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 .

the eastern forest was important enough for him to note

table , the one filled

been scanning over it for weeks , but I wasnt sure how much she may have discovered

, give me something , I

section caught my attention

territory in riddles , with phrases like the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and

182 The riddles werent just poetic , they

in my

eastern forest wasnt just a random

It was significant .

at

now , I could be

wasnt difficult

wrapped up in

note , knowing he wouldnt

was

, dark and foreboding

approached the edge , the air grew colder ,

swallowed hard , forcing my

always felt

trees were taller here, their branches twisting together like claws

steps and every sound seemed to

the shadows and

senses were on high alert , every rustle of leaves or crack of a branch making my heart race

one point , I paused , crouching low behind a fallen

, and in the center was something that didnt

my breath catching as I realized what I was looking

mist wasnt just random , it was forming shapes , and symbols that matched the

, I flipped to the page with the

the same as the ones described as the seal of the

whispered , my voice barely

wouldnt

the air around it felt … alive

was as if the forest itself was watching me , waiting

with my finger and mouthing the words from the

where the light

faint patches

path , narrow and winding

deep breath , I stepped onto the first patch

felt solid beneath me , but the air grew colder

placing each step in the

mist swirled around me , darkness reaching out as if testing

a low growl stopped me in