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 .

who was still by my side , nudging him with my

, he said , his voice oddly

We all do .

drew closer to Aurora where she stood at the

swelled then released in

of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone , her

again found Aurora still along the tree line

asked as I sat down

nodded , her gaze following along the

needed

part of her which she cannot

She exhaled a sigh , running

I dont know .

its so infrequent , that being at peace

is just taking her opportunity

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

time to rejoice , not quite yet

her features dancing

, his hand on

each other ; their

them and our

, Warrick said smugly as he fell back in

I fixed your sloppy placement ,

shook her head

will never

one by one the

nooks and corners within the packhouse

Dane went out , and I fell a

night sky and sat down almost against each other as the soft

for several seconds ; both lay looking

until Aurora leaned her head

whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but

he said finally

think we can

back at the edge of the clearing , giving them some time to their

looked out across the horizon where the blackness of the forest met the sky

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

in that instant , as I turned to head inside

quick enough that I almost didnt catch it , pulsed across the horizon before dying

froze ; my breath was caught in

glow on the horizon was gone now , swallowed up by the darkness , but

to

to each other , their quiet conversation

the war was

… it

peering hard into the darkness for

still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures in the