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 .

I said to Warrick who was still by my side , nudging him

he said , his

We all do .

higher in the sky now , Eira drew closer to

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

her a number of paces before embracing briefly and

found Aurora

I asked as

following along the path Eira had vanished into

she needed to

Forgotten … it is part of her which she cannot

? She exhaled a sigh , running her hand through her hair

I dont know .

think so though , its so infrequent ,

is just taking

experience for what

a time to rejoice ,

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

, his

so easy with each other ; their silence a

opposite them and our banter

you the traps would work , Warrick said smugly as

because I fixed your sloppy placement ,

chuckled and shook her

two will

wore on until one by one the pack retired to

quiet nooks and corners within

and Dane went out , and I fell

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

seconds ; both lay looking up with

Aurora leaned

, her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a

he

we

of the clearing , giving them some time

across the horizon where the blackness of the

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

I turned to head inside , something fluttered in my vision

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

; my breath was caught in my

the darkness , but the sense of unease it left with me coiled tightly in my chest

back to

heads turned to each other , their quiet conversation a gentle murmur

seemed so confident , so convinced the war was already Chapter 223

that light … it

, peering hard into the darkness for any

were still ; their branches danced in

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