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 .

to Warrick who was still by my side

to , he said , his voice

We all do .

, Eira drew closer to Aurora where she

couldnt hear what they said , but the way tension swelled then released in her shoulders told

turned to go , Aurora followed her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone

again found Aurora still along the

? I asked as I sat down

nodded , her gaze following along

needed

to the Forgotten … it is part

She exhaled a sigh , running

I dont know .

do think so though , its so infrequent ,

just taking her opportunity

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

to rejoice , not quite yet

, her features dancing

beside her ,

each other ; their silence a testimony to

and I sat opposite them and our banter served to fill the pauses

the traps would work , Warrick said smugly as he fell back

sloppy placement , I returned ,

chuckled and shook her

two will

on until one by one the pack retired to bed ,

nooks and corners within

and I fell a few

and sat down almost against each other as the soft

several seconds ; both lay looking up

concentration until Aurora

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

he said

think we

hung back at the edge of the clearing , giving them some

where the blackness of the

for the first time , the weight felt lifted , and we could

in that instant , as I turned to head inside , something fluttered in my

of green light , quick enough that I almost didnt catch it , pulsed across the horizon before dying into the darkness

breath was caught in my throat

by the darkness , but the sense of

swung back to

heads turned to each other , their quiet conversation

confident , so convinced the war was already Chapter

that light … it

forest , peering hard into

branches danced in gentle gestures in the breeze