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

deserves to , he said , his voice

We all do .

Eira drew closer to Aurora where she stood at

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

her a number of paces before embracing briefly and

later , I again found Aurora still

as I sat down

nodded , her gaze following along

needed

… it is part of her which she cannot press

this ? She exhaled a sigh

I dont know .

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

just taking her opportunity

I did not experience for what has seemed like Chapter

to rejoice , not

, her features dancing in

beside her , his hand

two were so easy with each other ; their silence a testimony to their compatibility

them and our banter served to fill the

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

fixed your sloppy placement

shook her head

will never

one the pack retired to bed , to

quiet nooks and corners

out , and I

almost against each other as the soft

silent for several seconds ; both

5/8 keen concentration until Aurora

can start breathing , 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

think we

at the edge of the clearing , giving them

horizon where the blackness of the forest met

first time , the weight felt lifted , and we could finally

as I turned to head inside ,

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

froze ; my breath was caught in my throat

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

back to Aurora and Dane

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

seemed so confident , so convinced the war was already

…

forest , peering hard into the darkness for any sign of

still ; their branches danced in gentle gestures in the