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 .

enough for him to note , it had to

had left on the table

for weeks , but I wasnt sure how much she

give me something , I whispered , flipping through

section caught my

Namelesss territory in riddles , with phrases like the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest

just poetic , they

it in

eastern forest wasnt just a

It was significant .

glanced at the clock

moved now , I

wasnt

unusually quiet lately , wrapped up in whatever

,

it was too

loomed ahead , dark and

the edge , the air grew colder , and the pack bond

, forcing my nerves

eastern forest had always felt

were taller here, their branches twisting together like

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

the shadows and listening for anything out of

every rustle of leaves

point , I paused , crouching

and in the center was something that didnt

I inched closer , my breath catching as I realized

just random , it was forming shapes ,

I flipped to the page with the riddles

the ones described as the seal of the Namelesss domain

it , I whispered , my

getting closer wouldnt

the air around it felt …

was watching me , waiting for me to make a wrong

my

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

spotting faint patches of

a path , narrow and winding but just wide enough

, I stepped onto the

ground felt solid beneath me , but

, carefully placing each

swirled around me , darkness reaching out as if testing

low growl stopped me in