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 .

important enough for him to note , it had to mean

left on the table

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

, give me something , I

section caught

the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest

riddles werent just poetic , they

in

eastern forest wasnt just a

It was significant .

glanced at the

now , I could be there by

wasnt

unusually quiet lately , wrapped

,

it was too late

ahead , dark

grew colder , and the pack bond weakened even further

hard , forcing my nerves to

always felt

their branches twisting

with moss , muffling my steps and every sound seemed to echo in an unsettling

shadows and listening for anything out

leaves or crack of a branch

point , I paused ,

ravine , and in the center was something that

182 4/6 I inched closer , my breath catching as I realized what I was looking at

random , it was forming shapes , and symbols that matched

, I flipped to the page

same as the ones described as

I whispered , my

getting closer wouldnt

and the

the forest itself was watching me , waiting for me to make a

tracing them with my

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

glanced around , spotting faint patches

light seemed to create a path , narrow and winding

, I stepped onto the first patch

solid beneath me , but

, carefully placing each step in the light

, darkness reaching out as if testing my

low growl stopped me in my