Blood And Silver:Rise of the Alpha’s Rejected Mate

Chapter 182 1/6 PIPER The moment I woke , I knew something was wrong .

The pack bond was usually steady , but a comforting hum in the back of my mind was off .

It didnt feel severed , but it was weak like a thread stretched too thin and ready to snap .

I sat up in bed , running my fingers through my hair as I tried to focus on the sensation .

It was Aurora .

Her bond was dim , and distant , as though she wasnt just far away physically but emotionally locked behind some impenetrable wall .

I got dressed quickly , throwing on dark clothes meant for stealth .

My heart pounded as I tried to make sense of the unease clawing at me .

Whatever was happening , I couldnt just sit here and wait .

I came out and I felt drawn to the war room , I found Trajans map still spread across the table , a mess of notes and markers left behind from the last strategy session .

I studied it , searching for anything that might point me toward Aurora .

Think , Piper , 1 muttered to myself .

Where would she The Namelesss lair was the most obvious answer , but it wasnt * ough to just guess I needed something concrete .

Chapter 182 2/6 My fingers brushed over the map , tracing the paths wed marked as dangerous areas where dark creatures had been spotted or where Danes influence lingered .

A cold chill ran down my spine as I noticed a pattern .

The sightings formed a loose perimeter around one area we hadnt explored deeply , an unassuming section of dense forest that seemed to repel even the bravest scouts .

I frowned , leaning closer .

What are you hiding in there ? Beside the map was a stack of old reports , most of them from Evanders missions .

I flipped through them , scanning for any mention of the Nameless or unusual activity .

One entry caught my eye .

Spotted faint tracks leading into the eastern forest .

Too faint to pursue .

The air felt … heavy .

Recommend further investigation .

Evanders words sent a shiver through me .

him to note , it had to mean

on the table , the

over it for weeks , but I wasnt sure how much

on , give me something , I

section caught my

the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest speaks only to the

182 The riddles werent just poetic

in my

forest wasnt just a random location

It was significant .

glanced at the

moved now , I could be

wasnt

been unusually quiet lately , wrapped

a vague note , knowing

was too

, dark and

colder ,

hard , forcing my nerves to

always felt …

were taller here, their branches twisting together like claws

my steps and every

moved carefully , keeping to the shadows and listening for anything

senses were on high alert , every rustle of leaves or crack

point , I paused , crouching low behind

, and in the center was something that didnt belong , a faint glow

catching as

forming shapes , and symbols that matched the

the journal from my bag , I

symbols in the mist were the same as the ones described as the seal of the Namelesss

whispered

wouldnt be easy

mist pulsed faintly , and the air around it felt … alive

watching me , waiting for me to make a wrong move

them with my finger and mouthing the words from the journal

now : Step only where the light touches , and the darkness will grant you

glanced around , spotting faint patches of moonlight

narrow and winding but

stepped onto

solid beneath me , but the air grew

, carefully placing

around me , darkness reaching out as if testing my resolve

, a low growl stopped me in