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 .

Warrick who was still

, he said

We all do .

drew closer to Aurora where she stood at the edge of the

what they said , but the way tension swelled then released in her shoulders told me it

to go , Aurora followed her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone , her figure melting into the

Aurora still along the

asked as I sat

gaze following along the path

needed to go away

is part of her which she cannot press

with this ? She exhaled a sigh

I dont know .

so though , its so infrequent , that

taking her

by evening , the packhouse was just so filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience

to rejoice ,

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

beside her , his hand on

so easy with each other ; their silence a

sat opposite them and our

told you the traps would work , Warrick said smugly as he

sloppy placement

and shook her head

will never change

until one by one the pack retired to bed ,

nooks and corners within the packhouse

and I

under the starry night sky and sat down almost against each other as the soft evening breeze whistled among

; both lay looking up

5/8 keen concentration until Aurora leaned her head against

said nothing for a time , but

, he said finally

we

edge of the clearing , giving them some time to their moment

looked out across the horizon where the blackness of the

the first time , the weight felt lifted , and we could finally start rebuilding , not just the packhouse or the land

turned to head inside , something fluttered in my vision

almost didnt catch it

was caught in my throat

swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of

to Aurora and

other , their quiet conversation a gentle murmur in the

confident , so convinced the war was already Chapter 223 Won

light …

the forest , peering hard into

branches danced