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 , nudging him with

, he said , his

We all do .

sky now , Eira drew closer to Aurora where she stood at the edge of the fields

the way tension swelled then released in her shoulders told me it had

paces before embracing briefly and

, I again found Aurora still along the

gone ? I asked as I

following along the path Eira had

needed

it is part of her which

sigh ,

I dont know .

think so though , its so infrequent , that being at peace

is just taking her opportunity

kind of warmth I did not experience

rejoice , not quite yet

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

, his hand on

each other ; their silence a testimony to their

and I sat opposite them and our banter served to

, Warrick said smugly as he fell back in

fixed your sloppy placement , I returned

shook her

will never change

the

quiet nooks and corners

out , and

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

for several seconds ; both lay looking

5/8 keen concentration until Aurora

, her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but I did notice

he said finally

think we can

clearing , giving them some time to their moment

out across the horizon where the blackness

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

, as I turned to head

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

my breath was caught

now , swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of unease it left with me coiled tightly in my

to Aurora

, their

convinced the war

that light … it was wrong

hard into the

trees were still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures in