The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 75

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
By Sophia Reed
**Chapter 75: Finding His Weakness**

Michael was seething, a tempest of emotions swirling within him.

He couldn’t shake off the feeling that fate was nothing more than a cruel mistress, one with a twisted sense of humor that seemed to delight in his suffering.

As he stormed out of the dining room, he was acutely aware that his brutish exit was hardly the impression he wanted to leave. But the tightening grip of frustration and the fraying edges of his self-control were becoming unbearable. He needed to escape, to put distance between himself and the table where Evelyn sat, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing inside him.

Not yet, he thought. Not yet could she witness that darker side of him.

He found himself grappling with uncertainty as he made his way to the manor. What kind of state would he find his stepbrother, Alexander, in? Would he discover a once-mighty man, now reduced to a mere shadow of himself by the tragedy that had shattered his life months prior?

Michael relished the idea of witnessing the proud Alpha, who once commanded respect and admiration, now withering into a hollow shell of his former self. When the news broke that Rena had left Alexander for the Alpha Prince, Michael felt a surge of exhilaration. He could only imagine the look of raw agony that must have crossed Alexander’s features at that moment.

He deserves it, Michael thought bitterly. Always acting as though he was superior to everyone else.

And then came the news of the car accident. Michael had anticipated that the aftermath would be far worse. Yet, he knew that Alexander’s life would never be the same.

Being confined to a wheelchair and bearing a disfigured face was a fate that would strip away any semblance of a future he might have envisioned.

Michael felt a twisted satisfaction at the thought of witnessing his stepbrother at his lowest. However, upon entering the manor, he was taken aback to find the place in immaculate condition. His eyes landed on Alexander, who was in deep conversation with one of his soldiers, and he was astonished by the authority that radiated from him.

The soldier hung on Alexander’s every word, responding with unwavering commitment, as if the Alpha’s commands were written in stone.

Once the soldier had departed, a pair of maids approached, bowing respectfully as they informed Alexander that the dining room was prepared for their meal.

A muscle in Michael’s jaw tightened at the sight. Even in his current condition, Alexander commanded respect and loyalty from his people.

Surely, his wife didn’t feel the same way, he mused darkly.

Before this unexpected marriage, Alexander had deliberately dismissed numerous suitors, sending them running in terror, desperate to escape the clutches of such a monstrous man. Michael was as shocked as anyone when he learned that his brother had somehow managed to wed.

He had been eager to meet the woman brave enough to accept the monster’s hand in marriage.

But nothing—absolutely nothing—could have prepared Michael for the revelation that awaited him.

After exchanging perfunctory greetings with Alexander, the housekeeper led them to the dining room. Alexander, ever the gracious host, inquired about Michael’s studies, but Michael kept his responses vague and curt.

He had no desire to engage in trivial pleasantries with the one person who had become the bane of his existence. Yet, when Evelyn entered the room, it was as if the very atmosphere shifted, charged with an electric tension.

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

Evelyn.

She looked stunning, far more elegant than when they had first met at the market. A touch of makeup accentuated her eyes, and the dress she wore clung to her figure in all the right ways. She was breathtaking, and now she was a member of the Kingston Family.

He didn’t know precisely how he would accomplish it, but he was resolute. He recognized that Evelyn was the key to everything he desired.

It didn’t take much for Michael to decipher the underlying message in Alexander’s words. His stepbrother wanted nothing to do with him, especially not in his own home, his pack, and certainly not around his wife.

A knowing smirk curled at the corner of Michael’s lips.

It was no secret that Alexander was attempting to give love another chance. And when it came to sharing that love with someone as remarkable as Evelyn, who could fault him?

However, whether Alexander was aware of it or not, this left him vulnerable. The once cold-hearted and ruthless warlord now had a weakness.

Evelyn.

Jealousy was a new feeling for Alexander, and it meant that he was no longer invulnerable.

Michael’s mind sharpened with clarity. If he wanted to reach Alexander, he would have to first get to Evelyn.

Upon returning home, he passed his mother in the main hall, who appeared flustered and anxious.

“Where have you been? I informed Alexander that I had arranged an important meeting for you—”

Michael pivoted sharply, fixing Caroline with a steely gaze. “Mother, I will say this once and only once,” he declared, his voice low and firm. “I have no intention of marrying some airheaded bimbo you believe would be a suitable match for me. I’ve already found the woman I want, and I will not settle for anything less.”