The War God Alpha's Arranged Bride (Evelyn and Alexander) novel Chapter 365

**Steps Along Forgotten Roads**
**By Sophia Reed**
**Chapter 365: Dark Cave**

**Judy’s POV**

“Do you honestly believe they would hide a flag in a cave that’s barely visible?” Tabby queried, her voice echoing slightly in the dimness as we ventured deeper into the shadowy cave. Above us, the drone that had been our silent guardian had abandoned us to scout for someone else, leaving us to navigate the darkness alone.

As the thought crossed my mind, a twinge of unease crept up my spine. Yet, I brushed it aside, unwilling to let fear dictate my actions. “To be perfectly frank, yes,” I replied, casting a quick glance over my shoulder to gauge her reaction.

Tabby lingered near the cave’s mouth, her face a portrait of apprehension. “There could be dangerous animals lurking in here,” she remarked, nervously chewing on her lower lip, a habit that always betrayed her anxiety.

“Since when did you become afraid of wild animals?” I teased, trying to lighten the mood. Typically, she was the brave one, the one who would charge ahead without a second thought.

She pursed her lips into a thin line, her resolve wavering, but she eventually stepped forward, following me into the cave’s depths.

For an ordinary person, the darkness would have been suffocating, but as shifters, our senses were heightened. My heart began to race, pounding against my ribcage like a drum, as we navigated the moist, uneven terrain. The cave was damp and rocky, but we managed to find our footing with relative ease, climbing over the stones like it was second nature to us.

Suddenly, a low growl reverberated from the depths of the cave, freezing us in our tracks. My heart raced faster, and I slowly turned to face the source of the sound. There, in the shadows, a pair of yellow, beady eyes glinted back at me, sharp teeth bared in a menacing snarl that echoed through the darkness.

“Is that a wolf?” Tabby whispered, taking a cautious step back, her instincts kicking in as she prepared to shift if the situation demanded it.

“No,” I replied, my throat tightening as I swallowed hard.

The longer I stared at the creature, the more familiar it became, yet I was certain it wasn’t a wolf. This was a wild animal, and if we weren’t careful, we could become its next meal.

It wasn’t until the creature lunged toward us that the truth hit me like a cold wave.

“Holy shit!” Tabby gasped, narrowly dodging the attack and tumbling to the ground in her haste.

“Yeah, it’s a black bear,” I warned her, my suspicions confirmed as adrenaline surged through my veins. “And we just stepped into its territory.” I should have anticipated that there would be a bear lurking in this cave; it was naive of me to think it would be uninhabited.

The bear charged at us again, and this time, it managed to claw my arm, a sharp pain shooting through me as I staggered backward. I felt the warmth of blood trickling down my shoulder, but I forced myself to focus on the threat before us.

“Judy, look!” Tabby exclaimed, her finger pointing at the bear. “Around its neck.”

I followed her gaze, my breath hitching in my throat.

There, wrapped around the bear’s neck, was one of our flags.

“How on earth did they get it around a black bear’s neck?” I wondered aloud, a mix of terror and admiration flooding my senses.

They had truly gone to great lengths.

Before I could fully process this revelation, the bear lunged again, its massive form barreling toward me.

My wolf was furious at the idea of being attacked without retaliating. She was restless, eager to break free and confront the bear herself. Despite her smaller size, she was fierce and relished a good fight, always yearning for the chance to prove herself.

I had to restrain her for a moment; there was no way I was going to shift without shedding my clothes first. These were the only garments I possessed on this island, and I needed them to last until tomorrow evening when I could escape this place.

The bear growled, its hot breath washing over me as it closed the distance. I let out a warning growl of my own, though it lacked the ferocity of my wolf form. Just as it lunged again, I managed to leap over it and land near Tabby, who was hastily gathering rocks from the cave floor, ready to defend us.

“What’s the plan?” she asked, her eyes flashing with determination as she armed herself with the jagged stones.

“We need to get the flag,” I replied, feeling somewhat inadequate as I struggled to formulate a coherent strategy.

“No kidding, Sherlock,” she shot back, rolling her eyes. “But how are we supposed to get it? We can’t just grab it!”

“How did they even manage to get it on its neck in the first place?” I countered, my mind racing. If we could uncover their method, perhaps we could turn the tables.

“Maybe they drugged it?” she suggested, her voice barely audible over the bear’s growls.

The bear’s roar interrupted our conversation, and I knew we had to act quickly.

“Distract it while I strip,” I instructed, hastily kicking off my shoes.

Her eyes widened in disbelief.

“How on earth do I distract a black bear?” she exclaimed, her mouth agape.

I nodded, conceding as we made our way back to the campsite.

“What happened to you two?” Sherry called out, rushing toward us. When her eyes landed on the flag, they lit up with excitement. “You found a flag?”

“Yeah, in a cave,” I replied, still riding the high of our adventure.

“Around a bear’s neck,” Tabby added, her voice animated. “You should have seen Judy! She fought a black bear in her wolf form!”

“Really?” Sherry’s eyes widened in disbelief. Upon noticing the scratch on my arm, her expression shifted to concern. “Let’s get you cleaned up.”

We settled around the crackling fire, and Sherry, along with a few other teammates, took charge of cleaning and bandaging my wound.

We spent the rest of the evening resting, although I doubted I’d be able to sleep, especially on the hard ground. Yet, fatigue eventually claimed me, and I drifted off, only to be stirred by Chuck’s morning wake-up call.

“Okay, team, we have two more flags to find, and we need to locate them by the end of today. We have to return to base tonight,” Chuck announced as we groggily gathered around the fire, the sun barely peeking over the horizon. Some of our teammates who had been on night watch still looked bleary-eyed. “A few of us should go hunting for food, and we need to replenish our water supply. I’ve marked some areas we haven’t checked yet. They’re closer to other competitors, so we must tread carefully. I have a feeling today is going to be intense, so let’s avoid traveling alone.”

We all nodded in agreement, some more anxious than others.

“Judy, since you and Tabby faced a black bear yesterday, you both can rest today and keep an eye on the flags we’ve secured,” Chuck continued, a decision that made me frown.

“I’d rather search for the flags,” I protested. “I don’t want to sit here and do nothing.”

“This is a team assignment,” he reminded me gently. “We work as a unit; every role is vital. We need those flags monitored. You did your part yesterday, and you did wonderfully. I’m not diminishing your contribution. But the rest of us need to take the lead now; we only have two flags left to find.”

“Now that we’re nearing the end, they’ll likely try to steal our flags to prevent us from finishing the competition,” Sherry added, her tone serious. “Your role is crucial today. Can we count on you?”

I glanced at Tabby, who merely shrugged, and then let out a resigned sigh.

“Yes, of course you can,” I assured them, my resolve firming. “We’ll be here.”

With that, everyone dispersed, leaving Tabby and me to keep watch over the flags, the weight of our responsibility settling upon us.