Blood And Silver:Rise of the Alpha’s Rejected Mate

Chapter 223 PIPER The grove is free … for now .

The first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was the sunlight beaming through the packhouse windows .

It wasnt light ; it was warm , golden … the kind that wrapped around you and made you forget that the darkness had ever existed .

For weeks , the mist had clung to the territory , suffocating everything it touched .

But now the sky was clear , and the air felt different , lighter .

I went out , squinting against the brightness .

Already werewolves were gathering , their faces a mix of disbelief and cautious hope .

Aurora stood on the ridge overlooking the territory , her silhouette framed by the rising sun .

Dane was beside her , his arm draped protectively around her shoulders .

Its over , he said softly , his voice carrying just enough for those nearby to hear .

Then and there , Aurora said nothing else , just stood her ground , eyes fixed on some point above the horizon , apparently waiting for something .

Chapter 223 2/8 Then she nodded , this small smile on her lips .

For now , she said , soft yet clear as crystal .

With purpose , the pack stirred ; the dam was broken that had so long held some unseen tension at bay .

The werewolf set to , repairing the packhouse and outlying homes , others sallied out into the forest , making observations .

about the lie of the land .

Trajan took to running the younger werewolf through drills in the open field .

I watched him as he corrected stances and issued advice , his voice low even .

It was a side of him I hadnt seen before , a leader , not just a fighter .

They look up to him , Warrick said , coming to stand beside me .

Hes earned it , I said , crossing my arms to watch Trajan demonstrate some sort of defensive move .

Warrick grinned .

Still think he broods too much , though .

I elbowed him , rolling my eyes .

And you talk too much .

Later in the day , Aurora was out in the field with the other elders , helping them farm .

Odd , I thought it looked .

Her amongst them , soft laughter at the end of one of their jokes .

Lighter .

Shes smiling more , I said to Warrick who was still by my side

he said , his voice oddly

We all do .

Eira drew closer to

swelled then released

her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was

again found Aurora still along the tree line

I asked as I

, her gaze following along the path

she needed to

is part of her which

a sigh , running her hand

I dont know .

so infrequent , that

is just taking her

so filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience for what has seemed like Chapter 223 4/8 eternity … werewolves sharing

rejoice

near the hearth , her features dancing in the flicker of the

her , his hand

;

them and our banter served to fill

said

worked because I fixed your sloppy

shook

two will never change

by one the pack retired to bed , to rooms

and corners within the

and I fell

against each other

were silent for several seconds ; both lay looking

223 5/8 keen concentration until Aurora

we can start breathing , her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but I did

he

think we can

the clearing , giving

looked out across the horizon where the blackness of the

the first time , the weight felt lifted , and we could finally start rebuilding ,

turned to head inside , something fluttered in my vision

I almost didnt catch it , pulsed

froze ; my breath was caught in my throat

by the darkness , but

swung back to Aurora and Dane

together , heads turned to each other , their quiet conversation a gentle murmur in the night

so confident , so convinced the war was already

light …

hard into the darkness for any sign of

their branches danced in gentle