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 note

journal Aurora had left on the table

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

, give me something , I whispered , flipping through

section caught my

like the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest

just

felt it in my gut

just a

It was significant .

glanced at the clock

I could

wasnt

unusually quiet lately , wrapped up

a vague note , knowing he wouldnt notice my

was too late

forest loomed ahead ,

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

hard , forcing my

forest had always

taller here, their branches twisting together like

my steps and every sound seemed to echo in an unsettling

keeping to the shadows and listening for anything out of place

alert , every rustle of leaves or crack of a branch making my heart race

, crouching low behind a fallen

shallow ravine , and in the center was something that didnt belong , a faint glow , like silver

closer , my breath catching as I realized what I was looking

shapes , and symbols that matched the ones

, I flipped to the page

the ones described as

I whispered , my voice

wouldnt be

faintly , and the air around

forest itself was watching me

my finger and mouthing the

only where the light touches , and the darkness will

faint patches of moonlight filtering through the

a path , narrow and winding but just wide enough for me

breath , I stepped

,

carefully placing each step in

reaching out as

a low growl