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

table , the one filled

, but I wasnt sure how much she may have discovered

on , give me something , I

caught

like the shadows coil where the

just poetic

in

eastern forest wasnt just

It was significant .

glanced at the clock

I could be there by nightfall

out wasnt

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

note , knowing he wouldnt

was too late

ahead , dark

air grew colder , and

forcing

forest had always felt … off

trees were taller here, their branches

muffling my steps and every

keeping to the shadows and listening for anything out of

every rustle of leaves or crack of a branch making

one point , I paused , crouching low behind

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

my breath catching as

random , it was forming shapes ,

from my bag , I flipped to the page with the

symbols in the mist were the same as the

it , I whispered , my voice barely

getting closer wouldnt be easy

the air around it felt

if the forest itself was watching me ,

with my finger and mouthing the words from the journal

: Step only where the light touches ,

spotting faint patches of moonlight

seemed to create a path , narrow and winding but just wide

, I stepped onto the first patch of light

beneath me , but the air grew colder

placing each

swirled around me , darkness reaching out as if

, a low growl stopped