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 .

223 3/8 Shes smiling more , I said to Warrick who was still by my side , nudging

to , he said , his

We all do .

, Eira drew closer to Aurora where she stood at the

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

number of paces

I again found Aurora still along the

as I sat down beside

along the

needed

Forgotten … it is part of her

this ? She exhaled a sigh , running her

I dont know .

so though , its so infrequent ,

just taking her

, the packhouse was just so filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience for what has seemed like Chapter 223 4/8 eternity … werewolves

time to rejoice , not

hearth , her features

, his hand on

other ; their silence a testimony

and I sat opposite them and our banter served to

you the traps would work , Warrick said smugly as he fell

only worked because I fixed your sloppy placement , I returned ,

and shook

two will never

the

quiet nooks and corners within the

and Dane went out , and

sky and sat down almost against each other as the soft evening breeze whistled among the

for several seconds ; both lay looking

Aurora leaned her head against Danes

Dane said nothing for a time , but I did notice how his

he

think we

edge of the clearing , giving

the blackness of the forest met the

the weight felt lifted , and we could finally start rebuilding , not just

turned to head inside , something fluttered in

didnt catch it , pulsed

breath was caught in my throat

swallowed up by the darkness

to

, their quiet conversation a gentle murmur in

the

But that light … it was wrong

, peering hard into

branches danced in gentle gestures in the breeze