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 , nudging him

said ,

We all do .

to Aurora where

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

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

little later , I again found Aurora still along

gone ? I asked as I

along

she needed to

Forgotten … it is part of her which she

this ? She exhaled a sigh ,

I dont know .

do think so though , its so infrequent ,

just taking her

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

rejoice , not quite yet

sal , near the hearth , her features dancing in

, his

so easy with each other ; their silence a

opposite them and our banter served to fill the

said smugly as

your sloppy placement

chuckled and shook her

two will never

wore on until one by one the pack retired to

quiet nooks and corners

Dane went out , and

each

silent for several seconds ; both lay looking up

Aurora leaned her head against Danes

think finally we can start breathing , her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but I did notice how his hand

, he said finally

think we

of the clearing , giving them some time to their

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

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

to head inside , something fluttered

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

was

faint green glow on the horizon was gone now , swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of unease it left with me

swung back to

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

so confident , so convinced the war was

… it was

the forest , peering hard into the darkness for any

their branches danced in gentle gestures in the