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 .

for him to note , it had to mean something

had left on the table , the one filled with

I wasnt sure how much she may

, give me something , I whispered , flipping

caught

in riddles , with phrases like the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest speaks only to the

182 The riddles werent just

it in

just a random

It was significant .

glanced at

I could be there by

out wasnt difficult

had been unusually quiet lately , wrapped up in

,

was

forest loomed ahead , dark and foreboding

edge , the air grew colder , and the

swallowed hard , forcing

had always felt …

trees were taller here, their branches twisting together like

my steps and

carefully , keeping to the shadows and listening for

leaves

, I paused ,

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

182 4/6 I inched closer , my breath catching as

, and symbols that matched the ones

journal from my bag , I flipped to

symbols in the mist were the same as the ones described as the seal of

is it , I whispered , my voice barely audible

wouldnt be

pulsed faintly , and the air around it

itself was watching me , waiting for

them with my finger and mouthing the words from the journal

was clear now : Step only where the light touches , and the darkness will grant

, spotting faint patches of moonlight filtering through the trees

, narrow and winding but just wide enough

I stepped onto the first patch

felt solid beneath me , but the

carefully placing each step in the

me , darkness reaching out as if

a low growl stopped me in