The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 363

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 363: Hunting**

**Judy’s POV**

As I made my way back to the camp, the first face I encountered was Tabby’s, her expression a mix of concern and relief.

“Are you okay?” she called out, rushing towards me with an urgency that made my heart flutter.

I hesitated, searching for the right words. I felt fine now, though the remnants of soreness from the earlier confrontation lingered in my muscles. All the wounds from that harrowing experience had miraculously healed, leaving no trace behind.

I absentmindedly touched my neck, a frown creasing my forehead as memories of the fight flooded back. It all felt surreal, like a scene from a vivid dream. The sharp canines had sunk deep into my flesh, and the blade had pressed against my skin, but now there was nothing—no scar, no mark, not even a hint of pain.

“Yeah,” I finally breathed out, my voice barely above a whisper. “I think so…”

“I’m so sorry!” Allan, one of my teammates, rushed over, his face a mask of guilt. “I didn’t know what else to do. I can’t believe I ran away and left you there!”

“It’s okay,” I replied, trying to reassure him. “At least you got the flag,” I gestured toward the second flag that Sherrie had secured alongside the first.

“Still, I shouldn’t have abandoned you,” he said, his voice heavy with regret, his gaze fixed on the ground.

“No, you shouldn’t have. She could have died,” Tabby interjected, her arms crossed tightly over her chest, her disappointment palpable.

Allan’s shoulders slumped as he absorbed her words, the weight of his actions evident in his downcast eyes.

“I’m really sorry,” he murmured again, the remorse in his voice unmistakable.

Just then, Sherry called out from the firepit they had set up, her tone brightening the mood slightly. “The food is almost ready!”

By now, most of our group had returned. Some bore the marks of battle—blood and dirt smeared across their skin—while others appeared unscathed. I chose to keep my encounter with the mysterious she-wolf to myself. The truth was, I wasn’t entirely sure if it had been real. I didn’t want them to think I had lost my mind, claiming that a random she-wolf, who wasn’t even part of our team, had come to my rescue and vanished into thin air.

The meal consisted of fish and deer, roasted over an open flame. Surprisingly, it was delicious despite the lack of seasoning and the odd combination of flavors.

At least it seemed to satisfy the wolf within me.

“Some of us should get some rest while the others begin hunting for more flags tonight,” Chuck announced, his voice ringing with authority.

I wasn’t entirely sure who had appointed him as the group leader, but no one seemed inclined to challenge him. Perhaps they were relieved to let someone else take charge, and Chuck certainly appeared to know what he was doing.

“I’ll go,” I said impulsively, feeling all eyes turn toward me. “I haven’t had a chance to hunt for a flag yet,” I added, my heart racing at the thought of possibly encountering that black wolf again. I needed to confirm her existence, to know she was real and not a figment of my imagination.

“I’ll go too,” Tabby chimed in, her voice steady. “I doubt I can sleep much right now anyway.”

Chuck nodded, his expression approving.

“Sherry and I will keep watch over the flags we’ve already captured. The rest of you should try to get some sleep. A couple of hours should suffice, and then we can switch tasks.”

Agreement rippled through the group, and with our roles established, Tabby and I ventured into the enveloping darkness of the forest.

We didn’t bother shifting into our wolf forms; it felt unnecessary.

“So, are you going to tell me what happened out there?” Tabby asked, her voice low as soon as we were far enough from the campsite.

“What do you mean?” I replied, feigning innocence and avoiding her gaze.

“Allan mentioned that three wolves attacked him before they turned their attention to you after he got away. Did you fight them all? Did they escape? Did they surrender?” Her barrage of questions was relentless, and I should have known better than to think I could keep this from her.

“One of them died, and the others got away,” I confessed softly, the weight of the truth settling heavily in my chest.

“That explains why I heard a chopper in the distance,” she murmured, her brow furrowing in thought.

“Did you kill him?” she pressed, her eyes wide with a mix of curiosity and concern.

I shook my head, biting my lower lip nervously.

Her eyes grew even wider.

“Was it someone else on our team that saved you?” she asked, her tone shifting as she turned to face me directly.

“I’m not sure,” I admitted, the uncertainty gnawing at me. “Someone did save me, but she didn’t smell like a teammate.”

“It was another she-wolf?” Tabby inquired, her curiosity piqued.

Why would she choose to save me if she belonged to another team?

“Do you see anything?” Tabby called up from below, her voice echoing slightly in the stillness of the night.

I remained silent, unwilling to risk revealing my position. If I shouted back, it would be all too easy for others to spot me. My eyes continued to roam the landscape, and I noted various animals wandering the forest floor—bears, deer, and other creatures.

Then, something caught my eye in the distance, and I squinted.

Was that a cave?

If I were to hide a flag anywhere, that cave would be the perfect spot.

I began to climb down from the tree, but in my haste, I scraped my leg against the rough bark. I winced in pain as I felt blood trickle down my leg, my pants tearing in the process. When I finally landed on the ground, it was harder than I expected, and Tabby rushed over to me, concern etched on her face.

“Are you okay?” she asked, her eyes scanning my leg.

I nodded, though I winced as I glanced at the wound.

“Just a scratch,” I murmured, trying to downplay it. “There’s a cave up ahead. There’s probably a flag in there.”

She nodded, determination sparking in her eyes, and together we made our way toward the cave’s entrance. It took us about thirty minutes to reach it, and we found it obscured by rocks, leaves, and thick bushes. We had to work together to clear a path to squeeze through.

“You think they would really hide something in here?” she asked, glancing around nervously.

“Without a doubt,” I murmured, my heart racing with anticipation.

I glanced up at the sky and noticed one of the many drones hovering above us. With that drone in the air, I knew Gavin was keeping an eye on me.

I shot the drone a pointed look just as we cleared the last of the shrubbery from the cave’s entrance, creating just enough space for us to wiggle our way inside.

“I don’t like this,” Tabby murmured, a shiver of apprehension running through her voice. “I feel like we are walking into a trap.”

“We don’t have a choice,” I replied firmly, and without another word, I slipped into the dark abyss of the cave, ready to face whatever lay ahead.