The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 356

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 356: Second Round**

**Judy’s POV**

As I stood there, heart racing and adrenaline pumping, I realized I didn’t have a solid strategy for this round. The chaos around me was palpable, competitors darting in every direction, and I knew that if I didn’t act swiftly, I would become just another casualty in this brutal contest.

I ducked instinctively as a sword whirled dangerously close, slicing through the air with a menacing whoosh. My car barely escaped the blade’s trajectory, and I felt a rush of relief mixed with fear. The crowd’s gasps and cheers blended into a distant roar as I sprinted forward, desperate to find an opening amidst the turmoil, to assess my surroundings and identify the weakest link in this fray.

My gaze landed on Tabby, her figure tense as she pulled back the string of her bow, an arrow poised for release. She aimed at one of the larger competitors, a hulking figure wielding a sword with reckless abandon. But he was quick; with a swift motion, he deflected her arrow, sending it careening off course and striking another competitor squarely in the back. The man crumpled to the ground, and my stomach twisted at the sight, a sickening reminder of the stakes we were all facing. Medics rushed in, clad in protective gear designed to shield them from the chaos, but the sight of violence still churned my insides.

I couldn’t linger on the scene for long, as another attacker surged toward me, sword raised high. I sidestepped just in time, my reflexes kicking in, and spun around, my fist connecting solidly with his face. The crack of bone echoed in my ears, and I felt a surge of satisfaction, momentarily ignoring the dull ache that flared in my hand.

Ignoring the pain, I executed a backflip, kicking him in the process. He staggered back, blood streaming from his nose, but the moment he regained his balance, fury ignited in his eyes as he lunged for me, swinging his sword at my feet in a desperate attempt to unbalance me.

With a burst of energy, I leaped over the blade, driving my foot into his chest again, and landed gracefully behind him. He stumbled, unable to recover, and his sword clattered to the ground. Seizing the moment, I snatched the fallen weapon, pointing it at him, my eyes blazing with defiance.

He looked up at me, shock and fear mingling in his expression, blood smeared across his face like a grotesque mask.

For a fleeting moment, I thought he might retaliate, but instead, he surrendered, the fight draining from him as he raised his hands in defeat.

Just as I turned to pursue my next target, an arrow struck me, piercing my left shoulder. A sharp hiss escaped my lips as the pain radiated through me, and I could hear the crowd gasp in collective horror at the sight of my injury.

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Gavin rising to his feet, but I brushed aside any thought of him. My focus narrowed as I turned to see a man in the distance, bow drawn tight, preparing to launch another arrow in my direction. Gripping the arrow embedded in my shoulder, I yanked it out with a wince, feeling the blood seep into my shirt. The warmth of it made me dizzy, but I pushed the sensation aside, forcing myself to concentrate.

I narrowly avoided the second arrow aimed at my other shoulder, my instincts kicking in. In a flash, I reached for one of the knives hidden in my boot and hurled it at the archer. The blade sliced through the air, striking him in the leg, and he collapsed to the ground with a cry of pain. I sprinted towards him, ready to finish the job, but another competitor tripped me, sending me sprawling onto the ground.

I quickly rolled onto my back just in time to kick the assailant in the stomach, sending him reeling backward. Springing to my feet, I landed a punch squarely on his jaw before he could recover. We tumbled to the ground together, grappling for control. I managed to wrestle a knife into position against his throat.

“Surrender!” I growled, my wolf surging forth, lending an edge of ferocity to my voice.

“You can’t kill me,” he rasped, desperation lacing his words. “You’ll be eliminated.”

“I can make it so you never speak again,” I hissed, pressing the blade firmly against his skin, feeling the warmth of his blood trickle down my forearm. He hesitated, weighing his options, and I could sense his resolve wavering.

Finally, I felt him relax, his weapon slipping from his grasp and clattering to the ground. He was surrendering.

I released him and stood, my heart still racing. He had made the right choice; I had been ready to silence him for good.

Within moments, medics arrived to escort him off the field. I continued to fight through the chaos, dodging blows and countering attacks, determined to push through the pain radiating from my shoulder. The sting of the arrow still lingered, but I was fueled by the desire for revenge against the archer who had shot me. My gaze zeroed in on him, a smug grin plastered on his face as he loosed more arrows at the other competitors.

But then my attention was drawn to Tabby, and my heart sank. She was surrounded by a group of men, each wearing expressions of malicious intent. Though she was smaller in her human form, I knew that in her wolf form, she could easily take them on. If only she could shift. Clutching her bow tightly, her eyes were wide with fear as the men closed in.

Without a second thought, I gathered the remaining knives and sprinted towards her, abandoning my vendetta against the archer.

As I leaped into the air, using the bodies of other competitors to propel myself higher, I released all my knives, sending them spiraling through the air towards the men surrounding Tabby. Each knife struck with precision, hitting non-critical areas but enough to take them down.

I landed gracefully in front of Tabby, the men around her now writhing on the ground, either incapacitated or in pain.

Breathing heavily, she looked up at me, relief flooding her features. “I thought I was a goner,” she admitted, her voice trembling. “Where did you even come from?”

“I figured you could use a hand,” I said, brushing dirt off her shoulder with a reassuring smile.

“Thanks,” she breathed, gratitude evident in her eyes.

But just as we began to catch our breath, a new wave of competitors surged toward us. I snatched up my blood-stained knives from the ground, turning to Tabby, who was preparing another arrow.

“Better than most,” she said with a hint of pride.

“Good,” I replied, grabbing the zipline handles firmly. “See those two men over there?” I pointed to a pair ganging up on a struggling woman. “Aim for them. I’ll take out those guys over there,” I indicated another group engaged in a fierce battle.

She bit her lip, uncertainty flickering in her eyes. The competitors who had followed us were nearly at the top, and we didn’t have time to hesitate.

“Grab my waist!” I shouted, urgency lacing my tone.

Without a moment’s hesitation, she wrapped her arms around me.

I leaped off the branch, the zipline whisking us through the air. Tabby readied her bow, aiming at the men I had indicated. She released her arrow, and it soared through the air, striking one of the men in the shoulder, taking him down instantly.

A cheer escaped her lips, and I felt a rush of pride for her skill.

As she prepared another arrow, I readied one of my knives, targeting the archer who had shot me. I hurled the blade, and it struck him in the arm, disarming him and eliciting a howl of pain as he fell to the ground.

Tabby shot another arrow, and I could see her confidence growing. She was truly a remarkable shot; we would have to share tactics once this was all over.

I threw another knife, this one finding its mark in the lower back of a competitor, causing him to arch in agony before collapsing. The crowd reacted with a collective gasp, the tension in the air palpable.

“I don’t know if I can hold on much longer!” Tabby exclaimed, her voice tinged with fear. I could feel her grip around my waist loosening, and I knew we were only halfway across the zipline.

I couldn’t afford to let her fall. Without a second thought, I released my grip on the handles, and we plummeted through the air.

Her scream echoed through the arena, silencing the crowd as we descended.

The ground approached rapidly, and I landed with a thud, bracing myself to absorb the impact for both of us. Tabby tumbled onto me, and just as I felt the rush of pain shoot through my body, I realized it wasn’t just from the fall; an arrow had struck me in the back the moment I hit the ground.