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

grabbed the journal Aurora had left on the table , the one filled with symbols and cryptic notes

for weeks , but I wasnt sure

give me something , I whispered ,

caught my

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

werent just

felt it in

eastern forest wasnt just a

It was significant .

at

I could be there by nightfall

wasnt difficult

lately , wrapped up in whatever schemes kept him

, knowing he wouldnt notice

it was too

loomed ahead , dark and foreboding

edge , the air grew colder , and the pack

, forcing my nerves

always felt … off

taller here, their branches twisting together like claws

my steps and every sound seemed to echo in an unsettling way

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

, every rustle of leaves or

I paused , crouching low behind a fallen

something that didnt belong , a faint glow ,

, my breath catching as I realized what

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

from my bag , I flipped to the page with the

the same as the ones described as the seal of the

it , I whispered , my voice barely audible

closer wouldnt

mist pulsed faintly , and the air around

the forest itself was watching me , waiting for

again , tracing them with my finger and

Step only where the light touches , and the darkness will grant

patches of

narrow and winding but just wide enough for me to follow

stepped onto the first patch of

felt solid beneath me , but the air grew colder

moved slowly , carefully placing each step in the

darkness reaching

, a low growl stopped me in my