him to make the room more bearable. As the cool air began to flow from the vents above, I felt a sense of relief wash over me.

The man who looked like Alexander returned to my side, drawing my gaze as if I were entranced.

“Still think I’m not real?” he asked, amusement dancing in his eyes, a stark contrast to the turmoil in my mind.

I nodded, fighting the urge to succumb to the pull of sleep.

“Close your eyes, sweetheart. I promise I’m not going anywhere,” he reassured me, his voice a soothing balm.

At that moment, I was convinced this man was merely an illusion, a trick of my fevered mind.

Alexander had never spoken to me with such tenderness. Yet, I lacked the energy to argue against this bizarre reality. Before I could fully process my thoughts, exhaustion swept over me once more, this time accompanied by the reassuring sensation of strong arms encircling me.