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 .

to Warrick who was still by my side

said ,

We all do .

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

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

, Aurora followed her a number of paces before embracing briefly and then was

found Aurora

? I asked as I

nodded , her gaze following along the path Eira had vanished into

said she needed

relation to the Forgotten … it is part of her

this ? She exhaled a sigh

I dont know .

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

just taking

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

, her features dancing in the flicker

sat beside her , his hand on hers

each other ; their silence

and I sat opposite them and our banter served to

said smugly as he fell back in his chair

your sloppy

and shook her head

two will

wore on until one by one the pack retired to bed ,

and corners within the packhouse

went out , and I fell a few feet

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

several seconds ; both lay looking up with

223 5/8 keen concentration until Aurora leaned

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

he

we

clearing

the

could finally start rebuilding , not just the packhouse or the land but

, as I turned to head

, quick enough that I almost didnt

breath was caught in

gone now , swallowed up by the darkness , but the sense of

swung back to Aurora and

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

so confident , so convinced the war was

… it

forest , peering hard into the darkness for any sign

still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures