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 .

3/8 Shes smiling more , I said to Warrick who was still by my side , nudging him with my

to , he said , his voice oddly serious

We all do .

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

but the way tension swelled then released in her

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

I again found Aurora still along

I asked as I

, her gaze following along the path Eira had vanished into

she needed to

Forgotten … it is part of her which

She exhaled a sigh

I dont know .

, its so infrequent , that being at

just taking her

did not experience for what has

rejoice , not quite

the hearth , her features dancing in the flicker of the

, his hand on

with each other ; their silence a testimony

opposite them and our banter served to fill

told you the traps would work , Warrick said smugly as he fell back in his chair

because I fixed your sloppy placement , I returned ,

and shook her

two will never

on until one by one the

and corners within

and Dane went out , and I

down almost against each other as the soft

several seconds ;

5/8 keen concentration until Aurora leaned her head against Danes shoulder

nothing for a time

he said

think we

back at the edge of the clearing , giving them some

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

, and we could finally start rebuilding , not just

in that instant , as I turned to

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

my breath was caught in my throat

by the darkness , but the sense of unease it left with me coiled tightly

back to Aurora

each other , their quiet conversation a gentle murmur

so convinced the war was already Chapter

light … it was wrong

, peering hard into the darkness for any

were still ; their branches danced in