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 .

eastern forest was important enough for him to

had left on the table , the one filled with symbols and cryptic notes

but I wasnt sure

me something , I whispered , flipping through the

caught my

like the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest

The riddles werent just poetic ,

it in my

just

It was significant .

glanced at the

, I

wasnt

had been unusually quiet lately , wrapped up in whatever schemes kept him

vague note , knowing he wouldnt

it was

ahead , dark and foreboding

, the air grew colder , and the pack bond weakened even

swallowed hard , forcing my nerves to settle

eastern forest had always

their branches

with moss , muffling my steps and every sound seemed to echo in

, keeping to the shadows and listening for anything

, every rustle of leaves or crack of a branch making

paused , crouching low behind

the ground dipped into a shallow ravine , and in the center was something that didnt belong , a faint glow , like silver mist hovering just above

my breath catching as I realized what

it was forming shapes , and symbols that matched the ones

, I

same as the ones described as the seal of the Namelesss domain

I whispered , my voice barely

closer wouldnt be easy

, and the air around it felt …

the forest itself was watching me , waiting for me to make a

symbols again , tracing them with my finger and

: Step only where the light touches , and the darkness will

glanced around , spotting faint patches of moonlight filtering

a path , narrow and winding but

a deep breath , I stepped onto the first

me , but the air grew colder

placing each step

reaching out as

ravine , a low growl stopped me in