The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 68

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 68: Deeper Feelings**

[Evelyn’s POV]

Oh… Well, that certainly brought me back to reality in an instant, emotionally speaking.

For a fleeting moment, I found myself staring at Alexander, my mind racing with confusion. Why would he want to delve into the murky waters of my childhood? There weren’t exactly a plethora of joyful memories to recount.

I chastised myself for the blunder of revealing my family’s troubled past to everyone. I should have been more cautious in my words. Instead, I was left with the unsettling feeling that I had made everyone around me uncomfortable. The last thing I wanted was for them to feel pity for me.

Taking a deep, calming breath, I wiped away the remnants of tears that had traced their way down my cheeks, using the back of my hand as a makeshift tissue.

“Alexander,” I began, my voice wavering slightly. “I don’t think you really want to hear about any of that—”

“Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” he replied softly, his tone inviting yet firm.

His hand remained firmly clasped around mine, a reassuring reminder that I was in a space where I could feel safe. But sharing my feelings like this was a foreign concept to me. I had never been one to lay my emotions bare for others to see. Growing up, I had learned the hard way that keeping my thoughts and feelings locked away was a better approach.

My trust in my parents was minimal at best. My father was indifferent, a man who seemed to drift through life without a care, while Isabella was far too self-serving and cunning to ever be trusted with anything so personal. I could easily imagine her twisting my vulnerabilities into weapons against me in the future.

And then there was Samantha. If the spotlight wasn’t on her at all times, she would find a way to redirect the conversation back to herself. Maturity was not her strong suit, and I had no desire to share my struggles with someone who would only turn it into a performance.

Of course, I could have confided in the staff, but guilt washed over me at the thought of burdening them with my troubles when they were already weighed down by their own responsibilities. I was the last thing they needed to deal with.

Ultimately, it all came down to my brother, Edward. Even that relationship was fraught with complications. Poor Edward was unable to share his thoughts or offer any advice on the matters that troubled me. He was my sole outlet for venting the heavier thoughts and issues that plagued my mind.

And yet, the poor man was trapped in a coma.

“Growing up in my family—in that house… it felt like I was a prisoner.”

Alexander’s eyebrows shot up, his expression one of surprise. He opened his mouth, likely ready to bombard me with questions, but I quickly interjected.

“No. Wait. Let me explain,” I urged, my heart racing. “When I say ‘prisoner,’ I don’t mean I was treated like a criminal. It was more about feeling trapped in a space where I had no one to confide in. I felt so isolated. You know how I feel about the meaningless chatter at those social gatherings?”

Alexander nodded, his eyes attentive.

“Well, that was all I ever heard within the walls of our home. Endless discussions about clothes, extravagant accessories, and the relentless competition to outshine everyone else. Because I never showed any real interest in those topics, I often found myself overlooked. I spent much of my time with the staff; at least I felt like I was learning something of value. They taught me about various plants and their medicinal properties. But when it came to understanding the policies and systems of a pack, I had to figure that out on my own.”

“Did anyone else know you were studying these topics?” he asked, his curiosity piqued.

I shook my head, feeling a pang of disappointment. “No. They didn’t even care to know where I was most of the time,” I replied, my voice tinged with sadness.

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