The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 254

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 254: Kidnapped**

**Judy’s POV**

As I stirred from the depths of unconsciousness, faint whispers floated through the air, wrapping around my senses like a shroud. My mind felt clouded, as if I were wading through thick fog, and a dull throb pulsed at my temples, reminiscent of a hangover. Yet, I couldn’t recall indulging in enough to warrant such a feeling. A few sips of white wine at dinner hardly seemed sufficient to explain my current state. The last thing I remembered was laughter mingling with the clinking of glasses, but how had I ended up here?

My fingers twitched involuntarily as I regained awareness, the harsh chill of concrete biting into my skin. It was no wonder my body protested in discomfort; the cold ground beneath me was unforgiving. Then came the realization of the cold metal chains that shackled my wrists, a searing burn emanating from the silver links. I had known instinctively that silver was a werewolf’s Achilles’ heel, and even before I opened my eyes, I understood that my wolf was trapped, unable to reach out to my pack through a mindlink.

A wave of dread washed over me, and I felt the weight of danger pressing down like a heavy cloak.

Fragments of memory flickered in my mind, and I recalled the joyous moments spent running alongside Irene, laughter echoing in the air. But now, a chilling thought struck me: Was Irene here with me? Had she betrayed me? Perhaps she had doubted my reassurances about Ethan and me. Could this be her twisted plan to ensure the guards lost track of us, leading to my abduction?

Another memory crashed over me like a wave: I had witnessed Irene fall, the brutal attack by a man who had plunged a syringe into her neck. My heart raced, a drumbeat of fear echoing in my chest as my breath quickened. I fought to steady my breathing, aware of the potential danger lurking nearby.

The whispers of men drifted closer, and I strained to catch their words, attempting to channel my wolf’s senses, but it was futile. Their voices grew louder, their footsteps drawing near. Even without my heightened senses, I could smell them—the sickly, foul odor that made my stomach churn.

Rogues.

“I thought we were only paid to capture one girl,” one rogue muttered, his voice a harsh whisper laced with disdain.

“We’ll just ask for more money,” another replied with a dark chuckle that sent chills down my spine. “Who the hell are they anyway?”

“I don’t fucking know. I didn’t ask questions. He offered me a price, and I said fine,” a third rogue grumbled, his irritation palpable. “I’m starving; let’s grab some food while we wait for them to wake up. It’ll probably take a while. We used a lot of wolfsbane.”

Their footsteps faded, the sound of their shoes echoing as they sauntered away, followed by the creaking of a door and the finality of a lock clicking shut.

From their voices, I counted three rogues, but I distinctly remembered more before darkness had claimed me.

With a surge of determination, I opened my eyes, immediately realizing I was confined in a dim, dank cellar. As I lifted my head, ignoring the throbbing pain in my temples, I saw that I was trapped in a large cage, a feeling of fury bubbling within me. I scanned my surroundings, struggling to comprehend the bleakness of my situation without my wolf’s guidance. Yet, I could see enough to confirm that I was not alone.

My heart plummeted when I spotted Irene lying beside me, unconscious and vulnerable. A gash marred her forehead, and her pallor sent a jolt of panic through me.

“Irene…” I croaked, crawling toward her with a sense of urgency.

The metal chains around my wrists bit into my flesh, but I pushed through the pain. I brushed my fingers against her cold cheek, a wave of fear crashing over me. I quickly felt for a pulse and, upon finding a faint rhythm, released a breath I hadn’t realized I was holding.

Gently, I pushed her blood-matted hair from her face, desperation clawing at my throat.

“Please, wake up,” I whispered urgently. “We have to get out of here.”

But the reality loomed heavy; I had no idea how we would escape this nightmare. One thing was clear: the men believed I was still unconscious, and they wouldn’t act until we were both awake. I needed to feign sleep when they returned.

Leaning against the cold wall, I took a deep, shaky breath, my lungs protesting against the stale, musty air. I was surprised at how quickly I had recovered from the wolfsbane, but I sensed that Irene would remain unconscious for some time. Carefully, I shifted her onto my lap, cradling her head as I stroked her hair softly, humming a gentle tune. I wanted her to feel safe when she awoke.

Time slipped by in a blur; the absence of windows and clocks left me disoriented. I knew hours had passed, my eyelids growing heavy when the sound of approaching footsteps jolted me back to reality. Quickly, I repositioned Irene’s head on the ground and rested my own beside hers, closing my eyes.

“Are they still out?” One of the rogues peered into the cage, his voice laced with irritation.

“Looks that way,” another replied, a hint of resignation in his tone. “It’s late; we might as well do this tomorrow.”

“He wanted it done tonight,” the first rogue insisted, a note of urgency creeping into his voice.

“Yeah, but he made it clear that he wanted her awake to understand why she was being killed. He wants it recorded as evidence,” the second rogue reminded him.

“And the other one?”

“We’ll call it a bonus,” the first rogue laughed darkly. “Let’s get some sleep and come back tomorrow.”

VERIFYCAPTCHA_LABELVerify