The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 355

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 355**

**Judy’s POV**

When I stirred awake the following morning, the bed beside me lay empty. A part of me had anticipated this; I sensed that Gavin would slip away before dawn’s light could touch my eyes. As I reached out, his side of the bed felt icy, a clear indication that he had been gone for some time. I couldn’t help but wonder where he had gone, and why he hadn’t left a note.

The shrill ring of my phone jolted me further from the remnants of sleep. Levi’s Beta was on the line, instructing me to head to the gym by 7 AM, two hours ahead of the original schedule. My heart raced at the thought of the upcoming competition, but I felt a twinge of anxiety as well.

Quietly, I made my way back to the hotel suite, careful not to disturb Nan, who had completely passed out after last night’s events. She lay soundly asleep in her bed, blissfully unaware of the world around her. I was eager to hear about her date, but that conversation would have to wait until after today’s competition.

I quickly changed into my workout attire—a snug sports bra and form-fitting yoga pants—before gathering my hair into a haphazard ponytail. As I slipped out of the room, I felt a mix of excitement and nerves bubbling in my stomach. The resort was still waking up, and I dashed across the grounds, arriving at the gym in record time.

To my surprise, the gym was not bustling with competitors as I had expected. Instead, only a handful of us were present, alongside Alpha Levi, his Beta, and Alpha Mica. Gavin and Alpha Jeremy were conspicuously absent, and I couldn’t shake the disappointment that settled in my chest at Gavin’s absence.

I glanced at my watch, frowning when I noted it was precisely 7 AM, yet only five competitors, myself included, had shown up. Surely, there should be more participants here, shouldn’t there?

“Thank you all for being here,” Levi began, stepping forward with a commanding presence. His gaze swept over each of us, lingering just a moment longer on my face. “As Gammas, you must understand that your sleep can be disrupted at any moment. You have all demonstrated remarkable resilience, which only reaffirms that we have selected the right candidates.”

Mica nodded in agreement, his expression serious. My brow furrowed as I exchanged glances with the others, each of us wearing puzzled expressions.

“As you are aware, the second phase of the competition revolves around weaponry. We will assess various factors, including your proficiency with the weapon and your ability to wield it without causing fatal harm.”

A collective frown spread across our faces as we exchanged uncertain looks. I turned my attention back to Levi, and our eyes met. His narrowed slightly, as if he were gauging my reaction.

“Each competitor will be assigned one weapon,” he continued, his voice steady but his gaze felt intensely personal.

“Um, excuse me…” one of the competitors ventured timidly, raising her hand as if in a classroom.

Levi glanced in her direction, nodding for her to proceed.

“W-where is everyone else?” she asked, echoing the question that hung in the air, heavy with anticipation.

I caught a glimpse of a smile tugging at the corners of Levi’s mouth, a flicker of amusement that was quickly masked.

“They will select their weapons afterward. You five have the privilege of choosing your weapons first. The Lycan and the appointed judges have made their decisions based on your performance in the previous round. You have impressed them.”

Murmurs rippled through the group, but my focus remained locked on Levi. His gaze flickered to me again, and warmth flooded my cheeks. There was something unsettling in the way he looked at me, as if he were concealing secrets just beneath the surface.

“You are the top five. Congratulations,” he declared, his tone unwavering yet his eyes darkening with an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine.

Top five? Me?

A surge of disbelief mixed with excitement coursed through me. I glanced at the others, who were equally thrilled, their faces lighting up with joy.

A judge led us into the weaponry unit, and I felt my jaw drop at the sight before me. The room was filled with an array of weapons, each one more intimidating than the last. I had experience with many of them; some I had mastered, while others had left me feeling less than confident. My gaze was immediately drawn to the bow and arrow, a weapon I had always excelled with. But then, I hesitated. That felt too predictable, too easy. I craved a challenge.

As I wandered through the rows of weaponry, my fingers brushed against the cool metal of various swords. I noticed one of the girls swiftly claim the bow and arrow, while another snatched up a nunchaku. The guys gravitated toward swords, their expressions determined. I considered following suit, but my desire for a challenge pushed me to explore further.

And then, I spotted them—knives.

The thought of using knives in combat sent a thrill of apprehension through me. I had never fought with knives before, and logic dictated that I should stick with what I knew best. Yet, the allure of testing my limits was too strong to resist.

I approached the display, examining each knife’s unique size and shape, all equally lethal.

“They come in a bundle,” Levi’s voice broke through my concentration, catching me off guard.

I turned to find him standing behind me, his eyes focused intently on my choice.

“There are five in each bundle,” he elaborated. “Have you used them before?”

I shook my head, feeling a mix of embarrassment and determination. “I haven’t trained in knife fighting, but I’m good at picking up new skills quickly.”

His brows arched in skepticism.

“Is now truly the best time to be learning a new skill?” he questioned, his tone teasing yet serious.

“What better way to impress the judges?” I countered, a smirk playing on my lips.

“He’s in Group A, so he already went yesterday,” she explained, her tone casual.

“How did he do?” I inquired, trying to sound nonchalant, though I was keen to gauge where everyone stood in this competition.

“He did fine. He had to see a medic for a minor injury, but she cleared him for the next round,” she replied. “He left me all alone today, something about working out with his buddies. So, I figured I’d come here and show you some support.”

I nodded, grateful for her presence.

“Well, I could use all the support I can get. I’ve never actually used these knives before,” I admitted, patting the pockets that held my chosen weapons. “But I’ve handled daggers, so I’m sure they’re not too different—just smaller, lighter, and a bit more challenging.”

Her expression turned serious.

“You should have gone with a weapon you’re more skilled with to boost your chances,” she cautioned. “You could get hurt if you aren’t careful.”

“What better way to impress the judges?” I replied with a smirk, feeling a spark of defiance. “I might even surprise myself.”

She chuckled, shaking her head.

“Well, good luck. Maybe we can hang out later?” she suggested, her eyes brightening. “I was thinking of a girls’ night or something. Friends don’t come easy for me, and you and Nan seem like really fun girls.”

“That sounds great! If you see Nan, could you let her know to wait for me after the match?”

“Absolutely,” she agreed before turning to join the others.

With a deep breath, I made my way to the center of the arena, preparing for the battle that lay ahead. My gaze wandered around the stadium until it landed on Gavin, who sat with the other Lycan Chairmen. Lycan Mica was speaking to him, but his attention was clearly elsewhere—locked onto me.

Our eyes held each other’s gaze for what felt like an eternity, my heart racing as heat flooded my cheeks. It wasn’t until I caught Alpha Levi’s penetrating stare that I managed to break the connection.

“Welcome to the second portion of the competition,” the announcer’s voice boomed through the loudspeaker, silencing the murmurs of the audience. “This round will involve the use of weapons. Killing is strictly prohibited; if it occurs, you will be eliminated. This is not a death match. You will be judged on your weapon skills and your ability to aim accurately. Medics are on standby; should you sustain injuries that prevent you from continuing, you will be escorted to the infirmary and disqualified from the competition. Good luck.”

The crackling of the loudspeaker made me flinch, and after a brief pause, the announcer continued.

“3… 2… 1… Begin!”