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 .

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

, he said , his voice

We all do .

closer to Aurora where she stood at the edge of the

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

of paces before embracing briefly and then was gone , her figure melting

I again found Aurora

I asked as I sat down

along the path Eira had vanished into

said she needed to

relation to the Forgotten … it is part of her which she cannot press aside

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

I dont know .

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

just taking her

by evening , the packhouse was just so filled with the kind of warmth I did not experience for what has seemed like Chapter

time to rejoice , not quite yet

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

her , his hand

other ;

and our banter served to fill the

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

I fixed your sloppy placement ,

chuckled and shook her

two will

one the pack retired to bed ,

and corners within

and

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

for several seconds ;

5/8 keen concentration until Aurora

, her voice barely above a whisper Dane said nothing for a time , but I did notice how his hand had tightened over

he said finally

we

at the edge of the clearing , giving them some

horizon where the blackness of the forest met the

could finally start

to head inside , something fluttered in

didnt

my breath was caught in my throat

the horizon was gone now , swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of unease it left

swung back to Aurora

, heads turned to each other , their quiet

so confident , so convinced the war

… it was wrong

back to the forest , peering hard into

their branches danced in gentle gestures in the breeze