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 .

was important enough for him to note , it had

table , the one filled

, but I wasnt sure how much she

give me something , I whispered , flipping

caught

phrases like the shadows coil where the moonlight dies and the forest speaks only

just poetic ,

in my

forest wasnt just a random location

It was significant .

at

moved now , I could be

wasnt

, wrapped up in whatever

a vague note , knowing

it was too

forest loomed ahead ,

edge , the air grew colder ,

hard , forcing

had always felt

trees were taller here, their branches twisting together

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

keeping to the shadows and listening for anything out of

on high alert , every rustle of leaves or crack of a branch

point , I paused , crouching low behind

, and in the center was something that didnt belong , a faint glow , like silver

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

forming shapes , and symbols that matched the

journal from my bag , I flipped to the page with the

symbols in the mist were the same as the

is it , I whispered ,

closer wouldnt be easy

and the

was watching me , waiting for

symbols again , tracing them with my finger and mouthing the words from the

was clear now : Step only where the light touches ,

, spotting faint patches

create a path , narrow and winding

stepped onto the first patch

beneath me , but the air

moved slowly , carefully placing each step in

swirled around me , darkness reaching

the ravine , a low growl stopped me