The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 212

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 212: Proving Myself**

**Judy’s POV**

“Are you afraid of me?” I inquired, narrowing my gaze at the boy before me. “Or is it that you simply can’t muster the courage to ask for my name?”

Matthew appeared taken aback by my bluntness. I had never been one to dance around the truth, and it was evident that his previous instructors had been of a gentler disposition. His cheeks flushed a vivid pink as his eyes dropped to the ground, while Adam, standing nearby, wore an expression of amusement, clearly entertained by the exchange.

“I am Matt. What’s your name?” he finally managed to say, his voice barely above a whisper.

I couldn’t help but smile at the small child. Leaning down, I positioned myself at his eye level, wanting to make this interaction feel less intimidating.

“You may call me Judy,” I replied, my voice softening.

He lifted his chin defiantly, squaring his small shoulders as if preparing for a battle.

“You’re really good at shooting, but that doesn’t mean you excel at everything,” he declared, his tone suddenly hardening. The intensity in his gaze sent a shiver through me, a sinking feeling settling in my chest. “My tutors are all weak, and I bet you’re just the same. You don’t look particularly strong or intelligent. I need someone capable.”

He planted his hands firmly on his hips, a gesture that spoke volumes about his determination.

I couldn’t help but feel a spark of defiance rise within me. “You are certainly quite vocal for a seven-year-old,” I remarked, my tone teasing. “And how do you expect me to prove myself, Master Matt?”

With a sly smirk, he strode over to a bucket I hadn’t noticed before. My frown deepened as I caught sight of its contents—what appeared to be daggers. My eyes darted to the dummies positioned nearby; they were clearly set up for dagger throwing, a common practice among warriors. Yet, I was taken aback when Matt picked up a couple of daggers, brandishing them as if he were preparing to stab me.

I glanced at Adam, who looked alarmed, his face having drained of color. In an instant, I understood the gravity of the situation. Without warning, a dagger was hurled in my direction with remarkable speed. Matt had a surprisingly strong arm and impressive aim for someone so young.

I would be lying if I said I wasn’t impressed. Thankfully, my reflexes had always been sharp.

In a swift motion, I executed a flip, narrowly dodging the first dagger as it whizzed past me. But even as I landed, I saw another dagger hurtling toward my head. I quickly fell back, my hand cushioning my fall just in time to avoid a direct hit— the dagger missed my nose by mere inches. Another dagger shot toward me, and I spun low to the ground, feeling the rush of air as it passed just above me, embedding itself an inch away.

With each passing moment, the barrage continued. I leaped back to my feet, using my arms and legs to propel myself over the last dagger that had come at me.

Then came the final dagger, spinning through the air with a less precise throw; it was clear Matt was beginning to lose focus. I squinted at the oncoming projectile and timed my move perfectly, spinning my foot to kick the handle and send the dagger flying off course.

Panic surged within me as I realized what I had done. Just as I opened my mouth to shout a warning to Matt, he dove to the ground, narrowly avoiding the dagger by a heartbeat.

A wave of relief washed over me, and I exhaled the breath I had been holding.

“How did you do that??” Matt asked incredulously as he stood up, brushing dirt off his clothes.

I followed suit, shaking off the dust, and shrugged nonchalantly.

“I’ve been training for this kind of situation for a long time,” I explained. “If I want to be a Gamma warrior, I need to be ready for any kind of attack.”

His wide eyes reflected disbelief, and I raised my brows at him, challenging his assumptions.

“You didn’t know I was training to be a warrior?” I asked, a hint of amusement in my voice. “Do you typically throw daggers at those who haven’t trained?”

His cheeks flushed pink once more, and that was all the confirmation I needed. I glanced over at Adam, who was now looking sheepish, his gaze fixed firmly on the ground, shame etched across his face. The pieces of the puzzle were starting to fall into place—Matt truly was a handful.

Suddenly, a loud, deep bark jolted me from my thoughts. Turning around, I spotted a massive black dog barreling toward us, its tongue lolling out in excitement. Its bushy tail wagged furiously as it approached Matt, who immediately lit up with joy.

“Shadow, what are you doing out here, boy? I thought you were inside!” Matt exclaimed, wrapping his arms around the dog’s thick neck, which was comically larger than his own!

I couldn’t help but smile at the sight, bending down to meet the dog’s gaze. Shadow hadn’t noticed me yet, but as I moved closer, he whipped around, his eyes narrowing into slits as he sized me up.

“Shadow doesn’t like anyone else, except for Master Matthew,” Adam warned, his voice low. “He bit the last tutor, and she had to go to the pack clinic for stitches.”

I raised my brows in surprise.

“Her wolf didn’t heal her?” I asked, genuinely curious.

“She was an Omega without a wolf,” Adam clarified, his tone tinged with sympathy.

Nodding thoughtfully, I shifted my focus back to Matt and Shadow. The dog was glaring at me, revealing his sharp canines as he growled softly. I maintained my calm demeanor, extending my hand slowly. Shadow took a tentative step closer, and I could feel Adam’s anxiety radiating from behind me. But I kept my composure, my eyes locked on the dog.

I am not a threat, I repeated in my mind. I am a friend.

To my surprise, Shadow sniffed my fingers, and I lowered my hand to the ground. Then, in a moment that caught everyone off guard, Shadow licked my fingertips and trotted over to me, allowing me to pet him. A smile broke across my face as my fingers glided through his soft fur, and he panted happily, his tail thumping against the ground with such force that I nearly lost my balance.

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify