The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 346

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 346: Day One Of The Competition**

**Judy’s POV**

As the arena erupted into chaos, the air thick with anticipation, I felt an instinctual urge to flee. With a surge of adrenaline coursing through me, I bolted.

I ran with an urgency that felt primal, though if I were to be truthful, I had no concrete plan. All I knew was that being in the center of a swirling mass of wild beasts was a recipe for disaster. If Tabby truly lacked control over her wolf in this form, then it was likely that others would be just as unpredictable. I had to find safety—fast—before I became just another casualty in this brutal display of power.

The chants of the crowd echoed around me, a cacophony of voices that I couldn’t bear to face. I refused to look toward the stands where the Lycans were seated, fully aware that he was among them. I could only imagine the judgment in their eyes, the whispers of a cowardice that accompanied my flight from the fray.

But let’s be clear: I wasn’t running from the fight itself. I was simply trying to put enough distance between myself and the chaos to emerge from this ordeal unscathed… or, at the very least, alive.

Behind me, I could hear the low growls and snapping jaws of wolves in pursuit. I wasn’t entirely sure which of the beasts was Tabby, but I could tell that the one closest to me was not her. This wolf had striking light brown eyes flecked with green, and her fur was a mottled grey, blending seamlessly with the others as they surged forward.

It was relatively easy to discern the gender of the wolves based on their auras and sizes. It had been far too long since I had shifted in the presence of others, and I couldn’t quite gauge how my own wolf would measure up against them. I knew she was white with grey paws—a fact that Nan always found adorable, likening her to a pup wearing little mittens. And she shared my eye color, a detail that made me feel oddly connected to her.

My heart raced as I reached the edge of a wooded area that bordered the vast battle zone. I was aware of the designated barriers that marked off sections for various challenges and training exercises, and I had to tread carefully. As the wolves closed in around me, I spotted a sturdy tree and made a beeline for it. Wolves might be formidable creatures, but climbing was not their forte; they could manage it, but it took them longer than it would a human. This was my chance to gain the upper hand and distance myself from the impending conflict.

A small pack of wolves pursued me while the others remained engaged in their own skirmishes. I could hear a few of them shifting back into their human forms, hurling insults at me for my apparent cowardice. I didn’t want to be seen as weak, but the reality was that I had no chance in the midst of such chaos.

Isolating my opponents was the key; I needed to observe them without being seen. I thrived on the element of surprise. Climbing swiftly to the top of the tallest tree I could find, I surveyed the entire Battlezone from my elevated perch. It was exhilarating, the view akin to that of a drone hovering above, giving me a strategic advantage to analyze my surroundings.

From my vantage point, I spotted several wolves in the arena’s center, locked in fierce combat. One of them appeared to be motionless, and I couldn’t tell if they were even alive. The wolf still fighting seemed to have completely lost its grip on its human side, succumbing to a primal rage.

I scanned the area, trying to identify which wolves were still in control and which were not. I focused on their fighting styles, their stances, and how easily they could be provoked. My attention was drawn back to the wolves that had been pursuing me. One of them was half-climbing the tree, while the others continued to clash below. I heard a snarl and a yip from the climbing wolf, her pale blue eyes piercing through the chaos, her snowy white coat dotted with patches of brown.

The plan forming in my mind was audacious, teetering on the brink of madness. I had no idea if it would succeed; it could either be a brilliant maneuver or a reckless misstep that could cost me my life. I could already picture Gavin’s furious expression and the inevitable lecture from Nan that would follow. This would only work if my wolf and I were in sync, and at that moment, she seemed a bit on edge.

“We’ve got this…” I murmured softly to her, hoping she could sense the encouragement in my voice. “I need you right now. Trust me, and I’ll trust you. We’ve been a team for so long…”

A wave of calm washed over me, and I felt a smile tugging at the corners of my lips. Taking a deep breath, I waited for the climbing wolf to draw nearer. Gripping the branch above me for support, I leaned my weight onto the end of the branch I was perched on, willing it to hold. The branch bent alarmingly low, and I felt a rush of adrenaline as I prepared to execute my plan.

As the wolf approached, I swallowed hard, the lump in my throat growing larger.

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