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 .

enough for him to note ,

Aurora had left on the table , the

but I wasnt sure

give me something , I whispered , flipping through the pages

caught my

described the Namelesss territory in riddles , with phrases like the shadows coil where the

riddles werent just

in my

eastern forest wasnt just

It was significant .

at

I moved now , I could be there by

out wasnt

lately , wrapped up in whatever schemes kept

left him a vague note , knowing he

was

loomed ahead ,

approached the edge , the air grew colder

forcing

always felt … off

their branches

ground was thick with moss , muffling my steps and every sound seemed to

moved carefully , keeping to the shadows and listening for anything out of

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

, crouching low

center was something that didnt belong , a faint glow ,

breath catching as

mist wasnt just random , it was forming shapes , and symbols that matched the ones in Auroras journal

, I flipped to the page with the riddles

as the

is it , I whispered ,

wouldnt be

the

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

tracing them with my finger and

now : Step only where the light touches ,

spotting faint patches of

path , narrow and winding but just

, I stepped onto the first patch

,

, carefully placing

, darkness reaching out as

ravine , a low growl stopped