The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 69

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 69: Feelings Of Love?**

In the depths of his mind, Alexander sensed he had crossed an invisible threshold, one that had lain dormant for far too long.

A tingling sensation coursed beneath his skin, a vibrant energy that felt almost electric. His blood seemed to hum with a rhythm he hadn’t recognized in years.

He had stumbled upon a revelation—an epiphany he hadn’t even realized he was yearning for. It was as if a light bulb, long thought extinguished, had flickered back to life, illuminating the dark corners of his consciousness.

There was a part of him he had convinced himself was no longer worth exploring, a part he had buried under layers of indifference. For a fleeting moment, his mind felt utterly blank, a canvas wiped clean. His emotions, once scattered like leaves in the wind, began to coalesce into something more coherent.

Alexander had always doubted his capacity to love another person. The connections he shared with his pack and some family members didn’t count; what he truly yearned for was a romantic love, the kind that filled the heart and soul with warmth and longing.

For years, he had lived in a state of emotional numbness, with no one to fill that void.

Then there was Rena.

She had been the singular woman to penetrate the fortress of Alexander’s heart. Her beauty was matched only by her intelligence, and her kindness radiated like sunlight—until the day they were confronted with a heart-wrenching decision.

Rena desired more than he could offer at that moment. Alexander, still finding his footing as an Alpha, had been at one of the lowest ebbs of his life when he had found himself begging her to stay. Yet, despite his pleas, she had turned away.

He had once believed their love was invincible, a bond that could withstand any external force. But the harsh reality struck him like a thunderclap when he learned of Rena’s impending marriage to the Alpha Prince.

In the wake of that revelation, he had buried his feelings deep within the confines of his work, but in doing so, he had effectively locked away his heart. This emotional detachment had contributed to the ruthless leader he had become, capable of making cold decisions without a flicker of remorse.

But now, those steel walls he had erected around his heart were beginning to rust and crumble. With each new discovery about his wife, he felt an unsettling urge to reconnect with the man he once was.

He found himself overwhelmed with sympathy for the younger version of Evelyn, the girl who had been so often overlooked and ignored. The thought of her enduring that isolation struck a chord deep within him, making his heart ache.

Evelyn, in her solitude, had turned to education, molding her own path. It was no wonder she found solace in the library. For her, it had become a sanctuary, a place where she could escape the harsh realities of the world.

Yet, nothing could have prepared Alexander for the shock of realizing just how capable Evelyn truly was—far beyond his expectations.

Networking, forging treaties, establishing laws and codes…

“Who are you?” he found himself whispering, astonished by her capabilities.

To his relief, Evelyn took his bluntness in stride, a playful grin lighting up her face, dispelling the remnants of any sadness that lingered.

“I’m just me,” she replied, her tone light and unassuming.

He shook his head in disbelief, unable to accept her modesty. “No, Evelyn. You need to recognize that you are not just any average woman. You are, without a shadow of a doubt, the most extraordinary woman I could have ever hoped to encounter.”

Her eyes widened in surprise, a delicate blush creeping across her cheeks. Alexander had never openly acknowledged it before, but he found himself utterly captivated by her propensity to blush. It softened her features and made her all the more enchanting.

It’s one of the things I love about her, he thought, his heart racing as if it were a wild stallion attempting to break free from its confines.

She gestured around the room with her hand, her expression earnest. “For all of this.”

Alexander hesitated, unsure how to respond. He didn’t want to dismiss her gratitude, but he couldn’t fathom what she was thanking him for. He hadn’t organized anything, nor had he played a role in the décor.

Evelyn squeezed his hand gently, her sincerity shining through. “I know that Nina and Wendy were the masterminds behind all of this. But… you were the one who initiated the conversation in the first place.”

In a spontaneous moment, he reached out, cupping her cheek with his hand. He leaned in, capturing her lips with his own in a passionate kiss. He felt as though he had stolen the very breath from her lungs, savoring every soft sound that escaped her.

His tongue brushed against her lips, and the moment she parted them, he dove in, engaging in a heated dance that ignited every nerve ending in his body. He realized, in that instant, he could easily become addicted to the taste of her.

Come on, Alexander. Tell her the truth. She deserves to know the goddamn truth!

The longer he delayed, the more he jeopardized their relationship. The fact that he was supposedly bound to a wheelchair was part of the reason why Evelyn admired him so much. It was his resilience that made him a strong and proud Alpha.

What would she think when the truth finally surfaced? How would her perception of him shift?

It shouldn’t have mattered; he couldn’t allow fear to dictate his actions any longer.

As he broke the kiss, he kept her close, their foreheads touching as they both struggled to regain their breath.

“Evelyn, I have to—”