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

the journal Aurora had left on the table , the

but I wasnt sure how much she may

something , I

caught my

riddles , with phrases like the shadows coil where the moonlight

werent just poetic , they were instructions

felt it in my gut

forest wasnt just

It was significant .

at the

I moved now , I

out wasnt difficult

been unusually quiet lately , wrapped up in

left him a vague note , knowing he wouldnt notice my absence

it was

ahead ,

I approached the edge , the air grew colder , and the pack bond weakened even further

, forcing my nerves to

always felt …

here, their branches twisting together

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

the shadows and listening for anything

, every rustle of leaves or

one point , I paused , crouching low behind a

ground dipped into a shallow ravine , and in the center was something that didnt belong , a

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

shapes , and symbols that matched the ones in

from my bag , I flipped

same as the

, I whispered

closer wouldnt

the air around

as if the forest itself was watching me , waiting for me to

with my finger and mouthing the

riddle was clear now : Step only where the light touches , and the

spotting faint patches of moonlight filtering through the

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

stepped onto

me ,

moved slowly , carefully placing each step in the light

me , darkness reaching out as

low growl stopped